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Inspector Jian #1
Bad Traffic
Inspector Jian is a Chinese cop from the Siberian border who thinks he’s seen it all. But his search for his missing daughter brings him to the meanest streets he’s ever faced – in rural England.
Migrant worker East Wind is distressed – his gangmaster’s making demands, he owes a lot of money to the snakeheads and no one will tell him where his wife has been taken. Maybe England isn’t the ‘gold mountain’ he was promised...
Two desperate men, uneasy allies in a baffling foreign land, are pitted against a band of ruthless criminals... there’s BAD TRAFFIC ahead.
Migrant worker East Wind is distressed – his gangmaster’s making demands, he owes a lot of money to the snakeheads and no one will tell him where his wife has been taken. Maybe England isn’t the ‘gold mountain’ he was promised...
Two desperate men, uneasy allies in a baffling foreign land, are pitted against a band of ruthless criminals... there’s BAD TRAFFIC ahead.
400 pages
First published January 1, 2008
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183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 13, 2023
Chinese cop Inspector Jian is a Chinese cop who has survived, indeed prospered and been empowered in Communist/capitalist corrupt China, but when his daughter goes missing in rural England who uses all his contacts to get over to the UK and investigate her disappearance despite all the bad traffic that gets in his way vehicular, criminal and the law! Ding Ming wannabe migrant worked is smuggled into the UK with his wife, but finds that rural England is not a land paved with god, but a land where if you're trafficked to is paved with animal faeces, criminals and UK law. Two desperate Chinese become unwitting allies when it appears they have a common foe.
I'm often sceptical of Asian/African stories written by someone that appears to have a White European name but Simon Lewis really nails this strangers in a strange land tale capturing the different viewpoints and realities of a number of Chinese people in the UK both immigrants and first and second generation British born; the story overall is not that bad either; with a lot of insight into the 'industry' behind people trafficking and complete lack of rights people trafficked have. Most of all I loved the tough uncompromising Chinese cop and his attitude to the supposed limitations put on to what he can and can't do in the UK. An 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2023 read
I'm often sceptical of Asian/African stories written by someone that appears to have a White European name but Simon Lewis really nails this strangers in a strange land tale capturing the different viewpoints and realities of a number of Chinese people in the UK both immigrants and first and second generation British born; the story overall is not that bad either; with a lot of insight into the 'industry' behind people trafficking and complete lack of rights people trafficked have. Most of all I loved the tough uncompromising Chinese cop and his attitude to the supposed limitations put on to what he can and can't do in the UK. An 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2023 read
December 12, 2024
RE-READ UPDATE: Wow, this was even better the second time around. As noted below, this is basically the movie "Taken," if instead of cool American Liam Neeson with his "special set of skills" rescuing his daughter in Paris, you got an asshole Chinese cop who only speaks Mandarin having to rescue his asshole daughter from a "snakehead" people-smuggling ring in the crappy English countryside — so seriously, WAY better. And sure, 1-2 too many convenient coincidences and cliches...but still, a genuine page-turner that would in fact also make a great (and probably even better) movie, so both Hollywood and a helluva lot more GR readers should really take notice.
In fact, my only complaint is that sixteen years on, there's still no sequel out there, despite this being listed as "Inspector Jian #1," (and don't be fooled by GR listing another Lewis novel, Border Run, as "Inspector Jian #2" — there is absolutely NO connection between the books in terms of characters, setting, story or anything else…no idea why that's listed as such). However, a little digging shows that there finally IS a follow-up planned for release in early 2025, No Exit...so kinda looking forward to that, although the description makes it sound like a direct, London-based follow-up to this story (boo) rather than a whole new adventure set in another interesting locale (yay).
ORIGINAL 2012 REVIEW: Generally unlikable Inspector Jian speaks no English, but has to go to England to locate his missing daughter — herself not an especially appealing character. Throw in the spineless illegal immigrant Ding Ming, and you've got a cast of characters you shouldn't care about — and yet you do, in this unusual twist on a traditional detective story, (well, at least unusual until the movie "Taken" came out just a few months later). Well-crafted, well-written — a real find that should have received a lot more notice than it has.
