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The Corpse Reader
After his grandfather dies, avid scholar and budding forensic investigator Cí Song begrudgingly gives up his studies to help his family. But when another tragedy strikes, he’s forced to run and also deemed a fugitive. Dishonored, he has no choice but to accept work as a lowly gravedigger, a position that allows him to sharpen his corpse-reading skills. Soon, he can deduce whether a person killed himself—or was murdered.His prowess earns him notoriety, and Cí receives orders to unearth the perpetrator of a horrific series of mutilations and deaths at the Imperial Court. Cí’s gruesome investigation quickly grows complicated thanks to old loyalties and the presence of an alluring, enigmatic woman. But he remains driven by his passion for truth—especially once the killings threaten to take down the Emperor himself.Inspired by Song Cí, considered to be the founding father of CSI-style forensic science, this harrowing novel set during the thirteenth-century Tsong Dynasty draws readers into a multilayered, ingenious plot as disturbing as it is fascinating.In 2012, The Corpse Reader received the Zaragoza International Prize for best historical novel published in Spain (Premio Internacional de Novela Histórica Ciudad de Zaragoza).
494 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2011
692 people are currently reading
3762 people want to read
About the author
Antonio Garrido
21 books94 followersEs Ingeniero Industrial y reside en Valencia, en donde trabaja como profesor del Master de Diseño de Transporte en el Centro de Formación de Postgrado de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia y profesor de la Escuela Superior de Diseño Industrial en la Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU. Es director de una empresa de consultoría de diseño de automóviles, y escribe artículos en prensa especializada. Es también profesor invitado del taller literario de novela histórica del Instituto Valenciano de Estudios Clásicos y Orientales.
De momento se ha orientado a la novela histórica.
De momento se ha orientado a la novela histórica.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 577 reviews
January 15, 2023
Novela que nos cuenta la historia de Song Cí, personaje real que vivió en la China Imperial del S. XIII y que fue el precursor de los actuales métodos de investigación forense al implantar técnicas novedosas en un campo que hasta entonces utilizaba medios muy rudimentarios.
Con una trama de crímenes y complots criminales que no da un minuto de respiro y con un protagonista con muy mala suerte pero bastante decidido, que arrostra todo tipo de penalidades para perseguir sus ambiciones en una sociedad muy rígida y jerarquizada donde la obediencia ciega a los mayores, la brutalidad de los castigos y el poco valor otorgado a la vida humana me han llamado mucho la atención.
Ágil, original y entretenida, y con un protagonista muy capaz pero al que a veces me han dado ganas de matar por lelo y confiado.
Con una trama de crímenes y complots criminales que no da un minuto de respiro y con un protagonista con muy mala suerte pero bastante decidido, que arrostra todo tipo de penalidades para perseguir sus ambiciones en una sociedad muy rígida y jerarquizada donde la obediencia ciega a los mayores, la brutalidad de los castigos y el poco valor otorgado a la vida humana me han llamado mucho la atención.
Ágil, original y entretenida, y con un protagonista muy capaz pero al que a veces me han dado ganas de matar por lelo y confiado.
November 18, 2020
En 2012 esta fue la review:
Como suelo valorar, en mi cabeza, los libros sobre 10, un 8 me parecía poco y un 9 mucho, así que ahí queda el 8,5.
Podéis encontrar en la red sinopsis más extensas del libro, pero os lo resumo en que va de el tatarabuelo de los CSI, Ci Song, que vivió realmente en China en los siglos XII-XIII y fue el precursor de las técnicas forenses que Se utilizan hoy en día.
El libro refleja muy bien las costumbres en la china rural e imperial de la época, los tabúes sociales, las relaciones entre poderosos y pueblo llano ... y todo ello aderezado con descubrir unos asesinatos utilizando técnicas forenses –casi de CSI o Bones, vamos- que el propio Ci Song debe desarrollar.
La historia te atrapa, la curiosidad por esa época en China te obliga a leer, las vicisitudes del protagonista te envuelven. Avances “técnicos”, costumbres sorprendentes, otra cultura, misterio, un pelin de juicio, un pelín de romance ...
De lo mejor que he leído hace bastante. Igual hasta me he quedado corto en la valoración. No se si lo será ya, pero tiene pinta de best-seller por la facilidad con que lo podemos leer el gran público.
Como suelo valorar, en mi cabeza, los libros sobre 10, un 8 me parecía poco y un 9 mucho, así que ahí queda el 8,5.
Podéis encontrar en la red sinopsis más extensas del libro, pero os lo resumo en que va de el tatarabuelo de los CSI, Ci Song, que vivió realmente en China en los siglos XII-XIII y fue el precursor de las técnicas forenses que Se utilizan hoy en día.
El libro refleja muy bien las costumbres en la china rural e imperial de la época, los tabúes sociales, las relaciones entre poderosos y pueblo llano ... y todo ello aderezado con descubrir unos asesinatos utilizando técnicas forenses –casi de CSI o Bones, vamos- que el propio Ci Song debe desarrollar.
La historia te atrapa, la curiosidad por esa época en China te obliga a leer, las vicisitudes del protagonista te envuelven. Avances “técnicos”, costumbres sorprendentes, otra cultura, misterio, un pelin de juicio, un pelín de romance ...
De lo mejor que he leído hace bastante. Igual hasta me he quedado corto en la valoración. No se si lo será ya, pero tiene pinta de best-seller por la facilidad con que lo podemos leer el gran público.
April 19, 2019
3.5 stars
China im 13. Jahrhundert. Der junge Cí ist ein begabter Beamtenkandidat, dessen Talente vor allem im Erschließen der Todesursache von Menschen liegen. Heute würde man ihn einen Forensiker nennen. Doch als der Großvater stirbt und die Familie zur Wahrung der Trauerzeit in ihr Heimatdorf zurückkehrt, ereignen sich Vorfälle, die Cís Karriere ein Ende zu bereiten scheinen.
Mit China unter der Song-Dynastie hat Antonio Garrido einen ungewöhnlichen Schauplatz für seinen historischen Roman gewählt. Die Hauptfigur ist eine historische Persönlichkeit: Cí Song bzw. Song Cí gilt als Begründer der Forensik. Garrido webt um ihn, über den wenig bekannt ist, eine komplizierte Geschichte, die über einen reinen Krimi hinausgeht. Tatsächlich legt Garrido die Grundlagen für die eigentlichen Mordfälle bereits zu Beginn des Buches, richtig zum Tragen kommen diese jedoch erst in der zweiten Hälfte des Buches. In der ersten Hälfte geht es vornehmlich um das Schicksal von Cí und seiner Familie. Die erste Hälfte ist meiner Meinung nach weniger gelungen als die zweite, da finden sich doch einige Logiklücken und die Leserin, die eigentlich einen Krimi erwartet hatte, fragt sich, wo der bleibt, und wird möglicherweise etwas ungeduldig. Denn Cí widerfährt ein Unglück nach dem anderen.
Schließlich jedoch gibt es mehrere Tote und einen Fall, den Cí aufklären soll – und dieser Fall ist die Stärke des Buches. Ich habe die Auflösung zwar kurz vorher erahnt, sie ist jedoch gut gemacht, und am Ende setzt Garrido noch einmal einen Twist darauf.
Insgesamt ein lesenswerter historischer Krimi mit ein paar Schwächen.
China im 13. Jahrhundert. Der junge Cí ist ein begabter Beamtenkandidat, dessen Talente vor allem im Erschließen der Todesursache von Menschen liegen. Heute würde man ihn einen Forensiker nennen. Doch als der Großvater stirbt und die Familie zur Wahrung der Trauerzeit in ihr Heimatdorf zurückkehrt, ereignen sich Vorfälle, die Cís Karriere ein Ende zu bereiten scheinen.
Mit China unter der Song-Dynastie hat Antonio Garrido einen ungewöhnlichen Schauplatz für seinen historischen Roman gewählt. Die Hauptfigur ist eine historische Persönlichkeit: Cí Song bzw. Song Cí gilt als Begründer der Forensik. Garrido webt um ihn, über den wenig bekannt ist, eine komplizierte Geschichte, die über einen reinen Krimi hinausgeht. Tatsächlich legt Garrido die Grundlagen für die eigentlichen Mordfälle bereits zu Beginn des Buches, richtig zum Tragen kommen diese jedoch erst in der zweiten Hälfte des Buches. In der ersten Hälfte geht es vornehmlich um das Schicksal von Cí und seiner Familie. Die erste Hälfte ist meiner Meinung nach weniger gelungen als die zweite, da finden sich doch einige Logiklücken und die Leserin, die eigentlich einen Krimi erwartet hatte, fragt sich, wo der bleibt, und wird möglicherweise etwas ungeduldig. Denn Cí widerfährt ein Unglück nach dem anderen.
Schließlich jedoch gibt es mehrere Tote und einen Fall, den Cí aufklären soll – und dieser Fall ist die Stärke des Buches. Ich habe die Auflösung zwar kurz vorher erahnt, sie ist jedoch gut gemacht, und am Ende setzt Garrido noch einmal einen Twist darauf.
Insgesamt ein lesenswerter historischer Krimi mit ein paar Schwächen.
May 6, 2025
Симпатичний пригодницько-детективний роман.
Чимось дуже нагадувало Blue Eye Samurai, звісно що не в Японії, а в Китаї.
Чимось дуже нагадувало Blue Eye Samurai, звісно що не в Японії, а в Китаї.
September 4, 2013
Simultaneously ingenious, compelling, and frustrating. Garrido's historical fiction paints real-life Chinese scientist Ci Song as a Quixotic adventurer, whose problems are caused by equal parts bad luck and bad decisions. The first half documents a trouble-prone journey and you start to get angry at Ci's insistence on trusting the wrong people and making the wrong choice. The second half is much more interesting, opening up a complex murder mystery in the courts of ancient China. Ci may be a savant at forensic science, but his decisions continue to make me doubt his intelligence. A strong three stars.
October 3, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It was so refreshingly new. It is set in the thirteenth-century Tsong Dynasty. It is based on the work of a real person, Cí Song, who is considered to be the founding father of forensic science.
The book starts out with Ci Song as a scholar who is supported by his grandfather who is a noted scholar. Unfortunately, the grandfather dies and Song is forced to return home and become subject to his crass and dissipated older brother. When a crime is committed, he is forced to flee and he returns to the city where his talent for "reading corpses" eventually leads him to the Emperor himself.
Even though one misfortune after another dogs his footsteps, his talent is recognized by his mentor at the school he once attended and he is able to continue to study. There is a serial killer who is killing and mutilating within the circle of even the Emperor himself and Song finds himself in a race to find the killer or be executed.
The author is Spanish and I look forward to more of his books.
The book starts out with Ci Song as a scholar who is supported by his grandfather who is a noted scholar. Unfortunately, the grandfather dies and Song is forced to return home and become subject to his crass and dissipated older brother. When a crime is committed, he is forced to flee and he returns to the city where his talent for "reading corpses" eventually leads him to the Emperor himself.
Even though one misfortune after another dogs his footsteps, his talent is recognized by his mentor at the school he once attended and he is able to continue to study. There is a serial killer who is killing and mutilating within the circle of even the Emperor himself and Song finds himself in a race to find the killer or be executed.
The author is Spanish and I look forward to more of his books.
July 30, 2020
The Corpse Reader
By: Antonio Garrido, Thomas Bunstead (translator)
This book is based on China in the middle ages. It was pretty good at giving the reader the culture and society's life during that time. We follow a young man through one horrible situation in life to another. He continues to thrive despite all life throws at him. He is bright and works hard which lands him in a place to prove himself and save others. Very nicely done!
By: Antonio Garrido, Thomas Bunstead (translator)
This book is based on China in the middle ages. It was pretty good at giving the reader the culture and society's life during that time. We follow a young man through one horrible situation in life to another. He continues to thrive despite all life throws at him. He is bright and works hard which lands him in a place to prove himself and save others. Very nicely done!
September 24, 2025
Я дочитала «Тлумача тіл» і можу сказати, що давно не мала настільки інтенсивного читацького досвіду. Це історичний роман із детективною складовою, дія якого переносить у Середньовічний Китай. Гаррідо дуже докладно описує традиції, побут, соціальні правила того часу — і саме це створює відчуття глибокого занурення.
Сюжет тримає в напрузі, герої викликають справжні емоції, а інтрига не відпускає до останніх сторінок. Проте мене не раз накривало відчуття «перебору»: на головного героя сиплеться безліч бід, одна за одною, і постійне нагнітання залишає мало простору для передишки. Це робить роман напруженим, але часом виснажливим.
Загалом, «Тлумач тіл» — це цікаве поєднання пригодницької драми й детективу в історичному антуражі. Книга справила сильне враження, подарувала як емоційне випробування, так і задоволення від інтриги. Але після такого насиченого тексту я точно хочу перепочити — взяти щось легше й світліше.
Сюжет тримає в напрузі, герої викликають справжні емоції, а інтрига не відпускає до останніх сторінок. Проте мене не раз накривало відчуття «перебору»: на головного героя сиплеться безліч бід, одна за одною, і постійне нагнітання залишає мало простору для передишки. Це робить роман напруженим, але часом виснажливим.
Загалом, «Тлумач тіл» — це цікаве поєднання пригодницької драми й детективу в історичному антуражі. Книга справила сильне враження, подарувала як емоційне випробування, так і задоволення від інтриги. Але після такого насиченого тексту я точно хочу перепочити — взяти щось легше й світліше.
March 10, 2020
La novela El lector de cadáveres de Antonio Garrido me ha sorprendido muy gratamente, tanto por lo buena novela que es como por tener más historia de lo esperado, está obra combina la sencillez en el relato con la precisión a la hora de transmitir las costumbres de una época bastante alejada en el tiempo, como es la China medieval, más concretamente el año 1206.
La historia que nos cuenta Antonio Garrido atrapa desde las primeras páginas. La vida de Cí está muy bien relatada, con mucha fluidez y toda la historia perfectamente enlazada. El autor consigue que la historia y los personajes sean creíbles (a pesar estar basada en un personaje real hay poca información sobre la vida de Cí Song) y además la ambientación es estupenda.
