INSPECTOR CHEN AND THE PRIVATE KITCHEN MURDER

A particularly intriguing case triggers a sleuthing rebirth for a former police detective.

In the twilight of his career, veteran inspector Chen Cao has been eased out of the Shanghai Police Bureau, put on sick leave, and given the nominal post of director of the Shanghai Judicial System Reform Office. Considering his frequent scrapes with Communist Party loyalists and the outsider status his literary passions have earned him, this ought to be the perfect spot in which to live out his golden years. But when his former colleague “Old Hunter” mentions the plight of young Min Lihua, Chen's professional curiosity is piqued. It doesn’t hurt that Min shares Chen’s literary soul or that Old Hunter flatters Chen by continuing to call him Chief. Min, whose private dinner parties have made her something of a celebrity, has been arrested for the murder of an attendee. As Chen investigates, he realizes that the juiciest thread in the case involves high-ranking Party official Judge Jiao, whose sex video has turned up on the internet. The Party’s fervid desire to transfer Min far away from the public eye also makes the detective suspicious. As in Chen’s dozen previous cases, bits of verse and references to favorite writers and books are woven into the tale. Chen’s identification with the righteous fictional sleuth Judge Dee fuels his quest for justice. 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.