مقتل السيد ما

Dee & Lao #1

by John Shen Yen Nee, هند حسني (Translator)

في لندن عشرينيات القرن الماضي، يتشابك العالم الغربي مع الجالية الصينية وفنون القتال في مغامرة بوليسية مشوقة.

تعرف "لاو شيه" المحاضر الصيني في جامعة لندن، إلى القاضي "دي رين جيه" من خلال الفيلسوف الشهير "برتراند راسل" في موقف بالغ الغرابة. يطلب راسل من لاو شيه أن يحل محل القاضي في السجن لفترة قصيرة. ينجوان معًا من هذه التجربة، ويقرر لاو شيه مرافقة دي في تحقيقاته في جريمة قتل السيد "مَا زي رين".
خلال التحقيق، تقع جرائم قتل أخرى مرتبطة بالجريمة الأساسية، طُعن الضحايا جميعهم حتى الموت بسيف الفراشة. يجدان حياتيهما في خطر مستمر، وتتعقد الأمور مع ظهور أدلة جديدة وشخصيات غامضة تُسهم في توتر الأحداث وتشويقها. ويزداد الخطر مع اقترابهما من كشف الحقيقة.
ستجذبك الرواية بأسلوبها المستلهم من مغامرات شيرلوك هولمز، فهي تجربة قراءة لا تُنسى.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Historical Mystery

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2024

About the author

John Shen Yen Nee is a half Chinese, half Scottish American media executive, producer and entrepreneur who was born in Knoxville, grew up in San Diego, and is now based in Los Angeles, with a penchant for very long run-on sentences. He has served as president of WildStorm Productions; senior vice president of DC Comics; publisher of Marvel Comics; CEO of Cryptozoic Entertainment; and cofounder of CCG Labs.

Reviews

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

LThe publisher’s blurb for The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee and SJ Rozan recommends it for fans of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes and I can’t disagree. But I would go further and recommend it for fans of Sherlock Holmes regardless of print, film, or audio or, well, really anyone who enjoys well-written and entertaining historical mysteries.

Set in 1924 London, someone is killing Chinese nationals and academic Lau She plays Watson to Judge Dee Ren Jie’s Holmes complete with amazing action moves, disguises, and a bit of a drug problem as they search for the killer. This is the first in a series and it is one rollicking tale of derring-do. The main characters are well-rounded and make for a very likeable duo. As to the mystery, it is complex and kept me guessing right to the big reveal at the end. And for us history buffs, there is some real history mixed in with the fiction. Definitely a fun beginning to the new series and I look forward to future adventures of Lao and Dee. I received an audioversion of this book from Netgalley and RB Media narrated by Daniel York Loh who does an amazing job especially with all the different London accents.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-telling of The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle. The sleuthing duo are Chinese in this case, place of the action is London in the 1920s. Bertrand Russel and Ezra Pound make an appearance. The narrative tone and style are very close to the original.

Watson‘s name in this world is Lao She and his Holmes is Judge Dee Ren Jie. Lao She is a lecturer at the university. He boards with an English widow and her daughter Mary. His world collides with that of Dee and you know the rest, if you‘re a Sherlock Holmes fan.

Dee has come to London to investigate the murder of someone he knew during World War I, when they both served in the Chinese Labour Corps in France. It won‘t be the only murder Dee and Lao She stumble upon.

I knew that this would be a Sherlock Holmes story of some sort, but didn‘t know it would be inspired by The Sign of the Four. My favourite Holmes novella! Sadly, Toby is missing in this re-imagining. The murder story is deftly done, but didn‘t excite me much. Dee stayed a little bland for me. I liked the look at PTSD after WWI and how Chinese were treated and depicted by the West at that time (and unfortunately far into the 20th century).

Dee, similarly to Holmes, is no stranger to drug use. It showed me again how generally bad my historical knowledge of the Far East is. I did some reading on the Opium Wars.

