Kowloon Tong - by Paul Theroux (Paperback)

About the Book

As 99 years of colonial rule end and the British prepare to hand over Hong Kong to China, Betty Mullard and her son, Bunt, receive an offer for their family business--which they decline--from the mysterious Mr. Hung. What they don't realize, however, is that Mr. Hung accepts no refusals.

Book Synopsis

Ninety-nine years of colonial rule are ending as the British prepare to hand over Hong Kong to China. For Betty Mullard and her son, Bunt, it doesn't concern them - until the mysterious Mr. Hung from the mainland offers them a large sum for their family business. They refuse, yet fail to realize Mr. Hung is unlike the Chinese they've known: he will accept no refusals. When a young female employee whom Bunt has been dating vanishes, he is forced to make important decisions for the first time in his life - but his good intentions are pitted against the will of Mr. Hung and the threat of the ultimate betrayal.

Review Quotes

"A compact, provocative gem of a novel." Boston Globe

"A moody thriller . . . cleverly, tightly constructed, fast-paced." The New York Times

"A taunt, illuminating story that trancends it's timely subject . . . A bravura performance." The Washington Post