Jade and Fire: A Novel of Emerging China
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Book Overview
Peking, winter 1948. Encircled by Mao's Commuinst armies, Nationalist warlord Fu Tsoyi seeks the solution to saving Peking in his Taoist concubine's lessons in calligraphy and passion. Chief Inspector Bei wrestles with a string of brutal courtesan murders, slowly realizing with horror that the solution to the murders is tied to saving his beloved Peking, and China's emergence into the modern world.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0595343910
ISBN13:9780595343911
Release Date:March 2005
Publisher:iUniverse
Length:388 Pages
Weight:1.25 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
An interesting read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
A fascinating murder mystery written by someone who has significant knowledge of Chinese history and culture. The murder story itself is gripping but the author takes what is already a compelling storyline to the next level by incorporating culturally accurate insight. Free from following the cookbook recipe of Western mysteries the author creates a truly unique, and wonderful experience for the reader. I only wish the author followed up this book with another literary attempt, perhaps eventually.... Dr. Barnett is also a gifted teacher, and I changed my major after taking his introductory Biology class, which I'm truly grateful for. (Hi Ray, it's been a while so you probably wouldn't remember me but I graduated in 1990 from Chico and used to stop by to chat with you about Baseball & /or tea periodically. Anyway, if you read this I hope you're doing well, you had a positive influence on me and I've always appreciated what you taught me and the time you were willing to spend just chatting. I went on and got my Ph.D. and ended up in the Pharmaceutical industry (Group Leader, Pre-clinical Microbiology). All the best to you and your family).
Very good historical mystery set in Peking in 1948
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
December 1948: Peking is held by nationalist troops but surrounded and besieged by communist forces. Amid the tension in the city and the power stuggles between various factions, Inspector Bei of the Peking police probes the connections between the burning to death of a Taoist abbot on the steps of his temple, a series of brutal murders of high-priced prostitutes, and a mysterious organization called the Purple Mountain. My favorite kind of mystery, one that incorporates actual historical persons and events (Mao Zedong, Chou Enlai, Lin Piao, the siege of Peking) into an absorbing story. (Max Allan Collins also does this sort of thing especially well in his Nate Heller novels.)
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