In fact, my only complaint is that sixteen years on, there's still no sequel out there, despite this being listed as "Inspector Jian #1," (and don't be fooled by GR listing another Lewis novel, Border Run, as "Inspector Jian #2" — there is absolutely NO connection between the books in terms of characters, setting, story or anything else…no idea why that's listed as such). However, a little digging shows that there finally IS a follow-up planned for release in early 2025, No Exit...so kinda looking forward to that, although the description makes it sound like a direct, London-based follow-up to this story (boo) rather than a whole new adventure set in another interesting locale (yay).
ORIGINAL 2012 REVIEW: Generally unlikable Inspector Jian speaks no English, but has to go to England to locate his missing daughter — herself not an especially appealing character. Throw in the spineless illegal immigrant Ding Ming, and you've got a cast of characters you shouldn't care about — and yet you do, in this unusual twist on a traditional detective story, (well, at least unusual until the movie "Taken" came out just a few months later). Well-crafted, well-written — a real find that should have received a lot more notice than it has.
February 1, 2009
Inspector Jian comes to England to search for his daughter, who he believes from a phone message she left him is in trouble. Jian is a Chinese cop who speaks no English, but this problem fails to sway him from pursuing leads. After a while in the country, he comes to believe that his daughter is dead and starts searching to avenge her. At the same time Ding Ming and his wife Little Ye enter England as imigrant migrants smuggled into the country. Ding Ming is quickly separated from his wife, who is to go "pick flowers" while Ding Ming is to be a laborer who has to work for a meager wage to pay off the $20,000 fee to get into the country. Ming, surprisingly, can speak English and wants to find his wife, and being a peasant does not know or understand that his wife is not picking flowers. Through happenstance, Jian and Ding meet up and Jian uses Ding and his wits to find the bad guys.
The book is told from Jian, Ding and several other Chinese characters point of view and shows in some small way the problems of immigrants to adapt to our culture and the action seems fast paced. The ending is very well done.
I liked the book a lot but Jian is a very complex character who in his hunt for his daughter stretches our feelings for him to the breaking point.
The book is told from Jian, Ding and several other Chinese characters point of view and shows in some small way the problems of immigrants to adapt to our culture and the action seems fast paced. The ending is very well done.
I liked the book a lot but Jian is a very complex character who in his hunt for his daughter stretches our feelings for him to the breaking point.
January 4, 2015
An enormously accomplished piece of work.
I don't want to say too much, but it's the sort of thing you finish and tear up thinking about -- not necessarily because of the story or what's happened, but because of the deftness and unexpected grace of the writing. Completely deserve of all the praise it's received.
I don't want to say too much, but it's the sort of thing you finish and tear up thinking about -- not necessarily because of the story or what's happened, but because of the deftness and unexpected grace of the writing. Completely deserve of all the praise it's received.
May 17, 2008
The concept was a good one, worthy of Elmore Leonard: A Chinese police detective, used to the perks of power and authority in Beijing, comes to England in search of his wayward daughter; alone, friendless, and unable even to speak a single word of English, he crosses paths with people traffickers and drug dealers.
But just as the story is getting into to the truly dirty details that would bring it to life, it wimps out. The degradation is suggested, but avoided. The torture is implied, but never carried out. Apart from a few bruises and some inconvenience, there's no sense that the protagonists actually lost anything of value, which cheapens the sense that they were actually risked anything. Which cheapens the investment of time and interest that the reader made.
But just as the story is getting into to the truly dirty details that would bring it to life, it wimps out. The degradation is suggested, but avoided. The torture is implied, but never carried out. Apart from a few bruises and some inconvenience, there's no sense that the protagonists actually lost anything of value, which cheapens the sense that they were actually risked anything. Which cheapens the investment of time and interest that the reader made.
January 4, 2011
This will probably be on my year end top ten list. Very entertaining tale of a Chinese police inspector who travels to England after a distress call from his daughter who is studying there. Lots of action and violence. A real page turner.
May 31, 2009
When Inspector Jian, a Chinese cop, receives a cryptic call for help from his daughter in England, he drops everything and heads out to find her, despite not knowing how to read or speak English. Meanwhile Ding Ming and his wife Little Ye have been illegally transported to England to work for a Chinese gang in hopes of one day providing a better life for their family back home in China.
When Jian and Ding Ming's paths cross in rural England, sparks start flying. They can help each other but are both ignorant to that fact. Somehow, though, fate keeps bringing them back together and each encounter brings more action and adventure.
It certainly wasn't hard to figure out why BAD TRAFFIC was nominated for the L.A. Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category. BAD TRAFFIC is a complex novel populated by complex characters dealing with complex themes. And just when you think it can't possibly get any darker, it does. This gritty, action-packed thriller keeps the reader mesmerized page after page.
