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Detective Inspector Chen #2
The Demon and the City
A demon cop in an unfamiliar city works his first homicide case
Zhu Irzh is having trouble adjusting to life on Earth. The food is bland, the colors dim, and the weather much too chilly for a demon used to the balmy climate of the underworld. Recently attached to the Singapore Three police department, Zhu Irzh has been assigned to help humans like Detective Inspector Chen investigate cases that overlap this world and the world to come. But how dedicated can a demon be to justice when his last assignment was to Hell’s vice squad—whose job is not to prevent vice, but to promote it?
Zhu Irzh is pondering these philosophical questions when he catches his first murder case: the savage killing of a rich would-be witch outside of the occult market. Chen is on a well-deserved vacation, so the demon takes charge himself, unearthing a supernatural conspiracy that proves Hell holds no monopoly on evil.
Zhu Irzh is having trouble adjusting to life on Earth. The food is bland, the colors dim, and the weather much too chilly for a demon used to the balmy climate of the underworld. Recently attached to the Singapore Three police department, Zhu Irzh has been assigned to help humans like Detective Inspector Chen investigate cases that overlap this world and the world to come. But how dedicated can a demon be to justice when his last assignment was to Hell’s vice squad—whose job is not to prevent vice, but to promote it?
Zhu Irzh is pondering these philosophical questions when he catches his first murder case: the savage killing of a rich would-be witch outside of the occult market. Chen is on a well-deserved vacation, so the demon takes charge himself, unearthing a supernatural conspiracy that proves Hell holds no monopoly on evil.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2006
36 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
About the author
Liz Williams
146 books267 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
She is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone, The Third Alternative and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan.[2] Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch.
Series:
* Detective Inspector Chen
* Darkland
Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
She is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone, The Third Alternative and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan.[2] Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch.
Series:
* Detective Inspector Chen
* Darkland
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 2, 2011
A capable entry into the Chen series, I found that I did not enjoy it as much as the Snake Agent. Although billed as "An Inspector Chen novel," he doesn't make an appearance for quite some time; in fact, the book truly is about the demon on his own. Although a murder supposedly begins the process of investigation for the police, it is haphazard and largely driven by involvement from Chen's patron diety. Solving the mystery of the murder becomes almost an aside as there are larger theological and practical issues to deal with at that point. Nevertheless, I would have liked to see more discussion of the culpability of the murder, given who is was.
Point of view continues to shift from a dowser, a female mogul, a worker in the mogul's company, and the demon, and it takes a little too long to weave the pieces of the story together. Others may enjoy the framework where divergent stories eventually converge. I tend to enjoy a more linear plot. The short shift given to the dowser turns him into little more than a caricature. The shifting viewpoint also brought the "everything is shades of grey" phenomenon, which meant the villains were less villainous and the heroes less heroic, blending them together in a stew of vaguely similar vegetables.
The supernatural discussion of feng shui and meridians was much more challenging to follow. I am sure that had I understood it better, it would have had added another level of complexity; as it is, it was merely confusing and bothersome. Nonetheless, I appreciate Williams' work for truly being an original setting and being composed of a complexity of worlds and players in an era of the cookie-cutter supernatural. I also enjoy her language, the loving and complex descriptions painted in with a few choice words, and her flashes of humor.
Point of view continues to shift from a dowser, a female mogul, a worker in the mogul's company, and the demon, and it takes a little too long to weave the pieces of the story together. Others may enjoy the framework where divergent stories eventually converge. I tend to enjoy a more linear plot. The short shift given to the dowser turns him into little more than a caricature. The shifting viewpoint also brought the "everything is shades of grey" phenomenon, which meant the villains were less villainous and the heroes less heroic, blending them together in a stew of vaguely similar vegetables.
The supernatural discussion of feng shui and meridians was much more challenging to follow. I am sure that had I understood it better, it would have had added another level of complexity; as it is, it was merely confusing and bothersome. Nonetheless, I appreciate Williams' work for truly being an original setting and being composed of a complexity of worlds and players in an era of the cookie-cutter supernatural. I also enjoy her language, the loving and complex descriptions painted in with a few choice words, and her flashes of humor.
April 23, 2020
Detective Chen goes on vacation for a couple of weeks and the whole city of Singapore Three goes to Hell. Literally, not in a hand basket though. More bad puns below. You've been warned. (j/k)
After helping Chen unravel Hell's plot in Snake Agent, Seneschal Zhu Irzh has decided to stay on Earth to assist Singapore Three's police department during Chen's leave. The work is fine for Zhu who works in vice back in Hell, but he finds it hard to fit in at the PD and stay in Captain Sung's good graces, being demonkind and all. His only ally other than Chen is the affable Sargent Ma, who is usually easy going but has a general distrust of all things from Hell. As he makes his way around the city to investigate a socialite's gruesome murder, Zhu stumbles upon a sinister force brewing right beneath the city. Then a feng shui dowser is murdered and Zhu feels himself losing control, but before he could investigate further, he finds himself entwined in an affair with an associate of that sinister force.
