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Silent Reading: Mo Du (Novel) #3
Silent Reading: Mo Du (Novel) Vol. 3
“WHAT, CAN THE DEVIL SPEAK TRUE?” – MACBETH
When a powerful business magnate dies in a mysterious car crash, the stability of his empire collapses overnight. Days later, his eldest son is kidnapped, forcing Luo Wenzhou and his team into a treacherous investigation where every lead is undermined by the tycoon’s colleagues—and even by his own surviving children.
As the scope of the case widens, Luo Wenzhou must navigate secrets and betrayals worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy.
Fei Du is crucial to the investigation, particularly because he is close friends with another of the businessman’s sons. Luo Wenzhou may still be guessing at Fei Du’s true motivations, but he has no choice: he must work with him on this confounding case—and the partnership may drive him closer to Fei Du than ever before.
When a powerful business magnate dies in a mysterious car crash, the stability of his empire collapses overnight. Days later, his eldest son is kidnapped, forcing Luo Wenzhou and his team into a treacherous investigation where every lead is undermined by the tycoon’s colleagues—and even by his own surviving children.
As the scope of the case widens, Luo Wenzhou must navigate secrets and betrayals worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy.
Fei Du is crucial to the investigation, particularly because he is close friends with another of the businessman’s sons. Luo Wenzhou may still be guessing at Fei Du’s true motivations, but he has no choice: he must work with him on this confounding case—and the partnership may drive him closer to Fei Du than ever before.
340 pages, Paperback
Published June 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 7, 2026
5 🌟
[✨spoilers interwoven, TLDR at the end ✨]
I’m mostly going to talk about the relationship development here. I think by this part of the FTL, after this volume, though I hadn’t finished reading the entire series, I knew this was going to end up being my favourite danmei series. A big part of that was naturally because of the world, and the intricate details of the crimes and just how everything comes together. A bigger part is because of the characters.
In volume 1, we get Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou being mostly at odds with each other. In volume 2, we get some form of mutual understanding and friendship, which becomes flirtatious but uncertain and almost unserious in that aspect. In this volume, it ramps up and becomes something neither can ignore. The hospital scene after the explosion, where Luo Wenzhou announced in front of the nurse, his parents, and Tao Ran, just who he felt Fei Du was to him, is genuinely my favourite scene in the whole series. It was such a beautiful turning point. Things had been uncertain between them before, because Luo Wenzhou couldn’t put his finger on Fei Du’s intentions, but then in that moment he’d decided to take a leap of faith and just say what was in his heart. He was going to make things work, and Fei Du, who can flirt in his sleep but is paralysed by genuine affection, was going to like it.
I’ve seen so much discourse on how this official translation of the series is different and ‘worse’ than the fan translation, and admittedly I didn’t particularly agree or disagree, probably because it’d been over a year between the time I’d read the FTL and volume 1 of this translation so couldn’t remember any finer details, but I knew once I’d read this volume I’d be able to agree or disagree firmly.
This is good, but the FTL is better.
I knew this volume would sway me one way or another because of my favourite scene being in it. I briefly compared the FTL version to the official version, and truly there isn’t much difference in the wording and feel of the scene, but I think the choice to say, “He’s my husband”, instead of “He’s my lover”, was absolutely the wrong choice.
I don’t know much about translations, or what is taken into consideration when certain words or phrases are put together. However, like I’ve said, this scene to me was so powerful because Luo Wenzhou was demonstrating his commitment here, because he was acknowledging his feelings in front of a stranger, his friend, and his parents. In that sense, how does ‘husband’ compare to ‘lover’? Calling Fei Du his lover fits better because it fits the rawness of the scene. He was physically and emotionally wounded, and ‘lover’, to me, reflects that emotion more deeply. Husband is a great term, sure, but to me it just changed the gravity of the scene to something less emotional and more stale(?). I think that’s too harsh of a word but I can’t think of anything else.
But even by the end of the book, they aren’t official, but Luo Wenzhou has made his intentions clear. Husband is used too prematurely, for two people who aren’t together, but feel something for each other, but haven’t defined it. Lover is better.
I can’t believe I’m discussing just one word, but it really changed the scene in my opinion!
One final thought…I sometimes listen to Tyler the Creator’s “Like Him”, ‘the best part looped’ on repeat sometimes, because I think the lyrics really fit Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou’s relationship.
I’ll paste the essay I wrote in my notes about that after volume 5 or 6 😭
Tldr; loved this volume, absolutely no notes, complaints, or comments, except for one about the single word they changed in my literal favourite scene.
[✨spoilers interwoven, TLDR at the end ✨]
I’m mostly going to talk about the relationship development here. I think by this part of the FTL, after this volume, though I hadn’t finished reading the entire series, I knew this was going to end up being my favourite danmei series. A big part of that was naturally because of the world, and the intricate details of the crimes and just how everything comes together. A bigger part is because of the characters.
In volume 1, we get Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou being mostly at odds with each other. In volume 2, we get some form of mutual understanding and friendship, which becomes flirtatious but uncertain and almost unserious in that aspect. In this volume, it ramps up and becomes something neither can ignore. The hospital scene after the explosion, where Luo Wenzhou announced in front of the nurse, his parents, and Tao Ran, just who he felt Fei Du was to him, is genuinely my favourite scene in the whole series. It was such a beautiful turning point. Things had been uncertain between them before, because Luo Wenzhou couldn’t put his finger on Fei Du’s intentions, but then in that moment he’d decided to take a leap of faith and just say what was in his heart. He was going to make things work, and Fei Du, who can flirt in his sleep but is paralysed by genuine affection, was going to like it.
I’ve seen so much discourse on how this official translation of the series is different and ‘worse’ than the fan translation, and admittedly I didn’t particularly agree or disagree, probably because it’d been over a year between the time I’d read the FTL and volume 1 of this translation so couldn’t remember any finer details, but I knew once I’d read this volume I’d be able to agree or disagree firmly.
This is good, but the FTL is better.