While the novel takes place in rural England, it could be placed in almost any developed nation in the world, as illegal immigration and class distinction are common issues around the globe.
I found every aspect of this novel gripping, but I'm sure you won't find it surprising that I was most taken with the characters. There are no white hats in this book. At first glance one might assume Ding Ming to be a white-hatted character, but he's broken the law from the onset by illegally traveling to England. Jian is a crooked Chinese cop, but also has an ethical code that he seems to follow. The lack of white hats contributes to the severe darkness of the tone.
There were many elements of the novel that I thought Lewis did an exceptional job with, but one that stuck out stronger than most for me was his depiction of Jian's alienation in England. Jian is in a strange land and does not understand the language. He cannot read the street signs, billboards, even the paper with his daughter's address.
Not only can he not comprehend the written language, but the spoken language is also beyond his comprehension, Jian often hears flutters instead of comprehensible words. Even other Chinese people are foreign to him, as they speak a completely different dialect. The only thing Jian wants more than to return to the safety of his country is to avenge his daughter's murder. Ding Ming has the benefit of understanding the language because he studied English, but Ding Ming is a peasant and he's amazed by things as common as a automobile.
Ding Ming simply wants to return to his "bosses." He fears for his family back in China who will have to pay his debut if he is assumed dead. And he wants more than anything to be reunited with his wife. Ding Ming's simplicity continues to convince him that he can only prosper if he returns to the ugliness of his new life, the evil bosses are the only people who will protect him and give him a chance to succeed.
Both men are lost in this foreign land. Instead of helping one another, they end up battling each other in addition to their enemies. The complexity of the two men and their relationship to one another challenged me as a reader to see all the dimensions of these characters. Lewis did an outstanding job developing them.
This is most definitely a book that is in contention for a top read of 2009 for me. Absolutely astounding effort by Simon Lewis.
When Jian and Ding Ming's paths cross in rural England, sparks start flying. They can help each other but are both ignorant to that fact. Somehow, though, fate keeps bringing them back together and each encounter brings more action and adventure.
It certainly wasn't hard to figure out why BAD TRAFFIC was nominated for the L.A. Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category. BAD TRAFFIC is a complex novel populated by complex characters dealing with complex themes. And just when you think it can't possibly get any darker, it does. This gritty, action-packed thriller keeps the reader mesmerized page after page.
While the novel takes place in rural England, it could be placed in almost any developed nation in the world, as illegal immigration and class distinction are common issues around the globe.
I found every aspect of this novel gripping, but I'm sure you won't find it surprising that I was most taken with the characters. There are no white hats in this book. At first glance one might assume Ding Ming to be a white-hatted character, but he's broken the law from the onset by illegally traveling to England. Jian is a crooked Chinese cop, but also has an ethical code that he seems to follow. The lack of white hats contributes to the severe darkness of the tone.
There were many elements of the novel that I thought Lewis did an exceptional job with, but one that stuck out stronger than most for me was his depiction of Jian's alienation in England. Jian is in a strange land and does not understand the language. He cannot read the street signs, billboards, even the paper with his daughter's address.
Not only can he not comprehend the written language, but the spoken language is also beyond his comprehension, Jian often hears flutters instead of comprehensible words. Even other Chinese people are foreign to him, as they speak a completely different dialect. The only thing Jian wants more than to return to the safety of his country is to avenge his daughter's murder. Ding Ming has the benefit of understanding the language because he studied English, but Ding Ming is a peasant and he's amazed by things as common as a automobile.
Ding Ming simply wants to return to his "bosses." He fears for his family back in China who will have to pay his debut if he is assumed dead. And he wants more than anything to be reunited with his wife. Ding Ming's simplicity continues to convince him that he can only prosper if he returns to the ugliness of his new life, the evil bosses are the only people who will protect him and give him a chance to succeed.
Both men are lost in this foreign land. Instead of helping one another, they end up battling each other in addition to their enemies. The complexity of the two men and their relationship to one another challenged me as a reader to see all the dimensions of these characters. Lewis did an outstanding job developing them.
This is most definitely a book that is in contention for a top read of 2009 for me. Absolutely astounding effort by Simon Lewis.
