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In the Dark #1
In the Dark: Volume 1
"There will always be a pair of eyes watching you when you are unaware, in the dark."
Even if trapped in darkness, one will always search for the light.
This is a story of a young police officer searching for the answer to "Who am I?"
Xie Lanshan was an undercover drug enforcement officer who made his way inside the Golden Triangle's most feared armed organization as the right-hand man of drug lord Mu Kun. After successfully returning to his post from the operation, an accidental case of police misconduct triggered a series of unexplainable headaches and hidden memories that began haunting him.
While investigating the truth behind his father's death many years ago, Xie Lanshan utilizes his unique and sharp thinking from the perspective of a psychotic murderer to solve difficult cases around him. Plagued by this growing change and instability of both his mental health and personality, he will later meet a mysterious forensic sketch artist named Shen Liufei. Together, the two men will maintain a strange relationship; as friends and enemies, they solve mysterious cases one by one.
But, perhaps, there was another motive for the forensic artist to approach the young officer...
Even if trapped in darkness, one will always search for the light.
This is a story of a young police officer searching for the answer to "Who am I?"
Xie Lanshan was an undercover drug enforcement officer who made his way inside the Golden Triangle's most feared armed organization as the right-hand man of drug lord Mu Kun. After successfully returning to his post from the operation, an accidental case of police misconduct triggered a series of unexplainable headaches and hidden memories that began haunting him.
While investigating the truth behind his father's death many years ago, Xie Lanshan utilizes his unique and sharp thinking from the perspective of a psychotic murderer to solve difficult cases around him. Plagued by this growing change and instability of both his mental health and personality, he will later meet a mysterious forensic sketch artist named Shen Liufei. Together, the two men will maintain a strange relationship; as friends and enemies, they solve mysterious cases one by one.
But, perhaps, there was another motive for the forensic artist to approach the young officer...
400 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2023
89 people are currently reading
1540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 4, 2024
I finally got the physical copy of this version but have to hold myself back from reading it because I want to read the story in stretch and it will be by the end of September when I get the other two books.
PS : The cover is so beautiful, I want to cry. This is why I love PeachFlower translations (And also for the amazing translation work by all the talented translators).
PS : The cover is so beautiful, I want to cry. This is why I love PeachFlower translations (And also for the amazing translation work by all the talented translators).
February 25, 2024
This is a strange book and I am struggling to process my feelings about it.
Xie Lanshan, our MC is a handsome and charming police detective in the violent crimes unit, who is also suffering from some pretty intense PTSD from his time working undercover with a major drug-running crime syndicate.
This story is essentially a police procedural crime drama. The first part of this trilogy involves an arc with a mass murder of a family and the second arc involves a murder and art forgery case. In the background we are given flashback crumbs of Xie Lanshans time undercover where he has witnessed some horrible crimes while also navigating the crime boss being obviously infatuated with him. And there is also the present day romance being set up with forensic artist Shen Liufei, although this installment doesn’t so much more than set up some odd flirty moments with them, but there is some suspicious shit at play there too.
The premise of this story is so great, and will probably be the thing that hooks me to read the rest of the series. I think the biggest challenge is that the translation of this book is TOO faithful to the original content and as a result it is a pretty clunky read in English. I think if you have read a lot of Danmei or translated work this is a manageable barrier but I think this would be a rough starting place for some people. Also this is a deeply unserious serious book, so you gotta just kind of accept it when it’s a bit ridiculous.
But hey, they did explain the random severed hands so like kudos for tying up the loose ends.
5 stars for the concept, 3 stars for the execution leaves me with a middle ground of 4 stars.
Xie Lanshan, our MC is a handsome and charming police detective in the violent crimes unit, who is also suffering from some pretty intense PTSD from his time working undercover with a major drug-running crime syndicate.
This story is essentially a police procedural crime drama. The first part of this trilogy involves an arc with a mass murder of a family and the second arc involves a murder and art forgery case. In the background we are given flashback crumbs of Xie Lanshans time undercover where he has witnessed some horrible crimes while also navigating the crime boss being obviously infatuated with him. And there is also the present day romance being set up with forensic artist Shen Liufei, although this installment doesn’t so much more than set up some odd flirty moments with them, but there is some suspicious shit at play there too.
The premise of this story is so great, and will probably be the thing that hooks me to read the rest of the series. I think the biggest challenge is that the translation of this book is TOO faithful to the original content and as a result it is a pretty clunky read in English. I think if you have read a lot of Danmei or translated work this is a manageable barrier but I think this would be a rough starting place for some people. Also this is a deeply unserious serious book, so you gotta just kind of accept it when it’s a bit ridiculous.
But hey, they did explain the random severed hands so like kudos for tying up the loose ends.
5 stars for the concept, 3 stars for the execution leaves me with a middle ground of 4 stars.
July 14, 2025
“Artists all have an appreciation for beautiful things. Shen Liufei’s gaze remained locked on Xie Lanshan the whole time, wondering if the beauty of the flower or the man had captivated him.”
⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎︎ ｡ ✧ ⋆ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 stars 🍓｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆
woah!!! wow??? i was so pleasantly surprised by this danmei. i came out of this volume so many questions because of how it ended on a cliffhanger???? i feel like this was a series of cliffhangers and plot twists, one right after another with very little chance to process what’s happening
in the dark is a crime/thriller danmei about a cop who used to be an undercover agent. xie lanshan was such a mystery that every time i thought i understood his character he would do or say something that caught me off guard. but he’s such an intriguing character that i was dying for the layers to be pulled back. he’s almost a mix of fei du from mo du & xia xiqing from rose & renaissance. he was such a huge flirt and had zero sense of shame especially when it came to shen liufei who is a sketch artist that helps with the cases
this volume focuses on two different cases and was intermixed with a xie lanshan’s time as an undercover agent…which i’m going to be honest i wished we got more of because it was so interesting??? the tension between xie lanshan and the drug lord mu kun he was assigned to get close was kind of crazy.
“I wouldn’t mind dying in your hands.” Those were the last words Mu Kun said before he fell unconscious.
every scene between them was fraught with this very weird sexual tension that might honestly all be because mu kun is obsessed with xie lanshan but their chemistry and tension is definitely on par with what xie lanshan has with shen liufei. right from the start there was something between them that felt potent, and because the writing style (and translation) leaves little room to process because so many things happen one right after another their romance felt incredibly fast but also slowburn at the same time? clearly this volume was basically the two of them caught in this weird cat and mouse game where they repeatedly kissed and flirted and insinuated lots of things without actually crossing that emotional border
so yeah!!! i enjoyed this very much. the biggest flaw was mostly the translation was disjointed at times which made following the case confusing but it wasn’t too bad that i couldn’t understand the general gist of what was going on.
