ingypingy2000's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I wish the epistolary story of Rosalie and Kai-rong had been more, but overall I found the book fun and I couldn't wait to pick it up every day to read it.
notevenastar's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been on a giant historical fiction kick lately, and getting to read a book where my favorite character delves into a case about Jewish folks in Shanghai during World War II.... right up my alley. As usual, Lydia is lovely and bright and the mystery is tightly wound but it concludes satisfyingly.
This was almost a five star book for me, but I think the modern day plot got a little bit convoluted.
This was almost a five star book for me, but I think the modern day plot got a little bit convoluted.
bob_muller's review
5.0
An excellent entry in the Chin series, not much scope for poor old Bill though. The story-within-a-story is a little difficult to follow but the plot flows nicely. The end part seems a little confused, even on rereading, probably a little too hasty.
jennseeg's review
5.0
I was home sick today and finished this book while feeling pathetic in bed. This is the first novel that I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. Lydia Chin is a Chinese-American PI who is hired to locate a thief believed to have stolen a valuable piece of jade jewelry known as the Shanghai moon that was lost sometime during WWII. Since it had been so long since anyone had actually seen the jewel, much of the story includes Lydia's historical research, which I found fascinating to read. Also, the many mentions of tea prompted me to drink large portions of herbal tea today and I am feeling much better now. So, on my sick day, this book basically kept me occupied and then HEALED me! What better recommendation can you have?
vkemp's review
4.0
Lydia Chin and Bill Smith are back. They renew their partnership after some devastatinging personal clashes. Now they are trying to track down missing jewelry and missing Holocaust heirs. There is a remarkable back story regarding the issue of Jewish migration to Shanghai before World War II. I knew this had happened, but the details are historically accurate and very enlightening.
kathleenitpdx's review
3.0
This is a light, interesting book featuring a Chinese-American PI set in NYC's Chinatown. The back story comes to us from Shanghai during the Japanese occupation and Chinese civil war. The story includes lots of interesting tidbits of history about European Jews who found refuge in Shanghai and the effects of the war and revolution on the residents of the city. There are lots of twists and turns and some fun humor with a theme of family loyalty. This is book 9 of a series and evidently the protagonist and her partner are patching things up after some kind of falling out. Not knowing what this was about did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.
clambook's review
3.0
A decidedly mixed bag. The pluses are an engaging back story about the flight of Jews to Shanghai during WWII and descriptions of life there at the time. The big minus is an almost incomprehensible plot that gets more convoluted and unlikely as it goes along. It's also about 50 pages too long. And, as I near the end of the series, I continue to wish for some explanation - a prequel, maybe - of how Bill and Lydia first got together.
librarianelizabeth's review
4.0
4.5 stars. Mystery kept me guessing and I especially liked the way history played a part. Will read more Lydia Chin mysteries.
laura_sorensen's review
4.0
My favorite Rozan by far. The details of Jews in Shanghai are amazing and I was riveted.
mcf's review
5.0
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. So fantastic to have this series and these characters back -- Rozan's been going in other directions for a few years now, but her grasp of her characters and their voices is just as strong as it was when she left. Thank goodness.
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