When Red Is Black

Sublime . . . complex and riveting.Maureen Corrigan The Washington PostBook World A vivid picture of modern Chinese society . . . a work of realdistinction.The ... » 

Sublime . . . complex and riveting.Maureen Corrigan The Washington PostBook World A vivid picture of modern Chinese society . . . a work of realdistinction.The Wall Street Journal terrific series. . . . Qiusperspective on China gives the mystery genre a cultural twist and unusualdirection that make his books unique and well worth reading.The RockyMountain News Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Bureau is taking avacation in part because he is annoyed at his boss Party Secretary Li butalso because he has been made an offer he cant refuse by Gu a triadconnectedbusinessman. For what seems to be a fortunewith no apparent strings attachedhe is to translate a business proposal for the New World a complex of shopsand restaurants to be built in Central Shanghai evoking nostalgia for theglitter and glamour of the 1930s. It is up to Detective Yu Chenspartner to take charge of a new case. Yin a novelist has been murdered inher room. At first it seems that only a neighbor could have committed thecrime but when one confesses Yu cannot believe that he is really the killer.As Yu looks further into Yins life ample motives begin to surface even onthe part of Internal Security. But it is only when Inspector Chen steps backinto the investigation that the culprit is apprehended. And then Chen discovershow Gu has played him and how he in turn can play the new capitalist system.Qiu Xiaolong was born in Shanghai and received an MA in English and Americanliterature in China. He received a PhD in comparative literature fromWashington University in St. Louis where he now teaches. He is the author ofDeath of a RedHeroine which has now been translated into seven languagesand A Loyal Character Dancer both available in paperback from Soho Crime. «