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Li Du #1
Jade Dragon Mountain
On the mountainous border of China and Tibet in 1708, a detective must learn what a killer already knows: that empires rise and fall on the strength of the stories they tell.
Li Du was an imperial Chinese librarian. Now he is an exile. In 1780, three years of wandering have brought him to Dayan, the last Chinese town before the Tibetan border. He expects a quiet outpost barely conscious of its place within the empire, but Dayan is teeming with travelers, soldiers, and merchants. The crowds have been drawn by the promise of an unmatched spectacle; an eclipse of the sun, commanded by the Emperor himself.
Amid the frenzy, Li Du befriends an elderly Jesuit astronomer. Hours later, the man is murdered in the home of the local magistrate, and Li Du suspects it was no random killing. Everyone has secrets: the ambitious magistrate, the powerful consort, the bitter servant, the irreproachable secretary, the East India Company merchant, the nervous missionary, and the traveling storyteller who can't keep his own story straight.
Beyond the sloping roofs and festival banners, Li Du can see the pass over Jade Dragon Mountain that will take him out of China forever. But he cannot ignore the murder that the town is all too eager to forget. As Li Du investigates, he begins to suspect that the murderer intends to kill again. The eclipse is coming. Li Du must solve the murder before the sun disappears. If he does not, then someone, perhaps Li Du himself, will never again see its light.
Li Du was an imperial Chinese librarian. Now he is an exile. In 1780, three years of wandering have brought him to Dayan, the last Chinese town before the Tibetan border. He expects a quiet outpost barely conscious of its place within the empire, but Dayan is teeming with travelers, soldiers, and merchants. The crowds have been drawn by the promise of an unmatched spectacle; an eclipse of the sun, commanded by the Emperor himself.
Amid the frenzy, Li Du befriends an elderly Jesuit astronomer. Hours later, the man is murdered in the home of the local magistrate, and Li Du suspects it was no random killing. Everyone has secrets: the ambitious magistrate, the powerful consort, the bitter servant, the irreproachable secretary, the East India Company merchant, the nervous missionary, and the traveling storyteller who can't keep his own story straight.
Beyond the sloping roofs and festival banners, Li Du can see the pass over Jade Dragon Mountain that will take him out of China forever. But he cannot ignore the murder that the town is all too eager to forget. As Li Du investigates, he begins to suspect that the murderer intends to kill again. The eclipse is coming. Li Du must solve the murder before the sun disappears. If he does not, then someone, perhaps Li Du himself, will never again see its light.
321 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
517 people are currently reading
5521 people want to read
About the author
Elsa Hart
5 books424 followersElsa Hart is the author of three acclaimed mystery novels set in eighteenth-century China. The most recent, City of Ink, was one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2018. The daughter of a journalist, Elsa was born in Rome and spent much of her childhood abroad, attending international schools in Moscow and Prague. She is drawn to stories about travelers throughout history, and likes to put her own characters in places that are unfamiliar to them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 665 reviews
March 26, 2016
A cozy read in which historical fiction and a murder mystery role along hand-in-hand.
Interesting cultural historical information are woven in and the tale of tea and politics come into play. A great whodunnit with a wonderful relaxation element to it.
A mixed cast of colorful characters fill the pages, including a determined botanist and a devoted storyteller. Astronomy is the main focus of the tale, centering around the creation of the annual calendar of astronomical events which was entrusted to the Jesuits at the Bureau of Astronomy and presented to the Emperor to establish his divinity.
A follow up will be released in September . https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Interesting cultural historical information are woven in and the tale of tea and politics come into play. A great whodunnit with a wonderful relaxation element to it.
A mixed cast of colorful characters fill the pages, including a determined botanist and a devoted storyteller. Astronomy is the main focus of the tale, centering around the creation of the annual calendar of astronomical events which was entrusted to the Jesuits at the Bureau of Astronomy and presented to the Emperor to establish his divinity.
"You must never neglect the past. It pulls at our decisions like a magnet, and can block our progress as if it were in front of us, not behind."This book is an excellent read for the right audience, and as debut novel, it passes the reader test with flying colors.
A follow up will be released in September . https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
January 25, 2016
I won this book through Goodreads for an honest review. My thanks to Goodreads and to Elsa Hart.
Jade Dragon Mountain is a book worth reaching for. Elsa Hart does a fine job of involving the reader in an 18th century mystery set in China. Through the main character of Li Du, the protaganist, we weave in an out of Chinese politics, art, literature, class status, and the ever-present Jesuits of the time. Li Du is an exiled librarian who makes an unavoidable visit to the city of Dayan where his cousin is a magistrate. Li Du only wishes to be on his way on his extended journey. The city and its citizens are swept up in preparations for a visit by the Emperor. The last thing that Li Du desires is to be enveloped in the city's swift movement or to become a spectacle himself in the chaos of soldiers, merchants, and the like.
Being anonymous is short-lived for Li Du. He is brought to his renowned cousin and is compromised to spend the night. It is then that Li Du becomes involved in the search for the individual responsible for the death of one of the Jesuits. The circumstances of the Jesuit's death peaks Li Du's interest. All must be settled before the long-awaited visit of the Emperor. It is here that Elsa Hart shines. Her character of Li Du has a remarkable sixth sense. His intrigue leads to a treacherous path. Who would be so bold as to take the life of this Jesuit while making it appear that he died of natural causes?
Beautifully written and astutely executed, Jade Dragon Mountain welcomes us into a China of long ago with a dark human element that stretches over centuries. I am looking forward to future offerings by this talented author.
Jade Dragon Mountain is a book worth reaching for. Elsa Hart does a fine job of involving the reader in an 18th century mystery set in China. Through the main character of Li Du, the protaganist, we weave in an out of Chinese politics, art, literature, class status, and the ever-present Jesuits of the time. Li Du is an exiled librarian who makes an unavoidable visit to the city of Dayan where his cousin is a magistrate. Li Du only wishes to be on his way on his extended journey. The city and its citizens are swept up in preparations for a visit by the Emperor. The last thing that Li Du desires is to be enveloped in the city's swift movement or to become a spectacle himself in the chaos of soldiers, merchants, and the like.
Being anonymous is short-lived for Li Du. He is brought to his renowned cousin and is compromised to spend the night. It is then that Li Du becomes involved in the search for the individual responsible for the death of one of the Jesuits. The circumstances of the Jesuit's death peaks Li Du's interest. All must be settled before the long-awaited visit of the Emperor. It is here that Elsa Hart shines. Her character of Li Du has a remarkable sixth sense. His intrigue leads to a treacherous path. Who would be so bold as to take the life of this Jesuit while making it appear that he died of natural causes?
Beautifully written and astutely executed, Jade Dragon Mountain welcomes us into a China of long ago with a dark human element that stretches over centuries. I am looking forward to future offerings by this talented author.
December 12, 2017
China – Three centuries ago
A Solar Eclipse that might change the course of a ruling dynasty
The Murder of a Jesuit priest
A Clash of Cultures in a distant corner of a vast empire
Elsa Hart deftly mixes a beautiful setting full of the sounds and smells of a 18th Century Chinese outpost with an iconic investigator’s insights into a murder that no official wants to acknowledge.
We follow Li Du, an exiled scholar, as he reluctantly gets involved in an investigation that his cousin, the provincial magistrate, would prefer was just forgotten. Why? The Chinese emperor is about to make a visit to this conflicted corner of the empire and he is going for the hearts and minds of this fractious mix of marginalized peoples.
