The Hainan Incident

by D.M. Coffman

Before beginning his first undercover assignment, American attorney Yi Jichun travels to Hainan Island on the South China Sea for some much-needed respite--but finds trouble instead. Already uneasy about his charge to expose corruption in China's court system, Yi stumbles upon a hidden computer network in an ancient island village and finds himself drawn into an investigation that tears him between his religious principles and the lie he must live.
Aided by Sarah, an esteemed fellow judge, and Meijuan, a village leader exiled by her powerful and corrupt son, Yi uncovers the Hainan Net--an international organization that targets global shipping channels in its quest for world power. But Yi loses ground when Sarah discovers his true identity as a foreign spy--and as the American military organizes a stealth assault in full cooperation with China's government, Yi must reconcile the laws governing the land with the laws governing his honor.
The Hainan Incident is an LDS version of books 1 and 2 in The Net series.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2011

About the author

DM Coffman specializes in clean suspense thrillers (no offensive language, graphic sex or extreme violence). Strange experiences while living in China inspired Coffman's The Net thriller series, and many unusual truths are interwoven into her stories of espionage and international intrigue. DM and her husband lived in the People's Republic of China for four years, teaching China's judges in the World Trade Organization's Judicial Training Program, and students at the prestigious Peking University and South China University of Technology with Brigham Young University's China Teachers Program. Prior to China, DM and her husband worked in Washington, DC. They now enjoy retired life in the Utah Rocky Mountains with family, two rescued dogs, and an old unamiable tabby named Ebeneezer.

The award-winning Net thriller series includes The Net Conspiracy, The Hainan Conflict, The Panama Contagion, and The Harbin Connection (coming soon). DM also wrote the Whitney Award nominated thriller The Hainan Incident (an LDS version of Books 1 and 2 in The Net series) published by Covenant Communications, Inc.

In non-fiction DM wrote Above the Best: The Remarkable Life of Seeley E. Ralphs (her father), and China Through the Eyes of Her Students--a culture book providing a glimpse at life in China through the uncensored writing journals of her students at Peking University in Beijing and South China University of Technology in Guangzhou. She wrote A Peking University Coursebook on English Exposition Writing published by Peking University Press, and served as an editor and foreign consultant for English educational texts produced by Peking University and China's Ministry of Education. She has a M.Ed. from Brigham Young University and a B.B.A. from National University.

Reviews

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

International intrigue and an American [Mormon] undercover spy.

Jason Yi, Chinese name Yi Jichun, is an American attorney who gets tapped for a special undercover mission for the U.S. government, due to his language fluency and professional training. He travels to China to attend a school for judges, with the job of uncovering corruption in the court system there.

He uncovers more than that. On a vacation to Hainan Island he stumbles across an unusually high-tech computer set-up, behind the façade of a tourist village. The more he learns about Hainan Net, the more he is convinced that this is more than just somebody's side business. This is an international criminal ring, with the potential to do all kinds of damage. His discoveries put him at risk, along with his fellow student judge Sarah. He must to get to the bottom of this. Time is ticking...for all of them.

* * * * *
The mystery was good and the cultural aspects of the setting were interesting. It was a good stress relief read, pre-move.

I blog at: www.ofbooksandblooms.com

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the history of China/ Taiwan behind the story. The suspense of the story did have me on the "edge on my seat" and I was not able to "quit listening." This is another book I would recommend listening to the audible version.

Because of a few comments made I was expecting another book to follow and I was sad to see there was not.

[MykeWeber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this interesting visit to China. I have many friends over there and love how the author presented so many of them as the kind, thoughtful, honest people that they are. Like here, there are certainly, self-serving corrupt folks, but there are also ever so many who are simply wonderful!

A very exciting and interesting tale!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mostly because I lived in or visited many of the locations in China in which the story is set.
The book was published in 2011 and is prescient about some things which occurred in the last few years. An interesting read if you're interested in China.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book....tale told interesting and well...kept moving and easy to read.

[Elyse Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Linda K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me on the edge of my seat from the first word through the last!!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has great suspense.

[Shanda]

Yi Jichun (aka Jason Yi) is a young American attorney recruited to go under cover as a Chinese judge in order to discover and eliminate corrupt judges in the Chinese system. What Yi ends up discovering is much more than corrupt judges and city officials. If events set in motion are not stopped, countless American lives will be lost.

What interested me most in The Hainan Incident was reading about the Chinese culture and geographical locations. There were a few suspenseful scenes that had me holding my breath. I’m not a big reader of political & international suspense novels, so I’m not sure how The Hainan Incident compares to national titles in the same genre. I do think that it might appeal a bit more to my husband, so I’m going to give him my copy to read.

Fans of international intrigue are going to enjoy this story full of Chinese culture and history, political scandal, terrorist threats and suspenseful action. The main character, Jason Yi, is LDS, but there is no preaching and only a few specific religious elements are mentioned. The Hainan Incident is D.M. Coffman’s debut novel.

Review originally published here: http://bit.ly/xWJVGb [www.ldswbr.com]

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed books that are based in other parts of the world. This book did a great job describing people and places in China. Although I have never been there, the descriptions were detailed enough that it was obvious the author had spent time there. I felt as if I was walking down the streets and experiencing it all for myself. The story was exciting and kept me entertained and on edge for most the book. The story is about an LDS American judge who under covers a terrorist plot while on assignment in China. It was a fun clean and fascinating read. My only complaint is that most the story was spent on descriptions and dialogue building up to the action scenes so at times this made the actual action sequences feel short and slightly anti-climatic. Overall, I thought it was a very enjoyable read and I am hoping for a sequel.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, it is a good mix of fiction combined with events that actually occurred in the time frame the book was written for. Not being from China, I liked the way the author incorporated Chinese culture and events into the book yet explained what they were or what they meant. It was a good read all in all, I enjoy a good mystery/suspense novel and I particularly enjoyed this one because it offered reality mixed among fiction, and it took place in a country I am unfamiliar with in both customs and politics, these were interwoven through the book so I learned a few things about the Chinese culture along the way.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5 (Normally I round up but that just did not feel accurate with my perception of the book to rank it four stars.)
The setting of the story was interesting and different from what I have been reading. I liked reading things about China and its culture. The characters were interesting.
I wish this book had started out differently, and not serially introducing the characters but, instead, letting the story unfold and the characters be introduced as they came up in the story. The story was interesting, although I did scan-read at certain points, which usually means the information I am skipping doesn't seem vital.

[Tamera Westhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, the beginning was choppy for me. I didn't like the airplane crash being before you got to know the characters. I know she needed a hook, but I think starting at the beginning is MUCH better! Once all the lengthy description and buildup was done, I really enjoyed the book! I liked the subtle romance. I felt very sorry for Yi! Poor guy! For a lawyer, I would say he did a fantastic job undercover! I also really liked learning more about the Chinese culture and knowing how to pronounce some of those Chinese phrases (thanks to my kids watching Ni hao Kai Lan)!

[Adriana Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I won this book from Goodreads as a First Reads giveaway**

Thank you to the Goodreads author for sending me a free copy of this book. Review to follow upon completion.

This was a very fascinating book. I've never been to China( would love to go) but reading Ms. Coffman's book made me believe I was actually on the streets of china experiencing everything. A bit too political for me but a beautiful story and very well written.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok with this book....I kinda was so confused and uninterested in the beginning. It took several confusing chapters and a lot of different character introductions to get a good grip on what the heck was going on. Finally things started making sense and piecing together. It never got truly good and intensely interesting. I was actually glad when it was over and then kind of still going...Hu?

I can't even try to explain this one.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having worked in China, I find the characterizations of the people and the country to be accurate and very believable. The action is fast-paced and compelling. The cooperation between the USA and the PRC may be idealistic at the moment but realistic in the sense that terrorism is a common enemy of both.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

The love Ms Coffman holds for China comes through in her descriptions. When she describes China or the people, it is just beautiful. As for the story, the info dumps were a little much for me but needed for understanding the how political system works in China.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An American attorney, with his Chinese background, is asked to go undercover, with the Chinese governments approval to look into judical corruption. Terrorists, etc in this book. A little thin occasionally but good.

[Chris J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hainan Incident was excellent ! It contains just the right mix of fact, fiction, romance and suspense. I listened to the audio CD to and from work each day and found myself taking long detours just so I could keep listening! All I can say is I hope there will be a sequel.

[Chris J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hainan Incident was excellent ! It contains just the right mix of fact, fiction, romance and suspense. I listened to the audio CD to and from work each day and found myself taking long detours just so I could keep listening! All I can say is I hope there will be a sequel.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not being familiar with China and the culture, this was an interesting suspense novel. Much of the story takes place in China and I found the little tidbits about their history and customs very informative and didn't detract too much from the plot. I really liked the book!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one exciting book! This is her first novel, but not her first writing experience. Having lived in China, she has a unique understandingof the culture.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

there was way too much useless description...

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding story telling, wonderful character development makes this a thoroughly captivating read.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down!! It was a little hard to follow at times because of the Chinese back ground and names.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

A good undercover agent story, but the background was hard to follow and as it was set in China, a lot of the place and people names tripped me up.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved reading about the Chinese culture. It made me want to travel there even more! The story was captivating. I didn't want to stop reading it!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little different than most of your LDS books. A bit of a spy/suspense novel concerning a terrorist group in China.