The
Chinese Nail Murders
A
Judge Dee Detective Story
By
Robert Van Gulik
This
is the fourth of Harper Collins' new reprints of Robert van Gulik's
ageless detective stories. Set later in his career, Judge Dee has
been sent to the border town of Pei-chow in the chilly far north
of China. One woman has disappeared, and another has turned up as
a headless body with her husband as the main suspect. A children's
game, a paper cat, and missing jewels are featured in this story,
which tests the Judge to his limits.
There
is a darker tone in here that adds weight to the story and brings
the chilly wind of authenticity. We are reminded that this is a
warts-and-all picture of ancient times, and Judge Dee was a man
of his time both in his beliefs and his obedience to unfamiliar
laws. Probably the fact that van Gulik translated an original Judge
Dee story makes these novels so unique and authentic. In a lengthy
postscript he lays out features of both Chinese fiction and what
was considered "politically correct" in the Judge's lifetime.
Laconic and yet so redolent of those long-ago days, this is another
gem of a story that belongs on any historical crime aficionado's
keeper shelf. Three cases twine in and out of each other (so much
more realistic than having the detective just solve one at a time
if you think about it) and it all fits neatly together like a Chinese
puzzle box - what a classic.
Check out The Chinese Gold Murders,
The Chinese Bell Murders and The Chinese Lake Murders,
also reviewed on this site. Then visit www.chinesemurders.com.
|
The
Book |
Perennial
(Harper Collins) |
January
2005 |
Paperback |
0060751398 |
Historical
Crime [7th century AD, China] |
More
at Amazon.com |
Excerpt
|
NOTE:
|
The
Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed
2005 |
NOTE:
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