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Judge Dee (Chronological order) #10
The Emperor's Pearl
It all begins on the night of the Poo-yang dragonboat races in 699 A.D.: a drummer in the leading boat collapses, and the body of a beautiful young woman turns up in a deserted country mansion. There, Judge Dee—tribunal magistrate, inquisitor, and public avenger—steps in to investigate the murders and return order to the Tang Dynasty.
In The Emperor’s Pearl, the judge discovers that these two deaths are connected by an ancient tragedy involving a near-legendary treasure stolen from the Imperial Harem one hundred years earlier. The terrifying figure of the White Lady, a river goddess enshrined on a bloodstained altar, looms in the background of the investigation. Clues are few and elusive, but under the expert hand of Robert van Gulik, this mythic jigsaw puzzle assembles itself into a taut mystery.
“If you have not yet discovered Judge Dee and his faithful Sgt. Hoong, I envy you that initial pleasure which comes from the discovery of a great detective story. For the magistrate of Poo-yang belongs in that select group of fictional detectives headed by the renowned Sherlock Holmes.”—Robert Kirsch, Los Angeles Times
“The title of this book and the book itself have much in common. Each is a jewel, a rare and precious find.”—Atlanta Times
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
55 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Robert van Gulik
160 books300 followersRobert Hans van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat best known for his Judge Dee stories. His first published book, The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, was a translation of an eighteenth-century Chinese murder mystery by an unknown author; he went on to write new mysteries for Judge Dee, a character based on a historical figure from the seventh century. He also wrote academic books, mostly on Chinese history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 8, 2024
The Moon rises the drum is beaten harder and harder as the sounds thunder to the thousands of excited spectators on both sides of the Grand Canal the rockets hit the sky and explode briefly illuminating the dark heavens as the nine canoes Dragon Boats move swifter and swifter on chilly waters the tired drummer of the lead vessel gives all his strength in one final effort as the finishing line is near and collapses just before reaching their goal disappointing his men the moonlight race comes to an abrupt end, as the stunned crowds numerous lanterns on shore light up the grim scene. We follow the wily Judge Dee, on a barge of the canal with his three wives for a better view yet more interested in playing dominoes than watching the contest not a fictional character he once lived a nemesis to criminals celebrated today in films, books and television the Sherlock Holmes of China with a difference... he was real, Di Renjie. A person like us in the ancient land of China 1,400 years ago, can he find the culprits which caused the murders two more quickly fall , Amber the extremely attractive second lady of a prosperous merchant Kou Yuan -liang whose body is discovered in a remote sacred temple of the River Goddess the White Lady, now mostly neglected, Amber with a dubious past, first wife Gold Lotus in the last four years struck with a strange debilitating malady, third victim another would be student like his late friend Tong Mai, the man will never beat another drum, he Sia Kwang becomes the same ...late, admittedly not the best inhabitants of our fair little town but still humans. Somehow all connected, the fertile mind of the judge is frequently thinking, conjuring new conspiracy theories to dot the eyes and make sense of these murders, the brutal senseless butchering. why? That is his job to uncover but how? Rumors involving the Emperor's pearl lost for a century newly found, but how is this germane to these cases...
Judge Dee has only his old sergeant Hoong Liang to help, his other three able men are on vacation in the capital; no not a new invention...rest. A small tranquil... walled town becomes sinister grows bad until , it too vanishes in the air? But don't count our man the magistrate of Poo-yang out he hasn't quit and will never do this a fighter always. The story is rather complicated however, still enchanting the reader which is the ultimate design of any book. I confess these novels perpetually gives us joy strange if you think about it, they are murder mysteries something is not quite right nonetheless I will continue to read them. The public wants, needs their hobbies so lets get a good book.
Judge Dee has only his old sergeant Hoong Liang to help, his other three able men are on vacation in the capital; no not a new invention...rest. A small tranquil... walled town becomes sinister grows bad until , it too vanishes in the air? But don't count our man the magistrate of Poo-yang out he hasn't quit and will never do this a fighter always. The story is rather complicated however, still enchanting the reader which is the ultimate design of any book. I confess these novels perpetually gives us joy strange if you think about it, they are murder mysteries something is not quite right nonetheless I will continue to read them. The public wants, needs their hobbies so lets get a good book.
February 17, 2019
Judge Dee and his wives are attending the annual dragonboat races when one of the drummers suddenly dies as his boat is about to win. Being magistrate-on-the-spot, the Judge takes control when the coroner rules it poisoning, and starts the investigation. Before long, another death occurs.
What is interesting about this series is that they tend to be rather fast-moving 'mysteries' wrapped up in a 7th century China setting. Judge Dee is a historical literary figure that has a great deal of cultural importance and in his role as (fictional) magistrate, acting as detective, judge, and jury, he gives the reader insight into an earlier China. This one takes place in the height of summer, and I found the mention of techniques used to cope with the heat very interesting. There were cool cloths one could dip and wrap around one's neck, or large bowls of melting ice that were used to cool a room.