I knew this volume would sway me one way or another because of my favourite scene being in it. I briefly compared the FTL version to the official version, and truly there isn’t much difference in the wording and feel of the scene, but I think the choice to say, “He’s my husband”, instead of “He’s my lover”, was absolutely the wrong choice.
I don’t know much about translations, or what is taken into consideration when certain words or phrases are put together. However, like I’ve said, this scene to me was so powerful because Luo Wenzhou was demonstrating his commitment here, because he was acknowledging his feelings in front of a stranger, his friend, and his parents. In that sense, how does ‘husband’ compare to ‘lover’? Calling Fei Du his lover fits better because it fits the rawness of the scene. He was physically and emotionally wounded, and ‘lover’, to me, reflects that emotion more deeply. Husband is a great term, sure, but to me it just changed the gravity of the scene to something less emotional and more stale(?). I think that’s too harsh of a word but I can’t think of anything else.
But even by the end of the book, they aren’t official, but Luo Wenzhou has made his intentions clear. Husband is used too prematurely, for two people who aren’t together, but feel something for each other, but haven’t defined it. Lover is better.
I can’t believe I’m discussing just one word, but it really changed the scene in my opinion!
One final thought…I sometimes listen to Tyler the Creator’s “Like Him”, ‘the best part looped’ on repeat sometimes, because I think the lyrics really fit Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou’s relationship.
I’ll paste the essay I wrote in my notes about that after volume 5 or 6 😭
Tldr; loved this volume, absolutely no notes, complaints, or comments, except for one about the single word they changed in my literal favourite scene.
July 2, 2026
enjoyed it a lot. the case is cool but the relationship shines in this one. i'm excited for the fourth volume.
July 26, 2026
"Human consciousness is like flowing water, in a constant state of flux. Death is its final direction. Unless you can consciously understand and control that entire process, your life isn't yours. It's not in your possession. Every change is your perception diverging from you, and in every moment, you're dying. The only thing that doesn't change is that lump of carbon-based matter that makes up your mortal shell. Having feelings about that shell is like thinking of the pork on your plate as human, wouldn't you say? It's delusional, darling."
I had a really good time with this volume, even if I didn’t find it as exciting as the first two. Before getting into the story, I want to mention the physical book because I always notice these things. The cover isn’t anything special, but it works for a modern detective series and still looks nice on its own. One thing I did notice right away was the paper quality. The last two Seven Seas books I received had noticeably thicker pages, and I even mentioned that in my other reviews. This volume has thinner paper, and the book itself feels slimmer because of it. It isn’t a huge complaint, but it was something that stood out to me. As for the ending, I actually like where it stopped. It gave enough closure to leave me satisfied while still making me excited to pick up the next volume. I never felt like it was forcing a dramatic ending just to make me buy the next book, and I appreciate that.
The relationship between Luo Wenzhou and Fei Du is probably what surprised me the most. At some point, everything between them just clicked, and I honestly have no idea when it happened. Fei Du seemed just as confused, and I felt the same while reading. I do like Fei Du, but he’s still missing something for me that I can’t quite put into words. Maybe it’s because he keeps so much of himself hidden. He reminds me a little of Shen Wei because of that, but I connected with Shen Wei’s emotions almost immediately. With Fei Du, I’m still waiting for that moment. I’m not writing him off because there are still several books left, and I know priest likes taking her time with her characters. Luo Wenzhou, though, has completely won me over. Every time he’s on the page, I’m interested in what he’s thinking or what he’s about to do. I love his personality, his confidence, his sarcastic comments, and seeing how his mind works once everything starts falling into place. He’s easily my favorite character so far. Another thing I always enjoy about priest’s writing is the dialogue. It’s probably my favorite part of her books because every conversation feels natural, meaningful, and full of personality. Even the side characters never feel like they’re only there to push the investigation forward. They all have their own motivations, their own emotions, and enough depth that I actually care about what happens to them.
One thing I continue to love about this series is how every volume has its own case while quietly building something much bigger in the background. It reminds me of Detective Conan, which is one of my favorite things about detective/cop stories. Watching separate investigations slowly connect is always so satisfying. I don’t think this particular case grabbed me as much as the previous ones, but I still found myself completely invested because I care about the people involved. I also love how much this volume focused on family and everything people inherit from those who came before them. It wasn’t only about money or status. It was also about trauma, expectations, personality, and the emotional baggage children carry into adulthood. Priest has always been great at writing morally complicated characters, and I’m reminded why I love her books so much. Nobody feels completely good or completely evil, and I found myself understanding people even when I couldn’t agree with their choices. The mystery stayed engaging because it didn’t rely on shocking reveals every few chapters. It slowly unfolded piece by piece, and I genuinely enjoyed putting everything together alongside the characters. Even though this wasn’t my favorite volume so far, it left me excited to see where the story goes next.
Date Read: 2026.07.26
I had a really good time with this volume, even if I didn’t find it as exciting as the first two. Before getting into the story, I want to mention the physical book because I always notice these things. The cover isn’t anything special, but it works for a modern detective series and still looks nice on its own. One thing I did notice right away was the paper quality. The last two Seven Seas books I received had noticeably thicker pages, and I even mentioned that in my other reviews. This volume has thinner paper, and the book itself feels slimmer because of it. It isn’t a huge complaint, but it was something that stood out to me. As for the ending, I actually like where it stopped. It gave enough closure to leave me satisfied while still making me excited to pick up the next volume. I never felt like it was forcing a dramatic ending just to make me buy the next book, and I appreciate that.
The relationship between Luo Wenzhou and Fei Du is probably what surprised me the most. At some point, everything between them just clicked, and I honestly have no idea when it happened. Fei Du seemed just as confused, and I felt the same while reading. I do like Fei Du, but he’s still missing something for me that I can’t quite put into words. Maybe it’s because he keeps so much of himself hidden. He reminds me a little of Shen Wei because of that, but I connected with Shen Wei’s emotions almost immediately. With Fei Du, I’m still waiting for that moment. I’m not writing him off because there are still several books left, and I know priest likes taking her time with her characters. Luo Wenzhou, though, has completely won me over. Every time he’s on the page, I’m interested in what he’s thinking or what he’s about to do. I love his personality, his confidence, his sarcastic comments, and seeing how his mind works once everything starts falling into place. He’s easily my favorite character so far. Another thing I always enjoy about priest’s writing is the dialogue. It’s probably my favorite part of her books because every conversation feels natural, meaningful, and full of personality. Even the side characters never feel like they’re only there to push the investigation forward. They all have their own motivations, their own emotions, and enough depth that I actually care about what happens to them.
One thing I continue to love about this series is how every volume has its own case while quietly building something much bigger in the background. It reminds me of Detective Conan, which is one of my favorite things about detective/cop stories. Watching separate investigations slowly connect is always so satisfying. I don’t think this particular case grabbed me as much as the previous ones, but I still found myself completely invested because I care about the people involved. I also love how much this volume focused on family and everything people inherit from those who came before them. It wasn’t only about money or status. It was also about trauma, expectations, personality, and the emotional baggage children carry into adulthood. Priest has always been great at writing morally complicated characters, and I’m reminded why I love her books so much. Nobody feels completely good or completely evil, and I found myself understanding people even when I couldn’t agree with their choices. The mystery stayed engaging because it didn’t rely on shocking reveals every few chapters. It slowly unfolded piece by piece, and I genuinely enjoyed putting everything together alongside the characters. Even though this wasn’t my favorite volume so far, it left me excited to see where the story goes next.
Date Read: 2026.07.26
June 17, 2026
4.5 stars
I devoured this. The plot was fast paced, but it was the developments in the central romance that gripped me the most.
I love these two. They are playful, awkward, sexy, and tender in quiet ways. By the end of this volume, Luo Wenzhou has decided he's going to love and protect Fei Du whether he likes it or not. And Fei Du may be a master of teasing and seduction, but he's a deer in headlights when it comes to genuine affection. But he finds himself acting from his heart rather than logic when it comes to Luo Wenzhou, and he starts to open up little by little. We get even more of his back story here and it's honestly horrifying. I can't wait for him to reveal even more of himself to Luo Wenzhou. He needs it for the sake of their relationship, but even more so for his own healing.
I'm now officially halfway through this series and am hooked. I can't wait to continue this.
I devoured this. The plot was fast paced, but it was the developments in the central romance that gripped me the most.
I love these two. They are playful, awkward, sexy, and tender in quiet ways. By the end of this volume, Luo Wenzhou has decided he's going to love and protect Fei Du whether he likes it or not. And Fei Du may be a master of teasing and seduction, but he's a deer in headlights when it comes to genuine affection. But he finds himself acting from his heart rather than logic when it comes to Luo Wenzhou, and he starts to open up little by little. We get even more of his back story here and it's honestly horrifying. I can't wait for him to reveal even more of himself to Luo Wenzhou. He needs it for the sake of their relationship, but even more so for his own healing.
I'm now officially halfway through this series and am hooked. I can't wait to continue this.
June 15, 2026
me when Fei Du 🤭😋
June 30, 2026
This series continues to pull me in and make me obsess over these two. The mysteries are always so engaging and unique and the character building is so good. I loved how much closer Fei Du and Luo Wenzho became in this book. It's so nice that Luo Wenzhou is slowly starting to see that Fei Du is all bluster and posturing and pretending to be alright when he isn't. Luo Wenzhou is the perfect person to take care of him though and the end of this book made me really happy. I can't wait to see how things continue to progress with their relationship in the next book seeing how much closer they grew in this one. This is hands down my favorite Priest work and I highly recommend it to anybody looking for a good police procedural with great mysteries in every book and a wonderfully interesting relationship.
July 4, 2026
3.75 ⭑
June 15, 2026
My babies! Who make me cringe so hard in the best ways :D I can't wait for FD to open up more.
I would usually feel that the forced care, especially in the end, is toxic, but I don't think FD can do it any other way for now. And Priest knows how to control the vibe, respect to the master.
Also featured: LWZ's troll mother. The hospital scene with her and FD is peak.
I would usually feel that the forced care, especially in the end, is toxic, but I don't think FD can do it any other way for now. And Priest knows how to control the vibe, respect to the master.
Also featured: LWZ's troll mother. The hospital scene with her and FD is peak.
July 11, 2026
More. Now. Please.
July 9, 2026
The best relationship dynamics in danmei 💯
June 24, 2026
See, I didn't want to write a review for each novel in this series; however, this has to be the worst book I've ever read.
Of course, I'm being dramatic, but holy cow, the writing is actual dog shit. Every aspect of this particular volume just screams: "I cannot write a coherent, suspenseful, and logically driven story. And I never experienced love and affection."
First: Writing.
Did an edgy 13-year-old write this? It's so stupidly bland and unfunny that I had to pause and recollect myself. Why are you poorly writing dick jokes into this? Why are you attempting to be mysterious and suspenseful? Priest failed so miserably, I'm genuinely dumbfounded by how bad the last few chapters are. If Priest just took a few more seconds to, I don't know, THINK AND PLAN, this case would've been so insane. But instead, it just Tao Ran telling Lou Wenzhou, "Oh, yeah... this happened." Like, what the hell, boring as shit.
Furthermore, what's with these word choices? Has the translator ever learned the difference between casual and professional speech? Why are we referring to a corpse as "dude"? Who the fuck?
Second: Bad writing in terms of the murder case
How is someone so incompetent at writing a murder mystery that they need to resort to killing everyone? This isn't bad ass or hype moments; rather, it just comes off as bad writing. Lazy writing at that. If I'm reading a murder mystery, I want to fucking explore the case as well. This has been a fault of Priest even in her last two books, but those novels have their "good" to balance it out; this one? Dog shit. Everything is solved off-screen; we, the reader, can't engage with this case at all, we can't form conclusions, we can't use our god damn brains, because either Tao Ran or someone solved a missing piece of the puzzle, Fei Du is a know-it-all, or someone just fucking dies. That's so insanely boring, and it gets extremely predictable after the 15th death in a row.
