Citizen One

Sun Piao #2

by Andy Oakes

Sun Piao is released from Ankang, the psychiatric hospital for Chinese dissidents, and demoted to working in the Vice Squad, ostensibly a non-job since the Chinese authorities claim there is no vice in the People's Republic. But, before you know it, he is trying to solve a string of murders of prostitutes, murders in which elite army officers are implicated. It is a case no one wants and no one wants solved since it spells danger to all involved. As his fellow PSB Officers are butchered, Sun Piao's investigations lead him to take on the princelings, the sons of the highest cadre in China, as he seeks justice for his colleagues and the murdered women. Finding the evidence that his superiors do not want him to find leads him to become involved in a power struggle between the old and the new guard. ' Citizen One is an assault on the senses, violent and lyrical by turns as it pits a decent man against an omnipotent state.' Joan Smith in The Sunday Times 'Oakes' first novel, Dragon Eye, introduced the quick-thinking detective Sun Piao and was such a success it was translated into several other languages. This sequel continues at the same cracking pace, beginning with the gruesome murder, rape and encasing in concrete of a young girl. Oakes ably evokes the sights and sounds of a corrupt, claustrophobic Shanghai against the euphoric backdrop of the 2008 Olympic Games. Sun Piao returns from his incarceration in a high-security hospital for Chinese dissidents, "Ankang", a place that "punishes through the use of injections... injections that swell your tongue so that it bulges out of your mouth". He is demoted at work, joins the vice squad, and finds himself tackling not just the murder of local prostitutes but also the gradual butchering of his own colleagues.' Scotland on Sunday

Genres: Fiction, Crime

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Andy Oakes is a youth counsellor who works amongst highly disengaged young people to sort out drugs and alcohol issues. Oakes was previously a defense engineer, photographer, and a small business owner. He received a Calouste Gulbenkian award in 1972 to complete a photographic study of young people within an inner city setting and the resulting exhibition travelled the UK and appeared in several major galleries for the next eighteen months.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a page turner!

Great story for those who have an interest in China.

[Geoff Battle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The timing couldn't be better for a novel which invites readers to delve in to a crime story which starts with a naked girl being found in the concrete foundations of the Olympic Shanghai Stadium. Oakes has clearly done his homework in to Chinese culture and creates a dismal portrait of suppression, corruption and the clash between capitalism and communism. In the middle of those conflicting ideals is Chief Investigator Sun Piao and his sidekick Big Man, working against the corruption, and for their own survival. The plot offers the expected twists, and at times, due to the unfamiliar ground is a little confusing. That said Oakes works hard to explain the scenario at several points.

Oakes writing style is quite unique, at times slowing the action down in to a version of 'bullet time' (a la The Matrix) to heighten suspense, which is an interesting idea. The plot itself is well thought out and pacing is ok, however there a couple of detractors which should be noted. Firstly, at times the book has a distinctly documentary feel, which although adds background to the scenario, does disjoint the story. Secondly the Olympic thread seems to have been inserted afterwards as a sales mechanism, not an integral part of the story. This is a shame, since it's definitely a big part of the book's sales pitch. Overall, Citizen One is a solid entry in to the crime genre, with a fresh approach and is well written.

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Citizen One by Andy Oakes is a terrible book. The characters are all one-dimensional and the plot is predictable. The writing is amateurish and the author's attempt at creating a "badass" protagonist falls flat. Overall, this book is not worth your time - avoid it at all costs!