November 23, 2023
I don't know if it was the translation, but this was so disjointed and jumbled. Some scenes made no sense (like Xie Lanshan apparently having an allergic reaction to shellfish, but he was fine 5 minutes later when the Shen Liufei gave him mouth-to-mouth?). And the characters just jumping to conclusions in the investigations when I have no idea what these deductions were based on.
It got better later on, but is it worth reading vol 2 and 3?
It got better later on, but is it worth reading vol 2 and 3?
July 22, 2021
Rating: 4.25 stars
I received an ARC of this book from Peach Flower House in return for my honest review.
Behold trigger warnings for violence, gore, blood, etc.
What can I say about this book that will fully encompass my feelings? Tbh, my feelings are still baking & I need more time to process everything I know, everything I don’t know (but so desperately want to), and everything I’ve guessed (which could be wild shots in the dark)… But then, that is precisely why In the Dark (Vol. 1) by Jin Shisi Chai was such a fantastic ride.
From beginning to end, there was never a dull moment. The writing was tight, the characters well-fleshed out (whatever was not addressed here I assume will be picked up in the 2nd volume), and the action scenes were fluid and cinematic. Totally reminiscent of crime procedural dramas. The tension was always on high—a new clue, a new revelation, a new suspicion, a new something that kept me on edge. The foreshadowing was also very well done.
The cases were interesting and well-researched; the author enumerated the darkness and light of humanity wonderfully, so even though we only met the antagonists of each case for a short period of time, they left me with complex feelings and the inability to box them as evil or good. The author also referenced many literary works and philosophy concepts I wasn’t familiar with before but hope to learn more of now. But what truly kept me glued were the characters. Some we saw more than others (Xie Lanshan, Shen Liufei, Tao Longyue, Song Qilian...) and some made quick stops but left strong impressions and questions in their wake (Sui Hong, Mu Kun, Liu Yanbo, Xie Lanshan’s mother...). Unraveling their personal stories and how they’re connected to each other was the biggest draw for me.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers because I think that would ruin the enjoyment you could derive from this book, but here’s a little taste to get you piqued.
Xie Lanshan: He is one half of the main couple and a very complex man. Used to be an undercover officer working the most dangerous beat: drugs. He wormed his way into an infamous drug organization and became the right hand man of feared drug lord Mu Kun. Ferreted out critical intel that put away many drug lords (major and minor) and establishments… you get my drift. But then things went south real fast and [redacted][redacted][redacted] fast forward to the present, the Xie we meet seems to be a wholly different man. He has frequent headaches, memory lapses, dreams that feel like memories… things are not okay with Xie. The flashbacks we get as we walk with him down memory lane, and as we walk with others who knew him before he went undercover, show that something has fundamentally changed about him now. But you can’t put your finger on quite what that is. I threw around a lot of ideas in my head, but nothing I came up with seems quite right. But there is a darkness in Xie that makes him an unreliable protagonist I am reluctant to follow yet can’t stop myself from following. Oh, I felt for him. His circumstances were rough and my heart felt for him, but I was also wary of him. Kind of like when you see a gorgeous, lethal tiger. You are in awe of the beast and want to get up close to it but you’re afraid he could turn on you anytime so you cheer for him from a distance but keep an eye on him all the time? Xie’s unusual habits, violent dreams, and abrupt personality shifts left me reeling. But such a fascinating character!
Shen Liufei: This man is an onion; a very hard-to-peel, many layered onion. In the danmei novels I’ve read before, we usually have parallel ML/MC love interests where it’s relatively easy to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and usually these strengths/weaknesses are complimentary to their partners. Shen Liufei is a hard man to read and just as comfortable living in the grey areas as Xie. He is just as handsome/capable/ruthless/intelligent/multi-faceted. He is unreliable as a protagonist because he too has a darkness inside him that—in my humble opinion—perfectly compliments the darkness in Xie. However, his darkness is of a different sort. It felt less violent, more focused and purposeful. He also seems morally un-compromised, the same can’t be said for Xie (maybe?). What we know is that he is highly intelligent, an accomplished artist, very good-looking, and he is in China to contract for the police as a forensic artist (on the surface). He is cold and aloof (though we see hints of warmth from time to time), and he has a reason for being here. This is no spoiler but it’s fairly obvious from the beginning that he is here for Xie. Because he wants something from the man, but we don’t really find out what that is...yet. Also, this man is cool in the literal sense (kind when you least expect it, has gorgeous tattoos, rides fast bikes, is well-versed in martial arts). I could use a Shen Liufei of my own.
In that regard the main couple both seem atypical from the normal danmei couples I’ve read, but they fit somehow.
Romance: This is a slow burn. There is plenty of tension, heat, and flirting to keep you interested, but any hints of romance start to become clearer around the 65% mark of the book. But I was happy with the way they tangoed around each other. I foresee the romance part of things to develop more in volume 2, but there was enough here to keep me happy until then.
If I had one complaint it would be that the transition from strangers to work colleagues to something more happened a bit too abruptly. I feel like we skipped a few steps. The two met early in the book and as a reader I felt that they connected, one kindred soul to another, and Xie felt this too. But perhaps it was the way their interactions were set up and how Shen was set up as a character, this transition felt too quick. That singular moment when you look at a person and realize he or she is more and you need to have them? I wasn't gripped by that feeling. Both had moments of reflection where they pondered their feelings for each other but I had hoped for more to cement the transition better. I think the author intended for the main couple’s quick and sudden comfort and reliability on each other to come as a surprise to Xie and his friends (it was hard to tell with Shen)… but here the author could have built in some moments to make it more natural for the reader.
All in all, I really enjoyed In The Dark. I will definitely be picking up volume 2 because there are things I simple MUST KNOW! If you love dark, twisty, crime/pyschological dramas & books, you’ll love this one!
I received an ARC of this book from Peach Flower House in return for my honest review.
Behold trigger warnings for violence, gore, blood, etc.
What can I say about this book that will fully encompass my feelings? Tbh, my feelings are still baking & I need more time to process everything I know, everything I don’t know (but so desperately want to), and everything I’ve guessed (which could be wild shots in the dark)… But then, that is precisely why In the Dark (Vol. 1) by Jin Shisi Chai was such a fantastic ride.
From beginning to end, there was never a dull moment. The writing was tight, the characters well-fleshed out (whatever was not addressed here I assume will be picked up in the 2nd volume), and the action scenes were fluid and cinematic. Totally reminiscent of crime procedural dramas. The tension was always on high—a new clue, a new revelation, a new suspicion, a new something that kept me on edge. The foreshadowing was also very well done.
The cases were interesting and well-researched; the author enumerated the darkness and light of humanity wonderfully, so even though we only met the antagonists of each case for a short period of time, they left me with complex feelings and the inability to box them as evil or good. The author also referenced many literary works and philosophy concepts I wasn’t familiar with before but hope to learn more of now. But what truly kept me glued were the characters. Some we saw more than others (Xie Lanshan, Shen Liufei, Tao Longyue, Song Qilian...) and some made quick stops but left strong impressions and questions in their wake (Sui Hong, Mu Kun, Liu Yanbo, Xie Lanshan’s mother...). Unraveling their personal stories and how they’re connected to each other was the biggest draw for me.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers because I think that would ruin the enjoyment you could derive from this book, but here’s a little taste to get you piqued.
Xie Lanshan: He is one half of the main couple and a very complex man. Used to be an undercover officer working the most dangerous beat: drugs. He wormed his way into an infamous drug organization and became the right hand man of feared drug lord Mu Kun. Ferreted out critical intel that put away many drug lords (major and minor) and establishments… you get my drift. But then things went south real fast and [redacted][redacted][redacted] fast forward to the present, the Xie we meet seems to be a wholly different man. He has frequent headaches, memory lapses, dreams that feel like memories… things are not okay with Xie. The flashbacks we get as we walk with him down memory lane, and as we walk with others who knew him before he went undercover, show that something has fundamentally changed about him now. But you can’t put your finger on quite what that is. I threw around a lot of ideas in my head, but nothing I came up with seems quite right. But there is a darkness in Xie that makes him an unreliable protagonist I am reluctant to follow yet can’t stop myself from following. Oh, I felt for him. His circumstances were rough and my heart felt for him, but I was also wary of him. Kind of like when you see a gorgeous, lethal tiger. You are in awe of the beast and want to get up close to it but you’re afraid he could turn on you anytime so you cheer for him from a distance but keep an eye on him all the time? Xie’s unusual habits, violent dreams, and abrupt personality shifts left me reeling. But such a fascinating character!
Shen Liufei: This man is an onion; a very hard-to-peel, many layered onion. In the danmei novels I’ve read before, we usually have parallel ML/MC love interests where it’s relatively easy to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and usually these strengths/weaknesses are complimentary to their partners. Shen Liufei is a hard man to read and just as comfortable living in the grey areas as Xie. He is just as handsome/capable/ruthless/intelligent/multi-faceted. He is unreliable as a protagonist because he too has a darkness inside him that—in my humble opinion—perfectly compliments the darkness in Xie. However, his darkness is of a different sort. It felt less violent, more focused and purposeful. He also seems morally un-compromised, the same can’t be said for Xie (maybe?). What we know is that he is highly intelligent, an accomplished artist, very good-looking, and he is in China to contract for the police as a forensic artist (on the surface). He is cold and aloof (though we see hints of warmth from time to time), and he has a reason for being here. This is no spoiler but it’s fairly obvious from the beginning that he is here for Xie. Because he wants something from the man, but we don’t really find out what that is...yet. Also, this man is cool in the literal sense (kind when you least expect it, has gorgeous tattoos, rides fast bikes, is well-versed in martial arts). I could use a Shen Liufei of my own.
In that regard the main couple both seem atypical from the normal danmei couples I’ve read, but they fit somehow.
Romance: This is a slow burn. There is plenty of tension, heat, and flirting to keep you interested, but any hints of romance start to become clearer around the 65% mark of the book. But I was happy with the way they tangoed around each other. I foresee the romance part of things to develop more in volume 2, but there was enough here to keep me happy until then.
If I had one complaint it would be that the transition from strangers to work colleagues to something more happened a bit too abruptly. I feel like we skipped a few steps. The two met early in the book and as a reader I felt that they connected, one kindred soul to another, and Xie felt this too. But perhaps it was the way their interactions were set up and how Shen was set up as a character, this transition felt too quick. That singular moment when you look at a person and realize he or she is more and you need to have them? I wasn't gripped by that feeling. Both had moments of reflection where they pondered their feelings for each other but I had hoped for more to cement the transition better. I think the author intended for the main couple’s quick and sudden comfort and reliability on each other to come as a surprise to Xie and his friends (it was hard to tell with Shen)… but here the author could have built in some moments to make it more natural for the reader.
All in all, I really enjoyed In The Dark. I will definitely be picking up volume 2 because there are things I simple MUST KNOW! If you love dark, twisty, crime/pyschological dramas & books, you’ll love this one!
April 13, 2024
Ahh, I love gay detective stories but I think my expectations were a little too high. I found the first mystery kinda boring and I was frustrated by the hot-and-cold ping-ponging between the two leads. They're flirting heavily and about to kiss at one moment... then acting like they're just colleagues the next moment. Of course, this is caused by some heavy miscommunication (especially at the end! Xie Lanshan, you can't just tell Shen Liufei that you're going on a date with your ex-girlfriend and her son and then try to kiss him afterwards. No wonder he slapped you brooo) that I hope will be resolved neatly and won't get too annoying in the future books.
That said, it's very promising! The crimes were all unique and I liked the different side characters. Some of the lines were also genuinely, surprisingly laugh out loud funny. And most of all, I am so intrigued by Mu Kun and Xie Lanshan's forgotten past. Evil mafia boss who's obsessed with Xie Lanshan... Oh besties I am SEATED for the next volume.
That said, it's very promising! The crimes were all unique and I liked the different side characters. Some of the lines were also genuinely, surprisingly laugh out loud funny. And most of all, I am so intrigued by Mu Kun and Xie Lanshan's forgotten past. Evil mafia boss who's obsessed with Xie Lanshan... Oh besties I am SEATED for the next volume.
Want to read
October 21, 2021I bought this book b/c I’m a danmei fan and wanted to read a danmei that had been officially translated to English to support the author 2) I wanted to read something by this press since they are publishing Little Mushroom.
Thank the Lord I decided to read something by this press before investing more in them b/c OMG the terrible typesetting was such a dumpster fire and so distracting that it pulled me out of the story and made me stop reading altogether. Will give it sometime before I return to this one…but will have to double think about buying from this press. I will be praying for Little Mushroom typesetting and interior design 🙏🏽. Lord have mercy on it! Please!!!
Thank the Lord I decided to read something by this press before investing more in them b/c OMG the terrible typesetting was such a dumpster fire and so distracting that it pulled me out of the story and made me stop reading altogether. Will give it sometime before I return to this one…but will have to double think about buying from this press. I will be praying for Little Mushroom typesetting and interior design 🙏🏽. Lord have mercy on it! Please!!!
May 27, 2024
Some of the reveals were a bit too far-fetched for me personally.
The romance was all over the place. If you didn't know it was a danmei you'd think Xie Lanshan (MC) was going to get back together with his ex- girlfriend rather than Shen Liufei (ML).
It made a nice change having decent female characters who don't die in a danmei novel for once.
Crime really isn't my genre but I wanted to give this a go. If it's your thing then you should give it a try and not take my word for it.
Will I be continuing on with the rest of the series? No, I'm just not interested enough in figuring out who Xie Lanshan and Shen Liufei really are.
So overall it was just OK.
The romance was all over the place. If you didn't know it was a danmei you'd think Xie Lanshan (MC) was going to get back together with his ex- girlfriend rather than Shen Liufei (ML).
It made a nice change having decent female characters who don't die in a danmei novel for once.
Crime really isn't my genre but I wanted to give this a go. If it's your thing then you should give it a try and not take my word for it.
Will I be continuing on with the rest of the series? No, I'm just not interested enough in figuring out who Xie Lanshan and Shen Liufei really are.
So overall it was just OK.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2021
While I did enjoy the characters and the story, it could use another pass by an editor. There are definitely passages that read awkwardly in English, as well as some spelling errors.
Despite those issues, I have preordered volume 2 and look forward to reading it!
Despite those issues, I have preordered volume 2 and look forward to reading it!
April 10, 2025
I'm not sure how to describe what I'm feeling after finishing this. It's not negative, I guess I'm overal confused. But it was great and I want more!
1st: I like the way the characters are written. They're pretty well written and easy to delve into for the most part, except when they're not! I think Shen Lu Fei is a pretty unreliable narrator because he does things and later feels things I never expected.
2nd: the romance is present and I love love LOVE how affectionate and flirty they can be. I'm not too fond of how flirty they can be, but then in that instant they resume talking about the cases.
3rd: About the cases, I think they were rather dull I didn't find them as interesting as other novels, but I did like the action that happened revolving them! A stolen painting and a murder case wasn't the case I thought they'd use. But the HOW, as it was happening, was cool. I never would have suspected certain people to be the culprit, especially the painter. 🤯
Overall, I was confused, but maybe it was my lack of understanding. I think it's the writing as well, personally. Because when it switches scenes, it's very random or it doesn't foreshadow what the character was supposed to be doing, especially in certain scenes like "I'm gonna go visit this person because I know this person is the culprit and we had clues prior that he's the culprit" or "I'm going to have lunch with this person for no apparent reason." The clarity wasn't transparent. I'd say it's worth the read though.
4.3/5 🌟
1st: I like the way the characters are written. They're pretty well written and easy to delve into for the most part, except when they're not! I think Shen Lu Fei is a pretty unreliable narrator because he does things and later feels things I never expected.
2nd: the romance is present and I love love LOVE how affectionate and flirty they can be. I'm not too fond of how flirty they can be, but then in that instant they resume talking about the cases.
3rd: About the cases, I think they were rather dull I didn't find them as interesting as other novels, but I did like the action that happened revolving them! A stolen painting and a murder case wasn't the case I thought they'd use. But the HOW, as it was happening, was cool. I never would have suspected certain people to be the culprit, especially the painter. 🤯
Overall, I was confused, but maybe it was my lack of understanding. I think it's the writing as well, personally. Because when it switches scenes, it's very random or it doesn't foreshadow what the character was supposed to be doing, especially in certain scenes like "I'm gonna go visit this person because I know this person is the culprit and we had clues prior that he's the culprit" or "I'm going to have lunch with this person for no apparent reason." The clarity wasn't transparent. I'd say it's worth the read though.
4.3/5 🌟
January 2, 2024
Out of all the Peach Flower House series I’ve read, this is my least favorite so far. Not to say that it’s bad, but it may be slow to start. There are some parts of the book that seem to jump around or characters will come to conclusions or act in ways that seem a little unrealistic.
However, the mystery behind both Shen Liufei’s and Xie Lanshan’s identities is a very interesting plot point, especially considering that Xie Lanshan has no memory of certain events like his craniotomy and is even missing a birthmark he supposedly once had. I don’t think he is Xie Lanshan, but how can he not be if he has almost all of his memories? Even Shen Liufei doesn’t seem to be who he claims to be. When Li Guochang saw him, he knew who the real Shen Liufei was, and it wasn’t the man that’s been parading around with Xie Lanshan.
More on Shen Liufei, that dude pisses me off. He’s giving massive mixed signals because one second, he’ll be possessive over Xie Lanshan, and then when Xie Lanshan reciprocates, he punches him? I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but I’m not his biggest fan. Xie Lanshan might be a flirt, but he’s straightforward where it matters.
I already bought the entire trilogy, so I honestly. have no choice but to finish it. Besides, I’m really curious about their true identities.
However, the mystery behind both Shen Liufei’s and Xie Lanshan’s identities is a very interesting plot point, especially considering that Xie Lanshan has no memory of certain events like his craniotomy and is even missing a birthmark he supposedly once had. I don’t think he is Xie Lanshan, but how can he not be if he has almost all of his memories? Even Shen Liufei doesn’t seem to be who he claims to be. When Li Guochang saw him, he knew who the real Shen Liufei was, and it wasn’t the man that’s been parading around with Xie Lanshan.
More on Shen Liufei, that dude pisses me off. He’s giving massive mixed signals because one second, he’ll be possessive over Xie Lanshan, and then when Xie Lanshan reciprocates, he punches him? I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but I’m not his biggest fan. Xie Lanshan might be a flirt, but he’s straightforward where it matters.
I already bought the entire trilogy, so I honestly. have no choice but to finish it. Besides, I’m really curious about their true identities.
August 10, 2023
Crime/mystery is not my typical genre, but since this is a modern danmei I decided to give it a chance. Didn’t really get interested until about the 30% mark and then I ended up loving it. This is the first of 3 volumes and it certainly ended on a cliff hanger.
October 4, 2025
The crimes themselves are fascinating to read about, but the overarching plot with the main character - like what happened during the years he was undercover, and his identity issues - is a lot more dark and depressing than I expected. I'm not currently in the proper headspace to read this series straight through, but I'm hopeful that I can come back to this at some point in the future and slowly make progress through the other two volumes.
July 11, 2025
DNF at 48%. Its not necessarily bad but i expected more from it
dnf
July 7, 2024DNF @ 265 pages
just kinda bored and not feeling particularly keen on picking it up
just kinda bored and not feeling particularly keen on picking it up
March 24, 2025
I had the luck to have bought the series before they went out of print. Due to it's limited English release, I doubt this book will get much international attention.
Which is a shame, because this book, at it's core, is really interesting.
Which is a shame, because this book, at it's core, is really interesting.
July 10, 2025
I really did not enjoy this one, which is a bummer because I own all three volumes. I didn't like the characters, nor the story. The translation choices were also questionable at times, which I didn't expect from an official publication.
May 11, 2022
4.5 rounding up.
There’s something about Chinese literature that completely wins me over. I never know what will happen, I can’t ever predict anything because the characters and the author are unpredictable. I don’t experience the same level of unknowingness in western books.
The 3 cases we followed throughout the book were all fascinating, and you feel like you’ve solved it, but there’s still a few red herrings left over that you can’t make sense of, and you have to wait for Xie Lanshan or Shen Lufei to explain it. Out of the 3 cases, the last one was absolutely my favourite… that Peng girl was an absolute psycho and I hated her so much. How could I resist a group of evil school girls and Xie Lanshan confined on a cruiser with a murderer among them? Each case was better than the last as they went on. I can’t say they were my favourite parts though, I was more into Xie Lanshan’s mysterious past and Shen Lufei’s conversations with an unknown person, and the best parts of the book being the two of them flirting with each other.
I enjoyed these characters, though they’re hard to pin down, Xie Lanshan specifically. One moment he’s known to rarely smile, and the next he’s all cheery and flirty. It adds to the realism and unpredictability, but I felt like I didn’t know him. That being said, I still liked him a lot and he’s super badass, plus I’m really curious about his traumatic past, and what that all means.
Tao Longyue, despite being cast to the side a bit, is still a really lovely character. He really is like an older brother to Xie Lanshan. I loved hearing about how Tao Longyue was mean to Xie Lanshan as a kid, but turned it around after Xie Lanshan saved him. Plus, now as adults they have a subtle competitiveness which adds to their charm. Tao Longyue is the responsible one, yet also the sweet one, in contrast to Xie Lanshan who dives into danger headfirst, yet will also neglect his responsibilities for Shen Lufei at any point…
I’d say I was most attached to Shen Lufei. His mysterious aloofness captured me, and he’s got some shady stuff going on behind the scenes. He’s quite mean at times, and pretentious as hell, but there’s a genuine good person behind it all. I want to know him better and see his true self- both the good and bad. I have a feeling that he’s working for Mu Kun, but he’s slowly falling for Xie Lanshan despite it all. I’m definitely here for that if that’s where the plot is going.
I’m super hyped to read vol 2!!
There’s something about Chinese literature that completely wins me over. I never know what will happen, I can’t ever predict anything because the characters and the author are unpredictable. I don’t experience the same level of unknowingness in western books.
The 3 cases we followed throughout the book were all fascinating, and you feel like you’ve solved it, but there’s still a few red herrings left over that you can’t make sense of, and you have to wait for Xie Lanshan or Shen Lufei to explain it. Out of the 3 cases, the last one was absolutely my favourite… that Peng girl was an absolute psycho and I hated her so much. How could I resist a group of evil school girls and Xie Lanshan confined on a cruiser with a murderer among them? Each case was better than the last as they went on. I can’t say they were my favourite parts though, I was more into Xie Lanshan’s mysterious past and Shen Lufei’s conversations with an unknown person, and the best parts of the book being the two of them flirting with each other.
I enjoyed these characters, though they’re hard to pin down, Xie Lanshan specifically. One moment he’s known to rarely smile, and the next he’s all cheery and flirty. It adds to the realism and unpredictability, but I felt like I didn’t know him. That being said, I still liked him a lot and he’s super badass, plus I’m really curious about his traumatic past, and what that all means.
Tao Longyue, despite being cast to the side a bit, is still a really lovely character. He really is like an older brother to Xie Lanshan. I loved hearing about how Tao Longyue was mean to Xie Lanshan as a kid, but turned it around after Xie Lanshan saved him. Plus, now as adults they have a subtle competitiveness which adds to their charm. Tao Longyue is the responsible one, yet also the sweet one, in contrast to Xie Lanshan who dives into danger headfirst, yet will also neglect his responsibilities for Shen Lufei at any point…
I’d say I was most attached to Shen Lufei. His mysterious aloofness captured me, and he’s got some shady stuff going on behind the scenes. He’s quite mean at times, and pretentious as hell, but there’s a genuine good person behind it all. I want to know him better and see his true self- both the good and bad. I have a feeling that he’s working for Mu Kun, but he’s slowly falling for Xie Lanshan despite it all. I’m definitely here for that if that’s where the plot is going.
I’m super hyped to read vol 2!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2023
I’ll start with volume 1. The first book was okay. The build-up was there and it definitely caught my attention. The mystery plot was intriguing, with a lot of details hidden in the shadows, making it hard for the readers to guess what’s to come. Romance wasn’t quite there yet for the first book.
Now the second book was my fave out of all three volumes. The plot was so dark, extreme and exciting! I didn’t particularly enjoy reading the first crime scene. It was a bit too far-fetched for me. However, the rest after had my heart racing with suspense. I initially continued reading the second book as a read before hitting the sheets but it left me wide awake from the excitement and curiosity afterwards. Although the romance aspect for the couple have started at the start of the second book, I still found it abrupt. I honestly didn’t feel the chemistry between them as much as I did when I read the manhua. And that remained all throughout until the end of the main story. It’s unfathomable on how close they suddenly got when they barely interacted on an emotional level.
Disappointment hit me the hardest when I read the last book. The author seemed to be in a rush to end the novel. It all ended all too fast. With such a long plot build-up, I would have thought the ending would be mind-blowing, but no. Something was missing that I couldn’t pinpoint. The dots weren’t well-connected and the chemistry just wasn’t there from the start to the end. The contradictions stopped me from getting deep into it. Instead of drowning myself in the story, I kept on floating back up. I didn’t feel emotional for the main story and did so for the extras, which was quite ironic.
I do have to admit that maybe because I read the manhua first, it took away all the excitement I should have felt while reading the novel.
Now the second book was my fave out of all three volumes. The plot was so dark, extreme and exciting! I didn’t particularly enjoy reading the first crime scene. It was a bit too far-fetched for me. However, the rest after had my heart racing with suspense. I initially continued reading the second book as a read before hitting the sheets but it left me wide awake from the excitement and curiosity afterwards. Although the romance aspect for the couple have started at the start of the second book, I still found it abrupt. I honestly didn’t feel the chemistry between them as much as I did when I read the manhua. And that remained all throughout until the end of the main story. It’s unfathomable on how close they suddenly got when they barely interacted on an emotional level.
Disappointment hit me the hardest when I read the last book. The author seemed to be in a rush to end the novel. It all ended all too fast. With such a long plot build-up, I would have thought the ending would be mind-blowing, but no. Something was missing that I couldn’t pinpoint. The dots weren’t well-connected and the chemistry just wasn’t there from the start to the end. The contradictions stopped me from getting deep into it. Instead of drowning myself in the story, I kept on floating back up. I didn’t feel emotional for the main story and did so for the extras, which was quite ironic.
I do have to admit that maybe because I read the manhua first, it took away all the excitement I should have felt while reading the novel.
November 11, 2025
Not sure how I feel. There are some issues with either the writing, the translation, or both. There's at least don't incorrect information about CPR/First Aid regarding treatment of allergies and such. So at least that's a writing thing. But there's also a lot of tell instead of show and that could be a translation thing.
May 28, 2025
Finally finished... Hallelujah😭
June 14, 2022
Really good! When I heard there was a crime-mystery danmei I knew I had to read this. The cases were at times really long, which I shouldn't say is a flaw but honestly I was more interested in what was going on inside Xie Lanshan's head - and of course his romance with Shen Liufei. Rating-wise I'm not sure, on reflection this might be dead on 4 or like a 3.7 something that might as well be pushed to 4. That's just the feeling I ended with based on how much I got to know the characters (aka how attached I got to them lol) and the cases in this book.
The translation was pretty good, although there were some grammatical hiccups at times where it didn't read like natural English and should have been edited more closely. Otherwise, good work. I always applaud translators for their efforts to bring us these stories! The typeset was smaller than average, but I figured it was to contain the first part of this story in a reasonably sized binding lol. The typeset is better/back to average size in Book 2, which is nice (even though I don't find the font being smaller necessarily a negative here- though it hurt my pride as a fast reader when it felt like I was reading for a long time but the page number just did not seem to reflect my efforts lol).
The cases were interesting/well crafted and I liked watching Liufei and Lanshan solve the cases together, even though sometimes the culprit felt obvious to me. I like the crime aspect of this series, I mean it's a key part, but yeah sometimes the cases almost felt overlong? Or maybe I was just impatient because my real interest lies in Xie Lanshan's own personal mystery and so I just wanted the plot to focus more on that. The cases were still well done and also served as a vehicle to draw Shen Liufei and Xie Lanshan closer together, which is nice.
The romance is a slow slow burn. I mean, you won't believe me because Xie Lanshan is a huge flirt but it feels like it takes so long before he realizes he means it. There was this continuous "I'm straight" "lived as straight" "I don't usually welcome guys into my bed" thread that had me rolling my eyes since Xie Lanshan says a that while clearly pursuing a man left and right. He does come to a revelation later that he is actually serious (bro lol) and "never considered that there was another option [for him beyond liking women/being loyal to his 1 ex]" which is a good revelation. Demi bisexual king. Xie Lanshan is a fun character, and I want to protect him from whatever is eating away at him in his head. I feel bad that it seems he's surrounded by people who doubt him because he came back different from him undercover mission. I'm a Xie Lanshan defender - of course 7 years undercover in a very traumatic environment would change a man. I just want him to be happy ;o;
Shen Liufei is still hard for me to pin down. He's a perfect match for Xie Lanshan, and has a lot of skills that prove useful to the cases. However, there's definitely more to him, and he seems to have complicated feelings towards Xie Lanshan right from the jump. Xie Lanshan is right that Shen Liufei came to China for him, but the reasons are currently unknown (though I can guess that they have a connection in the past... bad? maybe? or a mix). His reaction to Lanshan when things begin to get real is surprising, showing that he really does have complicated feelings for the man where something is holding him back while something is also drawing him to him. But yeah... honestly what do we know about him? Between the both of them, I got barely a read on Liufei until closer to the end, which I guess is to be expected a bit since it's not from his POV but still, that man is too shrouded in mystery. I want more depth and exploration for the both of them in book 2, which I'm sure we'll get.
Overall good I enjoyed it even if it times it felt long and I wanted it to focus on other aspects of the story. I am looking forward to digging into book 2 though - this is where it will get deeper into the aspects I really am looking for I think. Book 1 has set the stage, and i'm intrigued what the truth behind Xie Lanshan's personal mystery is.
The translation was pretty good, although there were some grammatical hiccups at times where it didn't read like natural English and should have been edited more closely. Otherwise, good work. I always applaud translators for their efforts to bring us these stories! The typeset was smaller than average, but I figured it was to contain the first part of this story in a reasonably sized binding lol. The typeset is better/back to average size in Book 2, which is nice (even though I don't find the font being smaller necessarily a negative here- though it hurt my pride as a fast reader when it felt like I was reading for a long time but the page number just did not seem to reflect my efforts lol).
The cases were interesting/well crafted and I liked watching Liufei and Lanshan solve the cases together, even though sometimes the culprit felt obvious to me. I like the crime aspect of this series, I mean it's a key part, but yeah sometimes the cases almost felt overlong? Or maybe I was just impatient because my real interest lies in Xie Lanshan's own personal mystery and so I just wanted the plot to focus more on that. The cases were still well done and also served as a vehicle to draw Shen Liufei and Xie Lanshan closer together, which is nice.
The romance is a slow slow burn. I mean, you won't believe me because Xie Lanshan is a huge flirt but it feels like it takes so long before he realizes he means it. There was this continuous "I'm straight" "lived as straight" "I don't usually welcome guys into my bed" thread that had me rolling my eyes since Xie Lanshan says a that while clearly pursuing a man left and right. He does come to a revelation later that he is actually serious (bro lol) and "never considered that there was another option [for him beyond liking women/being loyal to his 1 ex]" which is a good revelation. Demi bisexual king. Xie Lanshan is a fun character, and I want to protect him from whatever is eating away at him in his head. I feel bad that it seems he's surrounded by people who doubt him because he came back different from him undercover mission. I'm a Xie Lanshan defender - of course 7 years undercover in a very traumatic environment would change a man. I just want him to be happy ;o;
Shen Liufei is still hard for me to pin down. He's a perfect match for Xie Lanshan, and has a lot of skills that prove useful to the cases. However, there's definitely more to him, and he seems to have complicated feelings towards Xie Lanshan right from the jump. Xie Lanshan is right that Shen Liufei came to China for him, but the reasons are currently unknown (though I can guess that they have a connection in the past... bad? maybe? or a mix). His reaction to Lanshan when things begin to get real is surprising, showing that he really does have complicated feelings for the man where something is holding him back while something is also drawing him to him. But yeah... honestly what do we know about him? Between the both of them, I got barely a read on Liufei until closer to the end, which I guess is to be expected a bit since it's not from his POV but still, that man is too shrouded in mystery. I want more depth and exploration for the both of them in book 2, which I'm sure we'll get.
Overall good I enjoyed it even if it times it felt long and I wanted it to focus on other aspects of the story. I am looking forward to digging into book 2 though - this is where it will get deeper into the aspects I really am looking for I think. Book 1 has set the stage, and i'm intrigued what the truth behind Xie Lanshan's personal mystery is.
March 27, 2025
I got chills when I finished this book. It was awesome.
Also, yeah, as someone from Myanmar, all of those businesses with Mu Kun are on point. Things truly are bad over there in the golden triangle area.
I expected this novel to be heavier but the author has such a good way of building up and relieving tension. I need more of whatever this is immediately.
Also, yeah, as someone from Myanmar, all of those businesses with Mu Kun are on point. Things truly are bad over there in the golden triangle area.
I expected this novel to be heavier but the author has such a good way of building up and relieving tension. I need more of whatever this is immediately.
May 19, 2022
"Never underestimate humans," Xie Lanshan said. "We're paradoxical and strange creatures. We can turn on each other in a blink of an eye for our own benefit, but also repent for our sins and become saints."
A gripping page turner! You know a book is GOOD when you can not, for the love of anything sacred, put it down, and this is one of those. The cases and mystery solving elements have been well-researched by the author and the hints that you get along the line are minimal and subtle enough to keep you interested and guessing and in the end everything just ties up beautifully together. I was particularly shocked with the second case, gotta admit I did not see that one coming at all!
The relationship between the main characters Xie Lanshan and Shen Liufei is simply fire!
Xie Lanshan is a police officer who flirts as if his life actually depends on it. Shen Liufei is the newly hired analyst for the Bureau, who is cold and arrogant, a quintessential renaissance man. This men are highly intelligent and even though it is beyond evident from the very first meeting that they have an insane need to try to one-up each other, there is something that just keeps pulling them to each other, closer and becoming softer for one another, and you can't help rooting for them despite CLEAR indications that there is so much more to each one of them that meets the eye, and perhaps being together is not the sanest decision.
"A lifetime is both long and short. Some people have their sights fixed on the faraway past or future, some are always looking in different directions, while others are simply on a search for that certain someone- and that someone will always be the warmth during a snowstorm no matter how long one lives."
Did I already say that their interactions are fire? Yes, fire! *punches wall*
Extra bonus points in this book for well fleshed out side characters, who are so much more than just tools for the main characters. I loved Captain Tao and his 'wifey', Su Mansheng. There is something so endearing about watching Captain Tao and Xie Lanshan showing off about whose crush is the best and smartest.
Gotta mention the book itself could really use another round of editing because I even found an entire 30 pages or so that just repeated, but this is not something that would ever affect my opinion on the actual novel.
Now, I can't help to feel apprehension due to the countless times the word "dark" or "darkness inside" has been used to describe human beings, especially when mixed with the main characters monologues, along with how the author just casually threw the 'Theseus ship theory' amidst a lot of the seemingly unimportant information some of the people in the cases vaguely mention, and have a sense of foreshadowing that things are gonna turn horribly bad as soon as I start Vol2, but I am absolutely ready.
A gripping page turner! You know a book is GOOD when you can not, for the love of anything sacred, put it down, and this is one of those. The cases and mystery solving elements have been well-researched by the author and the hints that you get along the line are minimal and subtle enough to keep you interested and guessing and in the end everything just ties up beautifully together. I was particularly shocked with the second case, gotta admit I did not see that one coming at all!
The relationship between the main characters Xie Lanshan and Shen Liufei is simply fire!
Xie Lanshan is a police officer who flirts as if his life actually depends on it. Shen Liufei is the newly hired analyst for the Bureau, who is cold and arrogant, a quintessential renaissance man. This men are highly intelligent and even though it is beyond evident from the very first meeting that they have an insane need to try to one-up each other, there is something that just keeps pulling them to each other, closer and becoming softer for one another, and you can't help rooting for them despite CLEAR indications that there is so much more to each one of them that meets the eye, and perhaps being together is not the sanest decision.
"A lifetime is both long and short. Some people have their sights fixed on the faraway past or future, some are always looking in different directions, while others are simply on a search for that certain someone- and that someone will always be the warmth during a snowstorm no matter how long one lives."
Did I already say that their interactions are fire? Yes, fire! *punches wall*
Extra bonus points in this book for well fleshed out side characters, who are so much more than just tools for the main characters. I loved Captain Tao and his 'wifey', Su Mansheng. There is something so endearing about watching Captain Tao and Xie Lanshan showing off about whose crush is the best and smartest.
Gotta mention the book itself could really use another round of editing because I even found an entire 30 pages or so that just repeated, but this is not something that would ever affect my opinion on the actual novel.
Now, I can't help to feel apprehension due to the countless times the word "dark" or "darkness inside" has been used to describe human beings, especially when mixed with the main characters monologues, along with how the author just casually threw the 'Theseus ship theory' amidst a lot of the seemingly unimportant information some of the people in the cases vaguely mention, and have a sense of foreshadowing that things are gonna turn horribly bad as soon as I start Vol2, but I am absolutely ready.
March 14, 2025
3.5
Ok, let's stars with bad:
This book has some great concepts but lacks excution.
The first case the the story tackles felt slow and dragged on with a resolution that didn't feel stasfactory.
Now let's talk about the good:
The main character, although it did take while to like him but he is my fav character in the book, which is rare for me to like the playboy type character.
The second case was paced batter than the first, and I felt that its excution was better, and unlike the first case, I didn't feel board reading this.
Generally speaking, the part I liked the most was the characterization of the mc relationships with people in his life both before and after the anti-drug operation. This was by far the best part of the book, and I think it's done perfectly in terms of pacing and excution. This was what kept me reading through the first case.
Ok, let's stars with bad:
This book has some great concepts but lacks excution.
The first case the the story tackles felt slow and dragged on with a resolution that didn't feel stasfactory.
Now let's talk about the good:
The main character, although it did take while to like him but he is my fav character in the book, which is rare for me to like the playboy type character.
The second case was paced batter than the first, and I felt that its excution was better, and unlike the first case, I didn't feel board reading this.
Generally speaking, the part I liked the most was the characterization of the mc relationships with people in his life both before and after the anti-drug operation. This was by far the best part of the book, and I think it's done perfectly in terms of pacing and excution. This was what kept me reading through the first case.
June 8, 2025
Deeply unserious book.
The premise is intriguing enough: a young cop, traumatized after a six year long undercover stint in a drug cartel, meets a mysterious forensic sketch artist - together they solve crimes. The two cases in this first volume are also quite interesting. The execution however is somewhat clunky. In a way, I admire the complete disregard for realism and research. A therapist jumps right to hypnotizing her patient, without any preamble? Okay. An anaphylactic shock caused by oysters gets treated with CPR? Sure, why not. The host feeds his guest oysters again on their second date? Now, that's either a blatant attempt at murder or he aims at another round of mouth-to-mouth.
The translation could've used more polish, too. Too literal and sometimes ungrammatical, it doesn't read like natural English.
Still, I like the weird relationship between the two leads - of the kind where Xie Lanshan lets Shen Liufei fingerfuck his mouth while talking about a case, just to tell him he's back to dating his ex-girlfriend a few days later. I also want to know more about what exactly he had going on with drug lord Mu Kun.
The premise is intriguing enough: a young cop, traumatized after a six year long undercover stint in a drug cartel, meets a mysterious forensic sketch artist - together they solve crimes. The two cases in this first volume are also quite interesting. The execution however is somewhat clunky. In a way, I admire the complete disregard for realism and research. A therapist jumps right to hypnotizing her patient, without any preamble? Okay. An anaphylactic shock caused by oysters gets treated with CPR? Sure, why not. The host feeds his guest oysters again on their second date? Now, that's either a blatant attempt at murder or he aims at another round of mouth-to-mouth.
The translation could've used more polish, too. Too literal and sometimes ungrammatical, it doesn't read like natural English.
Still, I like the weird relationship between the two leads - of the kind where Xie Lanshan lets Shen Liufei fingerfuck his mouth while talking about a case, just to tell him he's back to dating his ex-girlfriend a few days later. I also want to know more about what exactly he had going on with drug lord Mu Kun.
December 22, 2023
4,5 stars
This is the first book of three and it delivered a great start into the story. I loved our MC Xie Lanshan. He’s a funny and kind-hearted cop as long as he doesn’t have to see blood through which his gruesome and mysterious past as the undercover second in command of a drug lord is triggered. If that happens he turns to this ice cold and frightening persona and I’m not sure if he’s got some form of split personality (or his mother who swears this guy is not her son).
And if that weren’t already a complex character his love interest (Shen Liufei) is even more mysterious and strange. You can see he’s got the hots for Xie Lanshan (same the other way around), but where Xie Lanshan accepts it and pursues Shen Liufei the latter sends out mixed signals or plain out rejects XLS. I know they have had a past encounter which Xie Lanshan only unconsciously remembers. Whatever has happened it wasn’t good because SLF is definitely a pissed off love interest right now.
Then there is Mu Kun our apparently psychopathic drug lord who didn’t die when Xie Lanshan toppled his drug empire in the golden triangle and who now seems to be less pretty than he was before and who is out for Xie Lanshan’s blood or body or both.
Yeah, excuse me while I hurry up to buy the next part(s).
The book was good but not perfect. Most of the crimes were foreseeable and especially at the beginning a bit slow in their development. Also, the reader hasn’t got much closer to solve the mystery between our two male protagonists. Anyway, this book has caught me hook, line, and sinker.
This is the first book of three and it delivered a great start into the story. I loved our MC Xie Lanshan. He’s a funny and kind-hearted cop as long as he doesn’t have to see blood through which his gruesome and mysterious past as the undercover second in command of a drug lord is triggered. If that happens he turns to this ice cold and frightening persona and I’m not sure if he’s got some form of split personality (or his mother who swears this guy is not her son).
And if that weren’t already a complex character his love interest (Shen Liufei) is even more mysterious and strange. You can see he’s got the hots for Xie Lanshan (same the other way around), but where Xie Lanshan accepts it and pursues Shen Liufei the latter sends out mixed signals or plain out rejects XLS. I know they have had a past encounter which Xie Lanshan only unconsciously remembers. Whatever has happened it wasn’t good because SLF is definitely a pissed off love interest right now.
Then there is Mu Kun our apparently psychopathic drug lord who didn’t die when Xie Lanshan toppled his drug empire in the golden triangle and who now seems to be less pretty than he was before and who is out for Xie Lanshan’s blood or body or both.
Yeah, excuse me while I hurry up to buy the next part(s).
The book was good but not perfect. Most of the crimes were foreseeable and especially at the beginning a bit slow in their development. Also, the reader hasn’t got much closer to solve the mystery between our two male protagonists. Anyway, this book has caught me hook, line, and sinker.
December 16, 2023
4.5/5. This was so intriguing, and by the end, I was left with more questions than answers than when I started; which is good since this is just the first book. Who is Xie Lanshan? Is he Xie Lanshan? What happened to him? And the same goes for Shen Liufei. On the other hand, these 2 have such an explosive quemistry I was on the edge of my seat every time they were together. Also, wtf was that final interaction? I also KNEW Mu Kun had to appear, if the body isn't found, the type of character he is is bound to come back. I'm really curious about where this will go and how the layers of Xie Lanshan's fractured mind will puzzle everything together and the role Shen Liufei will play in that.
July 31, 2023
I guess my expectations were way too high. The writing often was jumbled which made it hard to follow the plot. The random, superficial descriptions of almost everyone's appearance didn't help. It felt like the author tried to bite off more than they could chew.
October 9, 2023
the last 50 pages made up for the absolute sh*t show in the first 350. overall im disappointed by jin shisi chai, after reading her other novels i expected better from her. however, the final two chapters gave me hope for the story picking up speed in the next volume. looking forward to it.
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