La historia que nos cuenta Antonio Garrido atrapa desde las primeras páginas. La vida de Cí está muy bien relatada, con mucha fluidez y toda la historia perfectamente enlazada. El autor consigue que la historia y los personajes sean creíbles (a pesar estar basada en un personaje real hay poca información sobre la vida de Cí Song) y además la ambientación es estupenda.
March 10, 2022
Un roman de aventuri adeseori palpitante. Autorul declară că a pornit de la un caz istoric. Acțiunea se petrece în China medievală. Protagonistul învață tainele medicinei legale. Nimerește într-un complot și e nevoit să-și folosească abilitățile de detectiv pentru a ieși din încurcătură. Totuși, intriga mi s-a părut în unele locuri mult prea complicată.
February 21, 2022
El lector de cadáveres es un thriller histórico ambientado en la china del siglo XIII, sobre uno de los principales fundadores de la medicina forense, por lo que tratándose de esta temática es una historia bastante GORE no apta para personas sensibles. Sin embargo para los que disfrutamos de este género es una historia bastante encantadora y adictiva.
June 17, 2025
Уявімо ситуацію: ти хочеш розслідувати смерті, повʼязані з убивствами, хочеш вчитися і досліджувати людське тіло, але ти живеш в середньовічному Китаї, де державні закони підпорядковані конфуціанству (а там якби заборонено різати тіла), то що тобі робити? Правильно, увімкнути фантазію на максимум (але не на стільки, щоб тебе звинуватили в чаклунстві) і наполегливо йти до своєї мети.
Дуже захоплива книга про першого судмедексперта. Сюжет не збавляє напруги ні на сторінку, герої цікаві, а атмосфера тогочасного Китаю прописана на 10 з 10. Можливо іноді були питання до наївності головного героя, але це взагалі не псує враження від книги. Ну і головна ідея, що навчання, і загалом знання, це база, ґрунт, основа, дуже правильна.
Дуже захоплива книга про першого судмедексперта. Сюжет не збавляє напруги ні на сторінку, герої цікаві, а атмосфера тогочасного Китаю прописана на 10 з 10. Можливо іноді були питання до наївності головного героя, але це взагалі не псує враження від книги. Ну і головна ідея, що навчання, і загалом знання, це база, ґрунт, основа, дуже правильна.
April 9, 2022
Un libro que no da tregua al lector (ni a su protagonista) en ningún momento.
De hecho, tal vez esa sería la única pega porque… es un sin vivir y… sin parar.
Muy interesante la mezcla de ficción y de los orígenes de la medicina forense, la ambientación… en fin, todo.
Me ha sorprendido mucho y me extraña no sea un libro más conocido.
De hecho, tal vez esa sería la única pega porque… es un sin vivir y… sin parar.
Muy interesante la mezcla de ficción y de los orígenes de la medicina forense, la ambientación… en fin, todo.
Me ha sorprendido mucho y me extraña no sea un libro más conocido.
September 18, 2025
Автор справді доклав багато зусиль до вивчення документальних джерел, адже суспільство за часів династії Сун у книзі дійсно чудово відображено.
Та сюжет видався мені аж надто динамічним. І є тут настільки наївні елементи, що подекуди інтерес до чтива зникав. Здебільшого книга викликала у мене роздратування від дій головного героя.
Та сюжет видався мені аж надто динамічним. І є тут настільки наївні елементи, що подекуди інтерес до чтива зникав. Здебільшого книга викликала у мене роздратування від дій головного героя.
August 1, 2025
Дійсно цікаве почалося АЖ з середини 😅
Тут прекрасно змальовано тогочасний устрій Китаю, побут, життя в усій огидності, жахливості та несправедливості.
Весь час в мене була думка, що це книга про суцільні нещастя бідохи Ци. І ця думка так і залишилася зі мною до кінця.
Постійно: то він не в тому місці, то не з тою людиною, то не то ляпнув, то не так подивився, не туди потрапив, не з тим подружився, не тому довірився, не того пожалів, не ту полюбив...от все не так і все не то... постійно битий і знедолений.
Вважаю, що з тим, як часто і сильно він був битий, то в реальному житті він давно помер би при таких каліцтвах і тих антисанітарних умовах.
Та й в мене вЕЕЕликі сумніви, чи взагалі всесвіт здатний насилати на одну людину стільки бід та невдач. Іноді це було схоже ніби 100 блискавок поспіль потрапили в одну людину, яка стоїть серед тисячі таких самих.
Книга в багатьох аспектах надто гіперболізована.
Але все, що стосується розслідування вбивств і вивчення тіл - я зацінила 👌💪🔥
Тут прекрасно змальовано тогочасний устрій Китаю, побут, життя в усій огидності, жахливості та несправедливості.
Весь час в мене була думка, що це книга про суцільні нещастя бідохи Ци. І ця думка так і залишилася зі мною до кінця.