I use the word 'mysteries' lightly, because van Gulik tries to source his material from some of the legends, so there are different sensibilities involved. As is sometimes shared in the introductions of various books, the Chinese at the time believed in divine/supernatural connections in these situations, so it's not always a matter of finding a clue, but of understanding a person's fundamental character and societal standing. At any rate, I say this because although the Judge and his right-hand-man, Sgt. Hoong, do look around the crime scenes, examine bodies, and interview various people, a lot of the Judge's solving is really just guesswork. There's a rather long section where he goes over three possible solutions with Hoong, with limited evidence for any of the possibilities. So don't expect a tightly-woven whodunit.
There was a moment or two of levity in this one, provided by the unusual Violet, a Mongolian woman who runs a wrestling school. I had to chuckle at the way she was so comfortable using the protocols and expectations of the Chinese legal system to establish her somewhat unorthodox legitimacy. I also found the tortoise adorable and loved his reoccurring role.
Unlike the other Judge Dee books I've read, while there was a sort of mythical/superstitious connection at rare times, this was one that avoided the supernatural. On the other side, this focused a great deal on the 'abnormality' and 'urges' of the murderer as part of the psychology of the crime and it's resolution. It's odd; the denouement reminded me just a bit of Poirot or Marple setting the scene, although it was done in a 7th century China kind of way.
What is interesting about this series is that they tend to be rather fast-moving 'mysteries' wrapped up in a 7th century China setting. Judge Dee is a historical literary figure that has a great deal of cultural importance and in his role as (fictional) magistrate, acting as detective, judge, and jury, he gives the reader insight into an earlier China. This one takes place in the height of summer, and I found the mention of techniques used to cope with the heat very interesting. There were cool cloths one could dip and wrap around one's neck, or large bowls of melting ice that were used to cool a room.
I use the word 'mysteries' lightly, because van Gulik tries to source his material from some of the legends, so there are different sensibilities involved. As is sometimes shared in the introductions of various books, the Chinese at the time believed in divine/supernatural connections in these situations, so it's not always a matter of finding a clue, but of understanding a person's fundamental character and societal standing. At any rate, I say this because although the Judge and his right-hand-man, Sgt. Hoong, do look around the crime scenes, examine bodies, and interview various people, a lot of the Judge's solving is really just guesswork. There's a rather long section where he goes over three possible solutions with Hoong, with limited evidence for any of the possibilities. So don't expect a tightly-woven whodunit.
There was a moment or two of levity in this one, provided by the unusual Violet, a Mongolian woman who runs a wrestling school. I had to chuckle at the way she was so comfortable using the protocols and expectations of the Chinese legal system to establish her somewhat unorthodox legitimacy. I also found the tortoise adorable and loved his reoccurring role.
Unlike the other Judge Dee books I've read, while there was a sort of mythical/superstitious connection at rare times, this was one that avoided the supernatural. On the other side, this focused a great deal on the 'abnormality' and 'urges' of the murderer as part of the psychology of the crime and it's resolution. It's odd; the denouement reminded me just a bit of Poirot or Marple setting the scene, although it was done in a 7th century China kind of way.
November 24, 2018
Pretty solid mystery set in 7th-century China.
Judge Dee is an all-around 'Renaissance man' action hero, going undercover to solve a series of murders in his township.
Based on a real-life district magistrate and diplomat of the Tang Dynasty (almost a wild-west sheriff or marshal). Written by Dutch diplomat Robert Hans van Gulik in 1963, 9th in his series of fictions following his translation of The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (an eighteenth-century Chinese murder mystery by an unknown author).
SRC 2018 TUM 5.8, and IBB set on another continent.
Judge Dee is an all-around 'Renaissance man' action hero, going undercover to solve a series of murders in his township.
Based on a real-life district magistrate and diplomat of the Tang Dynasty (almost a wild-west sheriff or marshal). Written by Dutch diplomat Robert Hans van Gulik in 1963, 9th in his series of fictions following his translation of The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (an eighteenth-century Chinese murder mystery by an unknown author).
SRC 2018 TUM 5.8, and IBB set on another continent.
April 14, 2013
Once again, author Robert van Gulik seamlessly weaves together a riveting mystery and a history lesson. This time, readers will learn more about bloodthirsty cults that predate Confucianism and Buddhism in Ancient China.
Judge Dee and his three wives partake of a boat race in honor of a river goddess in A.D. 699. In less enlightened times, a young man was sacrificed to the White Lady in order to ensure good harvests and fishing. However, as in old, a young man named Tong Mai, a disreputable student acting as the drummer on the boat favored to win the race, dies during the race. Before the novel concludes, three more people will die. Needless to say, the perspicacious Judge Dee will discover the murderer and the motive and also right a long-ago wrong.
Like Judge Dee’s faithful Sergeant Hoong, I never saw the resolution coming. It’s yet another fabulous Judge Dee mystery.
Judge Dee and his three wives partake of a boat race in honor of a river goddess in A.D. 699. In less enlightened times, a young man was sacrificed to the White Lady in order to ensure good harvests and fishing. However, as in old, a young man named Tong Mai, a disreputable student acting as the drummer on the boat favored to win the race, dies during the race. Before the novel concludes, three more people will die. Needless to say, the perspicacious Judge Dee will discover the murderer and the motive and also right a long-ago wrong.
Like Judge Dee’s faithful Sergeant Hoong, I never saw the resolution coming. It’s yet another fabulous Judge Dee mystery.
May 24, 2018
επιτελους να ερθω στα λημερια τα αγαπημενα....... τελείωσε κι αυτή η περιπέτεια του δικαστή Τι αφήνοντας ένα μειδίαμα... τι καλύτερο να ζητήσεις από ένα βιβλίο??!!!
April 27, 2015
Gulikovy případy soudce Ti jsou sázkou na jistotu a to bez ohledu na díl. Ano, jsou v zásadě všechny na jedno brdo, ale je třeba jedním dechem dodat, že hledáte-li "klasicky vystavěnou historickou přímočarou detektivku, kde zločinci jsou zlotřilí, hrdinové moudří a kde se věnuje stejný prostor postavám a jejich eskapádám jako záhadám, vraždám a podvodům a ve které se dozvíte i mnohé o zvycích a době", tak těžko hledat lepšího autora než právě generacemi prověřeného van Gulika.
May 23, 2021
Judge Dee gets confused (temporarily, of course!) and that gives Robert Van Gulik a chance to prove his literary talent. The heat, the leisure game, the nuisance provide a credible backdrop for the miscalculated theories. The amalgamation of motives is enough to alert the readers, what follows ensuite is a fascinating riddle.
February 4, 2024
I do like the setting of the book, very nice character of old times. However, it felt that the theme was rather repetitive - art students in love, old wicked men, women selling their body and stolen jewelery. This appears often in the books and now we have a full collection. However, I think it was quite clever at the end for Judge Di to use a fake hand to scare the suspects. This was something new.
March 10, 2018
άλλη μια πολύ καλή ιστορία του δικαστή τι...
May 21, 2017
I am a long time fan of Robert Hans van Gulik's Chinese Detective Judge Dee.
The author, a diplomat, scholar, musician, artist and mystery novel writer has much to recommend him. Many of his scholarly publications are or were 30 years ago considered definitive studies.
His scholarly works included topics from The Chinese lute, to Chinese sexual practices to Chinese art. He was a linguist and enough of an artist to illustrate his Judge Dee Books.
Judge Dee, was an actual Judge or to quote the sources: Ti Jen-chieh (c. 630-c. 700), magistrate and statesman of the T'ang court. Van Guik came to know of him via a second hand book relating later stories that had grown up around the crime solving skills and market place story teller-tales that had collected in the name of Judge Dee.
Von Gulik's first effort to translate the Chinese story into a more western version was a private edition. It became so popular that he would ultimately write 18 books in the series, including some short stories.
Part of the attraction of these books was the ongoing problem of bridging the Chinese tradition of judge/detective stories with western traditions. For example in the Chinese traditions:
Judges did much of their own investigations. It was believed that they could connect with the spiritual world in such a way that ghosts or spirits would be part of solving the crimes. Taken to extreme, it was believed that the judge could never be wrong, but a major part of his job was explaining to the people of the community how he had divined the answer. A judge who could not explain his solutions might find the locals willing to appeal overly aggressive judgments by rioting against the judge and killing him.
Many of the Judge Dee stories include plot-useful insights into the the non court life of Imperial Chinese, its culture and bureaucracy.
All of the above is missing in this book. It is mercifully short. In content this book lacks charm, or the Van Gulik magic. Too much of the text is given over to elaborate discussions of alternative theories and of course all of these are wrong. It is not too much of a spoiler to say that this is one case that Judge Dee never solves so much as bluffs.
Missing in this book are many of the loyal subordinates that were part of his inner circle of law enforcement officers. Sgt Hoong is present but only barely and mostly serving as a listening board for the ramblings of his normally heroic boss. Missing is anything specifically Chinese. The feel of the setting and of the story is generic, flat and non engaging.
For what is worth the title is a nice example of a MacGuffin. That is according to Merriam Webster: an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance.
What this review is intended to convey is that: this is not the best of the Judge Dee series.
The entire series is not available in a Kindle version; this one could have been skipped.
Van Gulik is a better writer than he is in this book. Get the others.
The author, a diplomat, scholar, musician, artist and mystery novel writer has much to recommend him. Many of his scholarly publications are or were 30 years ago considered definitive studies.
His scholarly works included topics from The Chinese lute, to Chinese sexual practices to Chinese art. He was a linguist and enough of an artist to illustrate his Judge Dee Books.
Judge Dee, was an actual Judge or to quote the sources: Ti Jen-chieh (c. 630-c. 700), magistrate and statesman of the T'ang court. Van Guik came to know of him via a second hand book relating later stories that had grown up around the crime solving skills and market place story teller-tales that had collected in the name of Judge Dee.
Von Gulik's first effort to translate the Chinese story into a more western version was a private edition. It became so popular that he would ultimately write 18 books in the series, including some short stories.
Part of the attraction of these books was the ongoing problem of bridging the Chinese tradition of judge/detective stories with western traditions. For example in the Chinese traditions:
Judges did much of their own investigations. It was believed that they could connect with the spiritual world in such a way that ghosts or spirits would be part of solving the crimes. Taken to extreme, it was believed that the judge could never be wrong, but a major part of his job was explaining to the people of the community how he had divined the answer. A judge who could not explain his solutions might find the locals willing to appeal overly aggressive judgments by rioting against the judge and killing him.
Many of the Judge Dee stories include plot-useful insights into the the non court life of Imperial Chinese, its culture and bureaucracy.