Li Du is a delightful former librarian who has been wandering for the past five years since an unfortunate association in the capitol almost cost him his life. It is almost by chance that he arrives on his cousin’s doorstep just before the emperor is due to make his appearance. There is a great deal of set up that includes either boring (for some other reviewers) or delightful details of libraries, gardens, inns, countryside and markets. We get to know the many “suspects” in the magistrate’s villa as well as certain travelers including a professional story teller who appoints himself Li Du’s companion for better or worse.
I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in that period’s customs, art, mysticism, literature, and politics. This is the first of a series of Li Du mysteries. My thanks to my GR friend, Carol, for steering me to it.
A Solar Eclipse that might change the course of a ruling dynasty
The Murder of a Jesuit priest
A Clash of Cultures in a distant corner of a vast empire
Elsa Hart deftly mixes a beautiful setting full of the sounds and smells of a 18th Century Chinese outpost with an iconic investigator’s insights into a murder that no official wants to acknowledge.
We follow Li Du, an exiled scholar, as he reluctantly gets involved in an investigation that his cousin, the provincial magistrate, would prefer was just forgotten. Why? The Chinese emperor is about to make a visit to this conflicted corner of the empire and he is going for the hearts and minds of this fractious mix of marginalized peoples.
Li Du is a delightful former librarian who has been wandering for the past five years since an unfortunate association in the capitol almost cost him his life. It is almost by chance that he arrives on his cousin’s doorstep just before the emperor is due to make his appearance. There is a great deal of set up that includes either boring (for some other reviewers) or delightful details of libraries, gardens, inns, countryside and markets. We get to know the many “suspects” in the magistrate’s villa as well as certain travelers including a professional story teller who appoints himself Li Du’s companion for better or worse.
I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in that period’s customs, art, mysticism, literature, and politics. This is the first of a series of Li Du mysteries. My thanks to my GR friend, Carol, for steering me to it.
June 27, 2018
Colourful and interesting. I loved the scenes of 18th century China. Definitely worth reading!
March 23, 2016
Jade Dragon Mountain is part mystery, part historical fiction - mostly a perceptive window into a culture that believes itself to be exceptional and superior to the West. In 1708, as that exceptionalism is about to begin a slow decline. Hart introduces us to Li Du, a former government librarian, traveling through a part of China that is not entirely in support of the then-Emperor. The politics of the day drive everything - from the role of a concubine when her protector may take a promotion and move elsewhere - to whether investigating the untimely death of a "foreigner", as the characters refer to the Jesuit victim, is prudent given the impending arrival of the Emperor for a much-anticipated event. On occasion, Jade Dragon Mountain suffers from first-book-MFA-itis. Hart's writing is beautiful - sufficiently so to merit the 4 stars. On the other hand, her protagonist, Li Du, has little if any personality. His role in the novel is not to be a thinking, breathing, three-dimensional character, but to be the eyes through which we view the town, the events, and the ears with which we hear all of the information provided by other characters.
Finally, I wished for a chart or list of characters for the first 80 pages, as so many were introduced in a short period of time and there was little to distinguish one from another - they were largely flat, as it were. I pity the reader using an e-reader for the first 1/3 of this book. I missed a significant clue to the mystery, largely due to this shortcoming. But - in the end - Jade Dragon Mountain is for you if you're intrigued by 1700s China, its people, culture, science, relationship to the rest of the world, and if the mystery is a bonus and not the main goal of your reading.
Finally, I wished for a chart or list of characters for the first 80 pages, as so many were introduced in a short period of time and there was little to distinguish one from another - they were largely flat, as it were. I pity the reader using an e-reader for the first 1/3 of this book. I missed a significant clue to the mystery, largely due to this shortcoming. But - in the end - Jade Dragon Mountain is for you if you're intrigued by 1700s China, its people, culture, science, relationship to the rest of the world, and if the mystery is a bonus and not the main goal of your reading.
November 8, 2016
This is a difficult book to get through. The writing style is odd and awkward. The characters are cardboard caricatures, but the non-Chinese characters fared better (every single Chinese character, except the protagonist, was depicted negatively). The dialogue came across as forced and often anachronistic. The author obviously wanted to show off what knowledge she had of Chinese culture by sprinkling old Chinese sayings without explaining them, even though they didn't always fit the context. Then she showed her ignorance by having Chinese characters constantly use words like "privacy" and "romantic notion", which are Western concepts completely foreign to China until the 20th Century.
There's one error that particularly irks me, especially since it could have been prevented by some basic research. There is no such thing as "the Kangxi". Kangxi is an era name. It's not a title. It's absurd to call the emperor "the Kangxi", as it would be absurd to call the Duke of Wellington "the Wellington" or the Prince of Wales "the Wales". It's either "the Kangxi Emperor" or simply "Kangxi". Yet this mistake is repeated throughout the book, and it made me want to scream each time.
And the most egregious error of all: Li Du mentioned he's read Dream of the Red Chamber, which was not published until 1791. The novel is set in 1708. How could he have possible read it? Time travel???
There's one error that particularly irks me, especially since it could have been prevented by some basic research. There is no such thing as "the Kangxi". Kangxi is an era name. It's not a title. It's absurd to call the emperor "the Kangxi", as it would be absurd to call the Duke of Wellington "the Wellington" or the Prince of Wales "the Wales". It's either "the Kangxi Emperor" or simply "Kangxi". Yet this mistake is repeated throughout the book, and it made me want to scream each time.
And the most egregious error of all: Li Du mentioned he's read Dream of the Red Chamber, which was not published until 1791. The novel is set in 1708. How could he have possible read it? Time travel???
March 25, 2018
When I was ten years old, my favorite possession was a Chinese coolie hat in pale aqua and tan. This was during the China phase of my life when I would sit in the school library during lunch and copy out the Chinese calligraphy from a Time-Life book on China. What a nerdy kid I was when not climbing trees. Who knows why the China bug bit me, but it has lasted a lifetime.
Needless to say, Elsa Hart’s novel Jade Dragon Mountain delivered a mountain of delights to me! Her novel, the first in a series, is a mystery couched in a rich work of historical fiction in which West meets East, and East meets West and we are still hammering out the differences of those first exchanges in idea and trade opportunities.
While reading I was quite literally transported to the China Hart herself discovered while on scientific trips with her biologist husband: the craggy misty mountains near the border of Tibet, the clouds changing form, and ghosts of the past Empires . Hart writes evocative prose engaging and capturing all of the senses. I feel like I have walked the market streets of Danyang, visited the magistrates palace and sat among the throngs at the Inn and was audience to the spellbinding stories of Hamza, the storyteller.
As I read I was often reminded of Shakespeare’s lines, “All the world is a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts.”
Hart presents the reader with many stages in this story upon which the action takes place: the Chinese Empire being wooed by the West, the town of Danyang in the northern most territory near the border of Tibet where the Emperor will make a rare visit to command a solar eclipse, the Magistrates palace where preparations are being made to prepare for the momentous visit of the Emperor and where a murder takes place.
There are also the pivotal changes taking place in some of the characters lives. IF the magistrate performs well, he is promised a new role in the capital far away from this desolate hinterland; IF Lady Chen, his consort of humble origin, plays her role right she will accompany him to the capital. IF the merchant plays his role well, the East India company will gain trade access to China. And there are are more minor roles,but each a cog in the wheel.
Of course there is Li Du, our central character, the Sherlock Holmes of the story, who was a Scholar Librarian of some repute, now exiled from the kingdom, ready bud China farewell only to be called upon to assist his cousin, the Magistrate, at this delicate time.
And then there is Hamza, the storyteller par excellence, companion to Li Dun. He provides wisdom through stories and occasional comic relief. He is gives measure to the power and magic of storytelling in which audience and teller meld in one world for a brief time.