Постійно: то він не в тому місці, то не з тою людиною, то не то ляпнув, то не так подивився, не туди потрапив, не з тим подружився, не тому довірився, не того пожалів, не ту полюбив...от все не так і все не то... постійно битий і знедолений.
Вважаю, що з тим, як часто і сильно він був битий, то в реальному житті він давно помер би при таких каліцтвах і тих антисанітарних умовах.
Та й в мене вЕЕЕликі сумніви, чи взагалі всесвіт здатний насилати на одну людину стільки бід та невдач. Іноді це було схоже ніби 100 блискавок поспіль потрапили в одну людину, яка стоїть серед тисячі таких самих.
Книга в багатьох аспектах надто гіперболізована.
Але все, що стосується розслідування вбивств і вивчення тіл - я зацінила 👌💪🔥
August 18, 2012
Una novela que aunque parezca histórica es en realidad un thriller policiaco ambientado en la China medieval. La novela podría dividirse en dos partes, la primera en que el protagonista, Ci Song, emprende una arriesgada huída junto a su hermana pequeña para buscar un futuro que ya no es posible en su aldea, y la segunda, trepidante, inquietante, en que ejercerá ese oficio de lector de cadáveres que da título a la novela a petición del emperador. Toda la novela tiene un buen ritmo y se hace amena de leer, pero de la página 350 hasta el final yo no fui capaz de soltarla. Muy recomendable en línea con best sellers de fama reconocida.
June 26, 2022
La magia de una China imperial se desdibuja de fondo como paisaje natural, la valentía, perseverancia y astucia de un aspirante a lector de cadáveres se relata tras un si fin de avatares hasta lograr su ilusión, no sin antes de deleitarse con cada escena muy bien descrita del oficio de forense, que algunas veces se pasa de nauseabundo.
Esto y mucho más es lo que vamos a encontrar en este libro que me pareció una exquisitez cada una de sus líneas. Sin duda, otro de mis favoritos.
Si quieres una historia distinta a los formatos establecidos, te puede interesar esta lectura. Recomendado
Esto y mucho más es lo que vamos a encontrar en este libro que me pareció una exquisitez cada una de sus líneas. Sin duda, otro de mis favoritos.
Si quieres una historia distinta a los formatos establecidos, te puede interesar esta lectura. Recomendado
January 22, 2015
I had high hopes for The Corpse Reader, which was described as a tale of rudimentary forensic science being employed by a bright young peasant in imperial China, but I think I'm gonna quit it. A decapitation is revealed in the foreword, the protag's brother looks guilty but there's something fishy afoot, and from there on in it's just been one crisis after another for the protag as he sets his mind to clearing the brother's name. I usually LOVE historical fiction and I'm fascinated by the history of science and medicine as well, but this one's not really living up to the description. [SPOILERS]
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The brother is tortured and killed in custody; the protagonist's parents' house is burned down with them in it; the family savings are stolen; the local bigwig wants the family's land so the protag must flee with his sickly little sister with only some some rice, ham and a few coins to his name; the protag convinces a boat captain to grant them passage and when he's left to guard the boat he's drugged by a prostitute and the boat is stolen---with his sister still on it; and the last bit I read saw the prostitute threatening to throw the sickly little sister into the disease-ridden river unless everyone else on the boat gives her all their money and belongings. Cripes, I didn't sign up for a tragedy!
I'm just not willing to keep on being bummed out by these overlong and needless misadventures indefinitely in the hopes that when the author finally gets back to the forensic science plotline, it will have been worth the depressing (yet still kind of boring) wait.
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The brother is tortured and killed in custody; the protagonist's parents' house is burned down with them in it; the family savings are stolen; the local bigwig wants the family's land so the protag must flee with his sickly little sister with only some some rice, ham and a few coins to his name; the protag convinces a boat captain to grant them passage and when he's left to guard the boat he's drugged by a prostitute and the boat is stolen---with his sister still on it; and the last bit I read saw the prostitute threatening to throw the sickly little sister into the disease-ridden river unless everyone else on the boat gives her all their money and belongings. Cripes, I didn't sign up for a tragedy!
I'm just not willing to keep on being bummed out by these overlong and needless misadventures indefinitely in the hopes that when the author finally gets back to the forensic science plotline, it will have been worth the depressing (yet still kind of boring) wait.
September 25, 2013
Another book I expected to really enjoy, but ended up disliking.
Set in ancient China around a boy with a knack for forensics. So CSI - hundreds of years ago.
But I had several problems...
First, the hero was supposed to really, really smart. But he wasn't. Most of his giant leaps of inspiration were stupid. And what's worse, most happened because the person he was talking (working against) was an absolute idiot. (The interaction over the sale of his brother's land is a good example of this.)
There is no real cleverness here. It's all too obvious.
Second, the writing was did nothing for me. It was plane and at times confusing (opened with a mean brother then jumped to living in a city and the brother was in the country??? Took me a moment to figure out we'd gone from present time to a long backstory. Right off the bat in the opening too.). More than anything I wanted a deeper POV and more grounding in setting. This could have been medieval europe for all the depth of Chinese culture I received.
