What if you studied to be a poet, but were forced to be a detective? This is the protagonist’s dilemma in Qiu Xiaolong’s Inspector Chen Cao series. Set in contemporary Shanghai, these mysteries are not just police procedurals but also political thrillers laced with commentary on life in a rapidly changing society. Chen himself is a sort of Chinese Maigret, a man of cultured tastes forced to confront society’s ugliest aspects.
Inspector Chen is a detective with the soul of a poet. Look for Qiu Xiaolong's newest, Hold Your Breath, China. Coming Soon!