Robin Yuan, a young woman from an impoverished background and the girlfriend of the dead socialite, is also entwined in this affair--no, not like that. She works for Paugeng, a huge shady pharmaceutical corporation that more or less owns Singapore Three, and she has the misfortune of being assigned to a top-secret experimental drug project that, if successful, could bring down the walls separating Heaven and Hell.
Jhai Tserai, showrunner of shady Paugeng and a shady character herself, is trying to keep the company's secrets under wraps and her own secrets buried, but Zhu is making life inconveniently difficult for her. She may or may not have a hand in the socialite's and dowser's murders or have strong ties to Hell, and she may or may not be conspiring to bring down the walls between the worlds.
Mixed up in all of this is Mhara, a creature of mysterious origins. He is one of Paugeng's secret experimental projects and holds the key to bringing chaos to the shores of Heaven. But unfortunately for Paugeng, he escapes from a testing facility and, unfortunately for Jhai Tserai, he is running loose in the city.
More chaos and conspiracy (and hilarity) ensue when Chen returns from vacation to find Singapore Three in a state of upheaval, so close to the Day of the Dead, when the barriers between the worlds grow thin. He and Zhu work frantically to unravel this mess with barely enough time to capture the sinister force and save the city.
The second half of this book is a buddy-cop romp through the Night Harbour, a pergatory-like space in between worlds. Chen takes on the role of the straight laced, by the book, good cop and Zhu is the corruptible agent from the wrong side of the tracks; together they make a fun pair, with Zhu being the punchline to most jokes, and their chemistry/partnership breathes life back into the story.
That's what the first half of this book is missing, this strange yet familiar connection between Chen and Zhu Irzh that started in the first book. Oh, and the Badger teakettle is grudgingly funny too. That's not to say the events prior to Chen's return are boring; it's just different like an unexpected break from narrative. An investigation and near-apocalypse without Chen's involvement seem out of balance somehow, as he is the element that ties everything together. When he returns, the investigation is steered back on track and the story has a sense of direction again.
Liz Williams' characterization is once again compelling and thorough; even minor characters, like gods and goddesses that may or may not reappear in later books, get enough page time to lend them an air of importance.
Zhu's thought process always amuses me. He's so uninhibited compared to the tightly wound citizens of Singapore Three who are constantly worried about Heaven and Hell. Williams tucks numerous interesting insights of each new character into the story and adds more layers and depths to existing ones, the most compelling being Zhu always feeling at odds with himself for going against his demonic nature. The mysteries aren't as engrossing to me as following these characters on their individual quests, whatever those may be. Most importantly though, these characters and their trials and tribulations seem real in the context of this world.
What I love most about Williams' writing is her sense of world-building. It's descriptive and atmospheric without getting in the way of the story. Every street and ally, storefront and vendor, harbor and dock, right down to the smells and tastes of the air, is embedded in the story. Singapore Three, though fictional, comes alive not just as scenery or background noise but as a character. Every neighborhood featured has its own unique flavor and feel, and the experience of reading this book is like entering a virtual world.
What starts out as a gruesome murder is actually a plot to bring down the Celestials. Not as convoluted as it may sound though. It's rather poignant that Williams is able to put new spins on classic Chinese mythology and philosophy while adding her own take on life in a crowded bustling city.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
After helping Chen unravel Hell's plot in Snake Agent, Seneschal Zhu Irzh has decided to stay on Earth to assist Singapore Three's police department during Chen's leave. The work is fine for Zhu who works in vice back in Hell, but he finds it hard to fit in at the PD and stay in Captain Sung's good graces, being demonkind and all. His only ally other than Chen is the affable Sargent Ma, who is usually easy going but has a general distrust of all things from Hell. As he makes his way around the city to investigate a socialite's gruesome murder, Zhu stumbles upon a sinister force brewing right beneath the city. Then a feng shui dowser is murdered and Zhu feels himself losing control, but before he could investigate further, he finds himself entwined in an affair with an associate of that sinister force.
Robin Yuan, a young woman from an impoverished background and the girlfriend of the dead socialite, is also entwined in this affair--no, not like that. She works for Paugeng, a huge shady pharmaceutical corporation that more or less owns Singapore Three, and she has the misfortune of being assigned to a top-secret experimental drug project that, if successful, could bring down the walls separating Heaven and Hell.
Jhai Tserai, showrunner of shady Paugeng and a shady character herself, is trying to keep the company's secrets under wraps and her own secrets buried, but Zhu is making life inconveniently difficult for her. She may or may not have a hand in the socialite's and dowser's murders or have strong ties to Hell, and she may or may not be conspiring to bring down the walls between the worlds.
Mixed up in all of this is Mhara, a creature of mysterious origins. He is one of Paugeng's secret experimental projects and holds the key to bringing chaos to the shores of Heaven. But unfortunately for Paugeng, he escapes from a testing facility and, unfortunately for Jhai Tserai, he is running loose in the city.
More chaos and conspiracy (and hilarity) ensue when Chen returns from vacation to find Singapore Three in a state of upheaval, so close to the Day of the Dead, when the barriers between the worlds grow thin. He and Zhu work frantically to unravel this mess with barely enough time to capture the sinister force and save the city.
