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A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Murder, Money, and an Epic Power Struggle in China
The downfall of Bo Xilai in China was more than a darkly thrilling mystery. It revealed a cataclysmic internal power struggle between Communist Party factions, one that reached all the way to China's new president Xi Jinping.
The scandalous story of the corruption of the Bo Xilai family -- the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood; Bo's secret lovers; the secret maneuverings of Bo's supporters; the hasty trial and sentencing of Gu Kailai, Bo's wife -- was just the first rumble of a seismic power struggle that continues to rock the very foundation of China's all-powerful Communist Party. By the time it is over, the machinations in Beijing and throughout the country that began with Bo's fall could affect China's economic development and disrupt the world's political and economic order.
Pin Ho and Wenguang Huang have pieced together the details of this fascinating political drama from firsthand reporting and an unrivaled array of sources, some very high in the Chinese government. This was the first scandal in China to play out in the international media -- details were leaked, sometimes invented, to non-Chinese news outlets as part of the power plays that rippled through the government. The attempt to manipulate the Western media, especially, was a fundamental dimension to the story, and one that affected some of the early reporting. A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel returns to the scene of the crime and shows not only what happened in Room 1605 but how the threat of the story was every bit as important in the life and death struggle for power that followed. It touched celebrities and billionaires and redrew the cast of the new leadership of the Communist Party. The ghost of Neil Heywood haunts China to this day.
The scandalous story of the corruption of the Bo Xilai family -- the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood; Bo's secret lovers; the secret maneuverings of Bo's supporters; the hasty trial and sentencing of Gu Kailai, Bo's wife -- was just the first rumble of a seismic power struggle that continues to rock the very foundation of China's all-powerful Communist Party. By the time it is over, the machinations in Beijing and throughout the country that began with Bo's fall could affect China's economic development and disrupt the world's political and economic order.
Pin Ho and Wenguang Huang have pieced together the details of this fascinating political drama from firsthand reporting and an unrivaled array of sources, some very high in the Chinese government. This was the first scandal in China to play out in the international media -- details were leaked, sometimes invented, to non-Chinese news outlets as part of the power plays that rippled through the government. The attempt to manipulate the Western media, especially, was a fundamental dimension to the story, and one that affected some of the early reporting. A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel returns to the scene of the crime and shows not only what happened in Room 1605 but how the threat of the story was every bit as important in the life and death struggle for power that followed. It touched celebrities and billionaires and redrew the cast of the new leadership of the Communist Party. The ghost of Neil Heywood haunts China to this day.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2013
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March 20, 2017
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08hlw0tDescription: The downfall of Bo Xilai in China was more than a darkly thrilling mystery. It revealed a cataclysmic internal power struggle between Communist Party factions, one that reached all the way to China's new president Xi Jinping.
The scandalous story of the corruption of the Bo Xilai family—the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood; Bo's secret lovers; the secret maneuverings of Bo's supporters; the hasty trial and sentencing of Gu Kailai, Bo's wife—was just the first rumble of a seismic power struggle that continues to rock the very foundation of China's all-powerful Communist Party. By the time it is over, the machinations in Beijing and throughout the country that began with Bo's fall could affect China's economic development and disrupt the world's political and economic order.
Pin Ho and Wenguang Huang have pieced together the details of this fascinating political drama from firsthand reporting and an unrivaled array of sources, some very high in the Chinese government. This was the first scandal in China to play out in the international media—details were leaked, sometimes invented, to non-Chinese news outlets as part of the power plays that rippled through the government. The attempt to manipulate the Western media, especially, was a fundamental dimension to the story, and one that affected some of the early reporting. A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel returns to the scene of the crime and shows not only what happened in Room 1605 but how the threat of the story was every bit as important in the life and death struggle for power that followed. It touched celebrities and billionaires and redrew the cast of the new leadership of the Communist Party. The ghost of Neil Heywood haunts China to this day.
June 29, 2021
Bardzo dobry, kompleksowy reportaż, który przez pryzmat zabójstwa i związanego z nim skandalu, przedstawia sylwetki przedstawicieli władzy chińskiej na różnych szczeblach, dając nam tym samym wgląd w działanie partii. Pozycja obowiązkowa dla tych, którzy chcą dowiedzieć się czegoś o chińskiej polityce.