Bottom line, this was nice. I would probably pick up a sequel. Recommended for Sherlock Holmes fans and readers of historical mysteries.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. 🕵️🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♂️½

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

My review of the original.

[Cyndi A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads. Thank you! A very interesting read! Set in the 1920s. A killer is targeting Chinese men and 2 swashbuckling men are trying to find the killer. First of an apparent series.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murder of Mr. Ma is one of those books that just keeps getting better and better as one reads.I enjoyed it from the start—and by the end I was deep into that conflicted feeling of must-read-another-chapter vs. but-if-I-read-more-the-book-will-end-sooner.

The Murder of Mr. Ma is set in London shortly after the end of WWI, focusing on its Chinese community, particularly men who worked under contract during that war—and whose contract stipulations about where the would work and what kind of work they would do were rarely honored. A group of these men who relocated to London after the war have established a tontine: a fund into which each man contributes and which is given in total to whomever among the group lives the longest. Members of the tontine are being killed and British law enforcement isn't particularly interested in the fates of "Chinamen."

Dee and Lao, the central pair of detectives in the novel, make an interesting pair. Dee served as a military judge during WWI, handling adjudicating disagreements among the forces of different nations involved in the fighting, as well as the contract workers. He's utterly brilliant—an intellectual and physical force able to take on almost anyone. Lao is a Chinese scholar teaching Chinese at a London University. He's deeply concerned about English views of Chinese peoples and determined to make a good impression.

While Dee and Lao are unique creatures, their pairing brings together some of the familiar aspects of the Holmes-Watson relationship, but transformed by cultural contexts. Dee's quick-thinking, almost always a number of steps ahead of Lao. Lao records the pair's adventures, regularly guessing at what motivates Dee and at the logic underlying Dee's choices. Both men are in liminal positions: denigrated because of their nationality, but meriting respect as well—Dee because of diplomatic status; Lao because of his scholarly work.

I'm utterly delighted that this book is being marketed as #1 in a series. Within the course of this single title, I was increasingly drawn to the characters of Dee and Lao and their unfolding, complex identities. I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in future volumes.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those that look at life outside of the "mainstream" culture, you're in for a treat here. Head to your local independent bookseller or get yourself onto your library's waiting list and get to know Dee and Lao.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 2 out of 5]

The synopsis that mentioned that this is similar to Guy Ritchie's Sherlock wasn't lying. I didn't expect there to be so much fighting in a murder mystery novel. And to be honest? I think it kinda detracted from the mystery (which was the main appeal for me).

I'm also not sure how I feel about this adaptation of Judge Dee. Like I even feel like Judge Dredd is a better adaptation? This character didn't feel like Judge Dee at all, despite sharing the name and the backstory. He definitely felt like a Chinese Guy Ritchie's Sherlock.

I also didn't really like the Chinese-people-in-old-timey-London aspect. While it's nice that they get to share in their culture and go to a restaurant, it mostly felt like an excuse to have a lot of racism from the British characters? They were occasionally gently taught not to say things in an insulting way, but it was mostly just a tedious weardown for the characters to be barraged with constantly. No real commentary, revenge, or even joyful cultural moments that balance out the racism. I personally read fiction to escape this sort of thing, so ymmv.

And lastly, the narrative device by which the Watson character delivers information to the reader when he wasn't there or was knocked out or it's from the Sherlock character's POV? I found that annoying. Like commit to first person or don't. If it was only once I wouldn't have minded, but this happened several times and I didn't like it.

Audiobook Notes:
I thought the narrator did an excellent job with all accents and pronunciations. His diction on the Chinese words was clear and easy to understand (reminded me of the accents of my Mandarin teachers who were from Beijing rather than Taiwan or Shanghai, but I'm not a native speaker so take this observation with a grain of salt).

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for a digital listening copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elena L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5/5 stars]

1924, London - shy academic Lao She is working on a novel when the Honorable Bertrand Russell asks him to help release Judge Dee, a Chinese judge who was on a mission then arrested. Soon starts an unlikely alliance to investigate the murder of Mr. Ma and other Chinese immigrants.

A story with 'Sherlock Holmes vibes with a Chinese twist', this book was a fun read. A character grappling with drug addition and the vestiges of trauma while there's a narrator who speaks to the reader, Nee draws flawed characters easy to root for. The partnership between She and Dee is wholesome and they are the highlight of this novel. The short chapters provide rapid strides that take ones to an adventurous story with fast pacing and compelling mystery, even though the plot could have been tighter in the middle. In addition to the mystery, Nee offers a glimpse at political rivalry, family, religion and race, leading one to have a more profound connection with the story.

The prose is infused with a posh tone, easily transporting readers to the specific setting. My favorite part is undoubtedly the rich cultural elements incorporated in the narrative - Chinese food, martial art, Chinese art and history (Judge Dee is based on 'Di Ren Jie 狄仁傑', known in the West as 'the Sherlock Holmes of China'; and Lao She is inspired by 'Shu Qing Chun', a Manchu Chinese intellectual), these only deepened my homesickness.

THE MURDER OF MR. MA is a book that brings a breath of fresh air to the historical mystery genre. Uniqueness and moments of hilarity permeate this book and it was an enjoyable read.

[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Soho Crime . All opinions are my own ]

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an Advanced Reader Copy and the cover kept talking to me. If you’re one of those that gets suckered in by a good cover, you’ll know what I’m talking about. It is a whodunnit, with some cultural background splashed in and this was a riveting read. I thought I knew who the killer was but I was dead wrong the entire time. I would like to sincerely apologize at this time to the poor souls I falsely suspected.

[Angela Y (yangelareads) ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by RB Media.

Two unlikely allies race through the cobbled streets of 1920s London in search of a killer targeting Chinese immigrants.

London, 1924. When shy academic Lao She meets larger-than-life Judge Dee Ren Jie, his life abruptly turns from books and lectures to daring chases and narrow escapes. Dee has come to London to investigate the murder of a man he’d known during World War I when serving with the Chinese Labour Corps. No sooner has Dee interviewed the grieving widow than another dead body turns up. Then another. All stabbed to death withg a butterfly sword. Will Dee and Lao be able to connect the threads of the murders—or are they next in line as victims?

John Shen Yen Nee and SJ Rozan’s groundbreaking collaboration blends traditional gong'an crime fiction and the most iconic aspects of the Sherlock Holmes canon. Dee and Lao encounter the aristocracy and the street-child telegraph, churchmen and thieves in this clever, cinematic mystery that is as thrilling and visual as an action film, as imaginative and transporting as a timeless classic.

This was the first book to a new series. There was too much fighting in a mystery book and it did take away from the mystery. There was a very big cast of side characters. They were unique and distinct personalities which fit into the plot, but I think there were too many and I could not keep up with who is who. I did really like the historic setting and all the rich cultural components. This book had such a deeper meaning and it delve into so much discrimination of Chinese immigrants in London, politics, family and region. I do not necessary think it was a bad book, just was not for me. If you are a fan of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes films, definitely check this one out! Personally, I have never watched Sherlock Holmes or read the book, so it may have also been a reason why it was hard for me to get into.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee and S.J. Rozan was a mixture of history, mystery, and cozy vibes all wrapped up in kung fu and some nonstop action. I think this would translate a lot better for me as a movie or TV series, and it was a little meh as far as a book goes. While I liked it just fine, I found my attention wandering a bit while I listened to it, and I wasn’t necessarily drawn into the world of 1920s London the way I was probably supposed to be.

I did really enjoy the audiobook which is narrated by Daniel York Loh, and I have to say he did a smashing good job. I would highly recommend listening to the audio, and really wish it would have helped me get into the storyline itself more. I’m sure the amount of research that went into this book was quite impressive and I loved the humor as well as Judge Dee Ren Jie’s character. The action was a lot of fun as well and there were plenty of high stakes scenes. Read this if you enjoy cinematic historical mysteries, quirky characters, and unique detective pairings!

Thank you to the publisher and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening copy of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author John Shen Yen Yee has written a wonderful debut to a new series. Judge Dee Ren Jie, an eminent Chinese judge now stationed in Switzerland, comes to London to investigate the murder of a Chinese man with whom Dee had served in World War I. Playing Watson to Dee’s crotchety Holmes is the Westernized professor of Chinese, Lao She. This page-turner packs plenty of action, lots of clever detection and a painless introduction to early 20th century Chinese history. Highly recommended.

[Ranjini Shankar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn’t work well for me. There’s definitely an audience out there that would devour it but I found myself bored at regular intervals despite the fighting and the investigation. It took way too long to figure out how the victims were connected and I had enough of the racism and the opium pretty early on

Dee and Lao are unlikely companions in this Sherlock and Watson-like caper. When a Chinese man in 1920s London ends up murdered, the duo join forces to figure out why and who murdered him.

Dee has similar characteristics as Sherlock - drug addict, surprisingly good fighter, and a condescending manner. In Sherlock this is more balanced with his astute observations that baffle everyone and we don’t get enough of that with Judge Dee. We get way more physical fighting which isn’t as satisfying. Lao is relegated to a background role and is not required for the discovery in anyway except to be the narrator for all the things Dee does. Overall this just didn’t capture my attention but it did shine a light on a time and a crisis I wasn’t as familiar with.

[Adam Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Christmas I received an advanced reader copy of this book, which doesn't come out until April 2024, and finally had a chance to read it!

A really fun book overall! Definitely has Sherlock Holmes energy with our main character, Lao She, playing the Watson to Judge Dee's Holmes. The book is an historical mystery, set in 1924 London, and deals with the discrimination our Chinese main characters commonly face. The rich cultural elements of the book really help this stand out among other mysteries and reminded me of the wonderful Perveen Mistry series by Sujata Massey. The book does place a heavy emphasis on dealing with the cultural baggage of the opium trade between England and China and a lot of Lao She's growth as a character is seen through his interactions with opium.

The mystery is compelling, but the texture of the world is the reason to pick this book up!

[Ming · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book's premise is interesting. And I appreciated the "educational" or social justice element.

And there are two quirky elements that have me doubting that I'd proceed with this series. One, I found the Orientalia element troubling. While trying to expose it, the authors, in fact, perpetuate it. Yes, it's a paradox (or a hypocrisy) that's built-in... possibly racism (or internalized racism), colonial mentality, and/or self-hatred. This could reflect either or both authors but my guess is on Rozan. And two, the supposed "accents" of Jimmy Fingers and Jack sound like Dick Van Dyke's horrid speaking voice in Mary Poppins, just comical.

Overall, the story's tone and writing are simplistic. And the reveals in this murder mystery were creative.

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love SJ's books, and I enjoyed her writing here, but the plot was uneven, and the historical setting made it awkward. The presence of two real-world characters confused me - was I supposed to import additional significance to them? The leads were derived from actual characters from 100s of years prior, but strongly resembled Holmes and Watson. As often happens in mysteries, the need to obscure clues in favor of plot points, also obscures any depth in the characters.

All that said, there are all the appropriate mis-directions and amusing bits of coincidence. The resolution of the mystery was properly layered. The Jackie Chan-style bar fights were fun.

There are hints that this may become a series, and I will read the next one.

[RoosBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is easy to see the Sherlock Holmes influence on this book with a larger than life character like Judge Dee. Quiet and scholarly Lao is an excellent foil and between the two there is some serious brain power at work in this novel. Both the plot and the characters are marvelous and this book certainly doesn't shy away from the racism of the times towards the Chinese people.

a fantastic story, a marvellous audiobook, and a series I am sure to continue!

thank you to NetGalley, the authors John Shen Yen Nee and SJ Rozan, and Recorded Books for my audiobook.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lao She is an earnest Chinese academic and hopeful writer, and it's through his carefully recorded observations that we meet the legendary Chinese character, Judge Dee, who draws him into solving the murder of Mr. Ma. Lao is also a Chinese Christian.. I appreciated the respectful way his faith is presented, even as he rebels against the colonial approach he faces from Christians in England. A suitably twisty, multi-layered mystery and fascinating characters make this a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended for historical mystery fans.

Review based on an eARC received through NetGalley.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like “the murder of Mr. Meh” (“the under of Mr. Mid?”). This book is largely fine. I am excited to learn more about the Chinese diaspora during this period and Chinese involvement in WW1. The book moves quickly with some interesting scenes of 1920’s prejudices, but I wish they delved more into Lao’s self hatred.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with action, this reinterpretation of Sir Arthuyr Conan Doyle's “Sign of the Four” is satisfying and entertaining. The two authors do a good job of bringing to life post-WWI London, with its former Chinese soldiers living in London, English fad for Chinese art, the opium dens, and the attitudes of the English towards foreigners.

Setting the story in 1924, the main character is Lao She, a scholar working at the university teaching students his language. When he's asked by Bertrand Russell to help him break Di Rengh shi, or Judge Dee, out of prison, where he'd ended up when police arrested a number of young Chinese men agitating for better treatment.

Dee and Lao are soon pulled into an investigation when Mr. Ma, the proprietor of a shop selling Chinese art is dead, murdered with a curved sword blade. This leads the two around London, in pursuit of answers, which reach from the shop to the home of a noble, to a film studio creating offensive yellow peril films.

Dee is meant to be a Sherlock analogue, while Lao functions as his Watson, chronicling their exploits as they follow the trial of multiple bodies, all men involved in a financial scheme. Dee unmasks criminals, and eventually reveals who the murderer is, a person with ties to all these men and Dee himself from the war.

The authors show that though Lao may not have quite the analytical brain of Dee, he's not a slouch, and both are up for the physicality necessary to protect themselves and chase culprits. Dee also begins what will eventually become in this series to something very similar to the Baker Street Irregulars, by recruiting a pickpocket who goes by the name of Jimmy Fingers, who, I think, will function as the leader of Dee's informants.

And something I particularly appreciated in this story was the commentary on colonization, imperialism, and religion, and their corrosive effects, as well as the poor treatment the serving and later veteran Chinese soldiers employed by the British Army underwent.

A new entry in the series is forthcoming next year, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Avi Baranes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was immensely enjoyable! I'm not sure I've seen a better take on Sherlock Holmes than this book.

Lao She is an Chinese academic in inter-war Britain, teaching uninterested college students the Chinese language so that they may advance their business careers. Circumstances throw him in the path of Judge Dee Ren Jie - a well-known, larger than life individual looking into the murder of a man with whom he served in the Chinese Labor Corps. What ensues is a great, fun, and thought provoking mystery that is both homage and commentary on Sherlock Holmes.

When I say this book is very much like a Sherlock Holmes story, I don't just mean there's the detective and biographer dynamic. I also don't mean that it's just Holmes and Watson, but race-swapped. Rather, the story is very much a "what if Holmes and Watson were Chinese with the lived experiences of Chinese intellectuals living in London?" The setting, the writing style, the social commentary, were all brilliantly done. Any one who is a fan of Sherlock Holmes stories will find it simultaneously comfortable and novel - two feelings that I didn't know I could feel at the same time until I read this book!

The story itself is intriguing. The mystery is solid and the parallels to "The Sign of Four" are there. There's a lot of commentary on opium that overshadows the rest of the story to an extent - it's not unwarranted, given the plot, but it does turn certain sections of the book into a social commentary book (though, admittedly, not a preachy commentary) rather than a mystery.

Still, if you like Sherlock Holmes, you will almost assuredly like this book. Honestly, I think it's a better approach to Holmes than 95% of the adaptations - which is saying something, because this isn't an adaptation!

[ColleenSC (colleenallbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @soho_press for sending an ARC of this book to my work. Fans of Sherlock Holmes or historical mysteries must check out this book! It takes place in 1920s London and stars a scholar and a judge from China. They end up involved in a desperate race to solve the murders of Chinese men who worked with the British Army in World War I. We’ve got epic fight scenes, a Sherlock Holmes-esque character who is struggling with addiction due to his battlefield experiences, a Watson-esque character who is book smart but a little bit bumbling, cameos from some real-life historical figures, and a critical look at British xenophobia and their exploitation of Chinese culture.

I loved the style, which fit the time period and the scholarly persona of the first-person narrator, Lao She. I also loved the description of different areas in London. This book really transports the reader to the time and place in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. I hope this will be a continuing series!

[Laurie]

What a…curious book. It was certainly interesting and a wonky ride!

The real life Lao she and di renjie the narrative takes liberties in borrowing names from are truly fascinating, and it was cool to learn about them…in the endnote of the book. Judge Dee as a character and a detective was conceptually pretty cool, but the pace and story of this novel felt a bit lackluster.

Lao she’s continual white worship gets old from the very first page, and it’s so in your face that you don’t get any satisfaction from his gradual turn toward acknowledging and confronting it. And I also wished the bad guy was a bit more…motivated outside of being, well, you know. Was it fun? Sure! Was it also frustrating to read this POV? Hell yeah! But it was well worth getting to know a little bit about the history of the literary Chinese detective Judge Dee, and this feels like a novel addition to that canon. Probably more for the younger side of readers though, if I’m being honest.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery readers know that Sherlock Holmes is England's Judge Dee; you may also learn in this book that Charles Dickens is England's Lao She. Although the real Dee and Lao lived a thousand years or so apart, they are united in 1020's England, where Lao is teaching (and thinking that he is in love his his landlady's English daughter) and Dee is visiting because he promised Ma on the western front to be sure that his body will be buried in China if he happens to die abroad. There were only a few of the Chinese labor force that worked, and fought, in the War who were allowed into England, and they seem to be dying unexplained, and uninvestigated deaths until Dee intervenes. Lao is very much the Watson in this pairing, and the duo meets such eminences as Bertrand Russell and an unsurprisigly obnoxious Ezra Pound.

[Mónika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and informative, I really liked the story, the flow, and the way everything panned out. I agree with the post-script’s assessment that to qualify a Chinese person from history as the “XYZ of China” is such a silly thing to do, especially when that Chinese person predates the Western (don’t love this term) equivalent. I would recommend this book to others who like fun mystery stories that are entertaining without being crude. It was also an interesting view into the Chinese experience in 1920s England—a poor experience it was.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for AAPI month

[taylor ✮]

dnf approximately five minutes later - 07/01/24

picked this up solely bc it had murder in the title

[Shannon]

DNF @ 33%
Not working for me I think

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rollicking adventure! Chinese style Sherlock Holmes. Delightful! I now have a book hangover.

"I've been chased, beaten, knocked unconscious, and filled with opium in pursuit of this killer," I said. "I will not be left behind now."

[BarbaraBrubru_gingertiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5
Entertaining reading with Judge Dee and Lao She as investigators in London during the 1920s. Not the best “who dunn it”, as the plot is quite simple but fast and funny book.

[Julie McCahill · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Maybe 3.7

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight to follow Lao and Dee across London in 1924 Chinatown. The finely drawn characters with unique backgrounds in China and memories of the First World War have experienced political and social prejudices adding depth and topical consideration along with strong intrigue and suspense, A serial killer is running rampant. Can they be stopped?