The second half of this book is a buddy-cop romp through the Night Harbour, a pergatory-like space in between worlds. Chen takes on the role of the straight laced, by the book, good cop and Zhu is the corruptible agent from the wrong side of the tracks; together they make a fun pair, with Zhu being the punchline to most jokes, and their chemistry/partnership breathes life back into the story.
The demon had bridled. "I'm not unremittingly evil—and me saying that just goes to show that I'm not a typical demon. I have feelings, too. I have a conscience. I helped you save the world, didn't I?"
Chen, though conceding that there was a measure of truth in this, had remained resolute. "I don't think you're unremittingly evil," he said. "I just think you're . . .slightly dodgy." Zhu Irzh had pretended to be annoyed, but admitted to himself that Chen might have a point.
[...]
"So having established Jhai Tserai as principal suspect, you brought her back here and spent what is by all accounts an active night with her? In my bed?" [Chen said]
[...]
"She turned up here, one thing led to another, and next thing I knew, we were in bed. And I'm sorry it was yours, but it is the only bed here. I promise I'll wash the sheets."
That's what the first half of this book is missing, this strange yet familiar connection between Chen and Zhu Irzh that started in the first book. Oh, and the Badger teakettle is grudgingly funny too. That's not to say the events prior to Chen's return are boring; it's just different like an unexpected break from narrative. An investigation and near-apocalypse without Chen's involvement seem out of balance somehow, as he is the element that ties everything together. When he returns, the investigation is steered back on track and the story has a sense of direction again.
Liz Williams' characterization is once again compelling and thorough; even minor characters, like gods and goddesses that may or may not reappear in later books, get enough page time to lend them an air of importance.
When [Chen] had finished [speaking], the goddess was silent for a long time. She was so still that Zhu Irzh wondered whether she might have returned to her marble form: he'd seen her do that before, the Celestial equivalent of locking oneself in the bathroom and having a long think.
Zhu's thought process always amuses me. He's so uninhibited compared to the tightly wound citizens of Singapore Three who are constantly worried about Heaven and Hell. Williams tucks numerous interesting insights of each new character into the story and adds more layers and depths to existing ones, the most compelling being Zhu always feeling at odds with himself for going against his demonic nature. The mysteries aren't as engrossing to me as following these characters on their individual quests, whatever those may be. Most importantly though, these characters and their trials and tribulations seem real in the context of this world.
What I love most about Williams' writing is her sense of world-building. It's descriptive and atmospheric without getting in the way of the story. Every street and ally, storefront and vendor, harbor and dock, right down to the smells and tastes of the air, is embedded in the story. Singapore Three, though fictional, comes alive not just as scenery or background noise but as a character. Every neighborhood featured has its own unique flavor and feel, and the experience of reading this book is like entering a virtual world.
What starts out as a gruesome murder is actually a plot to bring down the Celestials. Not as convoluted as it may sound though. It's rather poignant that Williams is able to put new spins on classic Chinese mythology and philosophy while adding her own take on life in a crowded bustling city.
"Whatever Heaven might say, it does not understand what it's like to be human. It doesn't understand the stresses that you live under." [Mhara said]
"You said we had a choice," Robin pointed out, "and we do."
"But sometimes it isn't possible to see that. Life and living obscures it, makes it disappear. Don't underestimate how hard it is to be alive. I did not understand that before I came here. Heaven entombs itself in perfection; Heaven has forgotten. Perhaps, Robin, it is that Heaven is not good enough for you."
"That sounds like heresy," Robin said, with unease. "Whatever religion one might practice."
"Then maybe the heretics are right."
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
March 14, 2020
This is the second Detective Inspector Chen book, but really it's Demon Policeman Zhu Irzh's book, and I liked it more than the first, SNAKE AGENT. I'm not going to bother with a plot-summary here -- it wouldn't make sense, and wouldn't help me convince you what a cool book this is. Hmm, how to do that?
First, Liz Williams is a helluva storyteller. The pages turn, the characters take life, the plot twists... This is a very entertaining book. Well-written, explicitly adult, sometimes startlingly sexy, it unfolds like a lucid dream....
Second, the Chinese mythic backstory is just totally cool. I have no idea how close she hews to the real thing. Here's the author: "It's all based on actual Chinese mythology, which suggests the numerous levels, and which is also very bureaucratic. One reviewer hated the bureaucratic nature of hell and wondered why I'd been so unimaginative - but it is as faithful a reflection of Chinese myth as I can make it...
I've always been interested in Chinese mythology but what really started [this series] off was a visit to Hong Kong in the early 90s. A friend of mine is a reporter for the South China Morning Post and at the time, she was writing two books about the colony, one on murder and the other on sex, and she was briefly going out with a cop on the HK vice squad. So there was plenty of material to draw on!" --Interview,
https://web.archive.org/web/200912270...
If you haven't tried this series, or Liz Williams, this would be a fine place to start.
[review written 2008, first posted to Usenet newsgroup rasfw]
First, Liz Williams is a helluva storyteller. The pages turn, the characters take life, the plot twists... This is a very entertaining book. Well-written, explicitly adult, sometimes startlingly sexy, it unfolds like a lucid dream....