Very disappointing.
Set in ancient China around a boy with a knack for forensics. So CSI - hundreds of years ago.
But I had several problems...
First, the hero was supposed to really, really smart. But he wasn't. Most of his giant leaps of inspiration were stupid. And what's worse, most happened because the person he was talking (working against) was an absolute idiot. (The interaction over the sale of his brother's land is a good example of this.)
There is no real cleverness here. It's all too obvious.
Second, the writing was did nothing for me. It was plane and at times confusing (opened with a mean brother then jumped to living in a city and the brother was in the country??? Took me a moment to figure out we'd gone from present time to a long backstory. Right off the bat in the opening too.). More than anything I wanted a deeper POV and more grounding in setting. This could have been medieval europe for all the depth of Chinese culture I received.
Very disappointing.
February 3, 2021
I found this book in a bargain bin and thought it sounded interesting. A crime novel set in historical China? Sign me up!
Now I'm just glad I found it in a bargain bin, because otherwise I'd probably be a lot more disappointed.
Cause you see, the back of the book promised me a thrilling story about murder in the emperor's palace. That's what I wanted to read about!
Instead what I got was the tale of How Ci Has The Worst Day Of His Life Everyday. Literally everything in this dude's life that could go wrong, went wrong. Every damn time.
People died on him, people betrayed him, people stole from him, people wanted to hunt him down, people wanted to execute him etc. etc.
I assume all of this was to show us that Ci wouldn't be one of those protagonists people would just love and protect cause he was the main character and that while he (apparently) was a genius from the beginning, he still needed training to aquire a skill set that would get him into the royal palace. I do appreciate the thought, but he was the unluckiest guy I've ever read about and it was just exhausting.
Yet I stuck with this book, because I wanted to get to that damn murder case he was supposed to solve.
Finally, around page 380 of roughly 600, the plot aka the gruesome murder arrived. Now, know that it took me several weeks to get to that point. Know also that I finished the rest of the book in less than a day. I won't say that the murder case was the best I've ever read, but it was honestly engaging and for once I wasn't able to guess who was responsible right away. There were some twists and turns and some honestly interesting characters around. If the whole book had been written like that, I would have given it at least one star more.
Now, there was also some weird love story in the mix that I didn't really like, because male crime solving characters tend to become stupid when they see a beautiful woman they want to boing (as was the case here, too), but at least it sort of had a purpose. Maybe. How it ended certainly helped, even if I still have questions.
Another reason why I couldn't give this a higher rating was because the characters were either bland or flat out hateable, with only maybe two exceptions. Sadly our main character fell into the "bland" category, despite all the attempts to make him interesting and special without making him too perfect to relate to.
Despite all the unlucky things that happened to him and the bad decisions he unwittingly made (again and again), I did not feel anything for him till maybe right before the end. He was supposed to have been a genius from the start, but in the beginning most other people were simply crude and dumb, so he looked good in comparison only. Then he was supposed to have a genetic disorder that didn't allow him to feel any pain, but I wouldn't even have known it, if the text hadn't reminded me every time it was plot relevant, because Ci didn't act like it at all. No bruises or cuts he didn't remember getting or wondering what pain actually feels like when he's surrounded by violence and death all the time. Would have made him more interesting.
In the end, the most interesting character to me was his later mentor aka the only person who seemed to have brains, a heart and some common sense in this story. I liked his sort of fatherly relationship with Ci a lot and while I feared it was coming, I did not like that (Non-murderer spoiler! It's mostly harmless, but just making sure.)
He's definitely the one character I will remember best.
All in all, this is a pretty looking book on my shelf that could have been so much more than it was. If there was a sequel that was simply about another murder case, I would read it, though.
Now I'm just glad I found it in a bargain bin, because otherwise I'd probably be a lot more disappointed.
Cause you see, the back of the book promised me a thrilling story about murder in the emperor's palace. That's what I wanted to read about!
Instead what I got was the tale of How Ci Has The Worst Day Of His Life Everyday. Literally everything in this dude's life that could go wrong, went wrong. Every damn time.
People died on him, people betrayed him, people stole from him, people wanted to hunt him down, people wanted to execute him etc. etc.
I assume all of this was to show us that Ci wouldn't be one of those protagonists people would just love and protect cause he was the main character and that while he (apparently) was a genius from the beginning, he still needed training to aquire a skill set that would get him into the royal palace. I do appreciate the thought, but he was the unluckiest guy I've ever read about and it was just exhausting.
Yet I stuck with this book, because I wanted to get to that damn murder case he was supposed to solve.