September 10, 2016
Not masterfully written, but excellent reporting-- lots of stuff I just haven't seen anywhere else. I've been fascinated by the tale of Neil Heywood's murder, and subsequent undoing of Bo Xilai, ever since the first news reports started to trickle out. Was he poisoned by Bo Xilai's wife? (yeah probably) Was it a frame-up to take down Bo? (that too) The guy didn't lack for enemies. But we're talking about someone who almost made it onto the Politburo Standing Committee!! These are the 7 guys who run China! How could someone that high up get taken down? Surely he had connections to save him?
The whole story is redolent of palace intrigue. China's had these kind of struggles since time began. It's frustrating though, really highlights how corrupt the "one party system" has become. It's rotten to the core. Would be frustrating to be a journalist in China. It's left to the foreign press to explain how (for example) Wen Jiabao's family members have enriched themselves to the tune of 2.7 billion -- BILLION -- while he's been running the show. Not a story you're going to read on Xinhua.
The other thing I found entertaining about this book was how they constantly use ancient Chinese proverbs to illustrate points... "two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain"... "hitting the mountain to scare the tigers"... "when an enlightened one dies, even his pets go to heaven..." etc. etc. There must be like two dozen of these sayings in the book, they're very consciously peppered throughout. (Or maybe it wasn't conscious? But that would be even weirder)
Anyway this book may be too "inside baseball" for some, it's definitely dense with the intricacies of Chinese politics & princeling/party feuds. But the story is gold, it's like a spy thriller and soap opera and murder mystery and Greek tragedy all rolled into one.
Doesn't leave one very hopeful for the future of China in re corruption though.
The whole story is redolent of palace intrigue. China's had these kind of struggles since time began. It's frustrating though, really highlights how corrupt the "one party system" has become. It's rotten to the core. Would be frustrating to be a journalist in China. It's left to the foreign press to explain how (for example) Wen Jiabao's family members have enriched themselves to the tune of 2.7 billion -- BILLION -- while he's been running the show. Not a story you're going to read on Xinhua.
The other thing I found entertaining about this book was how they constantly use ancient Chinese proverbs to illustrate points... "two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain"... "hitting the mountain to scare the tigers"... "when an enlightened one dies, even his pets go to heaven..." etc. etc. There must be like two dozen of these sayings in the book, they're very consciously peppered throughout. (Or maybe it wasn't conscious? But that would be even weirder)
Anyway this book may be too "inside baseball" for some, it's definitely dense with the intricacies of Chinese politics & princeling/party feuds. But the story is gold, it's like a spy thriller and soap opera and murder mystery and Greek tragedy all rolled into one.
Doesn't leave one very hopeful for the future of China in re corruption though.
March 21, 2017
From BBC Radio 4:
The story of the mysterious murder which changed the course of Chinese politics. Carrie Gracie investigates the killing of a British man, Neil Heywood, in Chongqing in 2011, and explores his links to China's up-and-coming power couple. China is gripped by a lurid show trial. You can hear additional material in the podcast version of the programme.
Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell
Sound mix by James Beard.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08hlw0t
The story of the mysterious murder which changed the course of Chinese politics. Carrie Gracie investigates the killing of a British man, Neil Heywood, in Chongqing in 2011, and explores his links to China's up-and-coming power couple. China is gripped by a lurid show trial. You can hear additional material in the podcast version of the programme.
Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell
Sound mix by James Beard.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08hlw0t
October 15, 2013
An excerpt from my review, on the Brown Political Review:
On September 22, a political dynasty fell. Following a highly publicized corruption trial, former Chinese politburo member Bo Xilai had his assets stripped and was sentenced to death. His predicament gained global attention, providing a rare look into the tumultuous world of Chinese politics and the unsavory current running beneath the nation’s meteoric growth. Although Bo’s political dynasty was only recently wiped from Party rosters, his downfall really began in 2011, when a Bo family protégé and British citizen, Neil Heywood, was found dead in a Chongqing resort. This is where authors Pin Ho and WenGuang Huang begin A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel, a minutely research work which combines investigative journalism with Chinese culture and the country’s chaotic history to explain the condition of the Chinese state. Undertaking an arduous task, the authors are constantly pushed to question the quality of their information and the strength of their conclusions. Their premise – that Bo Xilai’s case mirrors the greater Chinese political situation – is convincing nonetheless.
