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One Last Dance Before I Die
Shanghai 1922.
It seems an oasis of calm, a western city in China where the champagne flows, and men make fortunes while enjoying themselves in cabarets and brothels; a cosmopolitan playground for the rich and famous. But below the surface, gangs control the streets. Prostitution, drugs, gambling - these are the pursuits of poor and wealthy alike.
This is Shanghai, the city where death is commonplace and the law doesn't apply. To millionaires and politicians it is a welcome staging-post; to others, it is a city founded on sin and corruption. Many come to make money, by any means. To Detective Rod Cottey of the Shanghai Municipal Police, Shanghai provides an escape from the hideous mechanised warfare of the Western Front. Yet even here his demons pursue him.
Called to investigate the murder of a rich banker's chauffeur, Rod is soon thrust into the world of arms-dealers, drugs and prostitutes. Above all, he learns that Shanghai is built on secrets. And secrets can be dangerous - even deadly. As he discovers more about the killing of the chauffeur, he begins to discover just how deadly information can be ...
In a city where money rules everyone and everything, in a tiny enclave filled with Russian exiles and Chinese revolutionaries, one policeman tried to find justice and the truth.
REVIEWS
Angus Donald - "all set in the exotic melting pot of pre-Revolutionary China, a land of ruthless colonial entrepreneurs, down-trodden coolies, stalwart Sikhs and secret criminal tongs. Slickly written, authentic-feeling and enormous fun. A highly recommended and gripping historical detective yarn!”
Martin Edwards - "Shanghai is one of the world’s most atmospheric cities and its intriguing history comes alive in Michael Jecks’ ‘One Last Dance’ ... a twisty thriller set in the aftermath of the First World War"
Peter Lovesey - “Pacy, atmospheric and steeped in intrigue, this is a thriller that truly thrills.'
Michael Ridpath - "brings 1920s Shanghai the teeming streets, the dodgy businessmen, the shady establishments, the drink, the women, the drugs and the murders. Rod Cottey is an intriguing detective with convincing demons to deal with and a pleasing determination to get his man. More please.!
Andrew Taylor - "a muscular historical thriller with credible action, strong characters, lively plotting and an unusual, finely drawn setting."
It seems an oasis of calm, a western city in China where the champagne flows, and men make fortunes while enjoying themselves in cabarets and brothels; a cosmopolitan playground for the rich and famous. But below the surface, gangs control the streets. Prostitution, drugs, gambling - these are the pursuits of poor and wealthy alike.
This is Shanghai, the city where death is commonplace and the law doesn't apply. To millionaires and politicians it is a welcome staging-post; to others, it is a city founded on sin and corruption. Many come to make money, by any means. To Detective Rod Cottey of the Shanghai Municipal Police, Shanghai provides an escape from the hideous mechanised warfare of the Western Front. Yet even here his demons pursue him.
Called to investigate the murder of a rich banker's chauffeur, Rod is soon thrust into the world of arms-dealers, drugs and prostitutes. Above all, he learns that Shanghai is built on secrets. And secrets can be dangerous - even deadly. As he discovers more about the killing of the chauffeur, he begins to discover just how deadly information can be ...
In a city where money rules everyone and everything, in a tiny enclave filled with Russian exiles and Chinese revolutionaries, one policeman tried to find justice and the truth.
REVIEWS
Angus Donald - "all set in the exotic melting pot of pre-Revolutionary China, a land of ruthless colonial entrepreneurs, down-trodden coolies, stalwart Sikhs and secret criminal tongs. Slickly written, authentic-feeling and enormous fun. A highly recommended and gripping historical detective yarn!”
Martin Edwards - "Shanghai is one of the world’s most atmospheric cities and its intriguing history comes alive in Michael Jecks’ ‘One Last Dance’ ... a twisty thriller set in the aftermath of the First World War"
Peter Lovesey - “Pacy, atmospheric and steeped in intrigue, this is a thriller that truly thrills.'
Michael Ridpath - "brings 1920s Shanghai the teeming streets, the dodgy businessmen, the shady establishments, the drink, the women, the drugs and the murders. Rod Cottey is an intriguing detective with convincing demons to deal with and a pleasing determination to get his man. More please.!
Andrew Taylor - "a muscular historical thriller with credible action, strong characters, lively plotting and an unusual, finely drawn setting."
- GenresHistorical Fiction
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2023
6 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Michael Jecks
121 books621 followersMichael Jecks is a best-selling writer of historical novels. The son of an Actuary, and the youngest of four brothers, he worked in the computer industry before becoming a novelist full time in 1994
He is the author of the internationally popular Templar series, perhaps the longest crime series written by a living author. Unusually, the series looks again at actual events and murders committed about the early fourteenth century, a fabulous time of treachery, civil war, deceit and corruption. Famine, war and disease led to widespread despair, and yet the people showed themselves to be resilient. The series is available as ebooks and all paper formats from Harper Collins, Headline and Simon and Schuster. More recently he has completed his Vintener Trilogy, three stories in his Bloody Mary series, and a new Crusades story set in 1096, Pilgrim's War, following some of the people in the first Crusade on their long pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He has also written a highly acclaimed modern spy thriller, Act of Vengeance.
His books have won him international acclaim and in 2007 his Death Ship of Dartmouth was shortlisted for the Harrogate prize for the best crime novel of the year.
A member of the Society of Authors and Royal Literary Society, Jecks was the Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association in 2004-2005. In 2005 he became a member of the Detection Club.
From 1998 he organised the CWA Debut Dagger competition for two years, helping unpublished authors to win their first contracts He judged the CWA/Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for three years.
Michael Jecks is a popular speaker at literary festivals and historical meetings. He is a popular after-dinner and motivational speaker and has spoken at events from Colombia to Italy, Portugal to Alaska.