Finally, around page 380 of roughly 600, the plot aka the gruesome murder arrived. Now, know that it took me several weeks to get to that point. Know also that I finished the rest of the book in less than a day. I won't say that the murder case was the best I've ever read, but it was honestly engaging and for once I wasn't able to guess who was responsible right away. There were some twists and turns and some honestly interesting characters around. If the whole book had been written like that, I would have given it at least one star more.
Now, there was also some weird love story in the mix that I didn't really like, because male crime solving characters tend to become stupid when they see a beautiful woman they want to boing (as was the case here, too), but at least it sort of had a purpose. Maybe. How it ended certainly helped, even if I still have questions.
Another reason why I couldn't give this a higher rating was because the characters were either bland or flat out hateable, with only maybe two exceptions. Sadly our main character fell into the "bland" category, despite all the attempts to make him interesting and special without making him too perfect to relate to.
Despite all the unlucky things that happened to him and the bad decisions he unwittingly made (again and again), I did not feel anything for him till maybe right before the end. He was supposed to have been a genius from the start, but in the beginning most other people were simply crude and dumb, so he looked good in comparison only. Then he was supposed to have a genetic disorder that didn't allow him to feel any pain, but I wouldn't even have known it, if the text hadn't reminded me every time it was plot relevant, because Ci didn't act like it at all. No bruises or cuts he didn't remember getting or wondering what pain actually feels like when he's surrounded by violence and death all the time. Would have made him more interesting.
In the end, the most interesting character to me was his later mentor aka the only person who seemed to have brains, a heart and some common sense in this story. I liked his sort of fatherly relationship with Ci a lot and while I feared it was coming, I did not like that (Non-murderer spoiler! It's mostly harmless, but just making sure.)
He's definitely the one character I will remember best.
All in all, this is a pretty looking book on my shelf that could have been so much more than it was. If there was a sequel that was simply about another murder case, I would read it, though.
June 1, 2013
3.5 A very interesting look back on the 13th century and the Tsong Dynasty and a character names Ci, named after the famous Song CI, who is considered the forefather of the modern day CSI style of forensics.
One of the most notable thing about this book, is that the translator has done such a marvelous job that the story just flows very naturally. This is not always the case with translated novels and so often the translations can ruin what is actually a good story. The story itself is very interesting, the way and the reason he learned to corpse read and the tragedy that came to his family which he used to propel himself forward. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."
Really enjoyed this book, the characters, the history , the mystery and reading about a time I have read little about. Definitely a good read.
One of the most notable thing about this book, is that the translator has done such a marvelous job that the story just flows very naturally. This is not always the case with translated novels and so often the translations can ruin what is actually a good story. The story itself is very interesting, the way and the reason he learned to corpse read and the tragedy that came to his family which he used to propel himself forward. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."
Really enjoyed this book, the characters, the history , the mystery and reading about a time I have read little about. Definitely a good read.
July 7, 2015
tbh I wanted to give it a lower rating, but I liked the 50last pages.
My princepal grief with this book is that it is so damn long, and the writing is just meh. I couldn't like Ci, I couldn't find him intersting or smart, same with the others characters. It just felt flat.
I also didn't learn a lot about middle age China.
Two words : disappointing and laborious.
My princepal grief with this book is that it is so damn long, and the writing is just meh. I couldn't like Ci, I couldn't find him intersting or smart, same with the others characters. It just felt flat.
I also didn't learn a lot about middle age China.
Two words : disappointing and laborious.
May 8, 2025
10/10 ❤️ Атмосфера і звичаї в Китаї 13 століття майстерно подані через життя звичайного селянина, який намагається вибратись із бідності і, не дивлячись на проблеми, він прагне завжди вчитись.
Класна книга як нагадування про те що де б ми не були і ким би не були на даний момент - знання завжди з нами
Класна книга як нагадування про те що де б ми не були і ким би не були на даний момент - знання завжди з нами
June 16, 2025
Це десь 3.75✨️
Якщо на початку я переживала долю Ци, то потім він мене став дуже бісити, тим що він взагалі не розуміє живих людей і скласти 2+2 у нього походу виходить 0. Тим паче сам Ци відмічав деякі моменти, але не розвивав думку, типу "ооо, я десь уже бачив/чув/відчував" і через секунду він забував 🥲
Коли мова йшла саме про тлумачення тіл та як це сталося, мотивів тут було дуже класно 🔥 відчула себе частиною CSI.
P.s. Мін накращий)
Якщо на початку я переживала долю Ци, то потім він мене став дуже бісити, тим що він взагалі не розуміє живих людей і скласти 2+2 у нього походу виходить 0. Тим паче сам Ци відмічав деякі моменти, але не розвивав думку, типу "ооо, я десь уже бачив/чув/відчував" і через секунду він забував 🥲
Коли мова йшла саме про тлумачення тіл та як це сталося, мотивів тут було дуже класно 🔥 відчула себе частиною CSI.