Keep reading on the BPR page
On September 22, a political dynasty fell. Following a highly publicized corruption trial, former Chinese politburo member Bo Xilai had his assets stripped and was sentenced to death. His predicament gained global attention, providing a rare look into the tumultuous world of Chinese politics and the unsavory current running beneath the nation’s meteoric growth. Although Bo’s political dynasty was only recently wiped from Party rosters, his downfall really began in 2011, when a Bo family protégé and British citizen, Neil Heywood, was found dead in a Chongqing resort. This is where authors Pin Ho and WenGuang Huang begin A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel, a minutely research work which combines investigative journalism with Chinese culture and the country’s chaotic history to explain the condition of the Chinese state. Undertaking an arduous task, the authors are constantly pushed to question the quality of their information and the strength of their conclusions. Their premise – that Bo Xilai’s case mirrors the greater Chinese political situation – is convincing nonetheless.
Keep reading on the BPR page
August 29, 2018
Two Chinese journalists have chronicled the rise and fall of Bo Xiliai, a high level official in the Communist party. His maneuvering to gain power and ruthless use of people around him and greed led to his downfall partially by the betrayal of his police chief and the murder of an Englishman Heywood at the Lucky Holiday Hotel allegedly by Bo Xilai’s wife. Is is truly a suspenseful thriller and displays the ugly underbelly of the Communists Party in its palace intrigues and power plays. A brief outcome of the final judgment of Bo Xilai and his wife would be helpful for those not familiar with the ebb and flow of Chinese politics.
June 10, 2018
Brilliantly sharp, insightful analysis and the story itself reads like a larger than life fiction.
September 29, 2020
My wife, who is Chinese, gave me this book when it was first published in 2013. I made a stab at reading it then but found it a little dry and put it aside. Finally feeling in a more receptive frame of mind, I tried again with more success.
I will say, given the subject matter, the story could have been rendered more dramatically. That's the treatment that would have captured my interest the first time around. But this is not a fictional thriller. It's contemporary Chinese history, as told by a Chinese journalist with inside access. It rings true to me and therefore deserves a little patience.
Wang Lijun was an upwardly mobile police chief who cultivated a reputation as "the Eliot Ness of China." He was brave and energetic about breaking up criminal activity, and with success he became increasingly popular with the ordinary people, e.g. tricycle cab drivers who had been extorted by mobsters for protection money. His superiors liked him too—up to a point. Senior leaders in Beijing reading (probably exaggerated) press accounts of all the arrests he was making began to worry that this trend toward reform might soon threaten their own interests.
Their fear was not groundless, because as he said, "We are supposed to attack the underworld, but some in the police force are more corrupt and dangerous than the mobsters." And the crooks weren't just other policemen; many officials in prominent leadership positions were taking bribes and collaborating with criminals (all of which is common knowledge in China according to my wife). Wang was catching more and more of them.
On the other hand, the book gives reason to wonder whether some of those arrested (and jailed, and executed) were simply ambitious rivals that Wang needed to eliminate for his own purposes. "As the Chinese saying goes, 'Two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain.'" The book explains that Wang's trajectory is a familiar one in Chinese history. There's even a word for people like him: Kulis are tough guys who (a) fluorish under an authoritarian political system, using extreme methods to maintain control, (b) are useful to superiors who are ascending to positions of still greater power, and (c) in the end are either discarded when no longer useful or are persecuted by another, more powerful kuli.
In Wang's case the patron superior was Bo Xilai, a member of the Politburo and potentially a (long-shot) rival to Xi Jinping for the presidency. Bo owed his position largely to the fact that his father had been one of the original founding members of the Chinese Communist Party. And (like Wang) in distinguishing himself he made some enemies along the way, although they quickly learned that speaking critically of him was bad for their health.
The event with which the book opens does not at first appear to be a major crisis. A resort hotel near Chongqing, Wang's city, reports that a guest staying there, a British subject named Neil Heywood, has been found dead in his room. The easy explanation for Heywood's death is alcohol overdose, and Wang is willing to play along with that. But before the hasty cremation he does secure a blood sample. The suggestion is that analysis would show Heywood was poisoned. If that were the case, the suspect would be Bo Xilai's wife, Gu Kailai, although some time passes before her motive is given. Fully understanding his own vulnerability, Wang suggests to Bo that this death need not be a problem. He just wants assurance of Bo's continued protection. However, Bo refuses to be manipulated by an underling.
Well, if Wang is going down, he means to take Bo down, too.
