Qiu Xiaolong is the creator of the acclaimed Inspector Chen mystery series, set in his native Shanghai. His novels are lauded for their profound insights into Chinese society, culture, and politics during periods of transition. Qiu expertly weaves intricate plots with poetic descriptions and philosophical reflections. Beyond his detective fiction, his work also encompasses poetry and translations of Chinese verse, lending his prose an additional layer of artistic depth.
Set in the Tang dynasty, the story revolves around Judge Dee Renjie, tasked by the ambitious Empress Wu to investigate the disappearance of poet Luo Binwang, who vanished after a failed rebellion. As Judge Dee and his loyal manservant Yang delve into the case, they encounter ominous signs and begin to question the empress's true intentions. This mystery blends historical intrigue with poetry, featuring an appendix of translated works from Tang dynasty poets, appealing to fans of Judge Dee's legendary tales and rich Chinese culture.
Former chief inspector Chen faces a tricky serial murderer case at the height of the Covid pandemic - and risks everything he has to expose the deadly effects of the Chinese Communist Party's so-called zero Covid policy to the world. Over two million copies of the Inspector Chen series sold worldwide. The Covid crisis is at its height in China. Ex-chief inspector Chen Cao is horrified by the way the Chinese Communist Party are using the pandemic as an excuse to put the Chinese people under blanket surveillance and by the soaring number of deaths caused not by Covid, but by the CCP's inhuman 'zero Covid' policy. Chen is debating whether to translate the 'Wuhan File' - a diary of life during the Wuhan disaster smuggled to him by a close friend - and expose the CCP's secrets to the world when to his surprise he is summoned by a high-level party cadre to help investigate a series of murders near a local Shanghai hospital. Under pressure from the Party to reach a quick conclusion and help maintain political stability, Chen investigates, aware that he too has been placed under omnipresent, omnipotent surveillance. And as he works, determined to uncover the truth, no matter what, he risks everything by deciding to translate the Wuhan Files. For one thing is true in China: you must be absolutely loyal to the Party. Otherwise, you are considered absolutely disloyal, and the consequences are dark indeed . . .
When Chief Inspector Chen Cao is offered a week's break at a luxurious resort near Lake Tai, he accepts immediately. Increasingly worn out by the politics of his job, the opportunity to relax and recover sounds like heaven. But the beautiful lake he remembers is much changed: covered by algae, its waters have been polluted by waste from local manufacturing plants. Even the local food is dangerous to eat. Is this the cost of progress in the new China? Then his holiday is fatally disturbed: the boss of one of the most polluting businesses has been murdered and the leader of a local ecological group is the prime suspect. Inspector Chen must tread carefully if he is to uncover the truth behind the death and find justice for both the victim and the accused.
Removed from his position as chief Inspector, Chen Cao has been installed as
director of the Shanghai Judicial System Reform Office but immediately placed
on involuntary 'convalescence leave.' Despite being on leave, the murder of an
acquaintance leads Chen to get involved in an investigation that shares a
striking similarity to a Judge Dee novel.
Chief Inspector Chen is assigned to investigate a group of environmental activists trying to tackle the pollution issues in China. The case is supposed to be simple, but it is complicated by Chen having history with the leader of the group. Meanwhile Detective Yu is on the trail of a serial murderer.
Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department is often put in charge of politically sensitive cases. Having recently ruffled more than a few official feathers, when he is asked to look into a sensitive corruption case he takes immediate action - he goes on leave from work. But while on vacation, the body of a murdered young woman is found in a highly trafficked area and the only notable aspect is that she was redressed in a red mandarin dress. When a second body appears, this time in the People's Park, also in precisely the same kind of red mandarin dress, the newspapers start screaming that Shanghai is being stalked by its first sexual serial killer. With the Party anxious to resolve the murders quickly, Chen finds himself in the midst of his most potentially dangerous and sensitive case to date.
Chief Inspector Chen, facing possible disciplinary action, is excluded from a
new investigation that has seen a poem said to be criticising the current
government removed from the Internet. Left fearing for his career he finds
himself reflecting on his life growing up during the Cultural Revolution and
his previous cases.
Fans of historical Far-Eastern novels will love Anthony Award-winning Qiu Xiaolong's homage to the legendary Judge Dee Renjie in this politically absorbing mystery.
