Description
Description
Ex-Chief Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Bureau investigates the case of a vanished man in this poetic, atmospheric literary mystery set in contemporary Shanghai.
Over two million copies of the Inspector Chen series sold worldwide. With the Chinese government's crackdown on private investigators, times are hard for those in the business: Which includes Inspector Chen's good friend Old Hunter. So when one of Shanghai's most successful businesswomen asks Old Hunter to help a man nicknamed X who's been vanished by the government, reason unknown, he accepts the politically dangerous--but extremely well-paid--case, and immediately turns to Chen for help in turn. What crime has the vanished man supposedly committed? Chen plunges in, his investigations soon leading back to the massacre at Tian'anmen Square, when X spoke up against the Party--and Chen did not. And as the inspector uncovers the life of a man whose background and tastes strangely echo his own, he becomes desperate not just to save the mysterious X, but to redeem himself for his own mistakes.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
A rare and disturbing glimpse into contemporary China-- "Booklist"
A provocative weave of history and mystery anchored in literature-- "Kirkus Reviews"
A provocative and timely take on Covid in China, with a whodunit kicker-- "Kirkus Reviews on Love and Murder in the Time of Covid"
Timely and gripping. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly transformed every aspect of contemporary life-- "Mia Chen Ma of The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing on Love and Murder in the Time of Covid"
Stellar mystery . . . Newcomers and fans alike will look forward to how Qiu raises the stakes for Chen in the next book-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder"
The plot is full of unpredictable detours and sidebars that intensify the pleasure of following Chen's vibrant curiosity. An exhilarating blend of recent history, mystery, and the writer's craft-- "Kirkus Reviews on Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder"
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"
Qiu's stylish hybrid is half fictional literary memoir and half crisp whodunit-- "Kirkus Reviews on Becoming Inspector Chen"
Gripping . . . A scathing indictment of contemporary China-- "Booklist on Becoming Inspector Chen"
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"
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Severn House
Pub date:
2026-07-28
Length:
224 pages
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