Second, the Chinese mythic backstory is just totally cool. I have no idea how close she hews to the real thing. Here's the author: "It's all based on actual Chinese mythology, which suggests the numerous levels, and which is also very bureaucratic. One reviewer hated the bureaucratic nature of hell and wondered why I'd been so unimaginative - but it is as faithful a reflection of Chinese myth as I can make it...
I've always been interested in Chinese mythology but what really started [this series] off was a visit to Hong Kong in the early 90s. A friend of mine is a reporter for the South China Morning Post and at the time, she was writing two books about the colony, one on murder and the other on sex, and she was briefly going out with a cop on the HK vice squad. So there was plenty of material to draw on!" --Interview,
https://web.archive.org/web/200912270...
If you haven't tried this series, or Liz Williams, this would be a fine place to start.
[review written 2008, first posted to Usenet newsgroup rasfw]
January 6, 2016
2.5 stars
I started out loving this book which was a real surprise as I didn't like the last one that much and was really on the fence about even reading further. My biggest complaint with the first one was how sexist it was both in a lack of women characters in general. Even the extras, those that are there to hold the door or answer the phone, were almost exclusively men. The women were stupid and weak, other than the goddess who was just annoying. Other readers liked Inari but I found her whiny and weak and subservient and controlled by her husband because he cared about her so much! How many abusive husbands use that excuse to manipulate their wives?
But I really liked the demon Zhu Irzhs, the dark humor, and the complex world Williams created. And though it may not be that accurate, the depiction of a culture other than white American in an urban fantasy novel was refreshingly, well, novel. With trepidation, I decided to give the second one a go since my favorite character Zhu Irzhs was the main protagonist and Inari wasn't even in the book.
So paint me shocked that within a few pages I was introduced to several strong lesbians who were integral to the plot. The first few chapters were so good that I thought that a rating of five stars might be in this book's future. Williams continued to describe this complex world through showing rather than telling. (Actually the telling was more confusing than the showing.) The plot at that point was complicated but understandable and not at all predictable.
But oh how quickly do hopes get dashed. Very quickly it was revealed that the lesbians were all evil, in love with men, dead, or a combination of the above. Come on! Why can't there be a positive lesbian character in a mainstream urban fantasy novel? (There are several series with gay male characters that I love, but not with lesbians that I've found. If you are aware of any let me know!) This trickery is so early 20th century, so The Well of Loneliness et al where a lesbian cannot survive being a lesbian. They all die or find men.
But I read on because I liked the plot, there was lots of action, and I was curious what would happen next. But suddenly, around the middle of the book, I realized I just didn't care anymore. I read a few more chapters to see if it was just a loll but no. By the time Chen came back a few chapters later (the chapters are very short) I was bored stiff. The original murder mystery didn't even seem important anymore and the rest of the plot didn't make a lot of sense, at least not yet. I didn't like most of the characters and even the demon was annoying thus time around. There was some caricature of a vengeful magic user who kept cropping up even though he appears to have been a plot device more than anything.
A few more nitpicks: Yin & Yang are not positive and negative. A child is repeatedly referred to as "it" even though gender is known, the demon takes a cold shower to lower his libido but he's always cold, they call a woman in her late 20's a girl, and the worst thing of all, a BIG pet peeve: It's "another THINK coming" not "another thing coming"!
I wrote this and was all set to mark the book as abandoned but I then remembered that most of what I loved about the last book was the banter between Chen & the demon. So I went back and sped-read through the scenes that didn't involve both of them until about a quarter of the way from the end the action picked up, the different story lines braided together and things started happening. The end was one long action sequence which would probably have left me breathless if I cared about any of the characters a whole lot. I have to say the goddesses were strong and intelligent and one of the human females was almost recognizable as a 21st century metropolitan young woman (but not quite).
The biggest problem at the end I can't tell you without spoiling things but suffice to say I wanted to kick a woman upside the head for thinking she was strong when she did something heinously not. But the second worst problem was continuity. For example, at one point someone is fragmenting/melting/dissolving and the next scene he's fine and no explanation is given, a very important storyline was not completed and will be problematic in the next book, and new creature and ideas kept being introduced too late in the game.
So once again I am left giving this 2.5 stars and thinking I'm not going to read the next one. But I've said that before so who knows. Maybe if I'm desperate.
January 10, 2022
3.5 stars
In this gritty and richly fantastical mystery, Zhu Irzh takes center stage. Inspector Chen is more of a peripheral character here. I liked this less than Snake Agent, especially since one of the prime culprits didn't seem to face any repercussions. Some parts were quite grim. However, the prose was still excellent, and often witty.
I'll definitely be reading the next one.
In this gritty and richly fantastical mystery, Zhu Irzh takes center stage. Inspector Chen is more of a peripheral character here. I liked this less than Snake Agent, especially since one of the prime culprits didn't seem to face any repercussions. Some parts were quite grim. However, the prose was still excellent, and often witty.
"No thanks. I think I'll go and explore the port."
The receptionist managed to convey to Zhu Irzh that this was absolutely fine. If the demon had announced his intention to immolate himself on the front steps he would, he presumed, have evoked a similar response.
I'll definitely be reading the next one.
July 30, 2009
I enjoyed Snake Agent, the first book in this series, because it was such an amusing mixture of genres. The story is basically set in a near-future version of Singapore. Heaven and Hell are not only real, but actual places you can go to (if you are dead - or have the proper visa). Detective Inspector Chen, the main character, investigates crimes in this setting, so the novels often read like a detective/police procedural. It's a mix of SF, fantasy, horror, detective - with some comedy thrown in.
While I enjoyed the first book, I thought the second book fell flat. This is one of those plots where you basically have no idea what's going on until the middle of the book. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but combined with the lack of solid characters and the fact that the point of view kept jumping, it made this a very shallow and unenjoyable read for me. I was disappointed because I thought book 1 showed promise with its original setting and premise.
While I enjoyed the first book, I thought the second book fell flat. This is one of those plots where you basically have no idea what's going on until the middle of the book. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but combined with the lack of solid characters and the fact that the point of view kept jumping, it made this a very shallow and unenjoyable read for me. I was disappointed because I thought book 1 showed promise with its original setting and premise.
February 21, 2022
Rating: 3.2/5
Review: I had forgot about this series after having read Snake Agent a long time ago. Glad I re-entered the fray as this installment was entertaining.
The downside in comparison to the first novel, is that this is more about Chen’s sidekick and there are shifting narratives that are too loose to be of consequence. I was more amused than emotionally tied to the outcomes of various characters.
There was definitely a lot of bouncing in between worlds with hardly the resolution expected. The story line moves in fits and starts and then you have a rampaging goddess. Hmm. Still, this was fun and I will keep reading on.
Review: I had forgot about this series after having read Snake Agent a long time ago. Glad I re-entered the fray as this installment was entertaining.
The downside in comparison to the first novel, is that this is more about Chen’s sidekick and there are shifting narratives that are too loose to be of consequence. I was more amused than emotionally tied to the outcomes of various characters.
There was definitely a lot of bouncing in between worlds with hardly the resolution expected. The story line moves in fits and starts and then you have a rampaging goddess. Hmm. Still, this was fun and I will keep reading on.
January 14, 2014
Even though a lot of people who know a lot more about Chinese culture than me felt the series was shallow and appropriative, I read Book 2 because I liked Book 1. (Shallow, appropriative, and charming to white people! Also I like Detective Chen and Inari.) Book 2 is so much worse, OMG. Detective Chen and Inari are gone for most of the book, and the hedgehog teapot just doesn't make up for everything himself. Two women who have only referred to previous lesbian relationships end up in long-term relationships with men by the end of the book -- and I don't have a problem with a bisexual default, but I would have liked to see any successful lesbian relationships and any lesbian-by-the-end-of-book who wasn't an abusive ex and a dog monster. But what turned me off most was the change to Chinese religion/mythology -- I was really put off by Mhara (?), the son of the Emperor of Heaven, and his revolutionary ways. (If you're going to have a revolution to mirror/promote change on earth, why are you involving the hereditary rulers at all? Pull your revolutionaries from the intelligentsia or the proletariat.)
I have enough fond memories of the first book that I might borrow later books in the series to see if they improve, but this is such a come-down from the first novel in the series it left a bad taste in mouth.
I have enough fond memories of the first book that I might borrow later books in the series to see if they improve, but this is such a come-down from the first novel in the series it left a bad taste in mouth.
August 10, 2012
This book really carries on where the previous one left off- not directly but following up a number of hints and comments made in the previous book. Now this is a not a high concept book, nor is it a modern day classic - what it is however is fast fun and fascinating - now I see by other reviews this is not for everyone however for me i really enjoyed it - maybe not as much as the first - but still enough to drive me on to read the next instalment.
August 18, 2016
Such a promising start to the series in Snake agent then I read this what a let down, won't be carrying on with the series.
December 16, 2007
The one set in a futuristic/occultish Singapore, where a socialite is killed by some sort of fantastic beast and a demon is sent to investigate.
I abandoned this one after fifty pages because aside from the setting, nothing rang true. Pretty much every character was too stupid to live, and the so-called demon was apparently exactly like a human male in every respect except for having a tail.
After reading this and Keeping It Real, I'm getting really tired of authors calling characters 'demons' and dimensions 'hells' without any sort of theological/philosophical underpinnings, because if these are living creatures with wants and fears, then they may be sympathetic monsters, but they're not 'demons' in any sense of the word that I'm familiar with.
My library doesn't have Snake Agent, and maybe this one would have engaged me more if I hadn't been trying to enter the universe somewhere other than at the beginning.
(2007 Locus poll: #16 fantasy)
I abandoned this one after fifty pages because aside from the setting, nothing rang true. Pretty much every character was too stupid to live, and the so-called demon was apparently exactly like a human male in every respect except for having a tail.
After reading this and Keeping It Real, I'm getting really tired of authors calling characters 'demons' and dimensions 'hells' without any sort of theological/philosophical underpinnings, because if these are living creatures with wants and fears, then they may be sympathetic monsters, but they're not 'demons' in any sense of the word that I'm familiar with.
My library doesn't have Snake Agent, and maybe this one would have engaged me more if I hadn't been trying to enter the universe somewhere other than at the beginning.