The history of the Jesuits entry into China and their success in gaining access to the Emperor through exchange of knowledge was known to me...but I greatly enjoyed Hart’s descriptions of this scholarly exchange and the way she wove it into her plot.
Jade Dragon Mountain was a relaxing, fascinating read for me - hours of pleasure with interesting well-rounded characters, magnificent descriptions into s long ago time and with intriguing connections to the present. I look forward to reading her other two books.
Needless to say, Elsa Hart’s novel Jade Dragon Mountain delivered a mountain of delights to me! Her novel, the first in a series, is a mystery couched in a rich work of historical fiction in which West meets East, and East meets West and we are still hammering out the differences of those first exchanges in idea and trade opportunities.
While reading I was quite literally transported to the China Hart herself discovered while on scientific trips with her biologist husband: the craggy misty mountains near the border of Tibet, the clouds changing form, and ghosts of the past Empires . Hart writes evocative prose engaging and capturing all of the senses. I feel like I have walked the market streets of Danyang, visited the magistrates palace and sat among the throngs at the Inn and was audience to the spellbinding stories of Hamza, the storyteller.
As I read I was often reminded of Shakespeare’s lines, “All the world is a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts.”
Hart presents the reader with many stages in this story upon which the action takes place: the Chinese Empire being wooed by the West, the town of Danyang in the northern most territory near the border of Tibet where the Emperor will make a rare visit to command a solar eclipse, the Magistrates palace where preparations are being made to prepare for the momentous visit of the Emperor and where a murder takes place.
There are also the pivotal changes taking place in some of the characters lives. IF the magistrate performs well, he is promised a new role in the capital far away from this desolate hinterland; IF Lady Chen, his consort of humble origin, plays her role right she will accompany him to the capital. IF the merchant plays his role well, the East India company will gain trade access to China. And there are are more minor roles,but each a cog in the wheel.
Of course there is Li Du, our central character, the Sherlock Holmes of the story, who was a Scholar Librarian of some repute, now exiled from the kingdom, ready bud China farewell only to be called upon to assist his cousin, the Magistrate, at this delicate time.
And then there is Hamza, the storyteller par excellence, companion to Li Dun. He provides wisdom through stories and occasional comic relief. He is gives measure to the power and magic of storytelling in which audience and teller meld in one world for a brief time.
The history of the Jesuits entry into China and their success in gaining access to the Emperor through exchange of knowledge was known to me...but I greatly enjoyed Hart’s descriptions of this scholarly exchange and the way she wove it into her plot.
Jade Dragon Mountain was a relaxing, fascinating read for me - hours of pleasure with interesting well-rounded characters, magnificent descriptions into s long ago time and with intriguing connections to the present. I look forward to reading her other two books.
March 4, 2022
The context and setting of this story were rich and evocative, fascinating reading. However the mystery itself wasn’t that good, nor the character development.
July 24, 2016
What an outstanding book. A brilliant adjoining of history and mystery with an extremely intriguing main protagonist.
No doubt Hart spent painstaking time researching due to the attention paid to the smallest of details. You feel every bit of eighteenth century China lending a tactile feel in atmosphere alone. I enjoyed the mystery but the heavy history element captured my attention an added a dimensional ambiance to my reading adventure. The small remote village feel gives you a true essence to China, culture, traditions, people as opposed to the opulent distraction of a big city life.
Li Du is fascinatingly intriguing. We know he is an upper class intellectual in exile but the exact reason in unknown, we are privy to scattered bits of the big why. He takes on the unintentional role of sleuth as he attempts to name the culprit in the murder of a Jesuit. Hart wonderfully describes Jesuit attitudes and those of the local people towards the Jesuits.
The mystery kept me guessing until the end, enthralling enough to maintain my interest. Plenty of secondary characters fully developed allowing for constant guessing in naming the actual evildoer.
I look forward to more of Li Du as well as much more of this time period and of China. Hart displays strong writing, smart plot matched with an economically cerebral main character Li Du. Outstanding research, cannot emphasize this fact enough.
No doubt Hart spent painstaking time researching due to the attention paid to the smallest of details. You feel every bit of eighteenth century China lending a tactile feel in atmosphere alone. I enjoyed the mystery but the heavy history element captured my attention an added a dimensional ambiance to my reading adventure. The small remote village feel gives you a true essence to China, culture, traditions, people as opposed to the opulent distraction of a big city life.
Li Du is fascinatingly intriguing. We know he is an upper class intellectual in exile but the exact reason in unknown, we are privy to scattered bits of the big why. He takes on the unintentional role of sleuth as he attempts to name the culprit in the murder of a Jesuit. Hart wonderfully describes Jesuit attitudes and those of the local people towards the Jesuits.
The mystery kept me guessing until the end, enthralling enough to maintain my interest. Plenty of secondary characters fully developed allowing for constant guessing in naming the actual evildoer.
I look forward to more of Li Du as well as much more of this time period and of China. Hart displays strong writing, smart plot matched with an economically cerebral main character Li Du. Outstanding research, cannot emphasize this fact enough.
November 3, 2015
I loved this book and hope there will be more written about Li Du, the traveling scholar. "Jade Dragon Mountain" takes place during the Qing dynasty mid 1600's in China. I enjoy reading about places and times I know I will never experience and Elsa Hart's writing was excellent for making the culture and environment a "major character" in this novel.
Li Du was a librarian in the Forbidden City when he was exiled from the capital. He wanders the countryside and is considered a traveling scholar. He enters the city of Dayan at a time when the city is preparing for a visit from the Emperor. The magistrate of the city of Dayan is Li Du's cousin. He welcomes Li Du to stay in the city but only until the Emperor arrives as all things must be perfect and an exile in the city is not perfect. A murder is committed against a Jesuit priest and Li Du, having worked with the Jesuits, is asked to help resolve the murder but it must be done quietly and before the Emperor's arrival.
This is a mystery written in the style of a Hercule Poirot novel. The murderer is given a big reveal but there are other reveals to follow. I found this book to be wonderful and I recommend it to those looking for a good mystery. And the historical details are fascinating.
Li Du was a librarian in the Forbidden City when he was exiled from the capital. He wanders the countryside and is considered a traveling scholar. He enters the city of Dayan at a time when the city is preparing for a visit from the Emperor. The magistrate of the city of Dayan is Li Du's cousin. He welcomes Li Du to stay in the city but only until the Emperor arrives as all things must be perfect and an exile in the city is not perfect. A murder is committed against a Jesuit priest and Li Du, having worked with the Jesuits, is asked to help resolve the murder but it must be done quietly and before the Emperor's arrival.
This is a mystery written in the style of a Hercule Poirot novel. The murderer is given a big reveal but there are other reveals to follow. I found this book to be wonderful and I recommend it to those looking for a good mystery. And the historical details are fascinating.
June 1, 2020
Li Du, banished royal librarian, has travelled to the far edge of China. When he pays a visit to his cousin, a magistrate, he learns that the Emperor is about to make an appearance, in conjunction with an eclipse of the sun. Li Du’s plans to hasten on his way are changed when a Jesuit monk, a guest of his cousin and an avid astronomer, is found dead. Was the death accidental? And if not, who could have wished ill upon the man?I’ve had my eye on this mystery series for a year or so now, and am very glad I finally read this.
I think I enjoyed this so much partly because the vivid historical setting and detailed worldbuilding made it feel almost like a fantasy. The story is set in 18th-century China, and I found myself completely absorbed into the time, traditions, and sensibilities of the characters, and the society and world they live in.
The mystery was done very well, excellently paced. And the reveal made perfect sense but nevertheless completely surprised me.
I am really looking forward to my library reopening so I can continue this series.
December 6, 2017
Onvan : Jade Dragon Mountain (Li Du Novels #1) - Nevisande : Elsa Hart - ISBN : 1250072328 - ISBN13 : 9781250072320 - Dar 336 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2015
June 19, 2016
For anybody who likes to travel to exotic places and learn culture through reading fiction, this book is for you: a murder mystery set in Qing Dynasty, China during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722.) A Jesuit priest is murdered less than a week before the Emperor's visit to a rural village. An exiled cousin of the local magistrate (Li Du) stumbles into the situation. He is dissatisfied with the cover-up of the murder, and starts to look into the matter. As preparations continue, including foreigners looking to curry favor with the Emperor, Li Du is given a very short period to solve the crime. Hart's writing is quite good and her research excellent. Her depiction of the remote village and its people impart a realistic view of China at that time, its culture and traditions, and its enmity for foreigners.
August 16, 2015
I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderful book that not only provides an interesting mystery, in a traditional style, but also effectively delivers vivid picture of 18th Century China, in its politics, environment, and society. Further, I got a strong sense of the world view, which was heavily cynical, of the residents of country on the verge of a dramatic shift from authoritarian isolation to sudden colonialization by a smaller but militarily stronger Europe. We know the history of what is to come, and even the more perceptive people of the time see the writing on the wall, but it is interesting to witness a last (or close to last) hurrah and flex of China’s muscles, even if it is all ultimately an ephemeral victory.
Elsa Hart evokes a detective who uses powers of deduction that would cause Holmes to nod appreciatively. Many times authors attempt this technique yet it comes off as too clever and contrived. Not so here, which is even more laudable as this is a debut novel. I will definitely read any more in this series that Ms. Hart writes. Li Du is a very interesting character. Like Holmes, he lives a life that is mostly outside society. While Holmes’ isolation is partly based on choice, and partly on his bizarre and abrasive personality, Li Du is actually an exile, banished on the political whim of the emperor. The story ends on a note that, without giving away any of the plot, certainly sets the scene for many future adventures.
Careful research that elevates the story rather than bog it down. Great pacing that accelerates to the dramatic conclusion (several conclusions, actually). Fascinating characters, especially the storyteller Hazma who adds color to the plot and steals virtually every scene in which he is involved. I do hope that he features in future installments. And finally, a very believable and multi-layered mystery.
5 stars.
A wonderful book that not only provides an interesting mystery, in a traditional style, but also effectively delivers vivid picture of 18th Century China, in its politics, environment, and society. Further, I got a strong sense of the world view, which was heavily cynical, of the residents of country on the verge of a dramatic shift from authoritarian isolation to sudden colonialization by a smaller but militarily stronger Europe. We know the history of what is to come, and even the more perceptive people of the time see the writing on the wall, but it is interesting to witness a last (or close to last) hurrah and flex of China’s muscles, even if it is all ultimately an ephemeral victory.
Elsa Hart evokes a detective who uses powers of deduction that would cause Holmes to nod appreciatively. Many times authors attempt this technique yet it comes off as too clever and contrived. Not so here, which is even more laudable as this is a debut novel. I will definitely read any more in this series that Ms. Hart writes. Li Du is a very interesting character. Like Holmes, he lives a life that is mostly outside society. While Holmes’ isolation is partly based on choice, and partly on his bizarre and abrasive personality, Li Du is actually an exile, banished on the political whim of the emperor. The story ends on a note that, without giving away any of the plot, certainly sets the scene for many future adventures.
Careful research that elevates the story rather than bog it down. Great pacing that accelerates to the dramatic conclusion (several conclusions, actually). Fascinating characters, especially the storyteller Hazma who adds color to the plot and steals virtually every scene in which he is involved. I do hope that he features in future installments. And finally, a very believable and multi-layered mystery.
5 stars.
February 5, 2017
Ratings (1 to 5)
Writing: 4
Plot: 4.5
Characters: 4
Emotional impact: 3.5
Overall rating: 4
Notes
I really enjoyed this mystery set in Imperial China. I felt immersed in the setting and intrigued by the story. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Writing: 4
Plot: 4.5
Characters: 4
Emotional impact: 3.5
Overall rating: 4
Notes
I really enjoyed this mystery set in Imperial China. I felt immersed in the setting and intrigued by the story. I look forward to reading more in this series.
May 13, 2016
This is a 3.5 star, better than a 3. Because it had quite a bit of redundancy in introducing so many different characters to this new series, I could not give it a full 4 star rating. But it holds precise characterizations in an intriguing era. And quite completely uncommon in the current mystery formats, this early 18th Century Southern China, Tibet! Not a Scandinavian bar or English village pub in sight.
Li Du is our wanderer who is in exile for 5 years at this point. He is the protagonist. Unique, intelligent, nature lover, acute in solitary travel or in more peopled environment. But completely embedded within his current life habit "on the road." You will get a hint for most of the pertinent facts of his prior childhood, life (he even had a marriage that was lawfully ended with his disgrace by association) eventually in the copy.
But what is the best aspect of all this intrigue on Jade Dragon Mountain is the context of character and setting within the culture that is completely Chinese. Yet striking manipulations near power and authority for Ming or Manchu? Well, they are quite similar to European history of the same era. (Think Stuart or Tudor.) A second son causing a rebellion, a consort who has manipulative purpose, a first servant with superlative code possibly leading to attachment for closer to the Capitol higher pathways- these are just a few.
The Jesuits from Europe are the astronomers who have helped the Emperor determine the time of the eclipse. The entire novel surrounds that festival and all the myriads who have come to join this "progress" of the leader to command the sun to darken.
But the trader has an extra purpose of improved goods and high profits? Or is it more than just "stuff" that he wants to buy and sell.
Good start to a series. There's gads of natural plant, animal, jungle, mountain, rock description. Food of simple and extravagant categories have succulent aromas every few pages. The pace of the entire novel is quite slow. Snail paced to plot outcome, oh yes. But a solid ground intro for many more Li Du escapades, absolutely. Good read for the patience and curious.
Li Du is our wanderer who is in exile for 5 years at this point. He is the protagonist. Unique, intelligent, nature lover, acute in solitary travel or in more peopled environment. But completely embedded within his current life habit "on the road." You will get a hint for most of the pertinent facts of his prior childhood, life (he even had a marriage that was lawfully ended with his disgrace by association) eventually in the copy.
But what is the best aspect of all this intrigue on Jade Dragon Mountain is the context of character and setting within the culture that is completely Chinese. Yet striking manipulations near power and authority for Ming or Manchu? Well, they are quite similar to European history of the same era. (Think Stuart or Tudor.) A second son causing a rebellion, a consort who has manipulative purpose, a first servant with superlative code possibly leading to attachment for closer to the Capitol higher pathways- these are just a few.
The Jesuits from Europe are the astronomers who have helped the Emperor determine the time of the eclipse. The entire novel surrounds that festival and all the myriads who have come to join this "progress" of the leader to command the sun to darken.
But the trader has an extra purpose of improved goods and high profits? Or is it more than just "stuff" that he wants to buy and sell.
Good start to a series. There's gads of natural plant, animal, jungle, mountain, rock description. Food of simple and extravagant categories have succulent aromas every few pages. The pace of the entire novel is quite slow. Snail paced to plot outcome, oh yes. But a solid ground intro for many more Li Du escapades, absolutely. Good read for the patience and curious.
December 21, 2020
The setting (1708 town of Dayan in China) and its collision of world views was fascinating, as was former librarian and exile Li Du, roped into investigating, by his Magistrate cousin, an unexpected and sudden death of a jovial Jesuit priest, there for the festivities surrounding an impending visit by the Emperor.
Li Du is careful, methodical, quiet, and perceptive, often gleaning much more from those around him than they expect, and unearthing multiple motives and conspiracies, and not all to do with the elderly Jesuit’s life or death.
This isn’t a fast-paced story, and I loved the unfolding of historical details and different, complicated explanations for the emotions swirling dangerously under the surface of all the suspects. I really liked Li Du and his methods, and the way he and a storyteller, there for the festivities, worked together and dissected the actions around them. And even though I figured out who committed the murder, I enjoyed watching Li Du get there; I think I’ll follow the former librarian to his next case.
Li Du is careful, methodical, quiet, and perceptive, often gleaning much more from those around him than they expect, and unearthing multiple motives and conspiracies, and not all to do with the elderly Jesuit’s life or death.
This isn’t a fast-paced story, and I loved the unfolding of historical details and different, complicated explanations for the emotions swirling dangerously under the surface of all the suspects. I really liked Li Du and his methods, and the way he and a storyteller, there for the festivities, worked together and dissected the actions around them. And even though I figured out who committed the murder, I enjoyed watching Li Du get there; I think I’ll follow the former librarian to his next case.
April 12, 2022
This delicious blend of historical fiction and mystery is both entertaining and edifying. I crave escape nowadays into other worlds in space and time, and how can it be more fascinating than a trip to 18th century China, involving astronomy, treachery and murder?
China in 1708 was ruled by the Manchu emperor Kangxi, the longest reigning Chinese emperor. The emperor had absolute power and was worshipped as living god. One of his divine powers was the predicting of astronomical phenomena such as eclipses. (I did not know this and found it fascinating.) Elsa Hart put this historical tidbit into the heart of this mystery.
Now, the emperor might be divine, but he relies on his astronomers to make his star charts. Which is how the only foreigners allowed within the strictly closed borders are the Jesuits. Emperor Kangxi cares very little about the Christian faith - but is very impressed with learning and science - especially with astronomical projections. This brings a delicacy to the Jesuits’ presence: while they are highly valued, officially their work does not exist - the emperor predicts using his own divine power.
The China of the time and its people are magnificiently drawn. We meet self-important, carreer- and reputation-conscious bureaucrats; a talented woman maneuvering to keep her position as first consort; the Jesuits living in China; and the emperor himself, who proves to be a formidable intellect and a fair judge, in addition to his immense power. Our main character, Li Du, is an exiled former librarian, perfectly positioning him as both a humble and learned outsider but with a wealth of insider knowledge and a keen analytical mind. Hamza, the amiable storyteller allowes Hart to weave numerous Arabian Night’s tales into the story, giving it a meta-fiction character.
The tone of the book shifts between poetic when describing landscapes and scenes in life, tension-filled in action, and mysterious when Hamza recites his stories. I enjoyed the writing, which gives homage to Chinese poetry and art in its metaphors and language.
I have listened to it twice because I kept putting off writing the review, and I decided it was better the second time, even though I knew the solution. In audio I lose a lot of detail and I enjoyed getting the finer points that I missed on first listen. In this book, the setting is the most important.
The audio is free on Hoopla for those with access through their library. Narrator David Shih is adequate but not great, nevertheless he brings out the lyrical qualities of the writing well, even if his characters are somewhat flat.
China in 1708 was ruled by the Manchu emperor Kangxi, the longest reigning Chinese emperor. The emperor had absolute power and was worshipped as living god. One of his divine powers was the predicting of astronomical phenomena such as eclipses. (I did not know this and found it fascinating.) Elsa Hart put this historical tidbit into the heart of this mystery.
Now, the emperor might be divine, but he relies on his astronomers to make his star charts. Which is how the only foreigners allowed within the strictly closed borders are the Jesuits. Emperor Kangxi cares very little about the Christian faith - but is very impressed with learning and science - especially with astronomical projections. This brings a delicacy to the Jesuits’ presence: while they are highly valued, officially their work does not exist - the emperor predicts using his own divine power.
The China of the time and its people are magnificiently drawn. We meet self-important, carreer- and reputation-conscious bureaucrats; a talented woman maneuvering to keep her position as first consort; the Jesuits living in China; and the emperor himself, who proves to be a formidable intellect and a fair judge, in addition to his immense power. Our main character, Li Du, is an exiled former librarian, perfectly positioning him as both a humble and learned outsider but with a wealth of insider knowledge and a keen analytical mind. Hamza, the amiable storyteller allowes Hart to weave numerous Arabian Night’s tales into the story, giving it a meta-fiction character.
The tone of the book shifts between poetic when describing landscapes and scenes in life, tension-filled in action, and mysterious when Hamza recites his stories. I enjoyed the writing, which gives homage to Chinese poetry and art in its metaphors and language.
I have listened to it twice because I kept putting off writing the review, and I decided it was better the second time, even though I knew the solution. In audio I lose a lot of detail and I enjoyed getting the finer points that I missed on first listen. In this book, the setting is the most important.
The audio is free on Hoopla for those with access through their library. Narrator David Shih is adequate but not great, nevertheless he brings out the lyrical qualities of the writing well, even if his characters are somewhat flat.
July 29, 2018
An aged Jesuit scholar gratefully notes that the water has already been prepared. And why not? After all, this was Yunnan Province, center of the finest teas in the Kingdom. Tea would steady his shaky nerves...
This is an unusual detective mystery set in the early years of the Q'ing Dynasty. Elsa Hart's sleuth is Li Du, an itinerant exiled scholar. His cousin Tulishen is the provincial magistrate of the remote wilderness province at the southern border of China. The contrast between the two cousins could not be greater. Tulishen has cultivated every opportunity to advance his career, including a perfectly maintained showcase library. The configuration with its cosmological arrangement and dust-free shelves reflect his interest in décor rather than knowledge. Preparations for the Kangxi Emperor's visit must similarly be perfect if his political ambitions are to be furthered. Li Du is the clever but disgraced black sheep of the family. His exile permits him an objectivity that complements his natural curiosity and powers of observation. When Tulishen prioritizes ceremony over a criminal investigation Li Du reflects on the subject of political ambition: “For those in power, facts were merely materials that could be used, modified or ignored for the purpose of maintaining control.” (Location 1175) It was a lesson he learned five years ago when he was first exiled.
It is the first decade of the 18th century and vestiges of Ming loyalists still linger in the outlying provinces. The Kangxi Emperor's visit is meant to solidify Q'ing control. Select foreign visitors are granted passage to marvel at the magnificence of the “Central Kingdom.” (Who could guess that only a century later, Q'ing power would be eroding due to both internal and external forces). Li Du's presence at the town is a coincidence. He was probably the sole person unaware of the Emperor's imminent visit.
The Prologue, an epistle penned in 1780, adopts an elegiac tone: “Memory, I have always thought, is like deepening waters, and every day the sunken objects on the sea floor are a farther and more frightening journey away. I know that they are there, but I do not look at them. The ripples on the surface distract me, and call my attention to the flotsam and jetsam that are within reach.” (Location 37).The writer proceeds to relate a tale he has assembled from the notes his old mentor took long ago when a visitor stayed the night and told this story.
Hart balances the introspection of the fading Ming Dynasty and its captivation with nature with the Q'ing preoccupation with power and control. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain looms over the city. Two scion of the once powerful Mu family are a link to the past with their brooding memories. Hart evokes nature through a botany enthusiast and his collection of specimens. A vine plays a prominent role in the plot. Alongside these images are the swollen crowds of tourists, a deforested field, opulent decorations, garish constructions, and the minutely orchestrated details of protocol.
Costume, food and landscape are supplemented by subtle touches to set a convincing tone. On entering the confused atmosphere of the city, Li Du mutters: “Never adjust your hat in a plum orchard.” (Location 125) What?!! I found out it was one of those formally worded aphorisms a highly educated person might utter. It comes from a Han poem and means avoid committing a suspicious action lest you be accused of stealing (https://www.chinese-tools.com/chinese...). Hart includes a great deal of historical background and cultural convention, but never in a heavy-handed manner.
The mystery itself is more complicated than it first appears. Li Du poses inconsistencies between the evidence and the most likely theories. These inconsistencies draw the reader in. There is a mix of political intrigue, science and personal secrets in this mystery leading to a scene that confronts all the suspects in the kind of drawing-room scene one might expect to find in an Agatha Christie book.
The timing of this read was fortunate. I recently finished THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE by Lisa See and had read RETURN TO DRAGON MOUNTAIN by Jonathan Spence, an author Hart mentions in her “Recommended Reading” section. This was an entertaining summer read. It is the first in what looks like a promising series.
This is an unusual detective mystery set in the early years of the Q'ing Dynasty. Elsa Hart's sleuth is Li Du, an itinerant exiled scholar. His cousin Tulishen is the provincial magistrate of the remote wilderness province at the southern border of China. The contrast between the two cousins could not be greater. Tulishen has cultivated every opportunity to advance his career, including a perfectly maintained showcase library. The configuration with its cosmological arrangement and dust-free shelves reflect his interest in décor rather than knowledge. Preparations for the Kangxi Emperor's visit must similarly be perfect if his political ambitions are to be furthered. Li Du is the clever but disgraced black sheep of the family. His exile permits him an objectivity that complements his natural curiosity and powers of observation. When Tulishen prioritizes ceremony over a criminal investigation Li Du reflects on the subject of political ambition: “For those in power, facts were merely materials that could be used, modified or ignored for the purpose of maintaining control.” (Location 1175) It was a lesson he learned five years ago when he was first exiled.
It is the first decade of the 18th century and vestiges of Ming loyalists still linger in the outlying provinces. The Kangxi Emperor's visit is meant to solidify Q'ing control. Select foreign visitors are granted passage to marvel at the magnificence of the “Central Kingdom.” (Who could guess that only a century later, Q'ing power would be eroding due to both internal and external forces). Li Du's presence at the town is a coincidence. He was probably the sole person unaware of the Emperor's imminent visit.
The Prologue, an epistle penned in 1780, adopts an elegiac tone: “Memory, I have always thought, is like deepening waters, and every day the sunken objects on the sea floor are a farther and more frightening journey away. I know that they are there, but I do not look at them. The ripples on the surface distract me, and call my attention to the flotsam and jetsam that are within reach.” (Location 37).The writer proceeds to relate a tale he has assembled from the notes his old mentor took long ago when a visitor stayed the night and told this story.
Hart balances the introspection of the fading Ming Dynasty and its captivation with nature with the Q'ing preoccupation with power and control. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain looms over the city. Two scion of the once powerful Mu family are a link to the past with their brooding memories. Hart evokes nature through a botany enthusiast and his collection of specimens. A vine plays a prominent role in the plot. Alongside these images are the swollen crowds of tourists, a deforested field, opulent decorations, garish constructions, and the minutely orchestrated details of protocol.
Costume, food and landscape are supplemented by subtle touches to set a convincing tone. On entering the confused atmosphere of the city, Li Du mutters: “Never adjust your hat in a plum orchard.” (Location 125) What?!! I found out it was one of those formally worded aphorisms a highly educated person might utter. It comes from a Han poem and means avoid committing a suspicious action lest you be accused of stealing (https://www.chinese-tools.com/chinese...). Hart includes a great deal of historical background and cultural convention, but never in a heavy-handed manner.
The mystery itself is more complicated than it first appears. Li Du poses inconsistencies between the evidence and the most likely theories. These inconsistencies draw the reader in. There is a mix of political intrigue, science and personal secrets in this mystery leading to a scene that confronts all the suspects in the kind of drawing-room scene one might expect to find in an Agatha Christie book.
The timing of this read was fortunate. I recently finished THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE by Lisa See and had read RETURN TO DRAGON MOUNTAIN by Jonathan Spence, an author Hart mentions in her “Recommended Reading” section. This was an entertaining summer read. It is the first in what looks like a promising series.
June 13, 2016
It turned out that what I liked best about Jade Dragon Mountain was Hamza the storyteller. I thought he was the most intriguing character. I want to know more about him.
I also loved the role of libraries in this book. I was fascinated by the organization of the library that was most central to this book.
The resolution of the case wasn't completely unexpected, but the ending of the book was a total surprise. I am looking forward to Elsa Hart's next novel.
For the blog version of this review and my giveaway of a hardcover copy of this book see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20... The giveaway is open for entries until November 10,2015.
I also loved the role of libraries in this book. I was fascinated by the organization of the library that was most central to this book.
The resolution of the case wasn't completely unexpected, but the ending of the book was a total surprise. I am looking forward to Elsa Hart's next novel.
For the blog version of this review and my giveaway of a hardcover copy of this book see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20... The giveaway is open for entries until November 10,2015.
January 29, 2020
Book on CD narrated by David Shih
This historical mystery is set in the town of Dayan, on the Chinese / Tibetan border, in 1708. The main character is Li Due, former Imperial Librarian, now in exile and on his way out of the country. When he arrives at Dayan, where his cousin is the magistrate, he is surprised by the bustle of activity. He was unaware that people are flocking to the town for a special visit by the Emperor who has promised to create an eclipse of the sun.
I loved the history in this book. I had been previously unaware of the role of the Jesuits; as astronomers and scientists they gained the trust of the “pagan” lords and subsequently began to convert them to Christianity. But politics, religion and commerce did not always have the same interests and conflicts led to untimely deaths.
I felt that I was a real sense of the time and place from Hart’s descriptions and plot. Li Du is a marvelous detective, and also a skilled politician. He knows when to keep his own counsel and when to divulge key bits of information. There is more than one mystery involved here and more than one villain.
I was completely engaged and interested from beginning to end and did NOT guess the perpetrator(s) before they were revealed.
David Shih did a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. He set a good pace and, for the most part, I was able to tell who was speaking. I did think his accent for the Englishman Nicholas Gray was abysmal, however. Still, it was his characterization of Li Due that carried the story for me.
This historical mystery is set in the town of Dayan, on the Chinese / Tibetan border, in 1708. The main character is Li Due, former Imperial Librarian, now in exile and on his way out of the country. When he arrives at Dayan, where his cousin is the magistrate, he is surprised by the bustle of activity. He was unaware that people are flocking to the town for a special visit by the Emperor who has promised to create an eclipse of the sun.
I loved the history in this book. I had been previously unaware of the role of the Jesuits; as astronomers and scientists they gained the trust of the “pagan” lords and subsequently began to convert them to Christianity. But politics, religion and commerce did not always have the same interests and conflicts led to untimely deaths.
I felt that I was a real sense of the time and place from Hart’s descriptions and plot. Li Du is a marvelous detective, and also a skilled politician. He knows when to keep his own counsel and when to divulge key bits of information. There is more than one mystery involved here and more than one villain.
I was completely engaged and interested from beginning to end and did NOT guess the perpetrator(s) before they were revealed.
David Shih did a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. He set a good pace and, for the most part, I was able to tell who was speaking. I did think his accent for the Englishman Nicholas Gray was abysmal, however. Still, it was his characterization of Li Due that carried the story for me.
August 25, 2015
I picked up the ARC at Book Expo America last May. Jade dragon Mountain is a refreshing change from many of the other ARCs publishers had out this year. For many, A Game of Thrones seems very much on the publishers radar. 'Grim is in' could easily have been this year's meme. I don't know about you, but I read enough dark tales in the news, and as much as I like AGOT (TV, really, not so much the books), I've had my fill of misery, depravity, and torture.
Jade Dragon Mountain is none of that. The book's a throwback to old fashioned mysteries. The author, Elsa Hart, smartly gives her story a classic, Agatha Christie feel. Setting the story in 18th century China adds an exotic flair that took me back to James Clavell's brilliant novels about Asian. To be sure, Jade Dragon Mountain isn't as rich or ambitious as what Clavell wrote, but it is still engaging and wildly entertaining.
The reader will root for MC Li Du and follow his investigation with interest as he questions one suspect after another--each of whom, Ms. Hart brings to richly detailed life. If I had to find any flaw, it would be that some of the breadcrumbs were a little to easy to spot and, though subtle, are easy enough for the reader to recognize. That would only matter if identifying the clues detracted from the reader's enjoyment. For me, it didn't.
This is a dazzling debut for Ms. Hart. I'll look forward to her next book with interest.
Jade Dragon Mountain is none of that. The book's a throwback to old fashioned mysteries. The author, Elsa Hart, smartly gives her story a classic, Agatha Christie feel. Setting the story in 18th century China adds an exotic flair that took me back to James Clavell's brilliant novels about Asian. To be sure, Jade Dragon Mountain isn't as rich or ambitious as what Clavell wrote, but it is still engaging and wildly entertaining.
The reader will root for MC Li Du and follow his investigation with interest as he questions one suspect after another--each of whom, Ms. Hart brings to richly detailed life. If I had to find any flaw, it would be that some of the breadcrumbs were a little to easy to spot and, though subtle, are easy enough for the reader to recognize. That would only matter if identifying the clues detracted from the reader's enjoyment. For me, it didn't.
This is a dazzling debut for Ms. Hart. I'll look forward to her next book with interest.
July 25, 2015
3.5 stars
This is a debut novel about Li Du, an exiled librarian in China in 1708. He stops in Dayan where his cousin is the magistrate as prepares to leave China for the last time. His cousin is in the throes of preparation for the emperor is coming to view an eclipse that he supposedly causes by his power. The Jesuits actually predict the eclipse but the emperor takes the credit. During the feverish preparations, a Jesuit priest is murdered and the magistrate hires Du to discover the cause of death and really wants it to be from natural causes.
This is a fascinating historical mystery. There is a great discussion of astronomy of that age, the influence of Jesuit priests on the emperor and a lot of great tidbits about life in China at that time. I feel the author captured the time period and took me on a great journey. I love that a lot of action took place in a library and it was wonderful to read about books in that period. I love that they catalogued books by the color of the books. It made such a pleasurable sight.
I hope this becomes a series. I am anxious to catch up with Li Du's adventures and hope that Hamza, the delightful story teller, stays with him. For those who like historical mysteries this is a good one. Let's hope it continues.
This is a debut novel about Li Du, an exiled librarian in China in 1708. He stops in Dayan where his cousin is the magistrate as prepares to leave China for the last time. His cousin is in the throes of preparation for the emperor is coming to view an eclipse that he supposedly causes by his power. The Jesuits actually predict the eclipse but the emperor takes the credit. During the feverish preparations, a Jesuit priest is murdered and the magistrate hires Du to discover the cause of death and really wants it to be from natural causes.
This is a fascinating historical mystery. There is a great discussion of astronomy of that age, the influence of Jesuit priests on the emperor and a lot of great tidbits about life in China at that time. I feel the author captured the time period and took me on a great journey. I love that a lot of action took place in a library and it was wonderful to read about books in that period. I love that they catalogued books by the color of the books. It made such a pleasurable sight.
I hope this becomes a series. I am anxious to catch up with Li Du's adventures and hope that Hamza, the delightful story teller, stays with him. For those who like historical mysteries this is a good one. Let's hope it continues.
August 16, 2017
"Jade Dragon Mountain" is not necessarily a bad novel. I didn't hate it and... that's probably the only reason why I didn't drop it. But it honestly wasn't a book for me. I was immensely bored and there were times when I found it hard to focus on the narration. The mystery didn't interest me at all (when the murderer was revealed I only thought "oh, okay") and the stiff dialogues, one-dimensional characters and random story-telling parts (honestly, what was the point in including them?) did not help.
I also had a big issue with the constant mentions of tea. Please, was it really the only way to make sure the readers would remember this is a story about China? It's almost a shame that I did not count how many times I had to roll my eyes.
This is a debut novel, I'm aware of that and I know I'm probably being way too harsh but I can't think of a single thing I liked about it. I read some reviews and I understand why many people enjoyed it. Sadly, for me finishing it it was a very exhausting and tedious task.
I also had a big issue with the constant mentions of tea. Please, was it really the only way to make sure the readers would remember this is a story about China? It's almost a shame that I did not count how many times I had to roll my eyes.
This is a debut novel, I'm aware of that and I know I'm probably being way too harsh but I can't think of a single thing I liked about it. I read some reviews and I understand why many people enjoyed it. Sadly, for me finishing it it was a very exhausting and tedious task.
Read
May 19, 2018Halfway through and I must pack it in... not the book for me at the moment. Dialogue dense, immensely detailed and turtle paced Jade Dragon Mountain is losing my interest far too easily; I simply don’t care a whit about any of the characters or the mysteries halfway through and am grimacing at the prospect of grinding until the end.
Lots to commend it.
“Novel thought”? Just put this one aside and let it be...
Lots to commend it.
“Novel thought”? Just put this one aside and let it be...
June 29, 2021
This was an excellent read and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Update June 2021: Even better on the second read. Unlike a lot of mysteries, Jade Dragon Mountain does not depend only on finding out whodunnit. Elsa Hart is wonderful at developing character and context. Also, being me, I could not remember the details of the plot anyway so it was still surprising in many ways.
Update June 2021: Even better on the second read. Unlike a lot of mysteries, Jade Dragon Mountain does not depend only on finding out whodunnit. Elsa Hart is wonderful at developing character and context. Also, being me, I could not remember the details of the plot anyway so it was still surprising in many ways.
June 12, 2017
This is an elegantly written story set in one of the border regions of China during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor, Qing Dynasty, as a lone exile is faced with solving the murder of a Jesuit astronomer. I have no familiarity with this time period in China but this book provided a window into the world that was not in any way intimidating. There is a second book in this series and I look forward to reading it.
August 11, 2021
Jade Dragon Mountain is the first book in a historical mystery series by Elsa Hart. It features exiled librarian from Peking Li Du, who has been traveling China and ends up in Dayan, a province next to Tibet where his cousin is governor. The story is set in 1708, by the way. It doesn't really say why he was exiled from Peking except for a brief mention toward the end of the story and this fact doesn't really take away anything from the story at all.
While in Dayan, Li Du discovers that preparations are being made for a visit by the Emperor Kangxi, who is traveling in that region and will end his journey by commanding an eclipse of the sun. Li Du finds the city in upheaval as the governor, his consort, the Lady Chen and his staff prepare for a giant reception and spectacle to receive the Emperor appropriately. Visitors from without China have been permitted to attend the event and you have amongst them, an ambassador from the East India Company (bearing gifts and hoping to open China up for trade with them), Jesuit priests, actors, gymnasts, a traveling story teller, etc.