All of the above is missing in this book. It is mercifully short. In content this book lacks charm, or the Van Gulik magic. Too much of the text is given over to elaborate discussions of alternative theories and of course all of these are wrong. It is not too much of a spoiler to say that this is one case that Judge Dee never solves so much as bluffs.
Missing in this book are many of the loyal subordinates that were part of his inner circle of law enforcement officers. Sgt Hoong is present but only barely and mostly serving as a listening board for the ramblings of his normally heroic boss. Missing is anything specifically Chinese. The feel of the setting and of the story is generic, flat and non engaging.
For what is worth the title is a nice example of a MacGuffin. That is according to Merriam Webster: an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance.
What this review is intended to convey is that: this is not the best of the Judge Dee series.
The entire series is not available in a Kindle version; this one could have been skipped.
Van Gulik is a better writer than he is in this book. Get the others.
January 29, 2019
Preteky dračích člnov vťahujú čitateľa do deja ďalšieho z príbehov o obľúbenom sudcovi Ti. V tomto románe sa konečne zoznamujeme aj s jeho tromi ženami. Práve sa hrajú nejakú spoločenskú hru - všetko v príjemnom priateľskom/rodinnom duchu. Pomaly sa tiež tešia na sledovanie pretekov.
Autor vykreslil atmosféru dračích pretekov veľmi pútavo... až natoľko, že pri začítaní sa do knihy, som sa od nej nevedela odtrhnúť, až kým som nebola na jej konci. Zvyšok recenzie je tu: http://kokina1.blogspot.com/2019/01/c...
Autor vykreslil atmosféru dračích pretekov veľmi pútavo... až natoľko, že pri začítaní sa do knihy, som sa od nej nevedela odtrhnúť, až kým som nebola na jej konci. Zvyšok recenzie je tu: http://kokina1.blogspot.com/2019/01/c...
April 15, 2022
Four murders and four suspects clutter this over-plotted and over-narrated story set in the aftermath of the yearly dragonboat races in southern China. For Van Gulik, it's a rather inferior work, albeit still above the effort you would find in an average mystery writer. Plenty of atmosphere permeates the setting. And Van Gulik also attempts a psychological reading of a psychopathic sadist who lusts to possess beauty in all forms and shapes. Alas, things just don't work as well as in his other books. Still, it's a Judge Dee mystery and worth reading.
November 27, 2016
Another intriguing story ... this time linked to the disappearance of the emperors' pearl a century ago. Again, this story features a number of interesting female characters, including Miss Liang, who provides a bit of comic relief in an otherwise disturbing story about a mentally insane serial rapist/killer
May 7, 2022
A clever, fun, and lurid tale of antiquities, vast sums, and murder. I'm not usually a fan of the psycho-murderer, but Gulik makes this tale of goddesses, perversion, and hidden crimes work well. It's a classic presentation of the 3 or 4 potential criminals all lined up and explained.
June 1, 2021
Trois étoiles et demi, pour une qualité inégale du début à la fin, cependant les facultés d'observation de l'auteur et des anciens qu'il a imité, restent assez remarquables.
March 30, 2021
First the drummer on a dragon racing boat collapses and dies. Poison?
Second Judge Dee accompanies a woman to a business meeting. She is murdered in an old abandoned mansion before he can get to her.
Third an itinerant student and curio finder is murdered by the old mansion.
Fourth three ruffians attempt to abduct a young girl.
Fifth an old woman is strangled.
Judge Dee has three main suspects and no hard evidence. He does have the old mansion with an abandoned shrine hidden in the forest next to it. He does have a beautiful woman whose mind has become a blank. He has a missing domino.
This case is convoluted. Only the Judge and his retainer Sergeant Hoong are in Poo-Yang to work on the case.
The book is a fast paced, easy to read cozy mystery on the edge of being a thriller.
Second Judge Dee accompanies a woman to a business meeting. She is murdered in an old abandoned mansion before he can get to her.
Third an itinerant student and curio finder is murdered by the old mansion.
Fourth three ruffians attempt to abduct a young girl.
Fifth an old woman is strangled.
Judge Dee has three main suspects and no hard evidence. He does have the old mansion with an abandoned shrine hidden in the forest next to it. He does have a beautiful woman whose mind has become a blank. He has a missing domino.
This case is convoluted. Only the Judge and his retainer Sergeant Hoong are in Poo-Yang to work on the case.
The book is a fast paced, easy to read cozy mystery on the edge of being a thriller.
August 21, 2021
The second Judge Dee novel which takes place while Dee is magistrate of Poo-yang, in Jiangsu Province on the Grand Canal, which had been built in the Sui Dynasty (590-618). Written in 1963, it is the fourth volume in the second series of Judge Dee novels in which the characteristics of Chinese novels had been toned down and also the cast of characters - Judge Dee is in each of these novels only assisted by one of his helpers instead of all four; in this novel it is his trusted Sergeant and old retainer Hoong Liang.
Judge Dee is attending the Dragon Boat races accompanied by his three ladies aboard his own official barge, a celebration marking the fifth day of the fifth moon. As the final sprint begins, the timpanist of one of the boats collapses. The verdict of the coroner is "death by poisoning." In addition, Judge Dee will have to solve the murder of the young second lady of a prominent local merchant and art collector which is witnessed by the Judge himself. And on top of that odd things seem to be going on in a deserted villa at the edge of the River Goddess's overgrown mandrake grove. There are also rumors about the discovery of an Imperial Treasure so that the judge has his hands full.
Van Gulik wrote this novel in a month's time in 1960, when he was ambassador in Kuala Lumpur. However, as he was back in East Asia after eight years absence and once again in daily contact with Chinese people and old and new Chinese novels as well as the Chinese theater (Malaysia is of course not Chinese, but has a large population with a Chinese background), he lost confidence. So in the summer of 1960 he rewrote the book, also changing the culprit.
Despite the rewriting, I feel it is one of the lesser Judge Dee novels: except for the description of the dragon boat race, for the rest the novel doesn't come to life atmospherically, and unfortunately Van Gulik uses here a tired formula of (Western) detective fiction, to describe ad nauseam the possible motives of the various suspects.
Judge Dee is attending the Dragon Boat races accompanied by his three ladies aboard his own official barge, a celebration marking the fifth day of the fifth moon. As the final sprint begins, the timpanist of one of the boats collapses. The verdict of the coroner is "death by poisoning." In addition, Judge Dee will have to solve the murder of the young second lady of a prominent local merchant and art collector which is witnessed by the Judge himself. And on top of that odd things seem to be going on in a deserted villa at the edge of the River Goddess's overgrown mandrake grove. There are also rumors about the discovery of an Imperial Treasure so that the judge has his hands full.
Van Gulik wrote this novel in a month's time in 1960, when he was ambassador in Kuala Lumpur. However, as he was back in East Asia after eight years absence and once again in daily contact with Chinese people and old and new Chinese novels as well as the Chinese theater (Malaysia is of course not Chinese, but has a large population with a Chinese background), he lost confidence. So in the summer of 1960 he rewrote the book, also changing the culprit.
Despite the rewriting, I feel it is one of the lesser Judge Dee novels: except for the description of the dragon boat race, for the rest the novel doesn't come to life atmospherically, and unfortunately Van Gulik uses here a tired formula of (Western) detective fiction, to describe ad nauseam the possible motives of the various suspects.
February 12, 2008
#8 in the series finds our intrepid magistrate Dee (a real person, fictionalized in this series) in a city called Poo-Yang, where two seemingly unrelated deaths occur. Of course, Judge Dee & his assistants take on both of them, along with the theft of a valuable pearl whose recovery may save the country from political mayhem.
Again, don't start with this one; make sure you read them in order. They're all fun, but the first few books bring in the characters & you get their backstories along with the mystery.
I'd recommend this one to those readers who like historical mystery, or to those who like books set in China. Fun and easy, always involving some bit of political intrigue.
Again, don't start with this one; make sure you read them in order. They're all fun, but the first few books bring in the characters & you get their backstories along with the mystery.
I'd recommend this one to those readers who like historical mystery, or to those who like books set in China. Fun and easy, always involving some bit of political intrigue.
June 9, 2019
One of the most cinematic and thrilling installments in the series - and in a flash of coincidence that could only happen in a Judge Dee mystery... I was reading during the Dragon Boat Festival, also the scene of the book’s first murder!
October 18, 2016
Weer goed speurwerk van Rechter Tie.
April 12, 2019
I think I'm in love with Miss Liang.
September 14, 2021
Dee Jen-djieh was a real magistrate in the Tang Dynasty. Some of Robert van Gulik’s novels featuring his version of Judge Dee are based on ancient manuscripts describing certain cases and some, like The Emperor’s Pearl seem to be plausible, but fictitious. Despite a title suggesting some royal treasure, Judge Dee’s inclination is to dismiss the “pearl” as a convenient piece of legend to cover up other crimes. Is the murder of a dragon boat race crew’s drummer tied to Tang-era “sports betting?” Is the murder of a young, second wife of a nobleman a vengeance killing or a sadistic assault? Are these and other crimes tied to the kidnapping of a local courtesan? Who is the woman who can defeat the judge at fisticuffs? Who is the individual who wants to offer a human sacrifice to the idol of the river goddess? In less than 200 pages, including the ink drawings in the style of Chinese sketches of the era (drawn by van Gulik himself), Judge Dee unravels these mysteries and more.
The Emperor’s Pearl is a legendary artifact that was supposed to have been removed from the royal court decades ago. Judge Dee is convinced that this was a specious use of the legend to entice a greedy individual to a lonely place and abscond with the exorbitant price that could be exacted for such a treasure. He is also convinced that all of the extraordinary crimes taking place in the area converge around the same motive, but he is very challenged—right up to the “unmasking” of the villain in a meeting of all the suspects (at least, those still alive at that point) that wouldn’t be that out of place in an English countryside drawing room mystery. There’s even a faux supernatural bit with a disembodied hand that doesn’t exactly work out as the judge had hoped.
Don’t get me wrong, though. This isn’t and English countryside mystery with a veneer of Chinese cultural ornamentation. Van Gulik is exact in his scholarship down to details of dress and customs. As in the last Judge Dee novel I read, The Chinese Nail Mystery, I particularly enjoyed the way van Gulik describes the morning tribunal sessions. In this one, I appreciated the descriptions of social interaction within these polygamous marriages. I especially like the domino game with his wives which had a more portentous result than initially expected.
As The Emperor’s Pearl turns out, Judge Dee isn’t nearly as “omniscient” as his protagonist of comparison, Sherlock Holmes. Judge Dee’s investigation proves successful, but there are several assumptions which prove groundless. Despite those assumptions, however, the story wraps up with satisfying poetic justice for the main perpetrator and solves two older mysteries, as well. For me, it was one of the finest conclusions to a mystery ever.
The Emperor’s Pearl is a legendary artifact that was supposed to have been removed from the royal court decades ago. Judge Dee is convinced that this was a specious use of the legend to entice a greedy individual to a lonely place and abscond with the exorbitant price that could be exacted for such a treasure. He is also convinced that all of the extraordinary crimes taking place in the area converge around the same motive, but he is very challenged—right up to the “unmasking” of the villain in a meeting of all the suspects (at least, those still alive at that point) that wouldn’t be that out of place in an English countryside drawing room mystery. There’s even a faux supernatural bit with a disembodied hand that doesn’t exactly work out as the judge had hoped.
Don’t get me wrong, though. This isn’t and English countryside mystery with a veneer of Chinese cultural ornamentation. Van Gulik is exact in his scholarship down to details of dress and customs. As in the last Judge Dee novel I read, The Chinese Nail Mystery, I particularly enjoyed the way van Gulik describes the morning tribunal sessions. In this one, I appreciated the descriptions of social interaction within these polygamous marriages. I especially like the domino game with his wives which had a more portentous result than initially expected.
As The Emperor’s Pearl turns out, Judge Dee isn’t nearly as “omniscient” as his protagonist of comparison, Sherlock Holmes. Judge Dee’s investigation proves successful, but there are several assumptions which prove groundless. Despite those assumptions, however, the story wraps up with satisfying poetic justice for the main perpetrator and solves two older mysteries, as well. For me, it was one of the finest conclusions to a mystery ever.
June 19, 2024
The Judge Dee books are one of my favorites. I've re-read them many times, this is the first time on Kindle. Spoilers ahead.
This is probably not one of my favorites. The story starts off with the Dragon Boat festival where one of the boats' drummers dies suddenly. At first they thought it was a heart condition but the coroner rules it was poison. As the race ends, Dee decides to do some snooping incognito. It's the evening and he runs into a woman who thinks he's a boxing master and hires him to accompany her to a purchase transaction in an old derelict mansion.
They get to the property where the woman dismisses him but he hangs around just out of sight in case something illegal happens. The woman meets the seller but instead of selling her the item, he kills her. Judge Dee rushes in but the culprit escapes.
The woman happens to be one of the town's notable's wife Amber so many of the town's premier citizens are brought into the story. Shortly after, the drummer's roommate is also murdered and the story goes from there.
I like the Judge Dee's books because the characters are full of life and personality. Especially the judge's assistants. Unfortunately in this book, only one of the 4 are around and he doesn't do much and he's the least interesting one (Sergeant Hoong). Worse, too many other characters are around and they all feel the same. I felt the plot was a bit of muddle and despite or because of the characters. And there was a long boring bit in the middle where Dee explains to Hoong how each of his suspects could be the killer.
But the book somewhat redeemed itself at the end when Dee gathers all the suspects around during a rainstorm and tries to bluff them into confession. The setting is realistically creepy and suspenseful. The reveal was a bit of a letdown and even the usual twist didn't save it that much.
This is probably not one of my favorites. The story starts off with the Dragon Boat festival where one of the boats' drummers dies suddenly. At first they thought it was a heart condition but the coroner rules it was poison. As the race ends, Dee decides to do some snooping incognito. It's the evening and he runs into a woman who thinks he's a boxing master and hires him to accompany her to a purchase transaction in an old derelict mansion.
They get to the property where the woman dismisses him but he hangs around just out of sight in case something illegal happens. The woman meets the seller but instead of selling her the item, he kills her. Judge Dee rushes in but the culprit escapes.
The woman happens to be one of the town's notable's wife Amber so many of the town's premier citizens are brought into the story. Shortly after, the drummer's roommate is also murdered and the story goes from there.
I like the Judge Dee's books because the characters are full of life and personality. Especially the judge's assistants. Unfortunately in this book, only one of the 4 are around and he doesn't do much and he's the least interesting one (Sergeant Hoong). Worse, too many other characters are around and they all feel the same. I felt the plot was a bit of muddle and despite or because of the characters. And there was a long boring bit in the middle where Dee explains to Hoong how each of his suspects could be the killer.
But the book somewhat redeemed itself at the end when Dee gathers all the suspects around during a rainstorm and tries to bluff them into confession. The setting is realistically creepy and suspenseful. The reveal was a bit of a letdown and even the usual twist didn't save it that much.
June 10, 2024
The Judge Dee books are one of my favorites. I've re-read them many times, this is the first time on Kindle. Spoilers ahead.
This is probably not one of my favorites. The story starts off with the Dragon Boat festival where one of the boats' drummers dies suddenly. At first they thought it was a heart condition but the coroner rules it was poison. As the race ends, Dee decides to do some snooping incognito. It's the evening and he runs into a woman who thinks he's a boxing master and hires him to accompany her to a purchase transaction in an old derelict mansion.
They get to the property where the woman dismisses him but he hangs around just out of sight in case something illegal happens. The woman meets the seller but instead of selling her the item, he kills her. Judge Dee rushes in but the culprit escapes.