(2007 Locus poll: #16 fantasy)
November 29, 2009
This followup was a little disappointing. More than a little really. The romantic subplot ... let's just say I didn't like it, and it was not convincing. I hate to say it was trite but ... there are three women with speaking roles who are presented as tending to be romantically involved with women, and by the end of the story they're dead or romantically involved with men. (Or both!) And the author even trots out the "I haven't allowed myself to unleash my passion until now but with you, a male, I can" thing. (With somewhat justified reasoning but still ... it was a headdesk-nausea-wallbanger moment.)
There were sections I found myself flipping through rapidly because they weren't interesting. That, plus the urge to read-this-fast because I wanted to see what the author was going to do ... well, I may have missed some things that would make the story more plausible/interesting.
There were sections I found myself flipping through rapidly because they weren't interesting. That, plus the urge to read-this-fast because I wanted to see what the author was going to do ... well, I may have missed some things that would make the story more plausible/interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2012
I was rather surprised to find that Inspector Chen had more of a minor role in this book and that Zhu Irzh had replaced him as the main voice. Surprised because I had quite liked Zhu Irzh's character and narrative in the first book and wasn't expecting so much more of it. He's just so... himself.
Once again, power thirsty people plot to wreak havoc but their schemes backfire and the stakes of failure couldn't be higher. With fast paced action, wrath inducing drugs, missing gods, lots of traveling between the worlds and one very pissed off dowser, The Demon and The City was just what I needed after a series of very bad books.
This time we get more involved with the Celestials, get a few glimpses of how other religions relate and just how close the dead and the living really are.
Can't wait to get my hands on the third installment!
Once again, power thirsty people plot to wreak havoc but their schemes backfire and the stakes of failure couldn't be higher. With fast paced action, wrath inducing drugs, missing gods, lots of traveling between the worlds and one very pissed off dowser, The Demon and The City was just what I needed after a series of very bad books.
This time we get more involved with the Celestials, get a few glimpses of how other religions relate and just how close the dead and the living really are.
Can't wait to get my hands on the third installment!
September 17, 2017
this is Liz Williams 2nd Detective Inspector Chen book .... like the 1st it is an amazing melange of
fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery .... in this second adventure Chen's demonic partner: Zhu Irzh takes center stage in trying to solve and understand a mysterious murder.... Detective Inspector Chen does not appear until later in the book ... Thus we have a rare treat in the further development of this nattily dressed , golden-eyes demon with talons. For some unknown reason this hellkind is infected with a conscience.
Williams propels the story forward with elegant and lyrical prose. This adventure was not quite up to the first tale , due to a weaker plot line.... however, still was quite enjoyable ... and wanting this reader for more of this series.
fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery .... in this second adventure Chen's demonic partner: Zhu Irzh takes center stage in trying to solve and understand a mysterious murder.... Detective Inspector Chen does not appear until later in the book ... Thus we have a rare treat in the further development of this nattily dressed , golden-eyes demon with talons. For some unknown reason this hellkind is infected with a conscience.
Williams propels the story forward with elegant and lyrical prose. This adventure was not quite up to the first tale , due to a weaker plot line.... however, still was quite enjoyable ... and wanting this reader for more of this series.
December 15, 2016
It's always the edge of night in Liz William's Singapore Three (The Demon and the City). The sun is always just about to set or just about to rise. That's because this second Inspector Chen novel is all about edges -- the edge of night and day, the edge of heaven and hell, the edge of sanity, tottering at the edge as the world ends. William's writing is so rich and layered; like a red and black lacquered box of magic and mystery. I missed Inari - but the badger tea kettle was there in full force (my favorite character, I think). The cover is fantastic!
November 17, 2008
I loved Snake Agent; this one I struggled to finish. I still love the world Williams has created, but this story is just not as compelling as the story of Snake Agent. Though Zhu Irzh is an interesting character, there's just less at stake for him than there is for Chen--his worst case scenario is just going back to hell, so all of the action of this novel lacks the urgency that made Snake Agent such a compelling read.
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April 25, 2015WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU BEEN READING LATELY?
September 4, 2020
While I own the entire series of Detective Inspector Chen books, I hadn't read another since the initial novel, "Snake Agent". I decided to pick up the second book in the series, "The Demon and the City" and even though it had been 15 years, I felt right at home in Singapore Three.
This novel focused primarily on Detective Inspector Chen's demonic partner, Seneschal Zhu Irzh, as the good Detective Inspector doesn’t appear until towards the last quarter of the book. I was looking forward to reading more about Chen's Hellish companion, but Williams doesn't take this opportunity to delve into his background or give the reader much insight into how Hell and its minions interact with the mortal realm. I've noticed that Williams fleshes out her characters a few inches deep, but tends not to fully develop them. This is not to say that teh characters in the novel are two-dimensional; they are not as each has their own unique voice that makes them stand out, but it always seems as if there's more to learn about them. We're always given a taste, a tease, but then left hanging.
The same can be said for William's world building. The setting seems very real and complex, but it feels like the author has a complete source book at her disposal and is pulling bits and pieces from it, assuming that we are already familiar with the world the story is set in.
We're not.