When the flimsy claim of alcohol overdose falls apart, there are allegations that Heywood, who'd been on good terms with the Bo family, had been used to transfer large sums of their money to the UK, and that friction had arisen when he asked for a commission for his efforts. Then, on being refused, he had supposedly threatened to tell international news media about the family's overseas bank accounts.
By the way, it's interesting that Bo, a big advocate of restoring the hard-core communism of Mao's era, amassed a fortune possibly as big as US$806 million. On the other hand, that seems to be about par for the elite figures in these socialist utopias.
"In a popular vernacular, 'Nobody's butt is clean.'" Exposure of Bo's self-dealing would bring unwelcome attention on the other leaders, so the investigation focuses very specifically on the murder itself. Gu Kailai's trial is a bit of a farce, with a foregone conclusion. Numerous red flags are ignored, including a very sloppy crime scene. Surely, Gu Kailai, who had a background in criminal law, would not have left the kind of incriminating evidence found there. Also, no attention is given to indications that someone else had been there after her departure. That someone was almost certainly—you guessed it—Wang Lijun. Although convicted of murder, Gu was probably at worst only an accessory to the crime.
So what was Wang's motive? The author admits that his analysis "is only partially accurate." Maybe Wang was acting per direction of Bo's many rivals in the government. It seems there had also been concern in some quarters that Heywood had been a spy, in which case there would have been a double incentive to do him in.
In any event, Bo and his wife aren't the only ones to go down with Wang. Bo's disgrace makes matters very dicey for his own mentor, Zhou Yongkang, at the time the third most powerful man in China (and the driving force behind the government's oppression of the Tibetans, the Falun Gong movement, and others). Another victim is an entrepreneur who'd grown rich in coordination with Bo's rise to power. There are so many layers to this mess, so many elites living on the assumption that rules apply only to other people, that the attempt to sort it out becomes dizzying.
The last third of the book steps back to provide an overview of China's general political climate, e.g., the preoccupation with "building a harmonious society," which means silencing anyone failing to support the approved narrative. Thus, a website that has been censored or shut down is said to have been "harmonized." Harmony is the public face of power transitions in the government, masking the cynical maneuverings of players like Jiang Zemin, who preserved his own legacy and maintained influence even after retiring. Years earlier, Bo Xilai had gotten on his bad side; and Jiang's opinion was the deciding factor in settling the matter. Perhaps the only thing unusual about this particular scandal is the fact that, in his rage at being misused, Wang succeeded in calling attention to it.
The book provides a cautionary note for other nations that may grow impatient with old-fashioned standards like checks and balances and tolerance of competing ideas.
I will say, given the subject matter, the story could have been rendered more dramatically. That's the treatment that would have captured my interest the first time around. But this is not a fictional thriller. It's contemporary Chinese history, as told by a Chinese journalist with inside access. It rings true to me and therefore deserves a little patience.
Wang Lijun was an upwardly mobile police chief who cultivated a reputation as "the Eliot Ness of China." He was brave and energetic about breaking up criminal activity, and with success he became increasingly popular with the ordinary people, e.g. tricycle cab drivers who had been extorted by mobsters for protection money. His superiors liked him too—up to a point. Senior leaders in Beijing reading (probably exaggerated) press accounts of all the arrests he was making began to worry that this trend toward reform might soon threaten their own interests.
Their fear was not groundless, because as he said, "We are supposed to attack the underworld, but some in the police force are more corrupt and dangerous than the mobsters." And the crooks weren't just other policemen; many officials in prominent leadership positions were taking bribes and collaborating with criminals (all of which is common knowledge in China according to my wife). Wang was catching more and more of them.
On the other hand, the book gives reason to wonder whether some of those arrested (and jailed, and executed) were simply ambitious rivals that Wang needed to eliminate for his own purposes. "As the Chinese saying goes, 'Two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain.'" The book explains that Wang's trajectory is a familiar one in Chinese history. There's even a word for people like him: Kulis are tough guys who (a) fluorish under an authoritarian political system, using extreme methods to maintain control, (b) are useful to superiors who are ascending to positions of still greater power, and (c) in the end are either discarded when no longer useful or are persecuted by another, more powerful kuli.
In Wang's case the patron superior was Bo Xilai, a member of the Politburo and potentially a (long-shot) rival to Xi Jinping for the presidency. Bo owed his position largely to the fact that his father had been one of the original founding members of the Chinese Communist Party. And (like Wang) in distinguishing himself he made some enemies along the way, although they quickly learned that speaking critically of him was bad for their health.
The event with which the book opens does not at first appear to be a major crisis. A resort hotel near Chongqing, Wang's city, reports that a guest staying there, a British subject named Neil Heywood, has been found dead in his room. The easy explanation for Heywood's death is alcohol overdose, and Wang is willing to play along with that. But before the hasty cremation he does secure a blood sample. The suggestion is that analysis would show Heywood was poisoned. If that were the case, the suspect would be Bo Xilai's wife, Gu Kailai, although some time passes before her motive is given. Fully understanding his own vulnerability, Wang suggests to Bo that this death need not be a problem. He just wants assurance of Bo's continued protection. However, Bo refuses to be manipulated by an underling.
Well, if Wang is going down, he means to take Bo down, too.
When the flimsy claim of alcohol overdose falls apart, there are allegations that Heywood, who'd been on good terms with the Bo family, had been used to transfer large sums of their money to the UK, and that friction had arisen when he asked for a commission for his efforts. Then, on being refused, he had supposedly threatened to tell international news media about the family's overseas bank accounts.
By the way, it's interesting that Bo, a big advocate of restoring the hard-core communism of Mao's era, amassed a fortune possibly as big as US$806 million. On the other hand, that seems to be about par for the elite figures in these socialist utopias.
"In a popular vernacular, 'Nobody's butt is clean.'" Exposure of Bo's self-dealing would bring unwelcome attention on the other leaders, so the investigation focuses very specifically on the murder itself. Gu Kailai's trial is a bit of a farce, with a foregone conclusion. Numerous red flags are ignored, including a very sloppy crime scene. Surely, Gu Kailai, who had a background in criminal law, would not have left the kind of incriminating evidence found there. Also, no attention is given to indications that someone else had been there after her departure. That someone was almost certainly—you guessed it—Wang Lijun. Although convicted of murder, Gu was probably at worst only an accessory to the crime.
So what was Wang's motive? The author admits that his analysis "is only partially accurate." Maybe Wang was acting per direction of Bo's many rivals in the government. It seems there had also been concern in some quarters that Heywood had been a spy, in which case there would have been a double incentive to do him in.
In any event, Bo and his wife aren't the only ones to go down with Wang. Bo's disgrace makes matters very dicey for his own mentor, Zhou Yongkang, at the time the third most powerful man in China (and the driving force behind the government's oppression of the Tibetans, the Falun Gong movement, and others). Another victim is an entrepreneur who'd grown rich in coordination with Bo's rise to power. There are so many layers to this mess, so many elites living on the assumption that rules apply only to other people, that the attempt to sort it out becomes dizzying.
The last third of the book steps back to provide an overview of China's general political climate, e.g., the preoccupation with "building a harmonious society," which means silencing anyone failing to support the approved narrative. Thus, a website that has been censored or shut down is said to have been "harmonized." Harmony is the public face of power transitions in the government, masking the cynical maneuverings of players like Jiang Zemin, who preserved his own legacy and maintained influence even after retiring. Years earlier, Bo Xilai had gotten on his bad side; and Jiang's opinion was the deciding factor in settling the matter. Perhaps the only thing unusual about this particular scandal is the fact that, in his rage at being misused, Wang succeeded in calling attention to it.
The book provides a cautionary note for other nations that may grow impatient with old-fashioned standards like checks and balances and tolerance of competing ideas.
October 28, 2025
Solidnie napisany, dobrze zresearchowany reportaż. Oczywiście jako, że jestem fanem kryminałów najbardziej mnie zainteresowała część dotycząca śledztwa, ale aspekty polityczne również były opisane ciekawie. Moim jedynym problemem jest to, że czasem głowa pęka od natłoku informacji, a czasem niektóre informacje są tak często powtarzane, jakby autorzy nie wierzyli, że czytelnik jest je w stanie zapamiętać. Rozumiem, że trzeba powtórzyć informację jeśli pojawiła się ona ponownie po 200 stronach, ale nie, jeżeli pojawia się ona znowu dwie strony dalej. Nie jestem jednak znawcą reportaży, więc może najzwyczajniej w świecie się nie znam i tak właśnie powinno być.
March 13, 2013
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/14WUqy3
My rating: 4 Stars, but damn near 5!
My opinion: When this book first started off, I thought I would be reading a true crime novel. Instead what I got was a history of the Communist party in China. Then...it got really, really interesting! What the authors started to unravel was a deep-seated corruption and "misbehaving" abound. By the time they got to the murder, I was so deeply entrenched in the corruption of the Chinese Communist Party that I was like "Go back, Go back!" and the murder was almost an afterthought.