Third: Fuck ass Romance between Fei Du and Lou Wenzhou
Holy shit, I will admit this, at my big age (20), I read BL, I read GL, I still watch romance animes, I don't care. And usually, I don't mind how annoying and cringy that shit is; I eat it up at times. But their romance is written so badly that I couldn't even focus on my school work. I'm so fucking stupefied by how ass and cringy they are. I hate their banter so much, that's not how a normal fucking couple banter. None of the banter is witty, nothing is clever, and I hate how horny Fei Du is. Why is he so horny? Can he just... STOP?
This is a natural step to start talking about how fucking bland, annoying, and cringey the characters are. Fei Du isn't cool; he isn't mysterious, he's written like a 13-year-old's Mary Sue OC with a fuck ton of trauma. And this is coming from someone who eats that shit up, and it's bad, because we are only ever told how smart and intelligent Fei Du is, but were not shown. The only scene I could think of is book 2's interrogation scene with Su Louzhan, which was beautiful! But this book has nothing; it just fuels me with intense anger. He is a stupid character because the writer cannot write smart characters.
That's why the romance fucking sucks. It's all just bad writing.
"Dumbfuck author, Dumbfuck novel!" I hope I don't end up in an isekai and have to fix this dumbass novel series, too.
edit: Yes, I'm buying and reading the rest of this series.
Of course, I'm being dramatic, but holy cow, the writing is actual dog shit. Every aspect of this particular volume just screams: "I cannot write a coherent, suspenseful, and logically driven story. And I never experienced love and affection."
First: Writing.
Did an edgy 13-year-old write this? It's so stupidly bland and unfunny that I had to pause and recollect myself. Why are you poorly writing dick jokes into this? Why are you attempting to be mysterious and suspenseful? Priest failed so miserably, I'm genuinely dumbfounded by how bad the last few chapters are. If Priest just took a few more seconds to, I don't know, THINK AND PLAN, this case would've been so insane. But instead, it just Tao Ran telling Lou Wenzhou, "Oh, yeah... this happened." Like, what the hell, boring as shit.
Furthermore, what's with these word choices? Has the translator ever learned the difference between casual and professional speech? Why are we referring to a corpse as "dude"? Who the fuck?
Second: Bad writing in terms of the murder case
How is someone so incompetent at writing a murder mystery that they need to resort to killing everyone? This isn't bad ass or hype moments; rather, it just comes off as bad writing. Lazy writing at that. If I'm reading a murder mystery, I want to fucking explore the case as well. This has been a fault of Priest even in her last two books, but those novels have their "good" to balance it out; this one? Dog shit. Everything is solved off-screen; we, the reader, can't engage with this case at all, we can't form conclusions, we can't use our god damn brains, because either Tao Ran or someone solved a missing piece of the puzzle, Fei Du is a know-it-all, or someone just fucking dies. That's so insanely boring, and it gets extremely predictable after the 15th death in a row.
Third: Fuck ass Romance between Fei Du and Lou Wenzhou
Holy shit, I will admit this, at my big age (20), I read BL, I read GL, I still watch romance animes, I don't care. And usually, I don't mind how annoying and cringy that shit is; I eat it up at times. But their romance is written so badly that I couldn't even focus on my school work. I'm so fucking stupefied by how ass and cringy they are. I hate their banter so much, that's not how a normal fucking couple banter. None of the banter is witty, nothing is clever, and I hate how horny Fei Du is. Why is he so horny? Can he just... STOP?
This is a natural step to start talking about how fucking bland, annoying, and cringey the characters are. Fei Du isn't cool; he isn't mysterious, he's written like a 13-year-old's Mary Sue OC with a fuck ton of trauma. And this is coming from someone who eats that shit up, and it's bad, because we are only ever told how smart and intelligent Fei Du is, but were not shown. The only scene I could think of is book 2's interrogation scene with Su Louzhan, which was beautiful! But this book has nothing; it just fuels me with intense anger. He is a stupid character because the writer cannot write smart characters.
That's why the romance fucking sucks. It's all just bad writing.
"Dumbfuck author, Dumbfuck novel!" I hope I don't end up in an isekai and have to fix this dumbass novel series, too.
edit: Yes, I'm buying and reading the rest of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2026
I really wish that Goodreads would allow .5 stars because to be more accurate, I consider this a 3.5/5 more than a 3.
I am very mixed on this particular novel. I was intrigued in the beginning, bored in the middle, and reinvested by the end. In terms of relationship dynamic and the character writing, this is a top-notch book. There are a lot of really enjoyable moments between both the mains and the side characters and there are so many small details hidden throughout showing their rapports that make this book so fun.
But I got to admit, I simply just did not like the case in this one. I wasn't invested in any of the characters involved, I didn't find the motivations or actions taken by the criminals that compelling, which is a shame because I think it started off really intriguing and I think the ending was pretty solid in terms of wrap up, even better than the conclusion of the second case which is my favorite, I think. Also this is just a personal problem, I admit, but whenever something delves into financial crime, I am sorry I will never find it interesting. My eyes glaze over and everything goes over my head, so that didn't help.
I also just found the middle of this book harder to get through. Lots of just annoying moments and moments where I felt the characters were acting counter to how the narration wanted me to feel about them, which again is a shame because the Beginning and the Ending of this book are genuinely so strong.
Overall, a good book, just flawed in terms of the main case. I also had a little quibble with the way they decided to officially translate a scene (having read the fan translation of this story first) ... but it is a mild complaint and something someone already addressed in a previous review.
The art in this book was probably the best out of all of the three books too. I love the cover for this one and they had a lot of good illustrations throughout.
Can't wait for Book 4.
I am very mixed on this particular novel. I was intrigued in the beginning, bored in the middle, and reinvested by the end. In terms of relationship dynamic and the character writing, this is a top-notch book. There are a lot of really enjoyable moments between both the mains and the side characters and there are so many small details hidden throughout showing their rapports that make this book so fun.
But I got to admit, I simply just did not like the case in this one. I wasn't invested in any of the characters involved, I didn't find the motivations or actions taken by the criminals that compelling, which is a shame because I think it started off really intriguing and I think the ending was pretty solid in terms of wrap up, even better than the conclusion of the second case which is my favorite, I think. Also this is just a personal problem, I admit, but whenever something delves into financial crime, I am sorry I will never find it interesting. My eyes glaze over and everything goes over my head, so that didn't help.
I also just found the middle of this book harder to get through. Lots of just annoying moments and moments where I felt the characters were acting counter to how the narration wanted me to feel about them, which again is a shame because the Beginning and the Ending of this book are genuinely so strong.
Overall, a good book, just flawed in terms of the main case. I also had a little quibble with the way they decided to officially translate a scene (having read the fan translation of this story first) ... but it is a mild complaint and something someone already addressed in a previous review.
The art in this book was probably the best out of all of the three books too. I love the cover for this one and they had a lot of good illustrations throughout.
Can't wait for Book 4.
July 6, 2026
Between this series and “The Prosecutor’s Proposal” now streaming, I may have completely changed my mind on the dark thriller/mystery genre of queer fiction. I’m HOOKED.
These two are ADORABLE????
Every time Luo Wenzhou calls Fei Du, “Babe”, I’m kicking my heels. It’s just SO CUTE.
I really enjoy their dynamic and I appreciate how the author is taking their time to craft this relationship. I like watching this pair move from flirty banter to this genuine care and support that they now have going on.
More, I LOVE how bewildered Fei Du is by actually being loved. Luo Wenzhou is like, “You will be loved—OR ELSE.” It’s very endearing.
Anyway.
As always, put down whatever dumb book you’re slogging through and pick up this series instead! It won’t disappoint~
(After my marathon run with these type of stories, I may even pick up “Case File Compendium” again—we’ll see~)
These two are ADORABLE????
Every time Luo Wenzhou calls Fei Du, “Babe”, I’m kicking my heels. It’s just SO CUTE.
I really enjoy their dynamic and I appreciate how the author is taking their time to craft this relationship. I like watching this pair move from flirty banter to this genuine care and support that they now have going on.
More, I LOVE how bewildered Fei Du is by actually being loved. Luo Wenzhou is like, “You will be loved—OR ELSE.” It’s very endearing.
Anyway.
As always, put down whatever dumb book you’re slogging through and pick up this series instead! It won’t disappoint~
(After my marathon run with these type of stories, I may even pick up “Case File Compendium” again—we’ll see~)
June 23, 2026
Relectura con la edición en inglés de Seven Seas
“Have you looked in the eyes of those dying animals? Those are the eyes of beings that have discovered the truth. The truth is that living is an illusion borne of your neurological system—a false sense of self and consciousness.
Human consciousness is like flowing water, in a constant state of flux. Death is its final direction. Unless you can consciously understand and control that entire process, your life isn’t yours. It’s not in your possession”
Aunque esta no es mi parte favorita del plot no puedo negar que está lleno de acción y momentos que dan ansiedad, no hay tranquilidad y la trama es atrapante quieras o no. Además la relación (o mejor dicho interacciones) entre Luo Wenzhou y Fei Du empieza a tener más firmeza.
Diría que la primera mitad del libro es bastante lenta, pero una vez que llegas al 50% avanzas rápidamente en la trama y de la nada ya llegas al epílogo de este caso. Y OBVIAMENTE el final te deja queriendo más jajaja
“Have you looked in the eyes of those dying animals? Those are the eyes of beings that have discovered the truth. The truth is that living is an illusion borne of your neurological system—a false sense of self and consciousness.
Human consciousness is like flowing water, in a constant state of flux. Death is its final direction. Unless you can consciously understand and control that entire process, your life isn’t yours. It’s not in your possession”
Aunque esta no es mi parte favorita del plot no puedo negar que está lleno de acción y momentos que dan ansiedad, no hay tranquilidad y la trama es atrapante quieras o no. Además la relación (o mejor dicho interacciones) entre Luo Wenzhou y Fei Du empieza a tener más firmeza.
Diría que la primera mitad del libro es bastante lenta, pero una vez que llegas al 50% avanzas rápidamente en la trama y de la nada ya llegas al epílogo de este caso. Y OBVIAMENTE el final te deja queriendo más jajaja
June 16, 2026
★★★★★ - 4.5/5 stars
June 11, 2026
This case was... very messy, and I would argue needlessly complicated with many layers. The previous two cases were mentioned, book 2's case even more so than the first one, and all three cases are seemingly all connected somehow. There was also a lot of unanswered questions that they even mention directly, but considering how it all played out that's not exactly surprising.
The sudden change and development of Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou's relationship also seemed quite abrupt and sudden, albeit not unwelcome. Regarding Fei Du, specifically, there were also more questions raised that were never answered, although considering there's 3 more books it'll probably come up again in the future.
The sudden change and development of Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou's relationship also seemed quite abrupt and sudden, albeit not unwelcome. Regarding Fei Du, specifically, there were also more questions raised that were never answered, although considering there's 3 more books it'll probably come up again in the future.
December 16, 2025
Это должен был быть самый скучный том новеллы. Похищение, тряски за наследство и куча богатеньких, ненавидящих всех подряд. Ну вот совсем не то, что могло бы мне понравиться, за исключением наследства, но я открыла электронку и закрыла её только поздней ночью. И да, я уже предупреждала, что коррупция станет самым повторяющимся словом во всех моих отзывах на новеллу, так что двигаемся прямо к ней, никуда не сворачивая.