The woman happens to be one of the town's notable's wife Amber so many of the town's premier citizens are brought into the story. Shortly after, the drummer's roommate is also murdered and the story goes from there.
I like the Judge Dee's books because the characters are full of life and personality. Especially the judge's assistants. Unfortunately in this book, only one of the 4 are around and he doesn't do much and he's the least interesting one (Sergeant Hoong). Worse, too many other characters are around and they all feel the same. I felt the plot was a bit of muddle and despite or because of the characters. And there was a long boring bit in the middle where Dee explains to Hoong how each of his suspects could be the killer.
But the book somewhat redeemed itself at the end when Dee gathers all the suspects around during a rainstorm and tries to bluff them into confession. The setting is realistically creepy and suspenseful. The reveal was a bit of a letdown and even the usual twist didn't save it that much.
This is probably not one of my favorites. The story starts off with the Dragon Boat festival where one of the boats' drummers dies suddenly. At first they thought it was a heart condition but the coroner rules it was poison. As the race ends, Dee decides to do some snooping incognito. It's the evening and he runs into a woman who thinks he's a boxing master and hires him to accompany her to a purchase transaction in an old derelict mansion.
They get to the property where the woman dismisses him but he hangs around just out of sight in case something illegal happens. The woman meets the seller but instead of selling her the item, he kills her. Judge Dee rushes in but the culprit escapes.
The woman happens to be one of the town's notable's wife Amber so many of the town's premier citizens are brought into the story. Shortly after, the drummer's roommate is also murdered and the story goes from there.
I like the Judge Dee's books because the characters are full of life and personality. Especially the judge's assistants. Unfortunately in this book, only one of the 4 are around and he doesn't do much and he's the least interesting one (Sergeant Hoong). Worse, too many other characters are around and they all feel the same. I felt the plot was a bit of muddle and despite or because of the characters. And there was a long boring bit in the middle where Dee explains to Hoong how each of his suspects could be the killer.
But the book somewhat redeemed itself at the end when Dee gathers all the suspects around during a rainstorm and tries to bluff them into confession. The setting is realistically creepy and suspenseful. The reveal was a bit of a letdown and even the usual twist didn't save it that much.
July 17, 2022
A Judge Dee mystery set in Tang Dynasty (Seventh Century A.D.) China by celebrated Dutch writer/artist/diplomat van Gulik. This is one of the later Judge Dee books, originally published in 1963.
It was OK, although plot- and exposition-heavy. The first murder concerns the drummer of a dragon boat who is poisoned during a high-stakes race. Three other murders ensue. The ending evokes British drawing room mysteries of the Thirties, where the suspects are gathered in a room to hear the detective's summary and accusation.
Judge Dee is a wonderful character, but the supporting cast, including Dee’s sergeant Hoong Liang, are flat and uninteresting. The one exception is Miss Violet Liang, a Mongolian wrestler who appears in only two scenes yet is the most memorable character in the book. She deserves her own series.
Although this is a short novel (under 200 pages), my paperback was a bit longer because two of the 12-page signatures were repeated, the first time I’ve seen that printing error in my life.
I bought a handful of these dusty old Judge Dee paperbacks on November 9, 2016, the day after a corrupt racist traitor was elected president of the United States. I probably should have started reading them sooner; they're suitably distracting.
It was OK, although plot- and exposition-heavy. The first murder concerns the drummer of a dragon boat who is poisoned during a high-stakes race. Three other murders ensue. The ending evokes British drawing room mysteries of the Thirties, where the suspects are gathered in a room to hear the detective's summary and accusation.
Judge Dee is a wonderful character, but the supporting cast, including Dee’s sergeant Hoong Liang, are flat and uninteresting. The one exception is Miss Violet Liang, a Mongolian wrestler who appears in only two scenes yet is the most memorable character in the book. She deserves her own series.
Although this is a short novel (under 200 pages), my paperback was a bit longer because two of the 12-page signatures were repeated, the first time I’ve seen that printing error in my life.
I bought a handful of these dusty old Judge Dee paperbacks on November 9, 2016, the day after a corrupt racist traitor was elected president of the United States. I probably should have started reading them sooner; they're suitably distracting.
January 8, 2023
Set in 699 AD, China, Judge Dee is confronted with two very puzzling cases.
It is the day of the Dragonboat Festival, an all day celebration that culminates with a race of nine dragonboats. The celebration is in honour of the River Goddess.
Just as the boats are crossing the finish line, one of the drummers collapses. The man is determined to be dead from a heart attack, but Judge Dee has his own coroner, who notices some irregularities and determines poisoning to be the cause. This means murder.
Judge Dee later comes upon a lady, who asks him to escort her to an old, abandoned house on the edge of the Mandrake Grove. The property was thought to belong to the White Woman — the River Goddess. The woman is going there to purchase a valuable item. The sale results in robbery and her death.
Judge Dee is now confronted with two murders that are somehow connected. There is also the matter of the missing Emperor’s Pearl.
Piece by piece, Judge Dee puts this jigsaw together to match the connections and solve the mysteries.
Interesting note: The author, Robert van Gulik, was a recognized authority on Chinese history and pulled his plots from Chinese literature…detective novels from the 17th Century!
It is the day of the Dragonboat Festival, an all day celebration that culminates with a race of nine dragonboats. The celebration is in honour of the River Goddess.
Just as the boats are crossing the finish line, one of the drummers collapses. The man is determined to be dead from a heart attack, but Judge Dee has his own coroner, who notices some irregularities and determines poisoning to be the cause. This means murder.
Judge Dee later comes upon a lady, who asks him to escort her to an old, abandoned house on the edge of the Mandrake Grove. The property was thought to belong to the White Woman — the River Goddess. The woman is going there to purchase a valuable item. The sale results in robbery and her death.
Judge Dee is now confronted with two murders that are somehow connected. There is also the matter of the missing Emperor’s Pearl.
Piece by piece, Judge Dee puts this jigsaw together to match the connections and solve the mysteries.
Interesting note: The author, Robert van Gulik, was a recognized authority on Chinese history and pulled his plots from Chinese literature…detective novels from the 17th Century!
October 25, 2019
Tập 6 trong series Địch Công Kỳ Án. Tập truyện lần này, tác giả đã đưa cho Địch Nhân Kiệt một vụ án vô cùng hóc búa, khi mà gần như tất cả những người liên quan đến các vụ án mạng đều đã bị sát hạt nhằm diệt khẩu. Thậm chí càng khó khăn hơn, khi mà không chỉ có một hung thủ duy nhất mà hắn còn có cả đồng phạm.
Trong truyện, Địch Công đã phải sử dụng đến một mẹo nhỏ để lừa tên hung thủ phải hoảng sợ mà tự thú và hé lộ chân tướng của sự việc. Thật tình cờ mà tên hung thủ tự thú một cách dễ dàng và khai ra toàn bộ sự việc.
Nhưng trong truyện, Địch Huyện lệnh cũng mắc phải một sai lầm về nhân cách của Kha phu nhân, mà chính ông cũng đã phải tự trách bản thân mình, cho thấy, ông vẫn là một người bình thường, dựa trên cơ sở những gì mình có mà suy luận, chứ không thần thánh hóa một cách không tưởng.
Trong truyện, Địch Công đã phải sử dụng đến một mẹo nhỏ để lừa tên hung thủ phải hoảng sợ mà tự thú và hé lộ chân tướng của sự việc. Thật tình cờ mà tên hung thủ tự thú một cách dễ dàng và khai ra toàn bộ sự việc.
Nhưng trong truyện, Địch Huyện lệnh cũng mắc phải một sai lầm về nhân cách của Kha phu nhân, mà chính ông cũng đã phải tự trách bản thân mình, cho thấy, ông vẫn là một người bình thường, dựa trên cơ sở những gì mình có mà suy luận, chứ không thần thánh hóa một cách không tưởng.
April 9, 2021
In this edition, the novel is only 150 pages but those pages are chock full of words. There is hardly any white space around the text. But this is a minor criticism compared to the other problems which bothered me. The main complaint that I have is that Judge Dee seems to solve the mystery without any real exposition of the evidence until the last three chapters which also rely on the confessions of the perpetrators. Unless I missed it somehow, the reader is never privileged to discover what Judge Dee knows before he reveals it all at the end. The unusual setting of the book in medieval China adds something to the interest but it could have used a fuller explanation of some of the terms used. Western readers may not be familiar with the modes of transportation, the civil authority, or the differences between Chinese religions.
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January 2, 2023The death of a rower's drummer during a boat race seems simple enough, even a bit of a fortunate omen. But the deaths start piling up. We know there is a murdering maniac, and the stage seems to have been set around a sinister grove dedicated to an even more sinister goddess. One beautiful lady dies shortly after she dismissed Judge Dee's protection, and he is outraged. In two days he traps the main killer, plus proving and disproving various myths and stories.
In spite of the Mandrake Grove, van Gulik's tale isn't dark. I got a kick out of the martial arts mistress Miss Violet Liang. The trap Judge Dee sets for his criminal mastermind is based on a delightful special effect.
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In spite of the Mandrake Grove, van Gulik's tale isn't dark. I got a kick out of the martial arts mistress Miss Violet Liang. The trap Judge Dee sets for his criminal mastermind is based on a delightful special effect.
Read 2 times
September 30, 2025
There are no bad Judge Dee books, but this one is good rather than great.
A murder that seems tied to the local dragon boat race festival, overlaps with a shady deal gone wrong and does any of this connect to the mysterious figure stalking women or the rumors of the haunted mangrove forrest...?
The separate threads are interesting, but when they overlap, it gets convoluted, and leads to Dee repeating the same scenarios repeatedly, while just plugging in a different suspect, so by the time of the reveal, you're feeling slightly exhausted.
Still love Dee as a character and any scene where he interacts with his wives.
And while most of Dee's regular assistants are not in this book, I do enjoy the beggar king and the woman who runs the training gym.
A murder that seems tied to the local dragon boat race festival, overlaps with a shady deal gone wrong and does any of this connect to the mysterious figure stalking women or the rumors of the haunted mangrove forrest...?
The separate threads are interesting, but when they overlap, it gets convoluted, and leads to Dee repeating the same scenarios repeatedly, while just plugging in a different suspect, so by the time of the reveal, you're feeling slightly exhausted.
Still love Dee as a character and any scene where he interacts with his wives.
And while most of Dee's regular assistants are not in this book, I do enjoy the beggar king and the woman who runs the training gym.
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