R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 6/22/2019 + 1452 more book reviews

I like this series featuring Liu Hulan, a detective in Communist China's Ministry of Public Security, and U.S. Attorney David Stark whose love for each other keeps them linked over thousands of miles. The author builds a stark picture of China as it builds its economy on the backs of its people, particularly young women. This tale takes place largely in a toy factory where a murdered young woman worked before her death. Her death was staged as a suicide but her mother can't believe that her daughter would commit suicide. Her doubt is so strong that she writes Liu Hulan, a friend she hasn't seen for years. She begs Liu Hulan to help her find who killed her daughter and why.

Meanwhile David Stark has problems of his own. With his work regarding a Chinese gang wrapping up a good friend is killed as they walk from a dining engagement. Believing that he, David, was the target, he contacts the FBI and is assigned body guards. His FBI friends urge him to make himself unavailable and encourage taking a job in China. He doesn't hesitate as he wants to be with Liu Hulan again. When he arrives he finds his beloved deeply involved in investigating the death of her friend's daughter.

One reviewer notes how well the author describes the work and political scene in China. I agree as the author details both the life of the poor who survive on small plots and the life that Hui Hulan leads where she is constantly watched by political adversaries. The story puts both David and Hulan in danger as they work at their jobs. It's a tense situation as David is working for the firm who is finalizing sale of the toy factory while Hulan is investigating it and the current owners.

For me, this was a good read. I will pick up the final volume in the trilogy in the next few weeks.

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