Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder - (Inspector Chen Mystery) by Qiu Xiaolong

About the Book

Removed from his position as chief Inspector, Chen Cao has been installed as director of the Shanghai Judicial System Reform Office but immediately placed on involuntary 'convalescence leave.' Despite being on leave, the murder of an acquaintance leads Chen to get involved in an investigation that shares a striking similarity to a Judge Dee novel.

Book Synopsis

Chen Cao has been removed from his chief inspector role, but that doesn't stop him investigating a 'private kitchen' murder that has similarities to a Judge Dee story.

No longer a chief inspector, Chen Cao finds himself as director of the Shanghai Judicial System Reform Office. To outsiders it's a promotion, but Chen knows he's being removed from the spotlight as he's immediately placed on involuntary 'convalescence leave' to stop him interfering with any cases. However, with various high-profile crimes making headlines and fears escalating over vigilante reprisals, Chen's superiors know he must at least appear active.

One case revolves around Min Lihau, a mingyuan, who runs a 'private kitchen' for powerful figures in Shanghai. Min's accused of murdering her assistant, yet Chen is struck by the similarities to a historic case involving the famous Judge Dee. When an acquaintance of his is murdered in connection with Min, Chen knows he can't stand idly by . . . but he must act in secret, under the cover of writing a Judge Dee novel.

From the Back Cover

QIU XIAOLONG
INSPECTOR CHEN AND THE PRIVATE KITCHEN MURDER

No longer a chief inspector, Chen Cao finds himself as director of the Shanghai Judicial System Reform Office. To outsiders it's a promotion, but Chen knows he's being removed from the spotlight as he's immediately placed on involuntary 'convalescence leave' to stop him interfering with any cases. However, with various high-profile crimes making headlines and fears escalating over vigilante reprisals, Chen's superiors know he must at least appear active.

One case revolves around Min Lihau, a mingyuan, who runs a 'private kitchen' for powerful figures in Shanghai. Min's accused of murdering her assistant, yet Chen is struck by the similarities to a historic case involving the famous Judge Dee. When an acquaintance of his is murdered in connection to Min, Chen knows he can't stand idly by . . . but he must act in secret, under the cover of writing a Judge Dee novel.

Review Quotes

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"

Fascinating ... Xiaolong writes with both urgency and grace about modern China in another well-crafted mystery-- "Booklist Starred Review of Hold Your Breath, China"

Gripping ... A scathing indictment of contemporary China-- "Booklist on Becoming Inspector Chen"

Inspector Chen's 10th mystery effectively uses the genre to explore China's current pollution crisis-- "Kirkus Reviews on Hold Your Breath, China"

Newcomers and fans alike will look forward to how Qiu raises the stakes for Chen in the next book-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review"

Qiu's stylish hybrid is half fictional literary memoir and half crisp whodunit-- "Kirkus Reviews on Becoming Inspector Chen"

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"

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"

About the Author

Anthony Award-winning author Qiu Xiaolong was born in Shanghai and moved to Washington University in St Louis, US, to complete a PhD degree in comparative literature. After the Tiananmen tragedy in 1989 he stayed on in St Louis where he still lives with his wife. Qiu's sold over two million copies of his Inspector Chen mysteries worldwide and been published in twenty languages. On top of his fiction, he is a prize-winning writer of poetry. He is Junwu Distinguished Professor at Guangxi University.

All the titles in the Inspector Chen series, including Hold Your Breath, China, have been dramatized in BBC Radio 4 productions.

The Judge Dee novel that Chen Cao is writing in Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder will soon be published by Severn House.

www.qiuxiaolong.com