As someone who enjoys a great setting as much as the plot and characters, it's frustrating. How did the gates between Heaven, Hell, and Earth open? How do all three interact so as not to cause complete chaos? Why Singapore Three? Is it like the Babylon space stations that kept being destroyed and new ones were built to replace them or are there cities named Singapore One and Two out there? Inquiring minds want to know.
We do get to see new facets of this unique world, such as the Night Harbor - a kind of way station for the dead, but without the Western style Ferryman, and other places that I don't want to spoil for anyone.
The biggest issue I have with the book is the ending, It felt a bit rushed, and for me, it was unsatisfying. Nevertheless, "The Demon and the City" is a page turner with a unique setting that will keep your mind turning on the many unanswered questions it brings to mind. Liz Williams is a delight to read and I look forward to diving into the rest of the series.
This novel focused primarily on Detective Inspector Chen's demonic partner, Seneschal Zhu Irzh, as the good Detective Inspector doesn’t appear until towards the last quarter of the book. I was looking forward to reading more about Chen's Hellish companion, but Williams doesn't take this opportunity to delve into his background or give the reader much insight into how Hell and its minions interact with the mortal realm. I've noticed that Williams fleshes out her characters a few inches deep, but tends not to fully develop them. This is not to say that teh characters in the novel are two-dimensional; they are not as each has their own unique voice that makes them stand out, but it always seems as if there's more to learn about them. We're always given a taste, a tease, but then left hanging.
The same can be said for William's world building. The setting seems very real and complex, but it feels like the author has a complete source book at her disposal and is pulling bits and pieces from it, assuming that we are already familiar with the world the story is set in.
We're not.
As someone who enjoys a great setting as much as the plot and characters, it's frustrating. How did the gates between Heaven, Hell, and Earth open? How do all three interact so as not to cause complete chaos? Why Singapore Three? Is it like the Babylon space stations that kept being destroyed and new ones were built to replace them or are there cities named Singapore One and Two out there? Inquiring minds want to know.
We do get to see new facets of this unique world, such as the Night Harbor - a kind of way station for the dead, but without the Western style Ferryman, and other places that I don't want to spoil for anyone.
The biggest issue I have with the book is the ending, It felt a bit rushed, and for me, it was unsatisfying. Nevertheless, "The Demon and the City" is a page turner with a unique setting that will keep your mind turning on the many unanswered questions it brings to mind. Liz Williams is a delight to read and I look forward to diving into the rest of the series.
October 10, 2021
Inspector Chen is absent for half of this one - he's on holiday with his demon wife. Instead we follow his partner demon Zhu Irzh. Zhu is frustrated - he was a demon working for Hell's Vice division (promoting it not stopping it) and now he's on Earth as a police detective. The police don't trust him and won't let him on the interesting cases and Chen is away. Still a brutally murdered lesbian socialite prompts Zhu to investigate leading him straight to Jhai Tserai - Jhai is a Devas (Indian tiger courtesan) although she takes drugs to supress her demonic side. Zhu is instantly smitten, but the problem is that the beautiful biochemist is up to her neck and experimenting with some very dangerous supernatural entitles.
There's so much to enjoy here. The world building is fantastic and such a breath of fresh air for the urban fantasy genre - Set in a slightly futuristic Singapore three, it mixes cyberpunk elements with Asian mythology and low tech.
The characters are also excellent - I love Zhu, and the supporting cast are great as well.
The writing is good and despite how much strange and unfamiliar things this throws at you, it remains pacy and easy to follow.
The chapters are short and the pace sometimes a little too breakneck. In places this feels like a screenplay rather than a novel and that's why i only gave this 3* even though the imagination and originality probably deserves higher. Robin just suddenly blurts out at one point she's in love with Mhara and although she definitely showed sympathy when she freed him, I just felt eh? that's a bit abrupt. Scenes cut out and we jump back in further on... it just feels a little disjointed in places.
Still on the whole I loved this one and it really is something a bit different for the urban fantasy genre. Hurry up and make a TV series!
There's so much to enjoy here. The world building is fantastic and such a breath of fresh air for the urban fantasy genre - Set in a slightly futuristic Singapore three, it mixes cyberpunk elements with Asian mythology and low tech.
The characters are also excellent - I love Zhu, and the supporting cast are great as well.
The writing is good and despite how much strange and unfamiliar things this throws at you, it remains pacy and easy to follow.
The chapters are short and the pace sometimes a little too breakneck. In places this feels like a screenplay rather than a novel and that's why i only gave this 3* even though the imagination and originality probably deserves higher. Robin just suddenly blurts out at one point she's in love with Mhara and although she definitely showed sympathy when she freed him, I just felt eh? that's a bit abrupt. Scenes cut out and we jump back in further on... it just feels a little disjointed in places.
Still on the whole I loved this one and it really is something a bit different for the urban fantasy genre. Hurry up and make a TV series!
June 12, 2017
I didn't like this book nearly as much as the first in the series for a number of reasons.
1 there are lesbian characters in the book but one is only a lesbian because it's "fashionable" and the other goes straight once she finds the right man 2 the author seems to dislike women of the female characters in the book one is described as a shrew two are scheming and untrustworthy one can only be her real self when having sex one is called a bitch and described as cow like repeatedly a openly sexist character has nothing really bad happen to him and a major female character in the first book is left out completely 3 the bad guy lost way too easily and the end was really anticlimactic.End the end this book was worse then the first because of a bad representation of LGBT relationships open misogyny and a lack luster ending.