I found this a slower read for me because of trying to keep the names straight. As Americans might not be familiar with the Chinese Communist Party, I almost felt it would have been helpful to have a cast of characters with a tree as to where they ranked in the party, as well as a timeline of key events. In my opinion, it would have made the read go much quicker, as I could have referred back to it with questions.
My rating: 4 Stars, but damn near 5!
My opinion: When this book first started off, I thought I would be reading a true crime novel. Instead what I got was a history of the Communist party in China. Then...it got really, really interesting! What the authors started to unravel was a deep-seated corruption and "misbehaving" abound. By the time they got to the murder, I was so deeply entrenched in the corruption of the Chinese Communist Party that I was like "Go back, Go back!" and the murder was almost an afterthought.
I found this a slower read for me because of trying to keep the names straight. As Americans might not be familiar with the Chinese Communist Party, I almost felt it would have been helpful to have a cast of characters with a tree as to where they ranked in the party, as well as a timeline of key events. In my opinion, it would have made the read go much quicker, as I could have referred back to it with questions.
July 28, 2014
A fascinating and informative book. I enjoy books about contemporary politics with an insider perspective from many countries, and this one gives interesting insight into the political climate in China. I do feel that the authors could have supported their main assertions more in some ways. Their case about Bo's ultimate political "motivations" was less than convincing, in my opinion. I also felt that this book would benefit from an afterward since Bo's trial has since taken place. For readers who don't know the outcome, this would have been a valuable addition. It was as if the rush to bring this book to press resulted in leaving out the climax of the entire event. The editing also left something to be desired with some print errors that were confusing. Still, the book does offer valuable insight, that gives the reader a chance to consider the issues in context of current developments in China.
November 3, 2017
我读是中文版，可是在goodreads上未找到中文版
May 22, 2024
A interesting glimpse into the murder of British national, Neil Heywood in Chongqing, China November 2012. Some might remember the murder from the news and the scandal that unfolded from it, or at least the beginning stages where his death was disputes and conspiracies were made as to why and how he was killed.
This book starts of easy going and interesting for sure. However, it quickly becomes difficult - not as in boring but hard on terminology and introducing individuals that one can get easily confused if they know nothing of Chinese politics. This was my mistake and Im sure if I knew the basics the learning curve would not be as difficult. Regarding the books content, the author stays neutral and always introduces multiple perspective of the story based on what different people claim. The events described are also "key" events that one might recognize from the news or can easily search up and find information (not just in Chinese) to better "realize" the context of the book. The author also introduces specific details and facts at times which are deviating from the books story which are mere background knowledge (such as the GDP of southern china) but are not the actual "core" of the story. One can skim these if they wish too.
In conclusion, I recommend this book greatly for anyone that wishes to understand Chinese politics. At least to grasp an idea and the issue of power struggle that exist in every country, even between countries. Think US-China, but not the struggle is within Chinese provinces. I also recommend it to those who want to learn more on Neil Heywood, who he was and why his death was so important as a catalyst for officials to "attempt" a checks and balances between each other.
This book starts of easy going and interesting for sure. However, it quickly becomes difficult - not as in boring but hard on terminology and introducing individuals that one can get easily confused if they know nothing of Chinese politics. This was my mistake and Im sure if I knew the basics the learning curve would not be as difficult. Regarding the books content, the author stays neutral and always introduces multiple perspective of the story based on what different people claim. The events described are also "key" events that one might recognize from the news or can easily search up and find information (not just in Chinese) to better "realize" the context of the book. The author also introduces specific details and facts at times which are deviating from the books story which are mere background knowledge (such as the GDP of southern china) but are not the actual "core" of the story. One can skim these if they wish too.
In conclusion, I recommend this book greatly for anyone that wishes to understand Chinese politics. At least to grasp an idea and the issue of power struggle that exist in every country, even between countries. Think US-China, but not the struggle is within Chinese provinces. I also recommend it to those who want to learn more on Neil Heywood, who he was and why his death was so important as a catalyst for officials to "attempt" a checks and balances between each other.
January 12, 2019
The book is a true story in China that brought turmoil to the political regime at the centre. An innocuous death of a British gentleman in a hotel room in an lesser known town of China brought the downfall of several powerful Chinese government officials. The story is gory. It showcases the malleable law enforcement that is used at will by politicians to bring down their enemies. The book also displays the pliability of people against law enforcement, knowing fully well that the courts have decided the verdict before the trial has even begun. This book taught me more about China that I learnt by visiting the country. This is a wonderful book for just its ability to create an experience of communism at its best.
August 16, 2019
A promising start that quickly descended into chaos. After spending so much of the book setting up the tightly-woven incestuous nets of complete corruption, the authors mount a vigorous defense of Gu Kailai, stating that she couldn't possibly be the real killer of Neil Heywood, because Reasons. Unconvincing reasons, IMO.
The Heywood murder is just a footnote in the country's current political drama, into which the authors go into great detail, pretty much showing that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The only person who comes out of this analysis relatively cleanly is Xi Jingping, the Great White Hope of sorts, for whom this book will probably not age well.
All in all, a disappointingly biased take on the current regime and the Bo Xilai scandal.
The Heywood murder is just a footnote in the country's current political drama, into which the authors go into great detail, pretty much showing that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The only person who comes out of this analysis relatively cleanly is Xi Jingping, the Great White Hope of sorts, for whom this book will probably not age well.
All in all, a disappointingly biased take on the current regime and the Bo Xilai scandal.
April 16, 2018
A engaging maybe sometimes repetitive account of what endemic systematic corruption looks like and how even if you don't practice it, surely compels and demands that you do if not to save your own skin in time to come. What was surely an account of a mysterious death has transformed into a story that could be a fictional John Le Carre flourish. We have all heard the notorious Neil Heywood death by Gu Kaili and Bo Xilai's subsequent incarceration and downfall from the heights of political heaven. But in this book we are given a narrative this both shocking and scary of what China politics looks like. It's a veritable who's who of power, alliances and scapegoating. A must read.
June 14, 2020
I followed Bo Xilai's career from his days in Dalian, it always seemed like he would one day rise to a high position in the government, if not the very top, but his fall, and that of his wife & Wang Lijun, the police head, was momentous. This book goes through the inner workings of what happened, a lot of things that weren't in the news at the time & the end result is that this is an amazing story that reads like a spy mystery novel, though even the maddest (or most creative) writer couldn't come up with this story, with everything that happened. Corruption, celebrity cops, top leaders, rich businessmen, murdered foreigners, this story has it all.
October 25, 2021
This book delivered more than I was expecting. It covered the main Neil Haywood murder scandal comprehensively. It also covered a lot of the behind the scenes political ructions and power struggles that rippled thru the communist party establishment and the near derailment of the carefully orchestrated communist party succession plans of the major national congress. The more I read about China the more I discover about the issues of hypocrisy, corruption, greed and just how concentrated the power structures of modern China are.
March 13, 2025
engaging and fascinating book that provides an interesting perspective into the Chongqing scandal...i actually enjoyed the detailed biographies of all the local officials because it allowed me to have a thorough understanding of the inherent power struggles + patronage system of the ccp. also just the really random details of wang lijun's despot behaviour, gu kailai's terrible law publications (and how it eventually bit her in the ass)...honestly 人生如戏 and in this case it's even more fictional than fiction itself. 5/5
July 15, 2025
Very well researched and gives a lot of explanation on the Bo Xilai scandal and his downfall. I'm reading this 13 years after the events, but remember when this happened. I was always curious about why this was such a big deal. I didn't fully grasp all the details. The author does an excellent job of explaining how politicians in China are elected and the difficulties they have in maintaining power.
November 2, 2023
Wow. The beginning of the book was already mind-blowing. It was so scandalous and intriguing to read. The journalistic writing style might not be everyone's cup of tea; some readers probably feel that it's slightly dull for reading. However, I really enjoyed reading the book because it offers very insightful content, although sometimes it can be complicated to follow the timeline.
April 19, 2024
Wow, po prostu wow, fenomenalny reportaż o chińskiej polityce, o politykach i ich życiorysie. Sama nie wiem czemu tyle przeciągałam czytanie tej książki. Dostałam wszystko to co oczekuje od reportażu. Analityczna, konkretna, wejście w życie polityków i machlojki każdego z wymienionych. Długo szukałam takiej pozycji. Z całego serducha polecam. Jak dla mnie zasłużone 4.5
November 2, 2018
Intriguing look at the power struggle that went on after Heywood's death; five stars if not for the fact that the book is beginning to show its age. Having said that, however, it still provides an interesting look at the behind-the-scenes power and manoeuvring of China's various power factions.
