ISBN: 0-226-84863-9 Order from:
A mystery novel that is a deft blend of exotic history and modern detective story, it features a capable antogonist, and human passion and vulnerability in the normally aloof, intelligent hero.
Reviewed by David on September 24, 2003
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural, Historical, China)
Synopsis: With twelve years of service behind him, Judge Dee is appointed to a small border town. While tackling the usual slew of crimes, Dee and his leutenants come against a truly difficult case, with a determined adversary, hostile population, and worse of all, no solid evidence. The Judge must persevere to serve the cause of justice, at the risk of official censure, or, worse, his own honor.
Full Review: Showing a deft touch in mixing the exotic life of China over fifteen hundred years ago with the tense crime investigation, this mystery is entertaining and suspenseful. The intelligent, conscienscious judge is faced with one of the most challenging cases of his career, as he relies heavily on intuition to solve a murder.
While the customs of the ancient Chinese bureacracy are quite distant, the human motivations are all too familiar. The conflicts shown are intense, and the satifying and bitter-sweet works well with the narrative.
On the whole, a better-than-average installment in this entertaining series.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 6.5; World-building: 7; Originality: 7;
Copyright date 1961, University of Chicago Press, 1977, Trade paperback, 208 pages
ISBN: 0-226-84863-9 Order from: