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The Last Mandarin
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26A standalone thriller co-written by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gamache series and an award-winning journalist.
In a fast-paced, all-too-real thriller co-written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny and award-winning journalist Mellissa Fung, global politics become personal for two unlikely heroines. Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese-American, is an erstwhile food blogger who has lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li. A Chinese dissident who escaped China after Tiananmen Square, Vivien is now a globally recognized human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China.
When security and fire alarms go off simultaneously all around the world, setting off a panic, the signal is traced back to China. As world leaders scramble to respond, Vivien and Alice are called to the White House in hopes Madame Li can decode the Chinese intentions.
While it makes some sense that the President would turn to Vivien, since she regularly advises world leaders on the actions of today’s Chinese government, what isn’t clear is why they’d want to talk to Alice.
After looking at the evidence, Vivien says that the only thing worse than the Chinese government being behind it, is if they are not. It would mean, she explains, that some clandestine element within China is calling the shots. That the President of China has lost control. And an unstable China cannot be good for anyone.
Or perhaps that’s exactly what the shrewd old politician wants everyone to think.
Caught up in the chaos, Vivien and Alice are uniquely placed to stop the next, cataclysmic attack. But there are forces deep within both the American and Chinese governments intent on stopping mother and daughter. The estranged pair, who excels at misunderstanding each other, must figure out how to work together.
The increasingly frantic search for answers takes the women from the Oval Office to an office building in Akron, Ohio, from the noodle shops of Hong Kong to the necropolis of the first emperor. Along the way they must decode an old legend, and an old language invented by women, for women.
The Last Mandarin is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also, as to be expected from the minds of Louise Penny, beloved author of the Gamache novels, and Mellissa Fung, an acclaimed international journalist, an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down.
In a fast-paced, all-too-real thriller co-written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny and award-winning journalist Mellissa Fung, global politics become personal for two unlikely heroines. Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese-American, is an erstwhile food blogger who has lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li. A Chinese dissident who escaped China after Tiananmen Square, Vivien is now a globally recognized human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China.
When security and fire alarms go off simultaneously all around the world, setting off a panic, the signal is traced back to China. As world leaders scramble to respond, Vivien and Alice are called to the White House in hopes Madame Li can decode the Chinese intentions.
While it makes some sense that the President would turn to Vivien, since she regularly advises world leaders on the actions of today’s Chinese government, what isn’t clear is why they’d want to talk to Alice.
After looking at the evidence, Vivien says that the only thing worse than the Chinese government being behind it, is if they are not. It would mean, she explains, that some clandestine element within China is calling the shots. That the President of China has lost control. And an unstable China cannot be good for anyone.
Or perhaps that’s exactly what the shrewd old politician wants everyone to think.
Caught up in the chaos, Vivien and Alice are uniquely placed to stop the next, cataclysmic attack. But there are forces deep within both the American and Chinese governments intent on stopping mother and daughter. The estranged pair, who excels at misunderstanding each other, must figure out how to work together.
The increasingly frantic search for answers takes the women from the Oval Office to an office building in Akron, Ohio, from the noodle shops of Hong Kong to the necropolis of the first emperor. Along the way they must decode an old legend, and an old language invented by women, for women.
The Last Mandarin is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also, as to be expected from the minds of Louise Penny, beloved author of the Gamache novels, and Mellissa Fung, an acclaimed international journalist, an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 12, 2026
42 people are currently reading
20161 people want to read
About the author
Louise Penny
77 books26.7k followersLOUISE PENNY is the author of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (seven times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Raiders of the Lost Last Mandarin.
"What happens when a nation is threatened? It pulls together. He wouldn't be the first leader to start a war to save himself."
If Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's recent cases haven't yet convinced you that Louise Penny can imagine terrifying terrorist plots and worldwide mayhem, The Last Mandarin - her collaboration with award-winning journalist and bestselling author Mellissa Fung - will certainly seal the deal.
So suspend your disbelief, brush up on your Mandarin, grab a few coconut buns, and enjoy the ride.
The story centers on Vivien Li, a former Tiananmen Square dissident who fled China decades ago and is now a globally recognized human-rights activist, and her daughter Alice, a Chinese-American food blogger who has long lived in her formidable mother's shadow. When a series of synchronized alarms triggers global panic and appears to originate in China, the two women are unexpectedly drawn into a rapidly escalating international crisis. What follows is a globe-trotting thriller involving political intrigue, a secret language invented by women, an international conspiracy, and even a long-forgotten city hidden inside a tomb - very much in the spirit of an Indiana Jones adventure.
Is it over the top? Absolutely.
Is it wildly entertaining? Also yes.
Despite its breakneck pacing and cinematic flair, the novel also tackles weightier themes: power, authoritarianism, human rights, cultural identity, and the lingering shadows of political history. Much of that grounding likely comes from Fung's decades-long experience as a journalist, which lends the story a welcome layer of geopolitical insight and emotional authenticity.
The mother-daughter relationship at the center of the book adds another compelling dimension. Vivien and Alice are both headstrong, complicated women, and watching them navigate both global stakes and personal tensions gives the story a refreshing twist on the traditional international-thriller formula.
The audiobook, expertly narrated by Eunice Wong, is an excellent companion to the novel. Wong handles the shifting tones - from political urgency to moments of humor and personal reflection - with skill and clarity, bringing both protagonists to life while maintaining the fast-paced momentum the story demands. I can highly recommend both formats.
Yes, The Last Mandarin requires a healthy dose of suspended disbelief. But in its portrayal of power, greed, and political instability, the story also feels unsettlingly plausible and timely.
Cinematic, ambitious, and undeniably entertaining, this feels like the kind of thriller that could easily make the leap from page to screen.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies of both the book and the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Last Mandarin" is slated to be released on May 12, 2026.
"What happens when a nation is threatened? It pulls together. He wouldn't be the first leader to start a war to save himself."
If Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's recent cases haven't yet convinced you that Louise Penny can imagine terrifying terrorist plots and worldwide mayhem, The Last Mandarin - her collaboration with award-winning journalist and bestselling author Mellissa Fung - will certainly seal the deal.
So suspend your disbelief, brush up on your Mandarin, grab a few coconut buns, and enjoy the ride.
The story centers on Vivien Li, a former Tiananmen Square dissident who fled China decades ago and is now a globally recognized human-rights activist, and her daughter Alice, a Chinese-American food blogger who has long lived in her formidable mother's shadow. When a series of synchronized alarms triggers global panic and appears to originate in China, the two women are unexpectedly drawn into a rapidly escalating international crisis. What follows is a globe-trotting thriller involving political intrigue, a secret language invented by women, an international conspiracy, and even a long-forgotten city hidden inside a tomb - very much in the spirit of an Indiana Jones adventure.
Is it over the top? Absolutely.
Is it wildly entertaining? Also yes.
Despite its breakneck pacing and cinematic flair, the novel also tackles weightier themes: power, authoritarianism, human rights, cultural identity, and the lingering shadows of political history. Much of that grounding likely comes from Fung's decades-long experience as a journalist, which lends the story a welcome layer of geopolitical insight and emotional authenticity.
The mother-daughter relationship at the center of the book adds another compelling dimension. Vivien and Alice are both headstrong, complicated women, and watching them navigate both global stakes and personal tensions gives the story a refreshing twist on the traditional international-thriller formula.
The audiobook, expertly narrated by Eunice Wong, is an excellent companion to the novel. Wong handles the shifting tones - from political urgency to moments of humor and personal reflection - with skill and clarity, bringing both protagonists to life while maintaining the fast-paced momentum the story demands. I can highly recommend both formats.
Yes, The Last Mandarin requires a healthy dose of suspended disbelief. But in its portrayal of power, greed, and political instability, the story also feels unsettlingly plausible and timely.
Cinematic, ambitious, and undeniably entertaining, this feels like the kind of thriller that could easily make the leap from page to screen.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies of both the book and the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Last Mandarin" is slated to be released on May 12, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, that was a disappointment.
I wanted to love this book. I've read and enjoyed other books by Louise Penny, and figured this collaboration would provide exactly the escapist adventure this oppressive winter needed.
Instead I got coconut buns. Ridiculous conspiracy on top of wild coincidence, on top of more conspiracy. I was following a maddening maze of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" unbelievable nonsense.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Alice is a food blogger not dating this guy she really likes from college. Next thing we know -- and this might be a bit of a spoiler, but the whole plot revolves around it so I think it's okay to reveal -- her entire extended family, including the non-boyfriend and countless relatives she's never met, are apparently involved in some kind of evil global plot against nations.
She never knew. But now, like in a Dan Brown novel, she's in so deep she's got to see this wild adventure through to the end. I'd feel gravely betrayed, but Alice is good with whatever it takes to find the truth. Me, I just wanted the book to end and I stopped caring if even the entire world imploded.
I wish I were kidding. I finished this, but lost interest (and never regained it) about a quarter of the way through. I don't think I've rolled my eyes as much in one novel before, and wish I hadn't experienced it here.
I wanted to love this book. I've read and enjoyed other books by Louise Penny, and figured this collaboration would provide exactly the escapist adventure this oppressive winter needed.
Instead I got coconut buns. Ridiculous conspiracy on top of wild coincidence, on top of more conspiracy. I was following a maddening maze of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" unbelievable nonsense.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Alice is a food blogger not dating this guy she really likes from college. Next thing we know -- and this might be a bit of a spoiler, but the whole plot revolves around it so I think it's okay to reveal -- her entire extended family, including the non-boyfriend and countless relatives she's never met, are apparently involved in some kind of evil global plot against nations.