В отдел попадает странное дело. Один из самых богатейших людей Китая умер, когда его машина столкнулась с грузовиком. Ничего не указывает на заказное убийство, но младший сын жертвы уверен, что его отца убили. Ло Вэньчжоу вместе с командой отправляется поговорить с заявителем, но вместо предоставленных доказательств его ожидает только истерика. Пока герой раздумывает, как справиться с недалёким заявителем без грубости, старшего сына жертвы похищают. И ненормальная риторика про то, что это была не обычная авария, уже не кажется такой нереалистичной.
Личная драма практически отсутствует в тексте, а вместо неё жестокость мира. Жертва, её дети, все причастные — не самые хорошие люди, и если действия некоторых из них не были ужасными, то характер оставляет желать лучшего. Практически всё действие сосредоточено в одном доме, где полицейские вынуждены смотреть видео, отправленные похитителями, и в то же самое время пытаться понять личность преступников. Где-то тут я представила, как буду скучать и вчитываться в бубнёж персонажей, делящих наследство между собой, ведь они-то его явно заслуживают больше, чем кто-либо другой. Но писательница себе не изменила. Бубнёж присутствует, и его много, вот только он совершенно не надоедает и в сон от него не вгоняет.
Всё остальное осталось на уровне. Ло Вэньчжоу как всегда самый лучший, Фэй Ду окончательно перестал казаться простым богатеньким парнишкой, и его роль в расследовании преступления повысилась. Ну и, конечно, герои наконец-то перестали огрызаться друг на друга (не до конца, но четвёртый том уже прочитан, и мне значительно полегчало). Сама история скорее как маленькая подсказка для последующих, этакий трамплин для главной линии в новелле, ведущей к тотальному раскрытию многолетних преступлений.
Это было не так напряженно, как предыдущая часть, но всё также хорошо.
В отдел попадает странное дело. Один из самых богатейших людей Китая умер, когда его машина столкнулась с грузовиком. Ничего не указывает на заказное убийство, но младший сын жертвы уверен, что его отца убили. Ло Вэньчжоу вместе с командой отправляется поговорить с заявителем, но вместо предоставленных доказательств его ожидает только истерика. Пока герой раздумывает, как справиться с недалёким заявителем без грубости, старшего сына жертвы похищают. И ненормальная риторика про то, что это была не обычная авария, уже не кажется такой нереалистичной.
Личная драма практически отсутствует в тексте, а вместо неё жестокость мира. Жертва, её дети, все причастные — не самые хорошие люди, и если действия некоторых из них не были ужасными, то характер оставляет желать лучшего. Практически всё действие сосредоточено в одном доме, где полицейские вынуждены смотреть видео, отправленные похитителями, и в то же самое время пытаться понять личность преступников. Где-то тут я представила, как буду скучать и вчитываться в бубнёж персонажей, делящих наследство между собой, ведь они-то его явно заслуживают больше, чем кто-либо другой. Но писательница себе не изменила. Бубнёж присутствует, и его много, вот только он совершенно не надоедает и в сон от него не вгоняет.
Всё остальное осталось на уровне. Ло Вэньчжоу как всегда самый лучший, Фэй Ду окончательно перестал казаться простым богатеньким парнишкой, и его роль в расследовании преступления повысилась. Ну и, конечно, герои наконец-то перестали огрызаться друг на друга (не до конца, но четвёртый том уже прочитан, и мне значительно полегчало). Сама история скорее как маленькая подсказка для последующих, этакий трамплин для главной линии в новелле, ведущей к тотальному раскрытию многолетних преступлений.
Это было не так напряженно, как предыдущая часть, но всё также хорошо.
June 16, 2026
Volume 3 dibuka dengan sebuah misteri baru yang pada awalnya terlihat cukup sederhana: seorang pengusaha kaya, berkuasa, dan sangat terkenal meninggal dalam sebuah kecelakaan mobil yang tampaknya biasa saja.
Namun, semuanya berubah ketika putranya secara terbuka menyatakan kecurigaan bahwa kecelakaan tersebut sebenarnya adalah pembunuhan yang disengaja. Dari situlah kasus ini berkembang menjadi sebuah high-profile case yang harus ditangani oleh tim Luo Wenzhou.
Seiring penyelidikan berjalan, kasus yg awalnya tampak sederhana ternyata menyimpan lapisan konspirasi yg jauh lebih besar. Ada korupsi, manipulasi media, perebutan kekuasaan, drama keluarga, anak di luar nikah, juga rahasia yang telah disembunyikan selama puluhan tahun.
Menariknya, cerita ini menunjukkan bahwa permainan kekuasaan para elite tidak hanya menghancurkan mereka sendiri, tetapi juga menyeret keluarga keluarga tak bersalah yang sama sekali tidak terlibat.
Jika dibandingkan dengan volume 2, misteri di volume ini memang terasa lebih tame, tetapi justru alurnya jauh lebih rumit dan berliku. Aku merasa Priest sengaja membuat pembaca menyusun sendiri kepingan puzzle yang tersebar di sepanjang cerita.
Selain kasus utamanya, bagian favoritku adalah ZhouDu. Dinamika mereka makin berkembang dan dipenuhi banyak momen flirting yg membuatku senyum2 sendiri 🤗Bahkan ada beberapa momen yg cukup ambigu sampai2 Luo Wenzhou terlihat kebingungan dengan perasaannya. (Yes, he' ur husband)
Overall, vol ini mungkin tak seintens sebelumnya dalam hal kasus kriminal, tetapi menurutku kekuatannya terletak pada kompleksitas cerita dan perkembangan karakter yang semakin dalam. The mystery gets bigger, the conspiracies get messier, and ZhouDu keeps getting better :3 4.25⭐
Namun, semuanya berubah ketika putranya secara terbuka menyatakan kecurigaan bahwa kecelakaan tersebut sebenarnya adalah pembunuhan yang disengaja. Dari situlah kasus ini berkembang menjadi sebuah high-profile case yang harus ditangani oleh tim Luo Wenzhou.
Seiring penyelidikan berjalan, kasus yg awalnya tampak sederhana ternyata menyimpan lapisan konspirasi yg jauh lebih besar. Ada korupsi, manipulasi media, perebutan kekuasaan, drama keluarga, anak di luar nikah, juga rahasia yang telah disembunyikan selama puluhan tahun.
