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A review by marilynw
Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg
4.0
Thief of Souls (Inspector Lu Fei Mystery) by Brian Klingborg
I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in China and certainly not a modern day story. Inspector Lu Fei, who graduated from the police academy at the top of his class, has been exiled to a tiny rural town where nothing much happens. But Lu is happy here, he has his work, which he does with great attention to doing the job well, he has his drink and his favorite drinking location, a bar owned by a young widow. Unlike most men in his circumstances, he doesn't want a trophy wife, he wants to marry for love even if that means not ever marrying at all.
This is a dark story with explicit violence. The temps hover below freezing and even indoors can be freezing. When a woman is found murdered in her home, with her organs removed, the body is well preserved due to the temps. Outside help is summoned and Lu then has to answer to Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Politics play heavily in every aspect of life in China and that fact drives the investigation, whether it means ignoring the misdeeds of those in power or trying to railroad persons of interest into confessing something they might not have done. This is not Lu's way and he butts heads with Song, until they develop an uneasy partnership.
Soon, Lu is checking on other murders that are similar to the one in his town. Lu is a good cop but he's not adverse to finding the information he needs even if he has to slip through the cracks to get past his superiors. He wants to find the killer and he wants to keep more women from dying. We are there for the violence against women but also for the violence inflected on Lu by members of the police force who do not like him. I did see humor in the story at times but mostly I was sad at how hard things appear to be for the people and how much corruption thrives in the politics of the country and those who have power over others.
Pub May 4, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in China and certainly not a modern day story. Inspector Lu Fei, who graduated from the police academy at the top of his class, has been exiled to a tiny rural town where nothing much happens. But Lu is happy here, he has his work, which he does with great attention to doing the job well, he has his drink and his favorite drinking location, a bar owned by a young widow. Unlike most men in his circumstances, he doesn't want a trophy wife, he wants to marry for love even if that means not ever marrying at all.
This is a dark story with explicit violence. The temps hover below freezing and even indoors can be freezing. When a woman is found murdered in her home, with her organs removed, the body is well preserved due to the temps. Outside help is summoned and Lu then has to answer to Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Politics play heavily in every aspect of life in China and that fact drives the investigation, whether it means ignoring the misdeeds of those in power or trying to railroad persons of interest into confessing something they might not have done. This is not Lu's way and he butts heads with Song, until they develop an uneasy partnership.
Soon, Lu is checking on other murders that are similar to the one in his town. Lu is a good cop but he's not adverse to finding the information he needs even if he has to slip through the cracks to get past his superiors. He wants to find the killer and he wants to keep more women from dying. We are there for the violence against women but also for the violence inflected on Lu by members of the police force who do not like him. I did see humor in the story at times but mostly I was sad at how hard things appear to be for the people and how much corruption thrives in the politics of the country and those who have power over others.
Pub May 4, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.