1 there are lesbian characters in the book but one is only a lesbian because it's "fashionable" and the other goes straight once she finds the right man 2 the author seems to dislike women of the female characters in the book one is described as a shrew two are scheming and untrustworthy one can only be her real self when having sex one is called a bitch and described as cow like repeatedly a openly sexist character has nothing really bad happen to him and a major female character in the first book is left out completely 3 the bad guy lost way too easily and the end was really anticlimactic.End the end this book was worse then the first because of a bad representation of LGBT relationships open misogyny and a lack luster ending.
December 2, 2018
Repost 2012 review:
Sadly while the cover is much more attractive than the one on Snake Agent the story itself is weaker than that one, though it might be more a matter of execution than concept. Interestingly while this is the second "Detective Inspector Chen" novel, Chen himself really appears here in more of a supporting capacity. He's not even present for roughly half the book. His demon partner Zhu Irzh definitely gets to claim "lead character" in this one, which is fine by me, he's an entertaining character. It's not his fault he's saddled with a weaker novel. Still, good enough that I plan to continue the series.
Sadly while the cover is much more attractive than the one on Snake Agent the story itself is weaker than that one, though it might be more a matter of execution than concept. Interestingly while this is the second "Detective Inspector Chen" novel, Chen himself really appears here in more of a supporting capacity. He's not even present for roughly half the book. His demon partner Zhu Irzh definitely gets to claim "lead character" in this one, which is fine by me, he's an entertaining character. It's not his fault he's saddled with a weaker novel. Still, good enough that I plan to continue the series.
August 12, 2018
I wish Inspector Chen appeared more in this book. While I like the demon, he is not really enough for this series, even with the love interest. This book was also really confusing to me in the beginning, sort of disjointed and not organized. I really enjoyed all of the mythology and the scenery, but the mystery was confusing and the scenes did not flow well. Will definitely be reading the third book because I think the series has a lot of potential, I just hope it brings more to the table.
July 22, 2024
The second Inspector Chen book, told mainly from the point of view of the demon Zhu Irzh, who has been seconded from Hell to work with Chen. As a member of Hell's vice squad, whose job was to promote vice, Zhu Irzh has an interesting perspective, and the story, about a fiendish plot in one of Hell's ministries, is absorbing. Hell's bureaucracies are even worse than those of earth, and Liz Williams' depiction of the main story settings is very vivid
November 1, 2019
This was hard to finish. I didn't care about anyone or anything in the novel by the end.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, so I plowed through this even after I stopped liking it.
Many things happen, one thing after another, like a fever dream, and nothing seems to matter.
I might try another book by the author. Not for a bit, though.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, so I plowed through this even after I stopped liking it.
Many things happen, one thing after another, like a fever dream, and nothing seems to matter.
I might try another book by the author. Not for a bit, though.
November 4, 2022
This is the second book in the Detective Inspector Chen series. While it is not necessary to read the first book, it is helpful as this story has links to events in the previous book.
This book starts out a bit slow, however, once everything starts sliding into place, the action is non-stop. Once again, I had to keep on reading as I wanted to find out how it was going to end.
This book starts out a bit slow, however, once everything starts sliding into place, the action is non-stop. Once again, I had to keep on reading as I wanted to find out how it was going to end.
October 14, 2025
I think the Author did a good job doing a follow up, or second book, the Detective Chen series. It is always hard to excite readers with a story line when you already know the characters and how they might react and interact with each other and other characters. I like the series so far because it isn’t an easy read but because it makes me think.
December 20, 2018
Better than the first
I enjoyed the first of the series but this was even better. The world building is cool and interesting. I liked this storyline too. The characters are as usual fun to follow.
I enjoyed the first of the series but this was even better. The world building is cool and interesting. I liked this storyline too. The characters are as usual fun to follow.
January 2, 2019
Sarjan huikea aloitus ei saanut veroistaan jatkoa. Kirjassa oli monia lupaavia hahmoja, joiden kehityksen suunta oli pettymys ja suuret linjat olivat enemmän kaaosta, mutta kevyt ja viihdyttävä setti jälleen.
March 16, 2020
Heaven itself almost proves vulnerable to a leveraged buyout...but the scheme falls afoul of a demon with a distracting sex drive and a certain amount of rather darkly comic WTF? Well stocked with scary monsters with unclear agendas too. Onward!
March 18, 2025
Liz Williams knows how to build a ridiculous world that works perfectly, and make it internally cohesive so it remains entertaining. It even manages to surprise every now and then. Literary ear candy this may be and a mere pastime, but it's a good 'un. Senescal Zhu Irzh is getting a bit too "good" for credibility and so used to being around earth that this time he even gets a brief visit to heaven (urgh!)
The main plot is (again) a conspiracy to get hell to run over heaven using a virus. I keep wondering what the real contemporary Chinese and Singaporeans make of this this series.
The main plot is (again) a conspiracy to get hell to run over heaven using a virus. I keep wondering what the real contemporary Chinese and Singaporeans make of this this series.
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