She never knew. But now, like in a Dan Brown novel, she's in so deep she's got to see this wild adventure through to the end. I'd feel gravely betrayed, but Alice is good with whatever it takes to find the truth. Me, I just wanted the book to end and I stopped caring if even the entire world imploded.
I wish I were kidding. I finished this, but lost interest (and never regained it) about a quarter of the way through. I don't think I've rolled my eyes as much in one novel before, and wish I hadn't experienced it here.
Did not finish
March 21, 2026Less than 1%, then an f bomb.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
wow! One of the best political thrillers I have ever read.
March 16, 2026
I listened to the audiobook of The Last Mandarin, and unfortunately this one never worked for me.
From the beginning, I struggled with the family dynamics. The story centers on Alice Li, a food blogger, and her mother Vivien, a famous Chinese dissident and global human rights figure. Their relationship is supposed to be complex and emotionally layered, but it mostly comes across as exhausting. They seem to love and resent each other in equal measure, with constant tension rooted in the past and what happened to Alice’s father—her hero—who divorced Vivien and later died in a car crash. Add in a brother whose sexuality is somehow invisible to their supposedly hyper-perceptive activist mother, and the emotional foundation of the story never quite feels believable.
Alice herself is a difficult protagonist to connect with. She spends much of the book sounding uncertain, unhappy, and frankly a bit whiny. Yet somehow this same character becomes central to an international crisis.
The plot kicks off when synchronized alarms and system failures erupt around the world, apparently originating from China. In response, the President of the United States calls Vivien to the White House to interpret what’s happening. That part is at least somewhat plausible. What isn’t clear—and never really becomes convincing—is why Alice is also suddenly crucial to the investigation.
From there the story spirals into increasingly implausible territory. Intelligence agencies and world leaders somehow end up relying on the instincts of a relatively insecure food blogger to decode clues, unravel global conspiracies, and ultimately help save the world—all while discussing coconut buns at length.
The action scenes pile up, but they rarely feel grounded. Massive acts of sabotage—blackouts, fires, elevator failures, travel disruptions—seem to affect everyone except our heroes. The central group jets effortlessly between the U.S., mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei whenever the plot requires it, always one step ahead of their enemies. Characters routinely make huge logical leaps that just happen to be correct. We’re repeatedly told that no one can be trusted, yet the characters trust people constantly—and it always works out.
Meanwhile, the villains are portrayed as nearly flawless masterminds with ties to the highest levels of government. They never make mistakes—until suddenly they do, conveniently allowing Alice to locate them.
Scene after scene strains credibility, and eventually the story simply becomes tedious rather than thrilling. The final straw for me .
I kept waiting for the story to pull everything together into something compelling, but it never did. In the end, The Last Mandarin felt like an overstuffed international thriller built on shaky logic and characters I never fully believed in.
From the beginning, I struggled with the family dynamics. The story centers on Alice Li, a food blogger, and her mother Vivien, a famous Chinese dissident and global human rights figure. Their relationship is supposed to be complex and emotionally layered, but it mostly comes across as exhausting. They seem to love and resent each other in equal measure, with constant tension rooted in the past and what happened to Alice’s father—her hero—who divorced Vivien and later died in a car crash. Add in a brother whose sexuality is somehow invisible to their supposedly hyper-perceptive activist mother, and the emotional foundation of the story never quite feels believable.
Alice herself is a difficult protagonist to connect with. She spends much of the book sounding uncertain, unhappy, and frankly a bit whiny. Yet somehow this same character becomes central to an international crisis.
The plot kicks off when synchronized alarms and system failures erupt around the world, apparently originating from China. In response, the President of the United States calls Vivien to the White House to interpret what’s happening. That part is at least somewhat plausible. What isn’t clear—and never really becomes convincing—is why Alice is also suddenly crucial to the investigation.
From there the story spirals into increasingly implausible territory. Intelligence agencies and world leaders somehow end up relying on the instincts of a relatively insecure food blogger to decode clues, unravel global conspiracies, and ultimately help save the world—all while discussing coconut buns at length.
The action scenes pile up, but they rarely feel grounded. Massive acts of sabotage—blackouts, fires, elevator failures, travel disruptions—seem to affect everyone except our heroes. The central group jets effortlessly between the U.S., mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei whenever the plot requires it, always one step ahead of their enemies. Characters routinely make huge logical leaps that just happen to be correct. We’re repeatedly told that no one can be trusted, yet the characters trust people constantly—and it always works out.
Meanwhile, the villains are portrayed as nearly flawless masterminds with ties to the highest levels of government. They never make mistakes—until suddenly they do, conveniently allowing Alice to locate them.
Scene after scene strains credibility, and eventually the story simply becomes tedious rather than thrilling. The final straw for me .
I kept waiting for the story to pull everything together into something compelling, but it never did. In the end, The Last Mandarin felt like an overstuffed international thriller built on shaky logic and characters I never fully believed in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2026
I am hedging my bets that this will be on many lists of top books of the year.
I’m not incredibly educated in politics/history and yet this held my attention. I didn’t want to have to pause listening.
It’s very fast moving as Alice and her mother, Vivian (and others) try to stop a world wide disaster from happening.
It stays interesting as they move around the world and discuss history and politics and even if you don’t know what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 they give you enough information to understand the story.
It doesn’t discuss politics that much per se but political leaders are part of the story line.
Also hearing so much mandarin had me pulling it up on Duolingo to try a few words lol
This felt like a great movie could come from The Last Mandarin. Political thriller meets Indiana jones/The Mummy.
Some said there are parts that are a bit far fetched or that you need to suspend belief at some points but it didn’t bother me. I loved it so much!
I find myself wanting to start it over to see what I might have missed or didn’t clue into along the way lol
I will definitely recommend it to anyone for a fun read/listen and hope it becomes a movie lol
I’m not incredibly educated in politics/history and yet this held my attention. I didn’t want to have to pause listening.
It’s very fast moving as Alice and her mother, Vivian (and others) try to stop a world wide disaster from happening.
It stays interesting as they move around the world and discuss history and politics and even if you don’t know what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 they give you enough information to understand the story.
It doesn’t discuss politics that much per se but political leaders are part of the story line.
Also hearing so much mandarin had me pulling it up on Duolingo to try a few words lol
This felt like a great movie could come from The Last Mandarin. Political thriller meets Indiana jones/The Mummy.
Some said there are parts that are a bit far fetched or that you need to suspend belief at some points but it didn’t bother me. I loved it so much!
I find myself wanting to start it over to see what I might have missed or didn’t clue into along the way lol
I will definitely recommend it to anyone for a fun read/listen and hope it becomes a movie lol
February 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Last Mandarin" by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung. After reading and loving Ms. Penny's previous co-write - with Hilary Clinton - I was eager to see what this book would bring. And boy, does it bring!
Part speculative fiction, part historical fiction; part adventure, this book has it all. And it's well crafted: you really cannot tell which author wrote which section (although I have a feeling I know, but I'll leave it up to other readers to figure it out).
Chinese dissident Vivien Li has been living in the United States ever since the days of Tiananmen Square. A political advisor now, she's a revered figure in the anti-Communist community. Her daughter, Alice, is a food blogger. A more unlikely pair you'll never meet. But they have to team up.
One day, every warning in the world goes off, every phone, every siren. And then they stop.
One day, every elevator in the world stops. Just stops. People are trapped. Then, they start again.
What next? Mass power failures?
Even though the same events occurred in China, the rest of the world knows, from evidence, that whatever is happening originates there. And politicians are unwilling or unable to stop whatever comes next.
Somehow, it is up to Vivien Li and Alice - following clues a la The DaVinci Code - to go back to China, back to the Square, back to everything that was left behind in order to stop the pending destruction.
High stakes is an understatement.
Highly recommended.
Part speculative fiction, part historical fiction; part adventure, this book has it all. And it's well crafted: you really cannot tell which author wrote which section (although I have a feeling I know, but I'll leave it up to other readers to figure it out).
Chinese dissident Vivien Li has been living in the United States ever since the days of Tiananmen Square. A political advisor now, she's a revered figure in the anti-Communist community. Her daughter, Alice, is a food blogger. A more unlikely pair you'll never meet. But they have to team up.
One day, every warning in the world goes off, every phone, every siren. And then they stop.
One day, every elevator in the world stops. Just stops. People are trapped. Then, they start again.
What next? Mass power failures?
Even though the same events occurred in China, the rest of the world knows, from evidence, that whatever is happening originates there. And politicians are unwilling or unable to stop whatever comes next.
Somehow, it is up to Vivien Li and Alice - following clues a la The DaVinci Code - to go back to China, back to the Square, back to everything that was left behind in order to stop the pending destruction.
High stakes is an understatement.
Highly recommended.
February 9, 2026
The Last Mandarin is a political thriller involving USA and China. The plot is a bit over the top but the story moves quickly. Terrorism and Chinese history play a prominent role, and much of the action takes place in China. The two presidents are given enough depth to their characters and are humanized by their thoughts and actions, although perhaps not very plausible. All in all, very entertaining.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The last Mandarin, Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung, authors
I have read Louise Penny’s “Three Pines” novels and fallen in love with Inspector Gamache and all the other characters with their flaws and quirks. Absent her sometimes too left-wing political bias, I look forward to every one of them as they are published. I was not sure how I would feel about this book, but to coin a phrase, this book was “a great leap forward”.
This collaborative novel kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. However, the reader must suspend disbelief to relax and enjoy the ride. It might be necessary, also, to have some knowledge about China’s history and the protests in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, in 1989. There are many scenes that, while really exciting, actually seem to defy common sense and/or reality, but they still play well. The reader will surely wonder, now how did that just happen? Without a real explanation, the story simply seems to move on smoothly as the reader accepts the narrative, even when it is a bit illogical. It just seems to consistently move forward.
Alice Li was meeting her mother Vivien for brunch in Washington DC. Their relationship had never been warm and fuzzy. Alice always felt like a disappointment to her mother. When Wi-Fi, internet, and all forms of communication were interrupted, occurring concurrently as alarms suddenly went off in the restaurant and all over the world, Alice and Vivien were rescued, much to the surprise of Alice. Further, they were soon whisked to the White House. The President wanted to know about Alice’s last email from her friend, Liam Palmer, an account rep at a food distribution company. Alice was a food blogger. Alice was confused. How did they know about her email? What did it have to do with the “cyberverse” terror attack that just occurred setting alarms off everywhere, at the exact same moment? It caused mayhem, accidents and injuries. How could she or Liam be involved? Alice did not receive many answers to her questions, except for the fact that Liam knew her mother, was working for the CIA, and they think he was murdered because he had discovered some vital information in his recent travels.
Using the clues in her email and the clues she spotted in the painting on a Chinese souvenir, a “li bien ball”, an artistic achievement in which a very thin brush is inserted into a glass sphere and a painting is made from the inside, Alice and her mother proceed to try and help the government find out who was responsible for setting off the alarms. Then, all over the world, the elevators stopped, successively. Soon they all began to fall resulting in mass casualties and deaths. Were there spies within the American government behind this? When the investigation discovered the technology causing these events came from China, it became obvious that there were spies/traitors in China as well. However, no one knew who or why these people were creating havoc with terror attacks.
The latest research in technology was into Artificial Predictive Artificial Intelligence. Might some rogue country or group have achieved that goal? It was thought to be the ultimate weapon as it could research all historical data and determine all future behavior. It was soon suspected that a group called Pangu had risen again to cause the havoc, but how would they obtain the enormous funds necessary for such research?
There is a back story to this conundrum. Alice’s parents, Liu Tongzheng, Vivien Li and her brother Kai-wan were activists during the riots of 1989, in and around Tiananmen Square. Kai-Wen, the still unidentified “Tank Man”, had stood in front of the approaching tanks and temporarily stopped them; he had been captured and was believed to be dead. When their protests failed, the activists/rioters started a group called Pangu to peacefully bring about change to China, but as time passed, Pangu was supposedly destroyed by Vivien when she realized it was moving in a more violent direction. There were however, unintended consequences. Some members remained loyal and it now seemed that it might once again be active, but this time, “peacefully” was not the group’s intent.
So, who was the leader of Pangu now? They must find out! Could Alice’s father be behind it? She always hoped he was alive, but she was told he was dead. What if he wasn’t? Could he be a traitor? Alice’s mind gropes for answers. None were satisfying. Can two unprepared, untrained women, a mother and a daughter, who have a fraught relationship, help stop a terrorist organization from achieving its goal? Can they actually outwit espionage and artificial intelligence specialists? Well, dear reader, you will have to read it to find out. The story is really creative as it utilizes so many real historic facts and even delves into the world of future technology and science fiction. I believe that it will captivate the reader as it travels from Washington DC to Hong Kong, to China, to Xi’an, to Taiwan, and Fish Bowl Island. It will not be a merry chase, but it will be an exciting one. The reader will be introduced to some interesting history and folk lore. The reader will enter a magnificent archeological site, filled with terracotta soldiers and find out why they are there.
The thrills and even the appropriate use of wit, in the midst of all the violence, will entertain the reader. It is a very creative thriller. Sentences were crafted to make the reader rush hither and yon, in one direction or another, always guessing. Innuendos were planted to create confusion and conflict. It examines human nature, the effects of protests, and the threat of our burgeoning, uncontrolled developing technology on society, as well. In the end, were fortune cookies messages superior to all the technological advances society has made? Further, have we reached the point where no one and nothing can be trusted?
I have read Louise Penny’s “Three Pines” novels and fallen in love with Inspector Gamache and all the other characters with their flaws and quirks. Absent her sometimes too left-wing political bias, I look forward to every one of them as they are published. I was not sure how I would feel about this book, but to coin a phrase, this book was “a great leap forward”.
This collaborative novel kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. However, the reader must suspend disbelief to relax and enjoy the ride. It might be necessary, also, to have some knowledge about China’s history and the protests in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, in 1989. There are many scenes that, while really exciting, actually seem to defy common sense and/or reality, but they still play well. The reader will surely wonder, now how did that just happen? Without a real explanation, the story simply seems to move on smoothly as the reader accepts the narrative, even when it is a bit illogical. It just seems to consistently move forward.
Alice Li was meeting her mother Vivien for brunch in Washington DC. Their relationship had never been warm and fuzzy. Alice always felt like a disappointment to her mother. When Wi-Fi, internet, and all forms of communication were interrupted, occurring concurrently as alarms suddenly went off in the restaurant and all over the world, Alice and Vivien were rescued, much to the surprise of Alice. Further, they were soon whisked to the White House. The President wanted to know about Alice’s last email from her friend, Liam Palmer, an account rep at a food distribution company. Alice was a food blogger. Alice was confused. How did they know about her email? What did it have to do with the “cyberverse” terror attack that just occurred setting alarms off everywhere, at the exact same moment? It caused mayhem, accidents and injuries. How could she or Liam be involved? Alice did not receive many answers to her questions, except for the fact that Liam knew her mother, was working for the CIA, and they think he was murdered because he had discovered some vital information in his recent travels.
Using the clues in her email and the clues she spotted in the painting on a Chinese souvenir, a “li bien ball”, an artistic achievement in which a very thin brush is inserted into a glass sphere and a painting is made from the inside, Alice and her mother proceed to try and help the government find out who was responsible for setting off the alarms. Then, all over the world, the elevators stopped, successively. Soon they all began to fall resulting in mass casualties and deaths. Were there spies within the American government behind this? When the investigation discovered the technology causing these events came from China, it became obvious that there were spies/traitors in China as well. However, no one knew who or why these people were creating havoc with terror attacks.
The latest research in technology was into Artificial Predictive Artificial Intelligence. Might some rogue country or group have achieved that goal? It was thought to be the ultimate weapon as it could research all historical data and determine all future behavior. It was soon suspected that a group called Pangu had risen again to cause the havoc, but how would they obtain the enormous funds necessary for such research?
There is a back story to this conundrum. Alice’s parents, Liu Tongzheng, Vivien Li and her brother Kai-wan were activists during the riots of 1989, in and around Tiananmen Square. Kai-Wen, the still unidentified “Tank Man”, had stood in front of the approaching tanks and temporarily stopped them; he had been captured and was believed to be dead. When their protests failed, the activists/rioters started a group called Pangu to peacefully bring about change to China, but as time passed, Pangu was supposedly destroyed by Vivien when she realized it was moving in a more violent direction. There were however, unintended consequences. Some members remained loyal and it now seemed that it might once again be active, but this time, “peacefully” was not the group’s intent.
So, who was the leader of Pangu now? They must find out! Could Alice’s father be behind it? She always hoped he was alive, but she was told he was dead. What if he wasn’t? Could he be a traitor? Alice’s mind gropes for answers. None were satisfying. Can two unprepared, untrained women, a mother and a daughter, who have a fraught relationship, help stop a terrorist organization from achieving its goal? Can they actually outwit espionage and artificial intelligence specialists? Well, dear reader, you will have to read it to find out. The story is really creative as it utilizes so many real historic facts and even delves into the world of future technology and science fiction. I believe that it will captivate the reader as it travels from Washington DC to Hong Kong, to China, to Xi’an, to Taiwan, and Fish Bowl Island. It will not be a merry chase, but it will be an exciting one. The reader will be introduced to some interesting history and folk lore. The reader will enter a magnificent archeological site, filled with terracotta soldiers and find out why they are there.
The thrills and even the appropriate use of wit, in the midst of all the violence, will entertain the reader. It is a very creative thriller. Sentences were crafted to make the reader rush hither and yon, in one direction or another, always guessing. Innuendos were planted to create confusion and conflict. It examines human nature, the effects of protests, and the threat of our burgeoning, uncontrolled developing technology on society, as well. In the end, were fortune cookies messages superior to all the technological advances society has made? Further, have we reached the point where no one and nothing can be trusted?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Readers seeking a fast-paced geopolitical thriller that has little to do with today’s current events may very well find much to enjoy in Louise Penny’s and Mellissa Fung’s “The Last Mandarin.” It’s a novel filled with twists and turns that reminded me of the escapist fiction of authors such as Ian Fleming, Dan Brown, Jeffrey Archer, and Tess Gerritsen.
Recent college graduate Alice Li has just begun her journalism career writing a food blog from her New York City apartment. That’s a huge disappointment for her mother, the indomitable Vivian Li, heroine of Tiananmen Square, leader of opposition to the Chinese Communist Party, and world-renowned human rights activist who now lives in DC and advises presidents and prime ministers. Surely, her daughter could find better ways to use her time. In Alice’s opinion, certainly her mother could thaw out, just a little, and then lighten up!