April 7, 2009
All the way up to the last few paragraphs, this book had 4 stars. It was slow to start; it took about 100 pages for all the plot threads to come together. (That made it hard to stay interested; I'd get involved in a character, and the focus would switch to another.) Once it got going, though, it was a fun, suspenseful, though very violent mystery. I particularly liked the Chinese view of the UK; the illegal immigrants were especially appealing.
This is clearly meant to be the start of a series. I'd have liked this installment much better,though, if it had had a few pages from the next one, just to finish things up a little less abruptly.
This is clearly meant to be the start of a series. I'd have liked this installment much better,though, if it had had a few pages from the next one, just to finish things up a little less abruptly.
February 25, 2009
FM Inspector Jian of China receives a call for help from his daughter studying in Great Britain. Without any English language skills he rushes off to Great Britain to find that his daughter is not at school anymore and when he finds her phone, he sees a video of her being killed. Filled with rage, he sets out to find her killers and stumbles upon an English speaking illegal immigrant and a ruthless operation of smuggled Chinese slaves. This is a taut, exciting, and bloody story made more remarkable because it is told through the eyes of two men unfamiliar with the western world.
April 26, 2009
This was a sprint. Simon Lewis' prose is perfectly paced. The urgency felt by the main character is matched by deft development of a plot to justify his frantic pursuit and by his policeman's assumption of power and control. Lewis has written the Rough Guides for several Asian cities, and apparently lives in China as much as possible. Set in England, this novel demonstrates a keen eye for the nuances of cultural difference.
The book ends well, but without slowing down. I felt like I'd been hurtled through the back cover and left wishing for more.
The book ends well, but without slowing down. I felt like I'd been hurtled through the back cover and left wishing for more.
February 24, 2009
I was prepared to dislike this based on the photo of the author and his bio. (He's one of these guys who gets to wander around the world on an expense account.)
This is a good story — with two parallel strands — involving illegal Chinese immigrants, a renegade Chinese cop on the loose in England, and some icky sex.
The writing is fast and confident, and if the two strands are wrapped up a little too neatly, so what.
This is a good story — with two parallel strands — involving illegal Chinese immigrants, a renegade Chinese cop on the loose in England, and some icky sex.
The writing is fast and confident, and if the two strands are wrapped up a little too neatly, so what.
January 6, 2009
This is another of a group of fine literary thrillers that came from abroad in 2008.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes character-driven, fast-paced thrillers in the mode of Elmore Leonard. Inspector Ma Jian and migrant worker Ding Ming have to be the oddest couple to hit Britain in years. Lots of action, humor and pathos.
Read my review on Amazon.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes character-driven, fast-paced thrillers in the mode of Elmore Leonard. Inspector Ma Jian and migrant worker Ding Ming have to be the oddest couple to hit Britain in years. Lots of action, humor and pathos.
Read my review on Amazon.
February 22, 2009
I'm a big fan of fast-paced, exciting books, so I really liked this. I thought the main characters and the Chinese viewpoint was delivered without patronization or crude stereotype, which was good. I picked it up after reading reviews on the spread-the-word website. It was really well-written and readable.
April 6, 2009
What a great read! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Starts out like the recent movie, "Taken." Father in law enforcement, daughter out of the country, not telling the whole truth of what she is doing. Gets in with the wrong people, calls her father on a cell phone, "Help me." Phone goes dead. Amazing action. Don't miss it!
June 10, 2010
Fast-paced adventure/mystery novel - a real page turner! If you like the Jane Whitefield series by Thomas Perry (or the Jason Bourne movies), you'll enjoy this. The premise is also a unique and clever one - a mainland Chinese cop who goes to England in search of his missing daughter. The language and cultural barriers (Jian doesn't speak any English) add a fresh perspective.
February 7, 2009
I had read a review that this book was fantastic. So, I was a little disappointed when it didn't live up to its expectations. That said, it is about two men, the women they love, and a fuled 48-hour chase that will leave several dead. It may not be fantastic, but I will agree it is good.
April 2, 2009
A great first novel for Simon Lewis. Gives an eye into Chinese society of today made especially startling when set against contemporary Britain. Offers a hard look at the business of trafficking in human beings.
January 28, 2009
A good edge-of-your seat thriller mixed with interesting observations on China and Western cultures. If you want an easy read that you won't want to put down, this is a good pick.
March 31, 2009
Very different from the usual pulp detective novel. About illegal immigrant traffic from China. Very entertaining since we're going to China this summer.
April 28, 2009
Seems like the beginning of a series/character. I could well be up for more.
May 1, 2009
Really good...lots of twist and turns and one really lucky illegal immigrant that you will love by the end. "I really need to stop jumping out of moving cars."
May 29, 2009
highly entertaining screwball, violent fish out of water. chinese cops daughter is in trouble in the uk so he goes there to save here. then the wild ride begins.
June 4, 2009
Dark vision of England's criminal factions and humerously interpreted culture through non English speaking Chinese Sleuth and peasant .
May 19, 2024
Three stars overall, but four for originality (maybe even close to five), though it drags horribly in the middle third and once the big twist arrives to signify the start of the final third it's initially NOT used to ramp things up but instead used as an excuse to give us fifty pages of boring flashbacks to something that could just as well have been explained in one or two since the rest of the backstory that follows from that twist is so obvious that it drags the tempo down even further. Wraps up nicely in the last chapters and leaves things hanging a bit for a potential sequel.
November 10, 2018
I couldn’t warm up to the main character.
February 8, 2021
Insightful and captivating
April 9, 2009
First Sentence: Jian walked into Leeds University and handed his message, written for him on the back of an aeroplane boarding pass, to the front desk security guard.
Inspector Jian is a man of personal and professional stature in his native China. He receives a desperate call from his daughter, who is supposed to be studying in England, that sending him flying from his world into one completely foreign to him both in custom and language and into a world of smuggled migrants.
This book started so well. The classic concept of a “stranger in a strange land” should have been fascinating. It’s a sad statement when the common element, which proved comforting for Jian, was signs for McDonalds, KFC and Nike. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the story waned quickly.
For me, the characters are, for the most part, unlikable. The protagonist, Jian, is a tough, jaded cop. Only at the very end do you see some slight humanity and redemption, but it’s too little, too late. The bad guys are very, very bad. The migrant worker Ding Ming, was the exception but, because of his circumstances, he was such a weak character I lost interest. Jian’s daughter proved the most interesting but we don’t come to know about her until near the end of the book.
Although there was a lot of driving around, there was not a strong sense of place. The book is very violent. In itself, I can deal with that, but there was nothing to balance or offset it. I also kept wondering where the police were. The lone man of vengeance may make for an exciting plot, but it just didn’t quite play for me..
This book may appeal to those who like high-action noir, but I need a little more depth and dimension.
BAD TRAFFIC (Thriller-Insp. Jian-England-Cont) – Okay
Lewis, Simon – 1st in series
Scribner, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 1416593535
Inspector Jian is a man of personal and professional stature in his native China. He receives a desperate call from his daughter, who is supposed to be studying in England, that sending him flying from his world into one completely foreign to him both in custom and language and into a world of smuggled migrants.
This book started so well. The classic concept of a “stranger in a strange land” should have been fascinating. It’s a sad statement when the common element, which proved comforting for Jian, was signs for McDonalds, KFC and Nike. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the story waned quickly.
For me, the characters are, for the most part, unlikable. The protagonist, Jian, is a tough, jaded cop. Only at the very end do you see some slight humanity and redemption, but it’s too little, too late. The bad guys are very, very bad. The migrant worker Ding Ming, was the exception but, because of his circumstances, he was such a weak character I lost interest. Jian’s daughter proved the most interesting but we don’t come to know about her until near the end of the book.
Although there was a lot of driving around, there was not a strong sense of place. The book is very violent. In itself, I can deal with that, but there was nothing to balance or offset it. I also kept wondering where the police were. The lone man of vengeance may make for an exciting plot, but it just didn’t quite play for me..
This book may appeal to those who like high-action noir, but I need a little more depth and dimension.
BAD TRAFFIC (Thriller-Insp. Jian-England-Cont) – Okay
Lewis, Simon – 1st in series
Scribner, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 1416593535
July 22, 2011
The author is originally from Wales and Scotland, but now he spends only a part of the year in London and the rest in Japan and China. He's a backpacker and I assume much of his knowledge of the people he portrays is from people he has met and had dealings with. I think he is trying to portray the cultural clash as well. The story revolves around the illegals coming to the UK. Their transportation debt is to be worked off, and they are literally owned until they so do. This one comes to a head when a Chinese policeman of high standing realizes his daughter is in really trouble in the U.S. and drops everything and heads to UK, supposedly as part of a govt. oil junket...no knowledge of language even to get her. He is a familiar intelligent and stubborn type of character, and you understand and respect determination, but he pretty dogmatic and difficult to like. And he thinks well on his feet. On the opposite hand in the truck with the refugees packed in is a young peasant and his wife, too, trying to do right by the situation and make it work. He's your maudlin, low key character, to say the least, not assertive and almost overboard to please. Obviously intelligent, though...college english for teaching until somebody whose family had more clout was put in the school and he was forced to leave. He speaks English, but not well. Enough though... And due to circumstances and the story twists, they meet...and have to reluctantly work together under harrowing circumstances. Has a really upbeat end, and through the process, you find yourself liking and respecting them much more.
November 13, 2014
This book was very unexpected. My aunt gave it to me since she bought me two books I wanted and due a promotion on the store got one free. She just picked one on the same shelf. I have to say I'm glad she picked this. Though some of the general plot lines may seem a little cliche, the book is anything but. I really like the shifts between PoV and the construction of very different characters that you can clear notice in the narrative.
I especially like the characterization of Jian, his though process and and reflecting actions. The character is very complex and you can really see in how he deals with the situations presented on the book. It's interesting how you can see glimpses of his past and how it affected and molded the person he is now.
The relationship with Ding Ming creates a great contrast, especially reading their very different PoVs. Is not only the age gap, but also their very different social status. Ding Ming is clearly very gullible and product of a very closed community. Though their background are clearly different from the start, in some ways he may represent something Jian lost. I really LOVE their interactions.
The story is not just a rescue story. The character of Ding Ming add another layer just as important the complements the first one. There are a lot of plot's twist that are frankly surprising (at least for me ^_^). The ending was good, but it wasn't the highest part of the novel. Still in my case I have to admit it did kept me on my toes until the very end.
I strongly recommend it.
I especially like the characterization of Jian, his though process and and reflecting actions. The character is very complex and you can really see in how he deals with the situations presented on the book. It's interesting how you can see glimpses of his past and how it affected and molded the person he is now.
The relationship with Ding Ming creates a great contrast, especially reading their very different PoVs. Is not only the age gap, but also their very different social status. Ding Ming is clearly very gullible and product of a very closed community. Though their background are clearly different from the start, in some ways he may represent something Jian lost. I really LOVE their interactions.
The story is not just a rescue story. The character of Ding Ming add another layer just as important the complements the first one. There are a lot of plot's twist that are frankly surprising (at least for me ^_^). The ending was good, but it wasn't the highest part of the novel. Still in my case I have to admit it did kept me on my toes until the very end.
I strongly recommend it.
September 7, 2016
I'd heard good things about this novel, so it was on my list of stuff to try and get hold of from the library now they're very kindly doing free inter-library requests...
The basic premise of 'Bad Traffic' is that it's the story of Jian, a policeman in China who is pretty much just getting by, taking bribes and concentrating on feathering his own nest no matter what - all that changes, however, when he gets a panicky phone call from his daughter, who is at university in England.
Although he speaks no English at all, Jian drops everything and flies to the UK, finding himself in a country more alien than he could ever have imagined, where he cannot exercise the power or authority he is normally used to exercising without a second thought. His daughter has dropped out of her college course, though she'd still been telling him things were fine, and when he finds her mobile phone with a video of her on it, Jian fears the worst and swears revenge.
'Bad Traffic' reminds me very much of books by folks like Elmore Leonard, with Jian very much a fish out of water - along the way, his path crosses with other folks who have come into contact with the people his daughter got into trouble with, and it's one of those who ends up being a very unwilling interpreter and sidekick.
The basic premise of 'Bad Traffic' is that it's the story of Jian, a policeman in China who is pretty much just getting by, taking bribes and concentrating on feathering his own nest no matter what - all that changes, however, when he gets a panicky phone call from his daughter, who is at university in England.
Although he speaks no English at all, Jian drops everything and flies to the UK, finding himself in a country more alien than he could ever have imagined, where he cannot exercise the power or authority he is normally used to exercising without a second thought. His daughter has dropped out of her college course, though she'd still been telling him things were fine, and when he finds her mobile phone with a video of her on it, Jian fears the worst and swears revenge.
'Bad Traffic' reminds me very much of books by folks like Elmore Leonard, with Jian very much a fish out of water - along the way, his path crosses with other folks who have come into contact with the people his daughter got into trouble with, and it's one of those who ends up being a very unwilling interpreter and sidekick.
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