Li Du is received somewhat ungraciously by his cousin. In fact Li Du doesn't want to stay there but wants to continue his travels and needs appropriate clearance paperwork from the governor. However, while there, and attending a state function, one of the Jesuits, an elderly priest / astronomer, Brother Pieter, is found dead in his room. Li Du thinks he's been poisoned, but his cousin, Tulishen, doesn't want to hear it. He first says he died of natural causes, then blames Tibetan traders. He sends Li Du away, but after a time, Li Du decides he has to return and demands to be allowed to investigate, especially as, if murdered (poisoned), he reasons that the Emperor might be in danger. Li Du has 7 days to find the killer.
So that's the basic premise and the story is Li Du's investigation, with assistance of friend, the Muslim story teller, Hamza, another wonderful character. There are many suspects, from Tulishen himself, to Lady Chen, another Jesuit, the East India Company rep, and maybe others. It's a fascinating, exotic story. In many ways it reminded me positively of the Kamil Pasha mystery trilogy by Jenny White, set in Constantinople in the early 1900's. The time is so interesting, the country is fascinating and the lives, culture and people grab and hold your interest.
I really enjoyed Li Du as a character and investigator. I do want to learn more about him and his travels and reasons for exile. There is nice intrigue as Tulishen and his wife prepare for the visit. The Emperor is of one dynasty and there are people who survive from the older dynastys who may or may not harbor grudges and ill-will towards the Emperor. The East India Company is another source of intrigue, trying anything to make inroads into what is basically a closed society. And then you've got the power of the Jesuits who took over as the royal astronomers and guide the Emperor's actions with the annual calendar; friction with the Chinese astronomers and also the Dominicans, who resent the Jesuit influence and want their own inroads to China and the Emperor. It's quite a complex but well-written, smoothly flowing story with an interesting mystery and palace intrigue to tie it all together. I enjoyed it so very much, right from the get - go and have now ordered the 2nd book in the series; The White Mirror.
While in Dayan, Li Du discovers that preparations are being made for a visit by the Emperor Kangxi, who is traveling in that region and will end his journey by commanding an eclipse of the sun. Li Du finds the city in upheaval as the governor, his consort, the Lady Chen and his staff prepare for a giant reception and spectacle to receive the Emperor appropriately. Visitors from without China have been permitted to attend the event and you have amongst them, an ambassador from the East India Company (bearing gifts and hoping to open China up for trade with them), Jesuit priests, actors, gymnasts, a traveling story teller, etc.
Li Du is received somewhat ungraciously by his cousin. In fact Li Du doesn't want to stay there but wants to continue his travels and needs appropriate clearance paperwork from the governor. However, while there, and attending a state function, one of the Jesuits, an elderly priest / astronomer, Brother Pieter, is found dead in his room. Li Du thinks he's been poisoned, but his cousin, Tulishen, doesn't want to hear it. He first says he died of natural causes, then blames Tibetan traders. He sends Li Du away, but after a time, Li Du decides he has to return and demands to be allowed to investigate, especially as, if murdered (poisoned), he reasons that the Emperor might be in danger. Li Du has 7 days to find the killer.
So that's the basic premise and the story is Li Du's investigation, with assistance of friend, the Muslim story teller, Hamza, another wonderful character. There are many suspects, from Tulishen himself, to Lady Chen, another Jesuit, the East India Company rep, and maybe others. It's a fascinating, exotic story. In many ways it reminded me positively of the Kamil Pasha mystery trilogy by Jenny White, set in Constantinople in the early 1900's. The time is so interesting, the country is fascinating and the lives, culture and people grab and hold your interest.
I really enjoyed Li Du as a character and investigator. I do want to learn more about him and his travels and reasons for exile. There is nice intrigue as Tulishen and his wife prepare for the visit. The Emperor is of one dynasty and there are people who survive from the older dynastys who may or may not harbor grudges and ill-will towards the Emperor. The East India Company is another source of intrigue, trying anything to make inroads into what is basically a closed society. And then you've got the power of the Jesuits who took over as the royal astronomers and guide the Emperor's actions with the annual calendar; friction with the Chinese astronomers and also the Dominicans, who resent the Jesuit influence and want their own inroads to China and the Emperor. It's quite a complex but well-written, smoothly flowing story with an interesting mystery and palace intrigue to tie it all together. I enjoyed it so very much, right from the get - go and have now ordered the 2nd book in the series; The White Mirror.
April 19, 2024
In 1708, the town of Dayan in China’s Yunnan province. Li Du, an exiled former librarian of Peking’s Forbidden City arrives at Dayan to present his papers, just about a week before the Emperor himself is due in Dayan, to ‘command’ (as everybody believes him capable of doing) a solar eclipse. Among the many who have gathered for this grand event are ambassadors (including one of the English East India Company); two Jesuits; a story-teller of vague origin, and more… and someone among them, perhaps, is a murderer. When one of the Jesuits, an old man named Pieter, is poisoned, Li Du sets out to find the truth.
I was very impressed with Jade Dragon Mountain. The detective work is (almost throughout) bang on, with the clues and their deductions well-plotted, the red herrings in the right places. The characters are interesting and well-defined, whether it’s the introspective and intelligent Li Du, the ambitious Tulishen, the enigmatic Lady Chen, or even the witty and very likeable story-teller Hamza.
With the sleuthing and the believable characters, Hart builds up an interesting insight into 18th century China: insular, the Emperor accorded divine status; the suspicion with which foreigners (in particular Westerners) were regarded; and the tensions between different ethnicities: the Tibetans and the ruling Qing, for instance.
I did think the deduction relating to Lady Chen’s antecedents seemed slightly baseless, but that’s a minor niggle. On the whole, I enjoyed this one a lot.
I was very impressed with Jade Dragon Mountain. The detective work is (almost throughout) bang on, with the clues and their deductions well-plotted, the red herrings in the right places. The characters are interesting and well-defined, whether it’s the introspective and intelligent Li Du, the ambitious Tulishen, the enigmatic Lady Chen, or even the witty and very likeable story-teller Hamza.
With the sleuthing and the believable characters, Hart builds up an interesting insight into 18th century China: insular, the Emperor accorded divine status; the suspicion with which foreigners (in particular Westerners) were regarded; and the tensions between different ethnicities: the Tibetans and the ruling Qing, for instance.
I did think the deduction relating to Lady Chen’s antecedents seemed slightly baseless, but that’s a minor niggle. On the whole, I enjoyed this one a lot.
January 17, 2020
3+ stars
Set on the border of China and Tibet in the 18th century in view of Jade Dragon Mountain, banished librarian Li Du takes it on himself to find out who murdered a Jesuit priest by poison even though his cousin, a combination between a sycophant and a jobsworth, is more concerned with keeping up appearances with the imminent arrival of the emperor for a full eclipse of the sun.
Hart has written a promising debut novel, and I plan to read the second book in this series. What's more, she was actually living in the setting when she wrote it and spent some of her formative years in China, so actually has a real familiarity with the setting and the contemporary culture there.
Set on the border of China and Tibet in the 18th century in view of Jade Dragon Mountain, banished librarian Li Du takes it on himself to find out who murdered a Jesuit priest by poison even though his cousin, a combination between a sycophant and a jobsworth, is more concerned with keeping up appearances with the imminent arrival of the emperor for a full eclipse of the sun.
Hart has written a promising debut novel, and I plan to read the second book in this series. What's more, she was actually living in the setting when she wrote it and spent some of her formative years in China, so actually has a real familiarity with the setting and the contemporary culture there.
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