P.s. Мін накращий)
August 30, 2025
Є книги з емоційними гойдалками, а це книга - американські гірки, які мчать в прірву, час від часу зупиняючись, щоб дати надію, що може ми не впадемо в ту прірву... Ци - бідося, весь час хотілось його пожаліти. Детективна сторона дуже цікава, хоча про деякі штуки я здогадалась.
8/10 дуже добре.
8/10 дуже добре.
August 28, 2025
U Top 5 je ikad mojih pročitanih knjiga, po preporuci djevojke Teodore iza tiktok naloga Tea i knjige (koja mi je i poslala knjigu). Jedna simfonija boli, nepravde, borbe, časti...zvučaće još dugo oko mene. Spoj Senke vetra, Katedrale na moru i Grof Monte Krista a potpuno jedinstvena i nesvakidašnja tema porijekla foreznike i svakodnevlja.
May 30, 2013
This book was wonderful, so different to anything I've ever read before. Think of it more like a biography of Song Ci, rather than an outright mystery/crime book, although there are details of mysteries and crimes within.
It is set in medieval China, an era and place I am not too familiar with, but the book seemed to be researched very well as far as I could tell. There was nothing that jolted me out of the story for being too modern or not suited to the place. I loved finding out about all the different customs, such as why children's jackets had five buttons, and how many times you should refuse a gift before accepting it graciously. There were lots of little details like that which made the story come vividly to life.
In the first half of the book, poor Ci goes through as almost as many trials as Job, he suffers betrayals, humiliations, beatings, robbery and more as he tries desperately to re-enter the university and better his lot. He does finally get accepted at the university, but at great personal cost.
The second half of the book is when Ci attracts the attention of the emperor and is asked to help solve some gruesome murders The pace picks up quite a bit after that, but I wouldn't have said the first half was slow either, but just more sedate at times.
There are some violent moments in the book, as well as detailed descriptions of corpses and their injuries, not one for the squeamish, but you couldn't really have a book about a corpse reader without it.
It was a very interesting read with some fascinating facts on historical crime-solving and medieval China.
Review copy from amazon vine
It is set in medieval China, an era and place I am not too familiar with, but the book seemed to be researched very well as far as I could tell. There was nothing that jolted me out of the story for being too modern or not suited to the place. I loved finding out about all the different customs, such as why children's jackets had five buttons, and how many times you should refuse a gift before accepting it graciously. There were lots of little details like that which made the story come vividly to life.
In the first half of the book, poor Ci goes through as almost as many trials as Job, he suffers betrayals, humiliations, beatings, robbery and more as he tries desperately to re-enter the university and better his lot. He does finally get accepted at the university, but at great personal cost.
The second half of the book is when Ci attracts the attention of the emperor and is asked to help solve some gruesome murders The pace picks up quite a bit after that, but I wouldn't have said the first half was slow either, but just more sedate at times.
There are some violent moments in the book, as well as detailed descriptions of corpses and their injuries, not one for the squeamish, but you couldn't really have a book about a corpse reader without it.
It was a very interesting read with some fascinating facts on historical crime-solving and medieval China.
Review copy from amazon vine
February 21, 2025
DNF at page 313 / 494. You can't say I didn't give it the old college try. And it is probably more of a mismatch than anything else. But still, my opinion is valid so I'm counting it.
I thought this would be very interesting since it is inspired by Song Cí, considered to be the founding father of CSI-style forensic science. Having a main character whose logical thinking, knowledge of biology, and love of learning and justice making discoveries in ancient times sounds absolutely inspirational. Unfortunately, I overestimated my ability to get past ancient Chinese culture, a contemptible setting -- for me, anyway. Kudos to me for giving it a try, in case that was just some youthful impression lacking wisdom. But no, I just can't.
Ci is one-dimensional, and bounces from one bad decision to another. His luck is as bad as his decisions. He doesn't raise the concept of the book above the distaste of everything around him. The entire society is corrupt. What a turn-off.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but if you like this sort of thing, maybe you'd be one of those 4 star people. And if so, be forewarned that it's almost 500 pages. Ugh.
I thought this would be very interesting since it is inspired by Song Cí, considered to be the founding father of CSI-style forensic science. Having a main character whose logical thinking, knowledge of biology, and love of learning and justice making discoveries in ancient times sounds absolutely inspirational. Unfortunately, I overestimated my ability to get past ancient Chinese culture, a contemptible setting -- for me, anyway. Kudos to me for giving it a try, in case that was just some youthful impression lacking wisdom. But no, I just can't.
Ci is one-dimensional, and bounces from one bad decision to another. His luck is as bad as his decisions. He doesn't raise the concept of the book above the distaste of everything around him. The entire society is corrupt. What a turn-off.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but if you like this sort of thing, maybe you'd be one of those 4 star people. And if so, be forewarned that it's almost 500 pages. Ugh.
May 1, 2024
En realidad 4* y media. A veces se repite un poco, pero igualmente es muy entretenido.
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