As mother and daughter trade barbs over brunch at an upscale DC hotel, alarms and sirens shriek. Not just inside the hotel, but outside on the street, and across the city, and in all 50 states, and in every country on earth. Someone has learned how to gain worldwide remote control of that machinery. If they can do that with sirens, what else might they be able to control? Who has done this? Could it be the Chinese? The Russians? Someone else? How and where will they next attack? And why has one of Alice’s fellow food bloggers (and secret love, albeit unrequited) just emailed her a photo of himself on Hong Kong’s Star Ferry? And why does the White House now want, immediately, to see both her mother and her?
Thus begins a high-concept tale of adventure propelled by high stakes (the fate of the world, actually) and filled with twists and turns that ranges from New York to DC to Hong Kong to the mainland of China. Like any of the “Indiana Jones” or “National Treasure” films, it’s a work that relies much more on plot than it does on character, setting, and/or beautifully constructed prose to keep audience attention. And here, as in those works, the plotting is often over the top, involving, as it does, conspiracies and cabals, the overthrow of governments, nuclear annihilation, Chinese mysticism, a long-dead emperor, and a millennia-old curse.
I did not think “The Last Emperor” was as good as it could have been. As I read, I was struck by a number of flaws. For example, at the beginning of the novel, neither of the two main characters is particularly likeable or sympathetic. To me, Alice seemed immature, sulky, and way too self-involved. Vivian seemed elitist, forbidding, inflexible, and incapable of growth. Secondary characters were one-dimensional. It’s difficult to become absorbed in a novel in which the characters themselves are not absorbing.
Throughout at least the first half of the novel, the writing struck me as very repetitive. The same points were made over and over again, to the extent that I found myself thinking with increasing frequency: All right! Enough! I get it already! At other points, I found the writing confusing, especially when it came to explaining who was, or might be, doing what and why.
I’d hoped to learn more about modern-day China and what day-to-day life is like under the CCP. Yes, the book “tells” readers time and time again how awful the government is. But it doesn’t “show” us how or why it’s awful. It simply assumes that we know. Showing us specific instances of its awfulness might have helped to flesh out, give depth to, and render sympathetic some of the characters.
Finally, as to plot, I thought some of the events were just too outlandish; “eye-rollingly” so. And, for all the twists and turns, there really were not very many surprises, especially since some solutions were telegraphed pages before being fully and finally revealed.
Bottom line? Readers who are able to suspend their disbelief and “just go with” this tale may be highly entertained. But those looking for a little bit more depth and believability may be disappointed.
My thanks to NetGalley, authors Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
Recent college graduate Alice Li has just begun her journalism career writing a food blog from her New York City apartment. That’s a huge disappointment for her mother, the indomitable Vivian Li, heroine of Tiananmen Square, leader of opposition to the Chinese Communist Party, and world-renowned human rights activist who now lives in DC and advises presidents and prime ministers. Surely, her daughter could find better ways to use her time. In Alice’s opinion, certainly her mother could thaw out, just a little, and then lighten up!
As mother and daughter trade barbs over brunch at an upscale DC hotel, alarms and sirens shriek. Not just inside the hotel, but outside on the street, and across the city, and in all 50 states, and in every country on earth. Someone has learned how to gain worldwide remote control of that machinery. If they can do that with sirens, what else might they be able to control? Who has done this? Could it be the Chinese? The Russians? Someone else? How and where will they next attack? And why has one of Alice’s fellow food bloggers (and secret love, albeit unrequited) just emailed her a photo of himself on Hong Kong’s Star Ferry? And why does the White House now want, immediately, to see both her mother and her?
Thus begins a high-concept tale of adventure propelled by high stakes (the fate of the world, actually) and filled with twists and turns that ranges from New York to DC to Hong Kong to the mainland of China. Like any of the “Indiana Jones” or “National Treasure” films, it’s a work that relies much more on plot than it does on character, setting, and/or beautifully constructed prose to keep audience attention. And here, as in those works, the plotting is often over the top, involving, as it does, conspiracies and cabals, the overthrow of governments, nuclear annihilation, Chinese mysticism, a long-dead emperor, and a millennia-old curse.
I did not think “The Last Emperor” was as good as it could have been. As I read, I was struck by a number of flaws. For example, at the beginning of the novel, neither of the two main characters is particularly likeable or sympathetic. To me, Alice seemed immature, sulky, and way too self-involved. Vivian seemed elitist, forbidding, inflexible, and incapable of growth. Secondary characters were one-dimensional. It’s difficult to become absorbed in a novel in which the characters themselves are not absorbing.
Throughout at least the first half of the novel, the writing struck me as very repetitive. The same points were made over and over again, to the extent that I found myself thinking with increasing frequency: All right! Enough! I get it already! At other points, I found the writing confusing, especially when it came to explaining who was, or might be, doing what and why.
I’d hoped to learn more about modern-day China and what day-to-day life is like under the CCP. Yes, the book “tells” readers time and time again how awful the government is. But it doesn’t “show” us how or why it’s awful. It simply assumes that we know. Showing us specific instances of its awfulness might have helped to flesh out, give depth to, and render sympathetic some of the characters.
Finally, as to plot, I thought some of the events were just too outlandish; “eye-rollingly” so. And, for all the twists and turns, there really were not very many surprises, especially since some solutions were telegraphed pages before being fully and finally revealed.
Bottom line? Readers who are able to suspend their disbelief and “just go with” this tale may be highly entertained. But those looking for a little bit more depth and believability may be disappointed.
My thanks to NetGalley, authors Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny (the bestselling Canadian author) and Mellissa Fung (an award-winning journalist and nonfiction writer) is an ambitious political thriller that blends global stakes with a deeply personal story about mothers and daughters. The novel is a standalone collaboration and not part of Penny’s well-known Inspector Gamache Series.
The story centers on Vivien Li, a former dissident who fled China after the Tiananmen Square protests and is now a prominent human-rights activist, and her daughter Alice, a Chinese-American food blogger who has long lived in her mother’s shadow.
When security and fire alarms around the world suddenly trigger at the same time, causing global panic, investigators trace the signal back to China. World leaders bring Vivien to the White House to help interpret what might be happening—but unexpectedly, Alice is asked to join the investigation as well. As the mystery deepens, they begin to suspect something even more alarming: if China isn’t responsible for the attack, it could mean that a hidden faction within the country has seized control.
Forced to work together despite their strained relationship, mother and daughter travel across multiple locations in an effort to stop another catastrophic event.
Although it’s a fast-paced thriller, the novel also explores themes of power, human rights and authoritarianism, political control, cultural identity, and memory.
What makes this collaboration interesting is the balance between the authors’ strengths. Penny brings the storytelling craft and emotional nuance readers know from her work, while Fung brings real-world geopolitical and human-rights insight from her journalism career that adds a sense of realism to the story. The result is a thriller that isn’t only about preventing a global crisis, but also about understanding the histories and relationships that shape the present.
At times the novel reads almost like a high-stakes political thriller on screen — with global tension, decisions made under impossible pressure, and the fate of millions depending on solving the mystery before time runs out. The complicated mother-daughter relationship at the center of the story adds emotional weight to what could otherwise be a purely plot-driven narrative.
If you enjoy thrillers with strong female characters and emotional layers that combine espionage, global politics, and character-driven drama, The Last Mandarin offers an intriguing blend of all three.
The story centers on Vivien Li, a former dissident who fled China after the Tiananmen Square protests and is now a prominent human-rights activist, and her daughter Alice, a Chinese-American food blogger who has long lived in her mother’s shadow.
When security and fire alarms around the world suddenly trigger at the same time, causing global panic, investigators trace the signal back to China. World leaders bring Vivien to the White House to help interpret what might be happening—but unexpectedly, Alice is asked to join the investigation as well. As the mystery deepens, they begin to suspect something even more alarming: if China isn’t responsible for the attack, it could mean that a hidden faction within the country has seized control.
Forced to work together despite their strained relationship, mother and daughter travel across multiple locations in an effort to stop another catastrophic event.
Although it’s a fast-paced thriller, the novel also explores themes of power, human rights and authoritarianism, political control, cultural identity, and memory.
What makes this collaboration interesting is the balance between the authors’ strengths. Penny brings the storytelling craft and emotional nuance readers know from her work, while Fung brings real-world geopolitical and human-rights insight from her journalism career that adds a sense of realism to the story. The result is a thriller that isn’t only about preventing a global crisis, but also about understanding the histories and relationships that shape the present.
At times the novel reads almost like a high-stakes political thriller on screen — with global tension, decisions made under impossible pressure, and the fate of millions depending on solving the mystery before time runs out. The complicated mother-daughter relationship at the center of the story adds emotional weight to what could otherwise be a purely plot-driven narrative.
If you enjoy thrillers with strong female characters and emotional layers that combine espionage, global politics, and character-driven drama, The Last Mandarin offers an intriguing blend of all three.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a long-time fan of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache novels, I anticipated the latest Penny book with much excitement. Now, I knew that Penny wrote The Last Mandarin with Mellissa Fung, and that it is a standalone thriller. I still believed that Penny’s superior writing skills would shine through regardless of changing up the usual setting and adding a co-author. I was disappointed.
The Last Mandarin concerns a Chinese-American mother, who is a political advisor to the White House and a Chinese dissident, joining her daughter on an international quest to stop a global crisis. Vivien and Alice, who have been fighting their entire lives, must travel to China after simultaneous alarms trigger worldwide panic. Then elevators around the world drop simultaneously! Vivien and Alice must figure out a way to get along so that they can prevent the next attack.
