andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
5th in this series in which Inspector Chen is focussing on his studies while Yu has to manage a potential serial killer targeting young women and leaving them in the famous Chinese fashion item of the title.
When Chen eventually gets pulled in the investigation rapidly moves into gear.
While the plots of these books never bear close scrutiny it is the fascinating look at the culture that always draws me back to this series although I have to say that some of the foods referenced as delicacies in this episode were extremely disturbing and do not need thinking about too closely,
When Chen eventually gets pulled in the investigation rapidly moves into gear.
While the plots of these books never bear close scrutiny it is the fascinating look at the culture that always draws me back to this series although I have to say that some of the foods referenced as delicacies in this episode were extremely disturbing and do not need thinking about too closely,
mpetruce's review against another edition
4.0
One of the better entries in the Inspector Chen series. I've been reading these over a long period of time, so my memory may be a little vague, but this seems the most urgent example of a race against the clock for Chen and Yu. Other books in the series don't involve the urgency for stopping a criminal -- in this case a serial killer -- before he strikes again. But still, these books aren't necessarily aren't written in the style that you'd call a page turner, but this one, for me, was indeed a page turner and ended up in some late nights.
vhop's review against another edition
5.0
Yllättävä uusi tuttavuus. En ole mikään perinteisen dekkarin ystävä, ja siksi tartuin tähän vähän epäröiden. En kuitenkaan pettynyt. Opin valtavasti kiinalaisesta kulttuurista ja siinä sivussa saatiin sarjamurhaajakin kiikkiin. Mielenkiintoinen tapaus.
linguisticali's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
I'm oddly intrigued by this series, I think because of the cultural context - but I don't have a strong emotional connection to the characters and this one had so much psychology/profiling bullshit I just don't have the patience for any more.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
A ritualistic serial killer? Yes, we finally got to that :P
Chen is getting more unsure about his job, and he's considering retaking his academic career when he's handed this case. His partner is getting a bit fed up with all his vacations, tbh, and there is some tension going between them.
As it's usual in these books, there are lots of tidbits about Chinese culture: food, dresses, literature and politics. But this case brings also some reflections on the attitude about mental illness in Mao's China.
Another very good book in this series.
Chen is getting more unsure about his job, and he's considering retaking his academic career when he's handed this case. His partner is getting a bit fed up with all his vacations, tbh, and there is some tension going between them.
As it's usual in these books, there are lots of tidbits about Chinese culture: food, dresses, literature and politics. But this case brings also some reflections on the attitude about mental illness in Mao's China.
Another very good book in this series.
luvina's review
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
agnes13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
damppebbles's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't wait to reach the end of this book. Really not my cup of tea at all. But saying that, I finished it several days ago and it's still playing on my mind. My preference is for twists and turns, a high body count and plenty of gore. This, for me, was the opposite. The main character only got involved in the investigation towards the latter part of the book. The police force were aware of when each murder was going to be committed, so very few twists and turns. Would only recommend if you don't mind a gentle crime story and would like to find out more about Chinese culture.
katenetz's review against another edition
4.0
Written in the 1990s, this Chinese murder mystery is a fascinating read. Besides the plot (which is pretty good), it is a wealth (a WEALTH, I say) of enthralling tidbits about Chinese culture, dress, poetry, food, literature, psychology, and politics/economics. [It was a great counterpart to Wild Swans actually, because it chronologically picks up right where that book lets off.] The main character is both a brilliant detective and a soon-to-be student of Chinese literature, so he simultaneously is hunting down a serial killer and writing a paper on literary deconstruction in ancient romantic Chinese stories. Love it! The side characters are great, especially Chen's partner, Yu and his wife Peiqin. Despite the slightly stilted and overly straightforward English (which happens when translating from Chinese), this book is a winner. I've never learned so much from a murder mystery before.
This is a middle book from a series, but it was easy to jump in. Heading for the rest of the books now!
This is a middle book from a series, but it was easy to jump in. Heading for the rest of the books now!