Menariknya, cerita ini menunjukkan bahwa permainan kekuasaan para elite tidak hanya menghancurkan mereka sendiri, tetapi juga menyeret keluarga keluarga tak bersalah yang sama sekali tidak terlibat.
Jika dibandingkan dengan volume 2, misteri di volume ini memang terasa lebih tame, tetapi justru alurnya jauh lebih rumit dan berliku. Aku merasa Priest sengaja membuat pembaca menyusun sendiri kepingan puzzle yang tersebar di sepanjang cerita.
Selain kasus utamanya, bagian favoritku adalah ZhouDu. Dinamika mereka makin berkembang dan dipenuhi banyak momen flirting yg membuatku senyum2 sendiri 🤗Bahkan ada beberapa momen yg cukup ambigu sampai2 Luo Wenzhou terlihat kebingungan dengan perasaannya. (Yes, he' ur husband)
Overall, vol ini mungkin tak seintens sebelumnya dalam hal kasus kriminal, tetapi menurutku kekuatannya terletak pada kompleksitas cerita dan perkembangan karakter yang semakin dalam. The mystery gets bigger, the conspiracies get messier, and ZhouDu keeps getting better :3 4.25⭐
July 20, 2026
I think Luo Wenzhou’s love confession in the last chapter felt a little abrupt to me. I’ve been trying to sit with it for a bit, and it might have to do with Priest’s writing style. The story is very plot-focused, and the characters’ feelings seem to be more read between the lines. We don’t exactly get inside their heads, so maybe that’s why I’m feeling a bit of a disconnect.
I could tell that both of them were starting to develop feelings, but I didn’t expect it to jump to a love confession so quickly. Luo Wenzhou was still making comments about Fei Du being bratty and annoying through this volume. I know he had realized that Fei Du puts up a facade, but I wish we got to see more of Luo Wenzhou’s thought process as his feelings changed. I would have loved to see him gradually realize that what he was feeling had become something deeper. Instead, his feelings were kind of vague, and so the confession came across as sudden.
If I stop to think about it logically, I can understand HOW Luo Wenzhou may have fallen for him, but I just didn’t feel like I got to experience that with him… which was disappointing to me. 😞
I get the impression that Fei Du was aiming more for a friends-with-benefits situation, and that he is afraid of emotional intimacy. That’s what I’m picking up from him.
I’m still curious to see how things will unfold in the next volume.
4 ⭐️ for now.
I could tell that both of them were starting to develop feelings, but I didn’t expect it to jump to a love confession so quickly. Luo Wenzhou was still making comments about Fei Du being bratty and annoying through this volume. I know he had realized that Fei Du puts up a facade, but I wish we got to see more of Luo Wenzhou’s thought process as his feelings changed. I would have loved to see him gradually realize that what he was feeling had become something deeper. Instead, his feelings were kind of vague, and so the confession came across as sudden.
If I stop to think about it logically, I can understand HOW Luo Wenzhou may have fallen for him, but I just didn’t feel like I got to experience that with him… which was disappointing to me. 😞
I get the impression that Fei Du was aiming more for a friends-with-benefits situation, and that he is afraid of emotional intimacy. That’s what I’m picking up from him.
I’m still curious to see how things will unfold in the next volume.
4 ⭐️ for now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2026
I’ve only read a few books by Priest so far, but is it too early to say she might become one of my favourite danmei authors??? 😭 Her writing is just sooo good to read, and somehow it feels like a comfort read for me, hahaha.
I think this might be my favourite work of hers so far because it combines so many things I love: crime, mystery, character psychology, and romance.
Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou’s relationship is honestly one of the most sophisticated dynamics I’ve read, and it was probably what I loved most about this book. ❤️ I could ramble on and on about them, especially after the last few chapters.
Fei Du, in particular, was like catnip for my brain (what I mean is, I have a tendency to overanalyze characters lol). I’m always drawn to characters who are full of contradictions and layers, and I loved how nuanced his portrayal was.
Not surprisingly, I ended up becoming very attached to him, and damn… what a painful revelation we got about his past. 😭 I actually had to take a break from this book for a day or two because of that. 🫠💔
I don’t know if I’ll be able to write a proper review focused on my reading experience for this one because I’m finding it difficult to put my thoughts into words. There’s just so much to unpack. 😂
I think this might be my favourite work of hers so far because it combines so many things I love: crime, mystery, character psychology, and romance.
Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou’s relationship is honestly one of the most sophisticated dynamics I’ve read, and it was probably what I loved most about this book. ❤️ I could ramble on and on about them, especially after the last few chapters.
Fei Du, in particular, was like catnip for my brain (what I mean is, I have a tendency to overanalyze characters lol). I’m always drawn to characters who are full of contradictions and layers, and I loved how nuanced his portrayal was.
Not surprisingly, I ended up becoming very attached to him, and damn… what a painful revelation we got about his past. 😭 I actually had to take a break from this book for a day or two because of that. 🫠💔
I don’t know if I’ll be able to write a proper review focused on my reading experience for this one because I’m finding it difficult to put my thoughts into words. There’s just so much to unpack. 😂
June 19, 2026
well, this is definitely my least favourite case. and its only because the previous two have set such a high bar (and I, of course, know what comes after as well). volume 3 of silent reading feels like a transition book - like we needed a murder and mystery to solve that wasn't so heavy (in comparison to the first two) so that we could develop more of the interpersonal relationships, but also a case that could still be tied back to the main, over-arching plot.
thats not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, I had a lot of fun with this volume. as much fun as fei du had endlessly teasing luo wenzhou. there's a lot of good character exploration for fei du, some of his close guarded secrets are laid bare for us. and the best thing out of this volume is leaps and bounds their relationship grows.
thats not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, I had a lot of fun with this volume. as much fun as fei du had endlessly teasing luo wenzhou. there's a lot of good character exploration for fei du, some of his close guarded secrets are laid bare for us. and the best thing out of this volume is leaps and bounds their relationship grows.
