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Judge Dee (Chronological order) #17
Китайски загадки: Убийство в Кантон
В "Убийство в Кантон" съдията Ди, отскоро председател на Столичния съд, заминава на юг по следите на един изчезнал сановник. Голямото пристанище Кантон, средище на търговията между китайци и араби, става арена на остри сблъсъци в може би най-драматичния роман от цялата серия. Двама помощници на съдията Ди изцяло променят отношението си към жените... През това време в столицата страховитата императрица У Дзътян (624-705 г.) разчиства своя път към абсолютната власт.
265 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
42 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Robert van Gulik
170 books301 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 75 reviews
August 28, 2025
There is trouble brewing in the important port of Canton in southern China the year 681 you can smell it in the air. Judge Dee now an influential member in weak Emperor Gaozong's court of the magnificent T'ang dynasty, however the power was in the hands of the able Empress Wu his wife. Now the top law enforcer in the land he takes a journey with his two loyal aids Chiao Tai the muscles and brainy Tao Gan. People are being slaughtered at an alarming rate and growing , the odor seems to originate from the foreign boats on the Pearl River flowing to the sea but not fast enough. The vessels are mainly arriving from Persia and the ever expanding Arab Caliphate. The mysteries are more political in nature than ordinary homicides thinks Dee. The key is a beautiful but blind woman who lives by...yes the truth...capturing crickets who fight against other insects of the same species while gamblers bet, the winners survive at least another day, apparently a popular entertainment then. The human race is quite weird. A motley group of suspects spreads thickly through the city, a sea captain, wealthy merchant, a soiled dove that everyone seems to strangely love, surprisingly this...
includes Chiao Tai , government officials and the blind girl mentioned before. Maybe rebellion here which would rock the entire nation in convulsions and cause death and destruction to his beloved country. Assassins hit hard and often, no one is spared, a strangling, knives struck, poisons drunk the cloud like puzzle hide the guilty . He must leave soon back to the capital yet our man needs time to resolve the dangerous situation it is his job. Still the judge is getting old over fifty , ancient for the 7th century however duty must be done. Feeling in his bones that fact, friends are falling away they want to start their own families . Problems never cease , this is his last case, the future makes him...
the influential chancellor of the huge nation, nevertheless Dee is a servant of Chinese society. A wonderful visit to the long ago, if you like history this should fascinate, people with all their faults are interesting...this changes not.
includes Chiao Tai , government officials and the blind girl mentioned before. Maybe rebellion here which would rock the entire nation in convulsions and cause death and destruction to his beloved country. Assassins hit hard and often, no one is spared, a strangling, knives struck, poisons drunk the cloud like puzzle hide the guilty . He must leave soon back to the capital yet our man needs time to resolve the dangerous situation it is his job. Still the judge is getting old over fifty , ancient for the 7th century however duty must be done. Feeling in his bones that fact, friends are falling away they want to start their own families . Problems never cease , this is his last case, the future makes him...
the influential chancellor of the huge nation, nevertheless Dee is a servant of Chinese society. A wonderful visit to the long ago, if you like history this should fascinate, people with all their faults are interesting...this changes not.
August 26, 2016
Αστυνομικές περιπέτειες στην Κίνα του 680 μ.χ.! Περιποιημένο αστυνομικό, ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα, με ωραία αφήγηση, έξυπνους και σπιρτόζους ήρωες και αναπάντεχο τέλος. Πάνω από όλα όμως ευκολοδιάβαστο και πολύ διασκεδαστικό. Ο δικαστής Τι και η περιπέτειες του τελικά δεν με απογοητεύουν ποτέ.
July 5, 2014
In a nice change of pace, Judge Dee investigates in Canton, which, even in the 7th century, was a cosmopolitan city full of Arabs, Persians, and other foreigners. Judge Dee, now elevated to Lord Chief Justice, has come to that southern city with two trusted assistants, the solemn Colonel Chiao Tai and the wily old trickster Tao Gan, to investigate the disappearance of a high-ranking official from the capital. While Murder in Canton was the 13th Judge Dee novel published, the novels bounce around chronologically and Murder in Canton is the very last tale of Judge Dee’s illustrious career.
As is usual in author Robert van Gulik’s Judge Dee novel and in traditional Chinese detective stories, Murder in Canton deals with three cases, all set in A.D. 681, although one is inconsequential. The most important one, of course, involves the disappearance of the official, the Imperial Censor, who was investigating some skullduggery of national interest in secret. Early in that investigation, an Arab plotting to kill Chiao Tai kills the aged Northern Chinese gentleman who tips Chiao Tai off, but then is immediately strangled himself. Why was this Arab intent on killing Judge Dee’s loyal assistant? And who killed the Arab in turn? In the second case, a beautiful and exotic Arab dancing girl may hold the key to some unsavory goings-on in Canton. Those familiar with Judge Dee won't be surprised to find that the disparate threads become intertwined by the novel’s close.
Van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat, linguist (he writes English like a native!), and an expert in China, both modern and ancient. As with all Judge Dee novels, Van Gulik seamlessly introduces lots of ancient Chinese history, in this case the exchanges between what were the two world powers of the 7th century: the T’ang Empire, which extended west to Turkestan and south to what’s now Vietnam, and the Caliphate, which encompassed the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe as far west as the Iberian Peninsula.
Van Gulik first introduced Judge Dee to the West in Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, first published in 1949 (although not translated into English until 1976). Using a real-life Chinese magistrate during the T'ang Dynasty named Ti Jen-chieh, van Gulik simplified the magistrate's name to Judge Dee Jen-djieh, and, in that first novel, he pretty much just used the cases from an 18th century Chinese detective novel, Dee Goong An. In his subsequent novels — including Murder in Canton — van Gulik wrote the books from his own imagination, although including nuggets culled from original ancient Chinese cases and 18th century Chinese detective stories.
As is usual in author Robert van Gulik’s Judge Dee novel and in traditional Chinese detective stories, Murder in Canton deals with three cases, all set in A.D. 681, although one is inconsequential. The most important one, of course, involves the disappearance of the official, the Imperial Censor, who was investigating some skullduggery of national interest in secret. Early in that investigation, an Arab plotting to kill Chiao Tai kills the aged Northern Chinese gentleman who tips Chiao Tai off, but then is immediately strangled himself. Why was this Arab intent on killing Judge Dee’s loyal assistant? And who killed the Arab in turn? In the second case, a beautiful and exotic Arab dancing girl may hold the key to some unsavory goings-on in Canton. Those familiar with Judge Dee won't be surprised to find that the disparate threads become intertwined by the novel’s close.
Van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat, linguist (he writes English like a native!), and an expert in China, both modern and ancient. As with all Judge Dee novels, Van Gulik seamlessly introduces lots of ancient Chinese history, in this case the exchanges between what were the two world powers of the 7th century: the T’ang Empire, which extended west to Turkestan and south to what’s now Vietnam, and the Caliphate, which encompassed the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe as far west as the Iberian Peninsula.
Van Gulik first introduced Judge Dee to the West in Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, first published in 1949 (although not translated into English until 1976). Using a real-life Chinese magistrate during the T'ang Dynasty named Ti Jen-chieh, van Gulik simplified the magistrate's name to Judge Dee Jen-djieh, and, in that first novel, he pretty much just used the cases from an 18th century Chinese detective novel, Dee Goong An. In his subsequent novels — including Murder in Canton — van Gulik wrote the books from his own imagination, although including nuggets culled from original ancient Chinese cases and 18th century Chinese detective stories.
April 29, 2022
Although four more Judge Dee books would follow the publication of Murder in Canton, it is this novel that brings an end to the series chronologically. Here, Dee is once again the Chief Justice for China, as he was in The Willow Pattern. Here, too, there is an utter sense of finality. At the end, Dee's lieutenants are scattered to the wind. Ma Joong is happily married, Tao Gan has asked a young woman to be his First Lady, and Chiao Tai has joined Sergeant Hoong as a victim of Dee's enemies. Even the judge himself has resigned from investigating anymore criminal cases. Aging and tired, he will steel himself to fight the political battles to come, in particular against Empress Wu.
I don't know how much van Gulik's own mortality enters into the somewhat gloomy ending of this novel. For the author had but one more year to live after its publication. Did van Gulik realize his cancer was fatal? Does that overlay this work? Things do seem grim. In fact, Dee disappears from the last chapter. It is as if the world has passed him by.
I don't know how much van Gulik's own mortality enters into the somewhat gloomy ending of this novel. For the author had but one more year to live after its publication. Did van Gulik realize his cancer was fatal? Does that overlay this work? Things do seem grim. In fact, Dee disappears from the last chapter. It is as if the world has passed him by.
May 19, 2021
Το τελευταίο της σειράς, αλλά το πρώτο που διαβάζω....σίγουρα θα διαβάσω και τα υπόλοιπα της σειράς.
"Για μας τους δύο, η αγάπη ήταν θάνατος....το είχα νιώσει την πρώτη στιγμή που σε είχα αντικρίσει. Είχα δει ένα πεδίο μάχης, είχα μυρίσει φρεσκοχυμένο αίμα, το είχα δει να τρέχει κατακόκκινο..."
"Για μας τους δύο, η αγάπη ήταν θάνατος....το είχα νιώσει την πρώτη στιγμή που σε είχα αντικρίσει. Είχα δει ένα πεδίο μάχης, είχα μυρίσει φρεσκοχυμένο αίμα, το είχα δει να τρέχει κατακόκκινο..."
