Shadow of the Empire, The (A Judge Dee Investigation, 1)

Review\nWhile series fans will be delighted at the background Qiu provides, this is an accessible starting point for newcomers ... in his superior 11th novel featuring Shanghai policeman and poet Chen Cao ― Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Becoming Inspector Chen\nQiu writes in a lyrical style . . . Poems become clues, even evidence, in the far-from-cursory probe he conducts ― Wall Street Journal\nAn elaborate and satisfying souffle of mystery, history, and poetry ― Kirkus Reviews\nQiu's stylish hybrid is half fictional literary memoir and half crisp whodunit ― Kirkus Reviews on Becoming Inspector Chen\n'Qiu writes in a lyrical style . . . Poems become clues, even evidence, in the far-from-cursory probe he conducts’ – Wall Street Journal\n‘Qiu combines a sophisticated puzzle with appropriate period detail, avoiding the anachronisms of previous Judge Dee fiction. Fans of those books, by Robert van Gulik and others, will clamor for more' – Publishers Weekly Starred Review\n'An elaborate and satisfying souffle of mystery, history, and poetry' – Kirkus Reviews\n'Qiu’s rendition [of Judge Dee] is just as approachable and good-natured as his contemporary murder mysteries ' – The Asian Review of Books\n'Judge Dee and Yang are an endearing duo for this delightful series' – The Historical Novels Review\n'While series fans will be delighted at the background Qiu provides, this is an accessible starting point for newcomers ... in his superior 11th novel featuring Shanghai policeman and poet Chen Cao' – Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Becoming Inspector Chen\nOutstanding ― Publishers Weekly on Hold Your Breath, China\nFans of mysteries about honest cops working for compromised regimes won't want to miss this one ― Library Journal Starred Review of Hold Your Breath, China\nThe latest Chen is both a scathing indictment of contemporary China and an explanation of how poet Chen came to be Chief Inspector Chen. Gripping ― Booklist on Becoming Inspector Chen\n'Brilliant' –Publishers Weekly Starred Review
The legendary Judge Dee Renjie investigates a high-profile murder case in this intriguing companion novel to Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder set in seventh-century China.\nJudge Dee Renjie, Empress Wu's newly appointed Imperial Circuit Supervisor for the Tang Empire, is visiting provinces surrounding the grand capital of Chang'an. One night a knife is thrown through his window with a cryptic note attached: 'A high-flying dragon will have something to regret!'\nMinutes after the ominous warning appears, Judge Dee is approached by an emissary of Internal Minister Wu, Empress Wu's nephew. Minister Wu wants Judge Dee to investigate a high-profile murder supposedly committed by the well-known poetess and courtesan, Xuanji, who locals believe is possessed by the spirit of a black fox.\nWhy is Minister Wu interested in Xuanji? Despite Xuanji confessing to the murder, is there more to the case than first appears? With the mysterious warning and a fierce power struggle playing out at the imperial court, Judge Dee knows he must tread carefully . . .\nFrom the Back Cover\n"While series fans will be delighted at the background Qiu provides, this is an accessible starting point for newcomers . . . in his superior 11th novel featuring Shanghai policeman and poet Chen Cao"
Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Becoming Inspector Chen\n"Qiu's stylish hybrid is half fictional literary memoir and half crisp whodunit"
Kirkus Reviews on Becoming Inspector Chen\n"The latest Chen is both a scathing indictment of contemporary China and an explanation of how poet Chen came to be Chief Inspector Chen. Gripping"
Booklist on Becoming Inspector Chen\n"Fans of mysteries about honest cops working for compromised regimes won't want to miss this one"
Library Journal Starred Review of Hold Your Breath, China