July 8, 2026
Even though I've got a mountain of ARCs waiting for me, I just had to read this as soon as I got my hands on it.
I absolutely loved the first two volumes, and while this one felt a little different, I still had a great time with it. The main focus this time was corruption rather than a fast-paced case, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
And finally... we got Luo Wenzhou flirting with Fei Du. 😂 I know this series is supposed to be serious, but the way some of the macabre scenes were described had me bursting into laughter. 😭
The epilogue was, of course, my favourite part. Now the wait for the next volume begins...
Loved this,
Fei Du was like a seductively beautiful poison apple. Even when you knew a single bite could burn through your gut and rot your insides, a whiff of him made you salivate.
I absolutely loved the first two volumes, and while this one felt a little different, I still had a great time with it. The main focus this time was corruption rather than a fast-paced case, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
And finally... we got Luo Wenzhou flirting with Fei Du. 😂 I know this series is supposed to be serious, but the way some of the macabre scenes were described had me bursting into laughter. 😭
The epilogue was, of course, my favourite part. Now the wait for the next volume begins...
Loved this,
Fei Du was like a seductively beautiful poison apple. Even when you knew a single bite could burn through your gut and rot your insides, a whiff of him made you salivate.
July 16, 2026
I don't think the cases were as interesting as the previous volumes, so I wasn't as hooked on the mystery this time. But I still had such a good time reading it.
My favourite part was finally getting to learn more about Fei Du's past. It explains so much about why he is the way he is. I remember thinking his relationship with his comatose father was so unsettling before, but now... it just makes me sad. 😭
I also wasn't expecting this volume to make me so emotional. There were a few scenes that actually had me tearing up, and I definitely wasn't prepared for that.
And don't even get me started on Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou. I love seeing their relationship slowly grow. Every little interaction between them makes me so happy.
There are still so many questions left unanswered, and I honestly can't wait to see what happens next.
My favourite part was finally getting to learn more about Fei Du's past. It explains so much about why he is the way he is. I remember thinking his relationship with his comatose father was so unsettling before, but now... it just makes me sad. 😭
I also wasn't expecting this volume to make me so emotional. There were a few scenes that actually had me tearing up, and I definitely wasn't prepared for that.
And don't even get me started on Fei Du and Luo Wenzhou. I love seeing their relationship slowly grow. Every little interaction between them makes me so happy.
There are still so many questions left unanswered, and I honestly can't wait to see what happens next.
June 23, 2026
okkkk i know i am on a ban but technicallyyyyyy this doesn’t count as breaking it cuz i already read it right ??? i needed to give the new book some love bro i couldn’t help myself.
anyway as always one million out of ten this series is a blessing to all of humanity. this volume is really good the relationship development is so peak like i am always tweaking. the secret plot starts to come to light. so many reveals. high stakes stuff. when they go to fei du’s mansion is just so aghhhh my favourite part ever he is so angsty. hospital scenes are too good. everything is incredible this whole series is pure perfection !
also i can’t lie this real translation is lowkey way better than the online one i read so cheers to that i guess
anyway as always one million out of ten this series is a blessing to all of humanity. this volume is really good the relationship development is so peak like i am always tweaking. the secret plot starts to come to light. so many reveals. high stakes stuff. when they go to fei du’s mansion is just so aghhhh my favourite part ever he is so angsty. hospital scenes are too good. everything is incredible this whole series is pure perfection !
also i can’t lie this real translation is lowkey way better than the online one i read so cheers to that i guess
June 21, 2026
This series is so good! Love the MC and the side characters. The cases the police department work on have a very dark subject matter but the author brakes it up with well placed humor with our MCs. And the fact that the two of them use “flirting as a weapon “ slays me each time. They are two hot guys and they know it so they flirt to throw the other off their game then freeze up when the flirting becomes real and not a weaponize barb. Sigh, I need more Fei and Luo. Can’t wait to read the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
4,5 ⭐️
“-Te conozco hace más de siete años, así que creo que se me puede contar como entendedor-dijo Luo Wenzhou-. Yo también elijo confiar en ti. Por supuesto que si me decepcionas algún día, estaré muy herido, muy herido que no podría amarte.”
Luo Wenzhou 🫠
Se que tarde bastante en acabarlo, en mi defensa propia es que tenía bloqueo emocional de la vida, ha sido muy buen tomo. Me gustó, mis dieces a Priest 🥹
“-Te conozco hace más de siete años, así que creo que se me puede contar como entendedor-dijo Luo Wenzhou-. Yo también elijo confiar en ti. Por supuesto que si me decepcionas algún día, estaré muy herido, muy herido que no podría amarte.”
Luo Wenzhou 🫠
Se que tarde bastante en acabarlo, en mi defensa propia es que tenía bloqueo emocional de la vida, ha sido muy buen tomo. Me gustó, mis dieces a Priest 🥹
July 2, 2026
Not my favorite by far. I wasn't interested or invested in this case. And while there is relationship development it felt abrupt in spite of the slow burn of the previous two books. I'm just not invested in them as a couple yet. Mama Luo was great though!
I've loved the previous two series of Priest's that I've read and wanted to love this one but it's having a terrible time holding my interest.
I've loved the previous two series of Priest's that I've read and wanted to love this one but it's having a terrible time holding my interest.
Review of advance copy
⭐️3.8/5 : this book was not my favorite. maybe a bit to complex for me, but nevertheless, i loved the romance development between the two protagonists and i liked learning about fei du’s traumatic past.
Read
March 3, 2026Okay, so after finishing this antholgy I've verified that Priest is not for me. I enjoy her characters and the romance a lot, but not the mistery. And this books are mostly mistery. So, yeah, won't be reading more Priest. I liked the eiplogue, it wa cute.
Review of advance copy
Maybe my least favorite volume? Definitely some romantic developments, but I was a little unsatisfied with how this case ended. The beginning of the case had the makings of the best one though.
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