The novel felt like a combination Dan Brown/Indiana Jones book and political thriller – with an overabundance of coincidence and conspiracy. I did like the mother/daughter dynamic with Vivien and Alice, though it felt simplistic that Alice, the daughter, was a food blogger and suddenly uncovering an historical conspiracy while the leadership of the US and China waited for the duo to solve the enormous problem. Was there no one else competent who could have helped with this issue?!
Usually, Penny’s books are character-driven and focused on morality and relationships in the village of Three Pines or at least pertaining to that village. This fast paced, action heavy thriller surprised me in that plot was first and foremost while characterizations were minimal. We know that usually Penny’s books are not primarily focused on crime, but rather the mystery of human nature. In The Last Mandarin, Penny has written an entirely different type of novel.
Had I not read Penny’s other novels and loved them so, I would not have been disappointed in a rather run-of-the-mill action thriller which requires much suspension of disbelief. At times I could see Penny’s prose, especially in the formation of the mother/daughter relationship. But mostly this novel is a complete departure from the usual Louise Penny book. It is worth the read, but certainly change your expectations if you are a fan of Penny’s Gamache series.
My rating: 3 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
The Last Mandarin will be published on May 12, 2026.
The Last Mandarin concerns a Chinese-American mother, who is a political advisor to the White House and a Chinese dissident, joining her daughter on an international quest to stop a global crisis. Vivien and Alice, who have been fighting their entire lives, must travel to China after simultaneous alarms trigger worldwide panic. Then elevators around the world drop simultaneously! Vivien and Alice must figure out a way to get along so that they can prevent the next attack.
The novel felt like a combination Dan Brown/Indiana Jones book and political thriller – with an overabundance of coincidence and conspiracy. I did like the mother/daughter dynamic with Vivien and Alice, though it felt simplistic that Alice, the daughter, was a food blogger and suddenly uncovering an historical conspiracy while the leadership of the US and China waited for the duo to solve the enormous problem. Was there no one else competent who could have helped with this issue?!
Usually, Penny’s books are character-driven and focused on morality and relationships in the village of Three Pines or at least pertaining to that village. This fast paced, action heavy thriller surprised me in that plot was first and foremost while characterizations were minimal. We know that usually Penny’s books are not primarily focused on crime, but rather the mystery of human nature. In The Last Mandarin, Penny has written an entirely different type of novel.
Had I not read Penny’s other novels and loved them so, I would not have been disappointed in a rather run-of-the-mill action thriller which requires much suspension of disbelief. At times I could see Penny’s prose, especially in the formation of the mother/daughter relationship. But mostly this novel is a complete departure from the usual Louise Penny book. It is worth the read, but certainly change your expectations if you are a fan of Penny’s Gamache series.
My rating: 3 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
The Last Mandarin will be published on May 12, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This may very well be my favorite thriller of all time—and certainly my favorite of Louise Penny’s books. As a devoted reader of the Three Pines series, it has been remarkable to see what Penny can accomplish in a standalone, especially alongside a collaborator as sharp and experienced as Mellissa Fung. Together, they deliver a story that is both globally expansive and deeply personal.
The geopolitical stakes are staggering: coordinated worldwide alarms triggering chaos, fragile diplomacy, infiltrated inner circles, and the terrifying possibility of an unstable superpower. I found myself talking about this book constantly—about Pangu, about the frightening plausibility of the threat, about how world leaders actually communicate in moments of existential crisis. Even when illness forced me to set aside my ARC, the story lingered. Once Libro.fm granted me the ALC, I finished it in hours.
But what elevates this novel beyond spectacle is the relationship between Alice and Vivien. Vivien’s past—her escape from China, her years of dissent and survival—has hardened her into the formidable, uncompromising woman Alice sees. Living not only in Vivien’s home but in her shadow has shaped Alice in ways both painful and invisible. As the crisis escalates and the two are forced to move from city to city to prevent further catastrophe, we begin to see a shift. Vivien gradually recognizes that Alice is not merely a privileged child untouched by hardship, but an intelligent, capable woman—quick-thinking, perceptive, and an essential partner in unraveling the mystery. Their evolving dynamic adds emotional weight to every high-stakes scene.
Yes, the novel requires some suspension of disbelief, but it feels unsettlingly plausible in its portrayal of power, greed, and political instability. The plot is tightly constructed, with nearly every detail serving as a clue. And the climactic setting—almost fantastical in scope—feels cinematic, , without losing sight of the deeply human story at its center. It’s a thriller that delivers both adrenaline and emotional complexity in equal measure.
The geopolitical stakes are staggering: coordinated worldwide alarms triggering chaos, fragile diplomacy, infiltrated inner circles, and the terrifying possibility of an unstable superpower. I found myself talking about this book constantly—about Pangu, about the frightening plausibility of the threat, about how world leaders actually communicate in moments of existential crisis. Even when illness forced me to set aside my ARC, the story lingered. Once Libro.fm granted me the ALC, I finished it in hours.
But what elevates this novel beyond spectacle is the relationship between Alice and Vivien. Vivien’s past—her escape from China, her years of dissent and survival—has hardened her into the formidable, uncompromising woman Alice sees. Living not only in Vivien’s home but in her shadow has shaped Alice in ways both painful and invisible. As the crisis escalates and the two are forced to move from city to city to prevent further catastrophe, we begin to see a shift. Vivien gradually recognizes that Alice is not merely a privileged child untouched by hardship, but an intelligent, capable woman—quick-thinking, perceptive, and an essential partner in unraveling the mystery. Their evolving dynamic adds emotional weight to every high-stakes scene.
Yes, the novel requires some suspension of disbelief, but it feels unsettlingly plausible in its portrayal of power, greed, and political instability. The plot is tightly constructed, with nearly every detail serving as a clue. And the climactic setting—almost fantastical in scope—feels cinematic, , without losing sight of the deeply human story at its center. It’s a thriller that delivers both adrenaline and emotional complexity in equal measure.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Last Mandarin is a wonderful techno thriller that delivers tons of plot and cultural immersion.
Note: My review is based on the audiobook ARC/ALC, so please excuse any character names that may be spelled incorrectly.
Alice Li is a Chinese-American food blogger living in the shadow of her domineering and impossible-to-please mother.
Vivian Li is a prominent critic of the Chinese communist government and a hero of the Tiananmen Square protests.
Alice’s life is turned upside down when she and her mother are summoned to meet the US President following a worldwide attack where alarms across the world went off. The President knows her mother, and Alice realizes that her mother is much more than a critic. When the next wave of attacks raises the stakes, Alice and the rest of the world are in danger.
Alice has a lovely growth arc, from dreaming of a relationship with a friend she went to college with to becoming a dynamic protagonist.
The Last Mandarin does a masterful job of integrating Chinese historical events from the founding of unified China through contemporary Chinese history and politics. I love it when a book sends me down a rabbit hole, reading about events and figures from the work.
There is a large cast of characters, and we get lots of POVs
Was the technical and mechanical happening not realistic… yes. Was I able to roll with the punches and still enjoy the story? Also yes. Would it have helped if the authors had caveated and changed all systems to many — yes. In my mind, I switched it.
Five stars out of five. The Last Mandarin was a fantastic read that reminded me of the best aspects of Indiana Jones and Tom Clancy thrillers, with the pacing and gravitas of a Dan Brown thriller.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Note: My review is based on the audiobook ARC/ALC, so please excuse any character names that may be spelled incorrectly.
Alice Li is a Chinese-American food blogger living in the shadow of her domineering and impossible-to-please mother.
Vivian Li is a prominent critic of the Chinese communist government and a hero of the Tiananmen Square protests.
Alice’s life is turned upside down when she and her mother are summoned to meet the US President following a worldwide attack where alarms across the world went off. The President knows her mother, and Alice realizes that her mother is much more than a critic. When the next wave of attacks raises the stakes, Alice and the rest of the world are in danger.
Alice has a lovely growth arc, from dreaming of a relationship with a friend she went to college with to becoming a dynamic protagonist.
The Last Mandarin does a masterful job of integrating Chinese historical events from the founding of unified China through contemporary Chinese history and politics. I love it when a book sends me down a rabbit hole, reading about events and figures from the work.
There is a large cast of characters, and we get lots of POVs
Was the technical and mechanical happening not realistic… yes. Was I able to roll with the punches and still enjoy the story? Also yes. Would it have helped if the authors had caveated and changed all systems to many — yes. In my mind, I switched it.
Five stars out of five. The Last Mandarin was a fantastic read that reminded me of the best aspects of Indiana Jones and Tom Clancy thrillers, with the pacing and gravitas of a Dan Brown thriller.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was the first Louise Penny I have ever read, and I am excited to delve into some of her other collaborations.
I found this book to be quite engaging- there is a lot of political intrigue, but also some interesting information about Chinese history. I don't want to say too much more and ruin it for others, but needless to say it was a book that was both entertaining as well as informative as it relates to history and international relations.
The book centers around two women, Alice and her mother Vivian, whose relationship is strained and distant. When international concerns arise, both women are thrust into a world of political power and mistrust that has you questioning whom to believe. They end up in the center of a huge global threat and must work with leaders and citizens of both countries to try and protect from global disaster- all the while not knowing who to trust.
You can tell that the book was very researched with historical details throughout, and I thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth between China and the United States. There are an abundance of characters, but the way it is written makes it easy to keep track of all the various strands of the story as they slowly come together for an explosive and pulse-pounding ending.
I would suggest this book for anyone who enjoys a good political thriller that will keep you turning the pages and, if you're like me, will prompt you to look some things up after you finish reading to compare to the details in the book. I found the book unpredictable and engaging from start to finish, a solid read for anyone who enjoys fictional global intrigue.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be quite engaging- there is a lot of political intrigue, but also some interesting information about Chinese history. I don't want to say too much more and ruin it for others, but needless to say it was a book that was both entertaining as well as informative as it relates to history and international relations.
The book centers around two women, Alice and her mother Vivian, whose relationship is strained and distant. When international concerns arise, both women are thrust into a world of political power and mistrust that has you questioning whom to believe. They end up in the center of a huge global threat and must work with leaders and citizens of both countries to try and protect from global disaster- all the while not knowing who to trust.
You can tell that the book was very researched with historical details throughout, and I thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth between China and the United States. There are an abundance of characters, but the way it is written makes it easy to keep track of all the various strands of the story as they slowly come together for an explosive and pulse-pounding ending.
I would suggest this book for anyone who enjoys a good political thriller that will keep you turning the pages and, if you're like me, will prompt you to look some things up after you finish reading to compare to the details in the book. I found the book unpredictable and engaging from start to finish, a solid read for anyone who enjoys fictional global intrigue.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With thanks to Netgalley for the digital ARC.
The Last Mandarin is about a young Chinese American woman, a recent-ish journalism grad and content creator who is developing a food blog. Alice is burdened by her relationship with her far more accomplished mother, whom she calls by her first name, Vivien.
Vivien Li is a fascinating character: a political activist who had to leave China after Tiananmen Square, she is deeply involved in a network of connections to Chinese informants which makes her valuable to the U.S. government.
Vivien and Alice are having a fraught lunch in Washington, D.C. when, all of a sudden, alarms start ringing–literal ones. Everyone in the restaurant and the nearby vicinity is subject to the aural assault of phone, security, and fire alarms going off simultaneously. And it turns out that this is an engineered worldwide phenomenon, almost certainly controlled by China, although they are not taking immediate credit.
A car whisks Vivien and Alice to the White House where the younger woman learns, to her surprise, that she herself may unwittingly hold valuable information. A friend had texted her a crucial message that is challenging to decipher.
I’m going to stop there, because the novel’s not due out until May, and in a political thriller the twists and turns are a big part of the fun for readers. But I can tell you that this is an engaging mother-daughter story that globe-trots at a staccato pace. International political thrillers are not my favourite genre, but this is a strong one.
The Last Mandarin is about a young Chinese American woman, a recent-ish journalism grad and content creator who is developing a food blog. Alice is burdened by her relationship with her far more accomplished mother, whom she calls by her first name, Vivien.
Vivien Li is a fascinating character: a political activist who had to leave China after Tiananmen Square, she is deeply involved in a network of connections to Chinese informants which makes her valuable to the U.S. government.
Vivien and Alice are having a fraught lunch in Washington, D.C. when, all of a sudden, alarms start ringing–literal ones. Everyone in the restaurant and the nearby vicinity is subject to the aural assault of phone, security, and fire alarms going off simultaneously. And it turns out that this is an engineered worldwide phenomenon, almost certainly controlled by China, although they are not taking immediate credit.
A car whisks Vivien and Alice to the White House where the younger woman learns, to her surprise, that she herself may unwittingly hold valuable information. A friend had texted her a crucial message that is challenging to decipher.
I’m going to stop there, because the novel’s not due out until May, and in a political thriller the twists and turns are a big part of the fun for readers. But I can tell you that this is an engaging mother-daughter story that globe-trots at a staccato pace. International political thrillers are not my favourite genre, but this is a strong one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is quite the fast paced political thriller that made me afraid for the world and hope for calm minds, with inside connections, to address any potential world ending issues that might arise in real life. Alice and her mother racing around China trying to stop the end of the world dealing their relationship, reconnecting with lost friends and family, historical artifacts and stories, made for a rich plot with a lot happening.
I liked the story tying back to 'Tank Man' and the Tiananmen Square massacre and resistance as that is a familiar incident that the story can be based upon. This book was a lot of fun for me as I have travelled to China and Hong Kong and, I have seen the terracotta warriors and learned of the secret unopened tomb full of mercury and treasure. The described scenes, art and food all felt familiar and added to the overall impact.
The audio is narrated by Eunice Wong and she does an excellent job. I am very glad I did the audio version of the story. The Mandarin words, food names, place names, ancient language etc. in audio made for smoother listening as opposed to stumbled reading.
Those looking for the type of characters we have grown to love in Penny's other books will not find similar writing here. This book is a full political thriller with lots of characters and lots of intrigue keeping readers bouncing from location to location to various interactions.
On a minor note I appreciated the authors making various characters women such as: Generals, ship commanders, pilots etc. when it would have been easy to use standard male characters as most thrillers written by men contain.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the story tying back to 'Tank Man' and the Tiananmen Square massacre and resistance as that is a familiar incident that the story can be based upon. This book was a lot of fun for me as I have travelled to China and Hong Kong and, I have seen the terracotta warriors and learned of the secret unopened tomb full of mercury and treasure. The described scenes, art and food all felt familiar and added to the overall impact.
The audio is narrated by Eunice Wong and she does an excellent job. I am very glad I did the audio version of the story. The Mandarin words, food names, place names, ancient language etc. in audio made for smoother listening as opposed to stumbled reading.
Those looking for the type of characters we have grown to love in Penny's other books will not find similar writing here. This book is a full political thriller with lots of characters and lots of intrigue keeping readers bouncing from location to location to various interactions.
On a minor note I appreciated the authors making various characters women such as: Generals, ship commanders, pilots etc. when it would have been easy to use standard male characters as most thrillers written by men contain.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Last Mandarin is the work of two amazing women: Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung. Their paths have crossed many times and because of those paths they have become close friends. Who better to write a book with? Well, there’s always the chance that things can go sideways, that you won’t agree on a setting, a plot, the characters and the end. But all of the above have come together in a suspense thriller that works!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have to admit I found it was a bit rocky in the beginning and at times I was a bit confused as to whether I was in China or the USA but as it progressed I couldn’t put it down.
Alice and her mother Vivien Li do not have the closest of relationships. Vivien demands a lot of attention and wields her power the same way. Alice is a food blogger and aspires to be famous but so far she’s just plugging along. Her father passed away when she was a child and she has a brother. When she finds out her good friend, Kevin has passed away in China her suspicions are raised. After all, he was only a food distributor for a large company in Akron, OH. Just before he dies, he sends her a photo by phone of himself holding a coconut bun and she knows he’s deathly allergic to coconut. So begins the story of The Last Mandarin. It’s a book about love, mother-daughter relationships, traditions and political plots. I do love to read about Chinese history and traditions.
I don’t want to give too much away but suffice it to say, the plot thickens and at some times it may seem improbable but with the way the world and its technology is evolving, AI makes it seem it could be possible.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley and I thank both them and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have to admit I found it was a bit rocky in the beginning and at times I was a bit confused as to whether I was in China or the USA but as it progressed I couldn’t put it down.
Alice and her mother Vivien Li do not have the closest of relationships. Vivien demands a lot of attention and wields her power the same way. Alice is a food blogger and aspires to be famous but so far she’s just plugging along. Her father passed away when she was a child and she has a brother. When she finds out her good friend, Kevin has passed away in China her suspicions are raised. After all, he was only a food distributor for a large company in Akron, OH. Just before he dies, he sends her a photo by phone of himself holding a coconut bun and she knows he’s deathly allergic to coconut. So begins the story of The Last Mandarin. It’s a book about love, mother-daughter relationships, traditions and political plots. I do love to read about Chinese history and traditions.
I don’t want to give too much away but suffice it to say, the plot thickens and at some times it may seem improbable but with the way the world and its technology is evolving, AI makes it seem it could be possible.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley and I thank both them and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review it.
March 8, 2026
This political thriller tickled every sense of intrigue and warmth that I love about a good storyteller. The co-authors of Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung are not confused and giving us two different stories yet there is a cohesive stream of events from page one to the end that fulfills the Last Mandarin. The main story of a mother- daughter duo being thrust into international espionage, family drama and secrets, and a major threat of APAI (adaptive predictable artificial intelligence). Research was done to make us knowledgeable and not overwhelm us as it served the narrative.
It was great to learn the different geographical locations in China, Taiwan and America. My mouth watered almost every time a coconut bun was mentioned. You made me taste the local delicacy from your words only.
Narration was done by Eunice Wong and she fulfills the mission very well. We are able to distinguish voices between characters and appropriate accents and pronunciations.
I highly recommend this book to all who seek a trip down the rabbit hole and a roller coaster ride that happens in the dark. If you want a lost and found story, this is for you. If you want a good countdown doomsday story, this is for you. If you are finally identifying what your family member does for a living, this is a great story for you. This will be remembered for quite sometime.
Thanks to NetGalley and #macmillan #macmillanaudio for providing the advanced audio version in exchange for an honest review.
#TheLastMandarin #netgalley
5 stars
It was great to learn the different geographical locations in China, Taiwan and America. My mouth watered almost every time a coconut bun was mentioned. You made me taste the local delicacy from your words only.
Narration was done by Eunice Wong and she fulfills the mission very well. We are able to distinguish voices between characters and appropriate accents and pronunciations.
I highly recommend this book to all who seek a trip down the rabbit hole and a roller coaster ride that happens in the dark. If you want a lost and found story, this is for you. If you want a good countdown doomsday story, this is for you. If you are finally identifying what your family member does for a living, this is a great story for you. This will be remembered for quite sometime.
Thanks to NetGalley and #macmillan #macmillanaudio for providing the advanced audio version in exchange for an honest review.
#TheLastMandarin #netgalley
5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Last Mandarin is the second stand-alone thriller that Louise Penny has written with a co-author. In this case, Mellisa Fung, a Canadian journalist with CBC News. The book is quite different from her Armande Gamache series. It focuses much more on action than philosophy.
As with all thrillers, the plot requires a significant amount of suspended belief. Or at least, I hope it does. Alice Li is meeting her mother, Vivien Li, a famous Chinese dissident and now a human rights activist, for breakfast in DC. All of a sudden, alarms are going off everywhere, like around the world everywhere. When both women are called to a meeting at the White House, Alice learns a friend of hers was actually a spy and she was the recipient of his last message before his death. The signal for the event is traced back to China. The question is whether it was instigated by the Chinese government or a faction opposed to that government.
Things move at a brisk pace from there. The story focuses on Alice and Vivien, but also gives us glimpses into the POVs of both the American and Chinese presidents. I was pleased that both presidents come across as fleshed out and not cliches.
In addition to the international drama, the authors also focus on the fraught mother-daughter relationship.
I was a huge fan of State of Terror, mainly because it felt believable. This was less successful for me, although it’s good entertainment. I appreciated the way the authors wove the history of the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, into the story.
I was lucky enough to have advance copies of both the e-book and audiobook. Eunice Wong was a good narrator and I appreciated learning the correct pronunciation of many Chinese words. Plus, audiobooks always tend to provide that extra oomph of tension to a thriller.
My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for advance copies of this book.
As with all thrillers, the plot requires a significant amount of suspended belief. Or at least, I hope it does. Alice Li is meeting her mother, Vivien Li, a famous Chinese dissident and now a human rights activist, for breakfast in DC. All of a sudden, alarms are going off everywhere, like around the world everywhere. When both women are called to a meeting at the White House, Alice learns a friend of hers was actually a spy and she was the recipient of his last message before his death. The signal for the event is traced back to China. The question is whether it was instigated by the Chinese government or a faction opposed to that government.
Things move at a brisk pace from there. The story focuses on Alice and Vivien, but also gives us glimpses into the POVs of both the American and Chinese presidents. I was pleased that both presidents come across as fleshed out and not cliches.
In addition to the international drama, the authors also focus on the fraught mother-daughter relationship.
I was a huge fan of State of Terror, mainly because it felt believable. This was less successful for me, although it’s good entertainment. I appreciated the way the authors wove the history of the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, into the story.
I was lucky enough to have advance copies of both the e-book and audiobook. Eunice Wong was a good narrator and I appreciated learning the correct pronunciation of many Chinese words. Plus, audiobooks always tend to provide that extra oomph of tension to a thriller.
My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for advance copies of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a wonderful duo Louise Penny and Melisa Fung make when it comes to creating a riveting nail biter of a read.I The Last Mandarin could not take place anywhere more different or farther from Three Pines, but the writing is magnificent and the story is compelling. I found the Chinese history and myths fascinating.
Alice Li is a blogger, a first generation Chinese-American, and learns she knows very little about her about her own parents. Her mother, Vivien, was a dissident who escaped China after Tianamenn Square, but is now a human rights activist in the U.S. Alice receives a short cryptic video from a friend on business in China and learns the next day he is dead.
Meanwhile, security and fire alarms mysteriously of of around the world creating world-wide panic. While all of the world leaders are frantic to ease the panic, Alice and Vivien are asked to come to the White House. The signal causing the outage has been traced to China, and Vivien has been an advisor to world leaders concerning China.
The panic has just begun, and the two women find themselves in the midst of it all in China - in the middle of all the intrigue and action, depending on strangers and family members to save the world.
The Last Mandarin is fast paced, fabulously written and nearly impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Sarah Melnyk at Minotaur Books for the ARC of The Last Mandarin.
Alice Li is a blogger, a first generation Chinese-American, and learns she knows very little about her about her own parents. Her mother, Vivien, was a dissident who escaped China after Tianamenn Square, but is now a human rights activist in the U.S. Alice receives a short cryptic video from a friend on business in China and learns the next day he is dead.
Meanwhile, security and fire alarms mysteriously of of around the world creating world-wide panic. While all of the world leaders are frantic to ease the panic, Alice and Vivien are asked to come to the White House. The signal causing the outage has been traced to China, and Vivien has been an advisor to world leaders concerning China.
The panic has just begun, and the two women find themselves in the midst of it all in China - in the middle of all the intrigue and action, depending on strangers and family members to save the world.
The Last Mandarin is fast paced, fabulously written and nearly impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Sarah Melnyk at Minotaur Books for the ARC of The Last Mandarin.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you.
What a great read. Very fast paced, intrigue, politics, paranoia, history and some great twists, what more could anyone ask for!
Alice and her mother, Vivian have a strained relationship. Her mother is a famous and respected Chinese dissident and often is a consultant when there is a crisis between the nations.
When worldwide, national alerting systems and all other sorts of alarms go off simultaneously, fear and panic strike all. The source is pinpointed to China, and no one had a clue it was coming. Much to Alice's surprise, both she and her mother are summoned to the White House. Alice was summoned because a friend she held very dear, was in China and she was the last person he contacted. It isn't long before another worldwide threat is exposed. Fear mounts as everyone worries what will be next. Their meeting causes Vivian to suspect the worst and she decides it is time to return to China and meet with her contacts. Alice, discovering her mother has gone, follows. Tensions mount as they uncover more connections, fight tradition and superstition. They are in a race to save the world, and who to trust changes every moment.
Lots of actions, some great background facts and the host of characters make this a really good book.
What a great read. Very fast paced, intrigue, politics, paranoia, history and some great twists, what more could anyone ask for!
Alice and her mother, Vivian have a strained relationship. Her mother is a famous and respected Chinese dissident and often is a consultant when there is a crisis between the nations.
When worldwide, national alerting systems and all other sorts of alarms go off simultaneously, fear and panic strike all. The source is pinpointed to China, and no one had a clue it was coming. Much to Alice's surprise, both she and her mother are summoned to the White House. Alice was summoned because a friend she held very dear, was in China and she was the last person he contacted. It isn't long before another worldwide threat is exposed. Fear mounts as everyone worries what will be next. Their meeting causes Vivian to suspect the worst and she decides it is time to return to China and meet with her contacts. Alice, discovering her mother has gone, follows. Tensions mount as they uncover more connections, fight tradition and superstition. They are in a race to save the world, and who to trust changes every moment.
Lots of actions, some great background facts and the host of characters make this a really good book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This writing duo has put together a top notch political thriller that will leave you breathless. It’s fast-paced and intellectually provocative. It’s incredibly rich in history and symbolism, much like the Chinese culture itself. Where superstitions can influence even a powerful leader in his decisions. Every step of this story is shrouded in mystery and intrigue while taking you on a ride through Chinese history.
It seems that the world’s future sits on the shoulders of Vivien and Alice Li. A mother and daughter who have never seen eye to eye. But they must put aside the failures of their relationship and partner together. Even while fearing for their lives, they must keep searching for the truth. Meanwhile, US President Pardington and Chinese President Chen, world adversaries, discover betrayal and treason among their ranks. Can they trust each other? In search of the truth, they must ask themselves, “Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?”
I love the Gamache series by Louise Penny, but this is my first time reading Mellissa Fung. For me this is several notches better than a Gamache story. I hope they collaborate again!
Thank you Louise Penny, Mellissa Fung and Netgalley for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.
It seems that the world’s future sits on the shoulders of Vivien and Alice Li. A mother and daughter who have never seen eye to eye. But they must put aside the failures of their relationship and partner together. Even while fearing for their lives, they must keep searching for the truth. Meanwhile, US President Pardington and Chinese President Chen, world adversaries, discover betrayal and treason among their ranks. Can they trust each other? In search of the truth, they must ask themselves, “Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?”
I love the Gamache series by Louise Penny, but this is my first time reading Mellissa Fung. For me this is several notches better than a Gamache story. I hope they collaborate again!
Thank you Louise Penny, Mellissa Fung and Netgalley for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
* Audiobook Version*
Full of sharp angles, whiplash turns and heart racing anticipation, The Last Mandarin delivers on every level. This is a five star plus read; if you’re looking for a fluffy thriller, this is not it.
The novel weaves world history with political espionage, a terrorist cell armed with advanced AI hidden for decades beneath China and global powers scrambling to uncover traitors in their midst. Against this backdrop, a mother-daughter duo risks everything to prevent catastrophe, all unfolding in what the authors themselves call “brilliance and lunacy.”
Eunice Wong’s narration is masterful. She moves effortlessly from character to character, each with distinct accents and emotional textures. Her tone, inflection and depth add layers the print version alone couldn’t provide. The story is complex and dense enough that reading might be easier for some, but Wong’s performance is so exceptional I wouldn’t want to miss it. Just don’t expect to multitask, this audiobook demands your full attention, and it earns it. Take it slowly, let it unfold and you’ll find the experience richly rewarding.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and the authors for the advanced listening version. All comments are mine alone.
Full of sharp angles, whiplash turns and heart racing anticipation, The Last Mandarin delivers on every level. This is a five star plus read; if you’re looking for a fluffy thriller, this is not it.
The novel weaves world history with political espionage, a terrorist cell armed with advanced AI hidden for decades beneath China and global powers scrambling to uncover traitors in their midst. Against this backdrop, a mother-daughter duo risks everything to prevent catastrophe, all unfolding in what the authors themselves call “brilliance and lunacy.”
Eunice Wong’s narration is masterful. She moves effortlessly from character to character, each with distinct accents and emotional textures. Her tone, inflection and depth add layers the print version alone couldn’t provide. The story is complex and dense enough that reading might be easier for some, but Wong’s performance is so exceptional I wouldn’t want to miss it. Just don’t expect to multitask, this audiobook demands your full attention, and it earns it. Take it slowly, let it unfold and you’ll find the experience richly rewarding.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and the authors for the advanced listening version. All comments are mine alone.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. To be perfectly clear, espionage novels are not something I typically reach for, but I really ended up enjoying this one.
The plot and pacing are intense right out of the gate. This book is a run, not a walk, and I loved that about it. It did take me a bit to finish, but not because of the story itself. I just kept forgetting to bring the book with me when I left the house (a true tragedy).
The characters are well developed, and even with their flaws, you see real growth and warmth over the course of the story. The relationship between Alice and her mother, Vivienne, starts off rigid and distant, but their journey together allows them to truly see and understand each other. I especially loved the moments where they each, at different times, come to the same realization about the other. It was subtle and really well done.
From reconnecting with lost loves to racing to prevent a nuclear disaster, this story runs the full gauntlet and fully immerses the reader in its world.
Dare I say it…? I’m giving The Last Mandarin 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a book I would happily sit down and read again, and one I’d recommend to anyone looking for an espionage story with real emotional depth.
The plot and pacing are intense right out of the gate. This book is a run, not a walk, and I loved that about it. It did take me a bit to finish, but not because of the story itself. I just kept forgetting to bring the book with me when I left the house (a true tragedy).
The characters are well developed, and even with their flaws, you see real growth and warmth over the course of the story. The relationship between Alice and her mother, Vivienne, starts off rigid and distant, but their journey together allows them to truly see and understand each other. I especially loved the moments where they each, at different times, come to the same realization about the other. It was subtle and really well done.
From reconnecting with lost loves to racing to prevent a nuclear disaster, this story runs the full gauntlet and fully immerses the reader in its world.
Dare I say it…? I’m giving The Last Mandarin 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a book I would happily sit down and read again, and one I’d recommend to anyone looking for an espionage story with real emotional depth.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THE LAST MANDARIN is a scary, wild adventure with relatable heroes I’d love to be friends with. Disasters hit, each worse than the last, and trying to stop the final, unimaginable one, is like a game of chess, with the pieces playing hide and seek in a maze of mirrors as a whirlwind takes one’s breath away and even the tiniest clue matters. The stakes are high, the casualties horrifying, a reminder of the saying that "When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”
Whom to trust? Double agents in U.S. and China make it hard to tell friend from foe, even, as Alice discovers, within her own family. Changes in POV, time, and place make this thriller even more complex, but never fear . . . details I found confusing were satisfyingly explained by the next twist in the plot. Reconciliations provide healing, and there is rest and good food after each struggle.
The details and descriptions are wonderfully written, with beautiful insights into China. This book, the result of a wonderful partnership, is deserving of a second reading, for savoring, perhaps accompanied by noodles and coconut buns.
Whom to trust? Double agents in U.S. and China make it hard to tell friend from foe, even, as Alice discovers, within her own family. Changes in POV, time, and place make this thriller even more complex, but never fear . . . details I found confusing were satisfyingly explained by the next twist in the plot. Reconciliations provide healing, and there is rest and good food after each struggle.
The details and descriptions are wonderfully written, with beautiful insights into China. This book, the result of a wonderful partnership, is deserving of a second reading, for savoring, perhaps accompanied by noodles and coconut buns.
March 22, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.
This is an edge of your seat, fast moving political thriller. It is the kind of book you find yourself staying up til the early hours of the morning because you can’t seem to put it down to go to sleep.
Honestly, thrillers are not my usual book genre. But I was compelled to read this one because I happened to be in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square student-led pro-democracy protests in 1989. So the heart of this book was very personal for me. And there was a thrill that one of the characters was the young “tank-man” immortalized in photos who stood up to the long line of Chinese military tanks.
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To say the story line is intricate is putting it mildly. It conjures very vivid images for the reader, and invites history, legend, politics, and archaeology as very important participants in the story. I can definitely see this novel turned into a film. A large budget, star studded blockbuster movie with Michelle Yeoh leading the cast as Vivien Li. I would be first in line to buy a ticket for that.
This is an edge of your seat, fast moving political thriller. It is the kind of book you find yourself staying up til the early hours of the morning because you can’t seem to put it down to go to sleep.
Honestly, thrillers are not my usual book genre. But I was compelled to read this one because I happened to be in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square student-led pro-democracy protests in 1989. So the heart of this book was very personal for me. And there was a thrill that one of the characters was the young “tank-man” immortalized in photos who stood up to the long line of Chinese military tanks.
To say the story line is intricate is putting it mildly. It conjures very vivid images for the reader, and invites history, legend, politics, and archaeology as very important participants in the story. I can definitely see this novel turned into a film. A large budget, star studded blockbuster movie with Michelle Yeoh leading the cast as Vivien Li. I would be first in line to buy a ticket for that.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow, so what a book, quite different than the Gamache novels. Political, treason, fast paced, and what-if-this-really-could-happen drama. For those familiar with the Three Pines, this is not it, it is much darker. Definitely do recommend, just know that it is not at all like those stories.
Alice and her mother Vivien (who seem to be somewhat estranged) are having breakfast when alarms go off all over the world. Another attack, and the realization that something "big" is about to happen. China is pinpointed as to blame, and the story moves between the White House, the Chinese President, and Alice and her family. It is scary to think that AI could take over and things could go very wrong, especially in this lifetime, in the hands of the wrong people.
The story is one that you need to pay attention to-there are lots of moving parts and people. Lots of history and intrigue. Will it be a blockbuster? That remains to be seen.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ms Penny & Ms Fung, and of course, St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alice and her mother Vivien (who seem to be somewhat estranged) are having breakfast when alarms go off all over the world. Another attack, and the realization that something "big" is about to happen. China is pinpointed as to blame, and the story moves between the White House, the Chinese President, and Alice and her family. It is scary to think that AI could take over and things could go very wrong, especially in this lifetime, in the hands of the wrong people.
The story is one that you need to pay attention to-there are lots of moving parts and people. Lots of history and intrigue. Will it be a blockbuster? That remains to be seen.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ms Penny & Ms Fung, and of course, St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
4.5 rounded up.
I was already a big fan of Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series, which is very character-driven. Similar to how those books always have a cultural element to them (related to Canadian – or more specifically often Quebecois - history), Chinese history is a major element of this story. This thriller was engaging from the start. The story develops nicely from starting with our main character and then gradually expands. We see what happens not only to her but to a few other key figures when the world is undergoing a series of terrorist attacks. There are a number of ‘big reveals’, a few of which I had expected. In addition to the gripping action-filled plot, I enjoyed seeing the evolving relationship between the main character and her mother, and their individual character arcs. As a thriller, I expect some parts to be over the top and unrealistic, but it was still a fun ride.
This is my honest review, and I am posting it voluntarily. Thanks to the author & publisher for the giveaway opportunity that enabled me to win an ARC of this book.
I was already a big fan of Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series, which is very character-driven. Similar to how those books always have a cultural element to them (related to Canadian – or more specifically often Quebecois - history), Chinese history is a major element of this story. This thriller was engaging from the start. The story develops nicely from starting with our main character and then gradually expands. We see what happens not only to her but to a few other key figures when the world is undergoing a series of terrorist attacks. There are a number of ‘big reveals’, a few of which I had expected. In addition to the gripping action-filled plot, I enjoyed seeing the evolving relationship between the main character and her mother, and their individual character arcs. As a thriller, I expect some parts to be over the top and unrealistic, but it was still a fun ride.
This is my honest review, and I am posting it voluntarily. Thanks to the author & publisher for the giveaway opportunity that enabled me to win an ARC of this book.
March 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung. A sudden, coordinated wave of system alarms across the globe sparks fears of a massive cyberattack linked to China, pushing international tensions to the brink. As governments scramble to respond, Chinese dissident Vivien Li and her estranged daughter Alice are unexpectedly drawn into the center of the crisis. Reluctantly working together, they follow a trail of hidden messages, political intrigue, and a mysterious ancient women’s language that may hold the key to what’s really happening.
As the stakes rise, the story weaves together high-level geopolitical danger with the deeply personal story of a fractured mother–daughter relationship. Their journey across continents forces them to confront both global threats and their own past, exploring themes of power, loyalty, and the fragile connections that shape both families and nations.
Well written, fast paced, great characters and an overall very good story kept me very engaged.
The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung. A sudden, coordinated wave of system alarms across the globe sparks fears of a massive cyberattack linked to China, pushing international tensions to the brink. As governments scramble to respond, Chinese dissident Vivien Li and her estranged daughter Alice are unexpectedly drawn into the center of the crisis. Reluctantly working together, they follow a trail of hidden messages, political intrigue, and a mysterious ancient women’s language that may hold the key to what’s really happening.
As the stakes rise, the story weaves together high-level geopolitical danger with the deeply personal story of a fractured mother–daughter relationship. Their journey across continents forces them to confront both global threats and their own past, exploring themes of power, loyalty, and the fragile connections that shape both families and nations.
Well written, fast paced, great characters and an overall very good story kept me very engaged.
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