Death of a Blue Lantern is the first in the Detective Inspector Bao Zheng series by Christopher West. I quite liked this series in DTB many years ago, and am happy to see 3 of the 4 in ebook now, and hope that the others will go on sale at some point. This one is on US Kindle Countdown at $0.99 for about four more days.
link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016TQ4UEK
Spoiler:
Quote:
“Everything one can ask for in a crime novel ‒ pace, excitement, and a skilfully contrasted set of characters.” Simon Brett
“The ambivalent morality of modern China is intelligently exposed, but not at the expense of a first-class crime story.” Marcel Berlins, The Times
Beijing, 1991. Detective Inspector Bao Zheng just wants a pleasant evening away from his nation’s booming capital and goes to enjoy some traditional opera. Instead of a rest, he finds himself with a murder on his hands. Who is the anonymous young man stabbed to death in the back row? How close are the victim’s links to the renascent Triads? What is the connection with the glamorous Jasmine Ren, who seems obsessed with life in the west? Is there a connection to the theft of priceless artefacts from an archaeological dig north of the city? The further Bao looks into the mystery, the more he finds himself unable to trust anyone around him. He must act alone and venture unprotected into the capital’s underworld. At the same time, the once-loyal Party member must wrestle with the agonizing politics of post-Tiananmen China. Dare he voice his true feelings about the events of June 4, 1989? Or does it not matter? Has someone already decided he is expendable?
“Fine plotting and a sharp-edged style.” Publishers Weekly
“Does for China was Gorky Park did for Russia.” Florida Sun Sentinel
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