August 31, 2022
Một cái kết giàu cảm xúc để khép lại bộ truyện. Lâu rồi mình mới rơi nước mắt khi đọc. Đúng là số mệnh con người được an bài theo nhiều cách khác nhau, người được tư gia êm ấm, kẻ bỏ mạng vì đại cục. Xót thương thay!
Trở lại với cuốn sách, mình xin thú thật là 1/3 đầu rất khó theo dõi vì có quá nhiều nhân vật cùng chức danh tương ứng, chưa kể các tộc người khác nhau cùng sinh sống ở Quảng Châu. Nhưng sau dần mọi thứ vào đúng vị trí hơn và các nhân vật được giới thiệu đầy đủ nên mình cũng nhận ra ai với ai. Vụ án lần này thực sự phức tạp và không thể hoá giải chỉ bằng những manh mối, sự vụ mà truyện cung cấp. Một lần nữa tác giả lại xây dựng một nhân vật phản diện có tâm lý biến thái, mà mình thấy có sự trùng lặp với một số tập trước. Thú vị nhất là có một femme fatale Đông phương trong truyện, dù nhân vật này vẫn còn ngốc lắm, chưa thể sánh với mấy cô Tây phương.
Trở lại với cuốn sách, mình xin thú thật là 1/3 đầu rất khó theo dõi vì có quá nhiều nhân vật cùng chức danh tương ứng, chưa kể các tộc người khác nhau cùng sinh sống ở Quảng Châu. Nhưng sau dần mọi thứ vào đúng vị trí hơn và các nhân vật được giới thiệu đầy đủ nên mình cũng nhận ra ai với ai. Vụ án lần này thực sự phức tạp và không thể hoá giải chỉ bằng những manh mối, sự vụ mà truyện cung cấp. Một lần nữa tác giả lại xây dựng một nhân vật phản diện có tâm lý biến thái, mà mình thấy có sự trùng lặp với một số tập trước. Thú vị nhất là có một femme fatale Đông phương trong truyện, dù nhân vật này vẫn còn ngốc lắm, chưa thể sánh với mấy cô Tây phương.
December 27, 2020
Stejně jako sám soudce Ti touhle knížkou končí svou dráhu vyšetřovatele a soudce, já ukončuji svůj "Soudce Ti maratón" a současně i reading challenge pro 2020. To to ale hezky vyšlo :)
A abych nezapomněl, tuhle sérii historických detektivek doporučuji všem, kterým už lezou na nervy všichni ti chmurně zadumaní severští detektivové. Takový Ti Žen-tie, to je jiný chlapík: se všemi třemi manželkami vychází výborně, práci nefláká, chlastu neholduje a podle toho má výsledky!
A abych nezapomněl, tuhle sérii historických detektivek doporučuji všem, kterým už lezou na nervy všichni ti chmurně zadumaní severští detektivové. Takový Ti Žen-tie, to je jiný chlapík: se všemi třemi manželkami vychází výborně, práci nefláká, chlastu neholduje a podle toho má výsledky!
November 19, 2017
βάζω 5 άστρα γιατί είναι το τελευταίο της σειράς και κλείνει απίστευτα συγκινητικα. λυπάμαι που διάβασα το τελευταίο χωρίς να έχω διαβάσει τα υπόλοιπα αλλά ευτυχώς έχω το στοιχειωμένο μοναστήρι να μου κρατήσει συντροφιά. τόσο παραμυθένιος ο κόσμος της Κίνας του 7ου αιώνα...... Τον αγαπώ
March 15, 2014
In the chronology of Judge Dee, this book is set at the end of his career as an investigator, as he makes the transition to a statesman in the capital. Most of the actual investigation is handled by two of his men, Chiao Tai and Tao Gan. In fact, at the conclusion of the story Judge Dee notes that criminals have become familiar with his techniques and can use that knowledge to evade him.
The story is set in the port city of Canton, with Arab and Persian merchants and an "untouchable" social class of Chinese. The murders in the story take place as the story unfolds and, more than any other Dee book, the criminal seems to be "playing" with judge Dee -- and directly threatening him.
The story is very good, but it since it is set at the end of his career it should probably not be a new reader's introduction to the series. My dominant impression was "melancholy." The story was published the year before the author died, and I wonder if that could have factored into the story's theme as well.
The story is set in the port city of Canton, with Arab and Persian merchants and an "untouchable" social class of Chinese. The murders in the story take place as the story unfolds and, more than any other Dee book, the criminal seems to be "playing" with judge Dee -- and directly threatening him.
The story is very good, but it since it is set at the end of his career it should probably not be a new reader's introduction to the series. My dominant impression was "melancholy." The story was published the year before the author died, and I wonder if that could have factored into the story's theme as well.
July 25, 2016
άλλο ένα πολύ καλό μυστήριο του δικαστή τι....το ίδιο μοτίβο με όλα τα υπόλοιπα αλλά πολύ καλή και σφιχτή ιστορία... Αν τα βρείτε αυτά τα μικρά βιβλία μην τα χάσετε
February 13, 2024
«Πάντως, αντιμετωπίζουμε μια ενοχλητική κατάσταση! Κάποιοι φαίνεται ότι ξέρουν τι ακριβώς κάνουμε εδώ, ενώ εμείς δεν έχουμε την παραμικρή ιδέα ποιοι είναι εκείνοι και τι ακριβώς επιδιώκουν!»
Για δες για δες! Εδώ, για πρώτη φορά σε υποθέσεις του θρυλικού Δικαστή Τι, έχουμε να κάνουμε και με πολιτική ίντριγκα. Το έτος 681 ο αυτοκράτορας ��ης Κίνας (της δυναστείας των Τανγκ) είναι βαριά άρρωστος και εξυφαίνονται συνομωσίες διαδοχής του, είτε από την Πρώτη Γυναίκα του είτε από άλλους αξιωματούχους που προσανατολίζονται σε μια αντιβασιλεία μέχρι να οριστεί νέος αυτοκράτορας. Για να τους εμποδίσει, στέλνει τον Αυτοκρατορικό Λογοκριτή του, Λιού Τάο Μινγκ, στην Καντώνα για να δει που πάνε τα πράγματα, αλλά αυτός δολοφονείται. Έτσι καταφθάνει ινκόγνιτο ο Αρχιδικαστής (και πενηντάχρινος πλέον) Τι, ο οποίος έχει εξουσία λίγο χαμηλότερη από του Αυτοκράτορα, για να ερευνήσει με τη σειρά του καταρχήν τον θάνατο του Λογοκριτή και του συνοδού του, γιατρού δρα. Σου. Τυπικά, ο λόγος της παρουσίας του είναι η διαφθορά των τοπικών αρχών και ειδικά της αραβικής παροικίας. Έχει μαζί του τον γραμματέα του Τάο Γκαν και τον υπασπιστή του συνταγματάρχη Τσιάο Τάι.
Οι άνθρωποι-κλειδιά στο μυστήριο είναι -όπως γίνεται πάντα στα μυθιστορήματα του βαν Γκούλικ- οι πόρνες και οι παλλακίδες. Αυτές με το να συναναστρέφονται με τους αξιωματούχους και τους πλουσίους παίρνουν χαμπάρι ό,τι γίνεται. Εδώ βέβαια ο Τι είναι γερασμένος και δεν χρησιμοποιεί τη γοητεία του για να αποσπάσει πληροφορίες, αλλά την χρησιμοποιούν οι συνοδοί του. Έχουμε ένα σταθερό μοτίβο. Όπως σταθερό είναι ότι οι φόνοι ακολουθούνται από φόνους (τρεις υποθέσεις πάντα -αυτή τη φορά όχι φαινομενικά άσχετες) και ότι κάπου μέσα στην πλοκή ο Τι σκέφτεται και έτσι μας δίνει μια σούμα, σαν ανακεφαλαίωση, ώστε να μην τα χάσουμε με τα τόσα ονόματα και ρόλους. Στην αρχή είναι πάντα πολύ μπερδεμένα τα πράγματα.
Είναι η τελευταία ιστορία του Δικαστή Τι. Μετά αποσύρεται σε πολιτικές -όπως είπε- υποθέσεις.
Για δες για δες! Εδώ, για πρώτη φορά σε υποθέσεις του θρυλικού Δικαστή Τι, έχουμε να κάνουμε και με πολιτική ίντριγκα. Το έτος 681 ο αυτοκράτορας ��ης Κίνας (της δυναστείας των Τανγκ) είναι βαριά άρρωστος και εξυφαίνονται συνομωσίες διαδοχής του, είτε από την Πρώτη Γυναίκα του είτε από άλλους αξιωματούχους που προσανατολίζονται σε μια αντιβασιλεία μέχρι να οριστεί νέος αυτοκράτορας. Για να τους εμποδίσει, στέλνει τον Αυτοκρατορικό Λογοκριτή του, Λιού Τάο Μινγκ, στην Καντώνα για να δει που πάνε τα πράγματα, αλλά αυτός δολοφονείται. Έτσι καταφθάνει ινκόγνιτο ο Αρχιδικαστής (και πενηντάχρινος πλέον) Τι, ο οποίος έχει εξουσία λίγο χαμηλότερη από του Αυτοκράτορα, για να ερευνήσει με τη σειρά του καταρχήν τον θάνατο του Λογοκριτή και του συνοδού του, γιατρού δρα. Σου. Τυπικά, ο λόγος της παρουσίας του είναι η διαφθορά των τοπικών αρχών και ειδικά της αραβικής παροικίας. Έχει μαζί του τον γραμματέα του Τάο Γκαν και τον υπασπιστή του συνταγματάρχη Τσιάο Τάι.
Οι άνθρωποι-κλειδιά στο μυστήριο είναι -όπως γίνεται πάντα στα μυθιστορήματα του βαν Γκούλικ- οι πόρνες και οι παλλακίδες. Αυτές με το να συναναστρέφονται με τους αξιωματούχους και τους πλουσίους παίρνουν χαμπάρι ό,τι γίνεται. Εδώ βέβαια ο Τι είναι γερασμένος και δεν χρησιμοποιεί τη γοητεία του για να αποσπάσει πληροφορίες, αλλά την χρησιμοποιούν οι συνοδοί του. Έχουμε ένα σταθερό μοτίβο. Όπως σταθερό είναι ότι οι φόνοι ακολουθούνται από φόνους (τρεις υποθέσεις πάντα -αυτή τη φορά όχι φαινομενικά άσχετες) και ότι κάπου μέσα στην πλοκή ο Τι σκέφτεται και έτσι μας δίνει μια σούμα, σαν ανακεφαλαίωση, ώστε να μην τα χάσουμε με τα τόσα ονόματα και ρόλους. Στην αρχή είναι πάντα πολύ μπερδεμένα τα πράγματα.
Είναι η τελευταία ιστορία του Δικαστή Τι. Μετά αποσύρεται σε πολιτικές -όπως είπε- υποθέσεις.
June 11, 2021
In this last book of the Judge Dee series, the Judge is sent to Canton to find the missing Censor. In the capital the Emperor is dying and various factions are vying to control the government. The Censor holds enough power to decide the fate of the factions.
The Censor's friend and companion turns up dead.
Tao Gan meets a blind girl who is more than the cricket dealer she claims to be.
Chiao Tai meets an exotic dancer and is marked for murder.
Mansur, an Arab trader, is in the thick of it.
The stakes are high. They get higher when the Censor turns up dead. Time is running out.
Characters appear and disappear as the plot twists and turns. The reader is kept wondering almost to the end. The book is fast paced and compelling.
Canton is Cantonese and in the south. It is a major trading city with populations of non Chinese. How China tries to deal with these people adds to the picture of this long ago China.
The Censor's friend and companion turns up dead.
Tao Gan meets a blind girl who is more than the cricket dealer she claims to be.
Chiao Tai meets an exotic dancer and is marked for murder.
Mansur, an Arab trader, is in the thick of it.
The stakes are high. They get higher when the Censor turns up dead. Time is running out.
Characters appear and disappear as the plot twists and turns. The reader is kept wondering almost to the end. The book is fast paced and compelling.
Canton is Cantonese and in the south. It is a major trading city with populations of non Chinese. How China tries to deal with these people adds to the picture of this long ago China.
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May 12, 2025it was actually more like eight murders
February 12, 2008
#12 in the series, set in Canton.
Judge Dee, the famous Tang-dynasty magistrate with a reputation for solving crime, goes to the city of Canton to investigate the disappearance and (as it turns out) murder of a Chinese court official. Several subplots (which are Van Gulik's forte) get tossed into the story, including a blind cricket-collector as well as creepy Arab assassins. As always, Judge Dee painstakingly unravels each mystery using his magnificent deductive powers.
Actually, this one is probably among my favorites in this series.
I have really enjoyed this series and have reread these books many times. If you haven't read these books, then you're missing something. Recommended for people who enjoy historical mysteries or books set in Asia.
Judge Dee, the famous Tang-dynasty magistrate with a reputation for solving crime, goes to the city of Canton to investigate the disappearance and (as it turns out) murder of a Chinese court official. Several subplots (which are Van Gulik's forte) get tossed into the story, including a blind cricket-collector as well as creepy Arab assassins. As always, Judge Dee painstakingly unravels each mystery using his magnificent deductive powers.
Actually, this one is probably among my favorites in this series.
I have really enjoyed this series and have reread these books many times. If you haven't read these books, then you're missing something. Recommended for people who enjoy historical mysteries or books set in Asia.
February 18, 2014
This is the end of the journey. It have been fun and exciting.
I wish that I can say this book is the best of all in the series but unfortunately I find that it's not so.
The story was rather confusing with Arab intrigue and the Imperial connection. The story have a "heavy" and sober tone.
Over here, I think what i like is Tao Gan and the blind girl. It was fun to see how the story unfolds between them .
When I read till the last page, I thing this is really the end; unless there is another author who wish to continues the series by slotting some books in between.
I wish that I can say this book is the best of all in the series but unfortunately I find that it's not so.
The story was rather confusing with Arab intrigue and the Imperial connection. The story have a "heavy" and sober tone.
Over here, I think what i like is Tao Gan and the blind girl. It was fun to see how the story unfolds between them .
When I read till the last page, I thing this is really the end; unless there is another author who wish to continues the series by slotting some books in between.
November 10, 2019
Bof, j'ai pas trop accroché. L'écriture est un peu lourdingue, les personnages pas très sympathiques, l'intrigue peu convaincante, voire tordue, l'histoire pleine de détails dans lesquels je me perds. Je finirais pas croire que je suis un peu étourdie, mais quand arrive le grand dénouement, je ne vois pas bien le rapport entre l'histoire que je viens de lire et les déductions du grand chef. Mais d'où ça sort, quoi. (Il peut m'arriver d'être étourdie, mais pas à ce point-là, vraiment pas)
October 6, 2016
Ook dit weer een leuk boek van Rechter Tie. Ik blijf ze goed vinden.
December 10, 2024
3.5 stars but I rounded it up for the realistic ending.
Here the series is quite different than when Dee was still a provincial area judge and magistrate. Now he is very near the throne in the Capitol and is being sent to Canton for several specific reasons, primarily concerning the Royal Censor (where he is?)most of the intermix cores on involving Arab populations immigration populace in that port city. But it is truly far, far more complex in groups, in hierarchies, in ship realities, in Dee's own 2 main "men" and even carrying into such nooks as the prostitution and cricket hunting/fighting occupations.
Very high death / body count and this occurs from the first page to the last. Think gangs of today but with various governmental ploys working in elimination of the "trouble" groups too. And most of the time Dee is working in the absence of his knowing every other portion while any of 3 other entities knows his every move. Plus the Emperor is dying and he must return to the Capitol immediately? Will the Empress and a few others manage a coup?
Much more difficult read than the many where Dee is much more an at home or on the horse trails or paladin carried investigator. Also much sadder. It begins and ends in Canton. Judge Dee will not be the same in any future novels. I don't think I can locate any, if they exist.
Reading this more than 60 years later than when it was written and more than 1400 years since it occurred. Well, it is an entirely Asian sense of mores- but other than that, so much remains the same. Much of the illegal activity and especially in theft, crime, revenge group to group- is identical. Much business for the cremation temple.
If you read any of these- my recommendation is to read Chinese Maze Murders. It was superb. Many of the main characters run throughout the series, but not all. Valiant death is a Chinese honor.
Here the series is quite different than when Dee was still a provincial area judge and magistrate. Now he is very near the throne in the Capitol and is being sent to Canton for several specific reasons, primarily concerning the Royal Censor (where he is?)most of the intermix cores on involving Arab populations immigration populace in that port city. But it is truly far, far more complex in groups, in hierarchies, in ship realities, in Dee's own 2 main "men" and even carrying into such nooks as the prostitution and cricket hunting/fighting occupations.
Very high death / body count and this occurs from the first page to the last. Think gangs of today but with various governmental ploys working in elimination of the "trouble" groups too. And most of the time Dee is working in the absence of his knowing every other portion while any of 3 other entities knows his every move. Plus the Emperor is dying and he must return to the Capitol immediately? Will the Empress and a few others manage a coup?
Much more difficult read than the many where Dee is much more an at home or on the horse trails or paladin carried investigator. Also much sadder. It begins and ends in Canton. Judge Dee will not be the same in any future novels. I don't think I can locate any, if they exist.
Reading this more than 60 years later than when it was written and more than 1400 years since it occurred. Well, it is an entirely Asian sense of mores- but other than that, so much remains the same. Much of the illegal activity and especially in theft, crime, revenge group to group- is identical. Much business for the cremation temple.
If you read any of these- my recommendation is to read Chinese Maze Murders. It was superb. Many of the main characters run throughout the series, but not all. Valiant death is a Chinese honor.
June 19, 2024
Spoilers ahead.
This is chronologically the last book in the series. Dee by this time is a high official sent down from the capital to Canton investigate the disappearance of an Imperial Censor. The Censor had come down originally to investigate some kind of problem with the foreign (Arab) community in Canton. He left then came back incognito and then disappeared.
Meanwhile there is some dispute with the succession of the Imperial Throne. One party belongs to the Dowager Queen who wants her nephew to succeed (and therefore have her own family in power) and the other party wants one of the Imperial Princes to succeed. The parties are in balance and the Censor's support is important so there is an urgent interest in finding the Censor quickly and without letting people know that he is missing. In history the Dowager Wu actually did take power (as part of a Regency) for a few years before the other party removed her.
This book was interesting in a historical sense for me because I learned quite a lot about the Tanka people, the Cantonese and the foreign community there in the Tang Dynasty. And as usual the story is brought to life by the memorable characters in it, which Van Gulik is a master of doing. There are the twins, the blind girl (and the crickets she collected), the Arab leader, the courtesans and the mixed ancestry characters. I'm not sure if historically there was some kind of Arabic uprising.
Overall, one of the more interesting books of the series, great characters and historical setting.
This is chronologically the last book in the series. Dee by this time is a high official sent down from the capital to Canton investigate the disappearance of an Imperial Censor. The Censor had come down originally to investigate some kind of problem with the foreign (Arab) community in Canton. He left then came back incognito and then disappeared.
Meanwhile there is some dispute with the succession of the Imperial Throne. One party belongs to the Dowager Queen who wants her nephew to succeed (and therefore have her own family in power) and the other party wants one of the Imperial Princes to succeed. The parties are in balance and the Censor's support is important so there is an urgent interest in finding the Censor quickly and without letting people know that he is missing. In history the Dowager Wu actually did take power (as part of a Regency) for a few years before the other party removed her.
This book was interesting in a historical sense for me because I learned quite a lot about the Tanka people, the Cantonese and the foreign community there in the Tang Dynasty. And as usual the story is brought to life by the memorable characters in it, which Van Gulik is a master of doing. There are the twins, the blind girl (and the crickets she collected), the Arab leader, the courtesans and the mixed ancestry characters. I'm not sure if historically there was some kind of Arabic uprising.
Overall, one of the more interesting books of the series, great characters and historical setting.
August 24, 2021
In this novel, the last in the chronology, Judge Dee resides in Changan as China's highest magistrate. In Canton, the country's most important port, traders flock from all walks of life, from India to the Middle East. One day, Liu Tao-ming, one of the mighty imperial censors, goes missing here. Judge Dee proceeds to Canton to investigate. At the same time, the judge must unravel a sordid history in the Arab community of Canton and the mystery of a beautiful blind girl who collects crickets.
Van Gulik wrote this fifth novel of the "New Series" in Kuala Lumpur, winter 1961-spring 1962. This tenth novel was really meant as the end of his Judge Dee endeavors, so he tried something new, using for the first time a real city as the setting. He selected Canton (Guangdong) as it had an Arab colony which would enable him to use the knowledge he had acquired about Arab civilization during his postings in the Middle East, and give a double intercultural twist to the tale. The novel was written more laboriously than the previous ones, perhaps because Van Gulik tried to incorporate too much historic research. He felt himself that it cluttered up the story and he was not wholly satisfied with the result. The novel ends tragically as Chiao Tai is killed (Ma Joong is absent, as he has settled down to domestic life after marrying twin sisters).
Van Gulik wrote this fifth novel of the "New Series" in Kuala Lumpur, winter 1961-spring 1962. This tenth novel was really meant as the end of his Judge Dee endeavors, so he tried something new, using for the first time a real city as the setting. He selected Canton (Guangdong) as it had an Arab colony which would enable him to use the knowledge he had acquired about Arab civilization during his postings in the Middle East, and give a double intercultural twist to the tale. The novel was written more laboriously than the previous ones, perhaps because Van Gulik tried to incorporate too much historic research. He felt himself that it cluttered up the story and he was not wholly satisfied with the result. The novel ends tragically as Chiao Tai is killed (Ma Joong is absent, as he has settled down to domestic life after marrying twin sisters).
February 7, 2020
Love Judge Dee (EM says this is the last one) . Judge Dee, Chaio Tai and Tao Gan are in Canton looking in to the disappearance of the country Censor. Lots of twists and turns as is typical but a nice overview of China. The Censor was in Canton looking in to an Arab uprising and in the process meets an Arab slave (high-end). He returns to try and bring her to the capital and help her get her citizenship, but others are in love the the Arab and the censor is killed. In the it is a wealthy advisor as he loved the Arab too, Mr. Liang.
Mansur, Captain Nee, his twins, the blind girl. Mansur escape capture and in the end returns to the capital to try and kill Judge Dee but in the end he kills Chaio Tai.
Mansur, Captain Nee, his twins, the blind girl. Mansur escape capture and in the end returns to the capital to try and kill Judge Dee but in the end he kills Chaio Tai.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2019
Kohtunik Di kronoloogiliselt viimane lugu, kus ta jääb ilma ühest oma peamisest abimehest Jiao Tai'st ning paneb ka detektiivi ameti lõplikult maha. Romaan erineb veidi kogu sarjast, tegevus toimub Kantonis ja kandvat rolli mängivad nii araablased kohalikust araabia kogukonnast kui kägistajad paariarahvast tanka'dest.
Eks ta veidi nukker on kui on pikk tee koos astutud aga minu eripära tõttu ei suutnud ma eriti neid hiina nimesid enda aju kõvakettale piisavalt seivida, ja nii saab veidi aja pärast uuesti lugeda, sest seda kes mõrvar oli, ei mäleta juba paari päeva pärast...
Eks ta veidi nukker on kui on pikk tee koos astutud aga minu eripära tõttu ei suutnud ma eriti neid hiina nimesid enda aju kõvakettale piisavalt seivida, ja nii saab veidi aja pärast uuesti lugeda, sest seda kes mõrvar oli, ei mäleta juba paari päeva pärast...
June 25, 2020
I read one of the earlier books in this series and enjoyed it, but I did not like this one. Judge Dee and his cohorts, Chaio Tai and Tao Gan, travel to Canton to discover what happened to the Censure, who has gone missing. This book was full of unpleasant people, a lot of discrimination between different cultures, plenty of naked or near naked women (this doesn't bother, just I didn't see a reason for it) and a confusing story. I should have DNF'd this book, but kept on as I was reading it for a challenge.
March 23, 2022
"Assassinio a Canton" è il libro che chiude le avventure, o meglio dire casi, del giudice Dee, ormai stanco e fiaccato nel fisico, orientato a perseguire una carriera più orientata alla politica che alla risoluzione di omicidi. Più che un giallo, il libro sembra quasi una spy-story, dove troviamo anche una misteriosa femme fatale che farà capitolare uno dei fedelissimi di Dee, ma dove non mancano i morti ammazzati. Non il più bello dei libri della serie di Van Gulik, ma certamente assolutamente valido e degno di essere letto.
May 8, 2025
Een late van Gulik, en een hele goede. Tie is oud en moe, en heel hoog gestegen in de Chinese keizerlijke hierarchie, en toch moet hij nog ene paar moorden opl,ossen en een complot verijdelen. Doet hij een met een beetje langdradig exposee aan het eind, deed me aan poirot denken, meestal is Tie bondiger, maar dat is dan ook het ene minimale smetje: 'Sla de thuiskomst in triomf', een ontroerende scene als zijn oude strijdmakker omkomt, een ontroerend detail. ZXOals eerder gezegd, vvan Gulik was een onherstelbare romanticus, en dat kwam in dit verhaal prachtig uit de verf.
April 9, 2020
I think this might be my favourite Dee novel. It has its share of casual racism (and sexism, but that's in all the book) but it helps to make the setting feel real. The riddle (riddles?) is very good, the characters are more fleshed out than in other novels and it has a truly bittersweet ending. And, of course, chronologically it's the lasst Dee novel. I'm really interested how his conflict with the Empress (apparently a true story) progressed.
November 6, 2021
Une belle fin aux aventures du magistrat, puis ministre de la Justice, Ti Renjie qui apparente de manière quelque peu anachronique mais non moins agréable, des éventements historiques tels que le Massacre de Guanzhou (de 879), l'intronisation de Wu Zeitian (en 700), les intrigues de la cour proéminentes pendant toutes les époques des changements dynastiques, et les voyages fantastiques de Xu Fu (~300 av. n. ère ).
July 20, 2023
Một vị quan lớn triều đình bỗng nhiên mất tích tại Quảng Châu. Địch Công cùng 2 thân tín của mình lại lên đường điều tra trước khi mọi sự vỡ lở. Đây là một thành có khối lượng thông thương lớn, rất đông các ngoại nhân đổ về để buôn bán. Kết quả hóa ra vị quan kia lại chết bởi thuốc độc của người nhân tình, cô gái đã cho ông uống thuốc để giữ người mình yêu. Vụ án còn liên quan đến các âm mưu ám sát, các thương nhân và cả người ngoại quốc. Kết thúc vụ án này có lẽ Địch Công cũng mệt mỏi rồi.
June 6, 2024
This is not the best of the judge Dee mysteries, because the plot depends a bit too much on the abnormal psychology of the culprit to glue the disparate bits together. But it still charms, because the judge’s assistants take much more of a leading role. Judge Dee has reached desk-bound seniority and consequently has become a bit boring. It is an interesting inversion of the story structure, and it works surprisingly well. And as a bonus there are the terrible twins.
May 16, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
Hơi thất vọng vì đây là cuốn cuối cùng trong series “Địch Công Kỳ Án”. Mình đã mong chờ một tác phẩm thật ấn tượng nhưng không có -.-
Mạch truyện khá rối rắm và đôi khi hơi thừa tình tiết, dẫu biết đó là cách viết của tác giả dùng để lừa độc giả bằng nhiều tình tiết, nhưng đọc có đoạn thật sự chán.
Cuốn này hay nhất ở đoạn kết, mọi thứ mới cao trào. Nếu không có đoạn kết chắc chắn mình đã rate 2 ⭐️
Hơi thất vọng vì đây là cuốn cuối cùng trong series “Địch Công Kỳ Án”. Mình đã mong chờ một tác phẩm thật ấn tượng nhưng không có -.-
Mạch truyện khá rối rắm và đôi khi hơi thừa tình tiết, dẫu biết đó là cách viết của tác giả dùng để lừa độc giả bằng nhiều tình tiết, nhưng đọc có đoạn thật sự chán.
Cuốn này hay nhất ở đoạn kết, mọi thứ mới cao trào. Nếu không có đoạn kết chắc chắn mình đã rate 2 ⭐️
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