A review by yetanothersusan
Black Jade - A Daiyu Wu Mystery (Daiyu Wu Mysteries, #1) by Gloria Oliver

4.0

If Sherlock Holmes were female, Chinese, and blind, he would be Daiyu Wu. Similar to the Holmes stories, Wu's story is told her through assistant Jacques. With this perspective, the reader is also given a visual insight into the setting as he describes the scene around them to Daiyu. I liked how this worked! I also liked how the Wu family navigated the very racial environment of 1930s Texas and Daiyu expressed her independence. She didn't let her sex, disability, or race keep her from doing what she wanted. Other than the direct comparison to the Holmes character, the story is set up very similar to many Agatha Christie books with many interconnected characters, each with a motive for being the killer. In fact, the characters themselves even reference the Dame near the conclusion. The overall setting of the book was very well expressed and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The only element that I was not thrilled about was Jacques' possessiveness of Daiyu. It seemed over the top. But, I will be waiting for the next in this unique series!

Thanks to Cozy Mystery Review Crew for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.