December 11, 2025
A solid, if slightly tabloidy, insider account of the fall of Bo Xilai. The last third is not really about Bo at all and focuses on other prominent CCP members who came to power as Bo’s fall happened. Unfortunately it was written before Bo’s sentencing and has not been updated since.
Want to read
June 23, 2019《中国权贵的死亡游戏》作者之一何频
Zhang Xiaojun (张晓军) the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel (南山丽景度假酒店)
王露露 Lulu Wang
Zhang Xiaojun (张晓军) the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel (南山丽景度假酒店)
王露露 Lulu Wang
March 12, 2021
Reads like a series of AP bulletins, making the character list at the front of the book invaluable. Got overwhelmed with narrative at some points, but a great education on localized totalitarianism.
February 17, 2022
An interesting story told pretty badly
December 6, 2023
对外国人来说是一本政治thriller，对简中人来说是荒唐的现实。是一本很好的深度调查类书籍，谈不上什么文笔，因为你国高官生活过于糜烂导致我时不时下巴掉地上，非常engaging。本来想给四星的但是最后吹习实在太出戏，确实绝大部分人在2012 2013都没猜到他会是现在这样子。不知道作者对现在的习是什么意见呢，应该很后悔写出了这么个结尾吧。
June 19, 2014
A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel aims to unravel some of the myths and lies that surrounded the fall of Bo Xilai last year. I did have some knowledge with regard to the politics surrounding the situation, having read some articles about the fallout. However this book is very well-researched and covers a lot more scope about the situation behind Neil Heywood's death and the repercussions it had not just on the princeling Bo Xilai but also on the rest of his party.
As I've said earlier this book is very well researched and the way that the information is incorporated is very interesting. Although I've read some reviews that didn't like the way that the book kinda jumps back and forth, between past and present China, I personally found the style to be refreshing. This style allowed the authors to draw parallels between historical figures and today's heroes/villains. Perhaps it is because I only have some rudimentary knowledge of Chinese history that I found that the extra information provided by the authors to be very interesting and liked the way that these tidbits were included.
All the key figures in the Bo Xilai case are considered and included in A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel. From Wang Lijun (the police chief in Chongqing who had first rushed to the American Embassy saying that he feared for his life) to Gu Kailai (Bo's wife, who stood trial for murdering Heywood and who had admitted to the charges), the authors capture each character and attempt to speculate and explain their motives. The Chinese government isn't spared from their examination either, with powerful figures such as former leaders Jiang Zemin and the new president Xi Jinping having been embroiled in the scandal as well.
I do think that this book could've done with some tighter editing, because I did spot some grammatical and spelling errors. Furthermore, there are some parts of the book that could've been shortened to make the book pack a greater punch. In particular the struggles of Wang Lijun could've been summarized more, because there were points there where I just skimmed parts of his lifestory.
Overall, I think that A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel was a valiant attempt by the authors to shed more light on the murky political situation in China today. There's definitely a great deal of information included in the book.
As I've said earlier this book is very well researched and the way that the information is incorporated is very interesting. Although I've read some reviews that didn't like the way that the book kinda jumps back and forth, between past and present China, I personally found the style to be refreshing. This style allowed the authors to draw parallels between historical figures and today's heroes/villains. Perhaps it is because I only have some rudimentary knowledge of Chinese history that I found that the extra information provided by the authors to be very interesting and liked the way that these tidbits were included.
All the key figures in the Bo Xilai case are considered and included in A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel. From Wang Lijun (the police chief in Chongqing who had first rushed to the American Embassy saying that he feared for his life) to Gu Kailai (Bo's wife, who stood trial for murdering Heywood and who had admitted to the charges), the authors capture each character and attempt to speculate and explain their motives. The Chinese government isn't spared from their examination either, with powerful figures such as former leaders Jiang Zemin and the new president Xi Jinping having been embroiled in the scandal as well.
I do think that this book could've done with some tighter editing, because I did spot some grammatical and spelling errors. Furthermore, there are some parts of the book that could've been shortened to make the book pack a greater punch. In particular the struggles of Wang Lijun could've been summarized more, because there were points there where I just skimmed parts of his lifestory.
Overall, I think that A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel was a valiant attempt by the authors to shed more light on the murky political situation in China today. There's definitely a great deal of information included in the book.
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