His own highlights are: being the Grand Marshal of the first parade at the New Orleans 2014 Mardi Gras, designing the Michael Jecks fountain pen for Conway Stewart, and being the International Guest of Honour at the Crime Writers of Canada Bloody Words convention.
Michael lives, walks, writes and paints in North Dartmoor.
He is the author of the internationally popular Templar series, perhaps the longest crime series written by a living author. Unusually, the series looks again at actual events and murders committed about the early fourteenth century, a fabulous time of treachery, civil war, deceit and corruption. Famine, war and disease led to widespread despair, and yet the people showed themselves to be resilient. The series is available as ebooks and all paper formats from Harper Collins, Headline and Simon and Schuster. More recently he has completed his Vintener Trilogy, three stories in his Bloody Mary series, and a new Crusades story set in 1096, Pilgrim's War, following some of the people in the first Crusade on their long pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He has also written a highly acclaimed modern spy thriller, Act of Vengeance.
His books have won him international acclaim and in 2007 his Death Ship of Dartmouth was shortlisted for the Harrogate prize for the best crime novel of the year.
A member of the Society of Authors and Royal Literary Society, Jecks was the Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association in 2004-2005. In 2005 he became a member of the Detection Club.
From 1998 he organised the CWA Debut Dagger competition for two years, helping unpublished authors to win their first contracts He judged the CWA/Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for three years.
Michael Jecks is a popular speaker at literary festivals and historical meetings. He is a popular after-dinner and motivational speaker and has spoken at events from Colombia to Italy, Portugal to Alaska.
His own highlights are: being the Grand Marshal of the first parade at the New Orleans 2014 Mardi Gras, designing the Michael Jecks fountain pen for Conway Stewart, and being the International Guest of Honour at the Crime Writers of Canada Bloody Words convention.
Michael lives, walks, writes and paints in North Dartmoor.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 7, 2024
Saw from his blog that Michael Jecks has a new mystery out and then found it on Kindle Ultd! And there’s a special on for the moment! Great! Did not hesitate and borrowed One Last Dance.
Shanghai after WW1. Early 1920’s. Wild! I was not aware of the many countries involved there and the divvying up of sections. France, England, Japan, China to name a few.
Rod Cottey, ex army has joined the SMP (Shanghai Municipal Police). He wants out of England and is trying to run from the memories of his girl, but mostly the horror of the trenches. Many in the SMP have similar backgrounds. Of course he uses opium and alcohol to try to control his flashbacks to horror of the Western front.
He witnesses a car crash, a chauffeur being assassinated, and that’s just the beginning. Lots of action, skullduggery, Russians escaping the Bolsheviks, a complex Taipan family, highly organized criminal gangs—all play a part. Rod has a torrid time trying to work it all out. I have a torrid time following, mostly because I read into the wee small hours of the morning.
Jecks’ notes on the situation are great. His writings really describe the reality of Shanghai of the time. I hope we hear more of Cottey.
Shanghai after WW1. Early 1920’s. Wild! I was not aware of the many countries involved there and the divvying up of sections. France, England, Japan, China to name a few.
Rod Cottey, ex army has joined the SMP (Shanghai Municipal Police). He wants out of England and is trying to run from the memories of his girl, but mostly the horror of the trenches. Many in the SMP have similar backgrounds. Of course he uses opium and alcohol to try to control his flashbacks to horror of the Western front.
He witnesses a car crash, a chauffeur being assassinated, and that’s just the beginning. Lots of action, skullduggery, Russians escaping the Bolsheviks, a complex Taipan family, highly organized criminal gangs—all play a part. Rod has a torrid time trying to work it all out. I have a torrid time following, mostly because I read into the wee small hours of the morning.
Jecks’ notes on the situation are great. His writings really describe the reality of Shanghai of the time. I hope we hear more of Cottey.
April 7, 2024
This is a must-read for those seeking historical crime fiction with a complex protagonist and a captivating atmosphere.
The story unfolds like a detective movie, with each clue leading Rod deeper into a tangled mess of secrets. Jecks makes Shanghai come alive, showing the glitz and the grime all at once.
I also learnt loads about 1922 Shanghai! Great read, would recommend.
The story unfolds like a detective movie, with each clue leading Rod deeper into a tangled mess of secrets. Jecks makes Shanghai come alive, showing the glitz and the grime all at once.
I also learnt loads about 1922 Shanghai! Great read, would recommend.
December 27, 2023
At first, I found the book a little slow and difficult to get into, but I think that was because of the setting and time period, both of which were very unfamiliar to me. That didn’t last long though, as I soon became engrossed in the twists and turns of the plot, with the atmosphere of 1920s Shanghai coming alive through the writing.
A great read, with a plot that kept me guessing right until the end.
A great read, with a plot that kept me guessing right until the end.
January 23, 2024
Wow. I loved it. I love to read WWI & WWII and the aftermath. but this is the first time I've read anything set in Shanghai. Living over in Asia near a military base in the 80's I could relate and visualize a lot of this. I hope there are more books with Rod Cottey and the guys at the SMP.
March 1, 2025
Yup
Good historical background and a twisted family,criminals,drugs,women,guns.A good thinking story,worked out most of it but not the one who was the mastermind.Really enjoyable,I hope there is more.
Good historical background and a twisted family,criminals,drugs,women,guns.A good thinking story,worked out most of it but not the one who was the mastermind.Really enjoyable,I hope there is more.
December 20, 2023
Really great read! Didn't want to put it down.
August 6, 2025
Decent detective novel, in a place a time I’m unfamiliar with. Absolutely conveyed the heat and oppression perfectly.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews