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Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries #1
Thief of Souls
Lu Fei is a graduate of China's top police college but he's been assigned to a sleepy backwater town in northern China, where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth. The CID in Beijing--headed by a rising political star--is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own.
As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger.
The brutal murder of a young woman in a rural village in Northern China sends shockwaves all the way to Beijing--but seemingly only Inspector Lu Fei, living in exile in the small town, is interested in justice for the victim.
As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger.
The brutal murder of a young woman in a rural village in Northern China sends shockwaves all the way to Beijing--but seemingly only Inspector Lu Fei, living in exile in the small town, is interested in justice for the victim.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
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August 7, 2022
Thief of Souls (Inspector Lu Fei Mystery) by Brian Klingborg
I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in China and certainly not a modern day story. Inspector Lu Fei, who graduated from the police academy at the top of his class, has been exiled to a tiny rural town where nothing much happens. But Lu is happy here, he has his work, which he does with great attention to doing the job well, he has his drink and his favorite drinking location, a bar owned by a young widow. Unlike most men in his circumstances, he doesn't want a trophy wife, he wants to marry for love even if that means not ever marrying at all.
This is a dark story with explicit violence. The temps hover below freezing and even indoors can be freezing. When a woman is found murdered in her home, with her organs removed, the body is well preserved due to the temps. Outside help is summoned and Lu then has to answer to Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Politics play heavily in every aspect of life in China and that fact drives the investigation, whether it means ignoring the misdeeds of those in power or trying to railroad persons of interest into confessing something they might not have done. This is not Lu's way and he butts heads with Song, until they develop an uneasy partnership.
Soon, Lu is checking on other murders that are similar to the one in his town. Lu is a good cop but he's not adverse to finding the information he needs even if he has to slip through the cracks to get past his superiors. He wants to find the killer and he wants to keep more women from dying. We are there for the violence against women but also for the violence inflected on Lu by members of the police force who do not like him. I did see humor in the story at times but mostly I was sad at how hard things appear to be for the people and how much corruption thrives in the politics of the country and those who have power over others.
Pub May 4, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in China and certainly not a modern day story. Inspector Lu Fei, who graduated from the police academy at the top of his class, has been exiled to a tiny rural town where nothing much happens. But Lu is happy here, he has his work, which he does with great attention to doing the job well, he has his drink and his favorite drinking location, a bar owned by a young widow. Unlike most men in his circumstances, he doesn't want a trophy wife, he wants to marry for love even if that means not ever marrying at all.
This is a dark story with explicit violence. The temps hover below freezing and even indoors can be freezing. When a woman is found murdered in her home, with her organs removed, the body is well preserved due to the temps. Outside help is summoned and Lu then has to answer to Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Politics play heavily in every aspect of life in China and that fact drives the investigation, whether it means ignoring the misdeeds of those in power or trying to railroad persons of interest into confessing something they might not have done. This is not Lu's way and he butts heads with Song, until they develop an uneasy partnership.
Soon, Lu is checking on other murders that are similar to the one in his town. Lu is a good cop but he's not adverse to finding the information he needs even if he has to slip through the cracks to get past his superiors. He wants to find the killer and he wants to keep more women from dying. We are there for the violence against women but also for the violence inflected on Lu by members of the police force who do not like him. I did see humor in the story at times but mostly I was sad at how hard things appear to be for the people and how much corruption thrives in the politics of the country and those who have power over others.
Pub May 4, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
April 3, 2023
the premise of this story sounded so interesting to me, but i totally should have known better than to pick up a book that explores chinese politics and culture written by a white american man.
because BK does a lot of over-compensating, as if he feels the need to prove hes qualified to write this story. like “oh, i lived in china and was an east asian studies major, therefore i know x, y, and z.” he spends so much time explaining things he assumes non-chinese readers dont know and it comes off as super condescending. like, there was one point where he included an explanation about who confucius was, as if no one had ever heard of him before! it was silly. and it just got to the point where it felt like he only wrote this book just to show off what he “knows” (or to pass judgement on societal systems in a country that isnt his) and it became unbearable for me, not to mention feels completely unnatural within the story narrative.
so this was a miss for me.
↠ 2 stars
because BK does a lot of over-compensating, as if he feels the need to prove hes qualified to write this story. like “oh, i lived in china and was an east asian studies major, therefore i know x, y, and z.” he spends so much time explaining things he assumes non-chinese readers dont know and it comes off as super condescending. like, there was one point where he included an explanation about who confucius was, as if no one had ever heard of him before! it was silly. and it just got to the point where it felt like he only wrote this book just to show off what he “knows” (or to pass judgement on societal systems in a country that isnt his) and it became unbearable for me, not to mention feels completely unnatural within the story narrative.
so this was a miss for me.
↠ 2 stars
May 4, 2021
4 solid stars for an engrossing mystery set in rural Northern China. Raven Valley is 70 Kilometers from Harbin and Lu Fei is the Deputy Chief of the township PSB(Public Security Bureau) station. PSB is analogous to a Western Police Department. Winters in this area are very cold, and houses are poorly heated. Lu Fei gets a call on his night off, because the duty constable cannot find the chief. There has been a murder. Yang Fenfang has been found dead. She is from this small village but moved to Harbin several years ago. She returned to Raven Valley to care for her sick mom, who died just 1 week ago..
While the initial suspect is an ex boy friend of Yang Fenfang, there are many twists and turns in the plot. I was not sure who the killer was until near the end. I liked the characters, especially Lu Fei, a lonely, but dedicated policemen. Lu Fei calls this in to the Beijing PSB headquarters and Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau decides to bring his team to investigate. Song and Lu form an unlikely partnership. The PSB is riven with corruption and interfering politicians. How Lu manages to find the killer makes for a very good read. There is some side story about his non existent love life.
The author is an American who has studied Chinese literature at Harvard. He has done much research and portrays life in rural China authentically to this reader. I have only been to China once, as a tourist, but I have read other mysteries by Chinese authors. His description of Chinese customs and beliefs, particularly ancestor worship, ring true to me. The book is divided into days, as the investigation progresses.
Two quotes:
PSB entering a house: "Lu doesn't bother to knock. In the People's Republic, private property remains a loosely interpreted concept. He opens the door and yells, 'Public Security Bureau!"
Interrogation: "In the people's Republic, there is no legal 'right to remain silent" and no law that requires a lawyer to be present during initial police questioning, so Song launches right in."
I will read more of this author's books if he publishes more. I read this book in 3 days.
Thanks to St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#ThiefofSouls #NetGalley
While the initial suspect is an ex boy friend of Yang Fenfang, there are many twists and turns in the plot. I was not sure who the killer was until near the end. I liked the characters, especially Lu Fei, a lonely, but dedicated policemen. Lu Fei calls this in to the Beijing PSB headquarters and Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau decides to bring his team to investigate. Song and Lu form an unlikely partnership. The PSB is riven with corruption and interfering politicians. How Lu manages to find the killer makes for a very good read. There is some side story about his non existent love life.
The author is an American who has studied Chinese literature at Harvard. He has done much research and portrays life in rural China authentically to this reader. I have only been to China once, as a tourist, but I have read other mysteries by Chinese authors. His description of Chinese customs and beliefs, particularly ancestor worship, ring true to me. The book is divided into days, as the investigation progresses.
Two quotes:
PSB entering a house: "Lu doesn't bother to knock. In the People's Republic, private property remains a loosely interpreted concept. He opens the door and yells, 'Public Security Bureau!"
Interrogation: "In the people's Republic, there is no legal 'right to remain silent" and no law that requires a lawyer to be present during initial police questioning, so Song launches right in."
I will read more of this author's books if he publishes more. I read this book in 3 days.
Thanks to St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#ThiefofSouls #NetGalley
April 14, 2021
Brian Klingborg's novel is set in a remote part of China, the small town of Raven Valley, close to the nearby Harbin City, the eponymous City of Ice, named after its long and freezing winters. Inspector Lu Fei is the Deputy Chief of the local Public Security Bureau station, a police station with its small group of officers under the leadership of Chief Liang. To his surprise, he finds himself at the scene of a murder of a young local woman, 23 year old Yang Fenfang, working at Harbin, but home because her ill mother had recently died. Yang has been brutally killed with 'hell money' left in her mouth, and her heart, lungs and liver have been expertly removed, could she possibly have been killed to harvest her organs? A local man with learning difficulties who had gone to school with the victim is arrested, despite there being little evidence of his guilt.
Lu Fei is a single man in his thirties, looking for true love, with his eye on a beautiful widow who runs the Red Lotus bar, he has spent many years working in Harbin, but left after conflict over the levels of corruption, exiled but is more than happy to be in Raven Valley. He is an anomaly in the Chinese bureaucracies that are famed for their endemic corruption, an accepted fact of life in the country, he is a principled man who is determined to get to the truth of who murdered Yang. When the CIB comes to take over the inquiry in the form of the ambitious CIB Deputy Director Song, there is initially friction between Fei and Song, although through time the two men come to respect each other, particularly after they both find themselves facing life threatening situations. Fei has to face old enemies in Harbin, as he hunts for a killer, unearthing the murders of other victims killed with a similar MO, his career at stake as politically important suspects attempt to derail his investigation.
Klingborg intersperses the narrative with numerous quotes from influential figures in Chinese history, poetry, philosophers and religion. He details in some depth the political and police administrations, the political structures, history, traditions, rituals and culture, all of which provide a valuable insight into a China that retains its air of mystery in our modern contemporary world. My only concern was that occasionally these nuggets of information are inserted clumsily and to the detriment of fluid storytelling. This in no way detracts from what is an entertaining and engaging crime read that easily held my attention and which I very much enjoyed and I would recommend it to other crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
Lu Fei is a single man in his thirties, looking for true love, with his eye on a beautiful widow who runs the Red Lotus bar, he has spent many years working in Harbin, but left after conflict over the levels of corruption, exiled but is more than happy to be in Raven Valley. He is an anomaly in the Chinese bureaucracies that are famed for their endemic corruption, an accepted fact of life in the country, he is a principled man who is determined to get to the truth of who murdered Yang. When the CIB comes to take over the inquiry in the form of the ambitious CIB Deputy Director Song, there is initially friction between Fei and Song, although through time the two men come to respect each other, particularly after they both find themselves facing life threatening situations. Fei has to face old enemies in Harbin, as he hunts for a killer, unearthing the murders of other victims killed with a similar MO, his career at stake as politically important suspects attempt to derail his investigation.
Klingborg intersperses the narrative with numerous quotes from influential figures in Chinese history, poetry, philosophers and religion. He details in some depth the political and police administrations, the political structures, history, traditions, rituals and culture, all of which provide a valuable insight into a China that retains its air of mystery in our modern contemporary world. My only concern was that occasionally these nuggets of information are inserted clumsily and to the detriment of fluid storytelling. This in no way detracts from what is an entertaining and engaging crime read that easily held my attention and which I very much enjoyed and I would recommend it to other crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
March 21, 2021
I love finding a mystery that takes me to somewhere different. I think this is the first time I’ve had one take me to modern day China. Klingborg does a fabulous job of giving us a detailed sense of time and place and walking us through the differences between Western and Chinese cultures, including policing practices. I love books when I feel I learn something. Usually, that’s limited to historical fiction but this book definitely fits the bill.
Inspector Lu Fei is the deputy police chief in a sleepy backwater town in Northern China. Murder never happens there… until it does. The CID from Beijing is called in to conduct the investigation, but Lu is still involved. I loved Lu’s sense of humor, his admiration of Confusius and his dislike of playing politics to get ahead. Like many police procedurals, he is just one member of a team that we get to know. It was interesting to see how they did (or didn’t ) work together.
This is also a good mystery. I had my suspicions about the murderer and I was right. But it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story, especially as the reason for the murders was unique. I can only hope this is the beginning of a new series.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
Inspector Lu Fei is the deputy police chief in a sleepy backwater town in Northern China. Murder never happens there… until it does. The CID from Beijing is called in to conduct the investigation, but Lu is still involved. I loved Lu’s sense of humor, his admiration of Confusius and his dislike of playing politics to get ahead. Like many police procedurals, he is just one member of a team that we get to know. It was interesting to see how they did (or didn’t ) work together.
This is also a good mystery. I had my suspicions about the murderer and I was right. But it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story, especially as the reason for the murders was unique. I can only hope this is the beginning of a new series.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
March 28, 2021
Thief of Souls
by Bring Klingborg is a police procedural set in contemporary times in a rural township in Northern China. 3.5 stars rounded to 3 stars. The book opens with a call to Inspector Lu Fei (deputy chief) on his day off. The local Public Security Bureau station lets him know that there has been a murder.
Despite graduating from China’s top police college, Lu has been assigned to this rural community where calls are normally for the theft of a chicken or help with someone’s internet. What went wrong with his career? Lu’s character has depth and shows growth over the course of the book. He also has some character flaws that make him seem more realistic. How does he handle facing an old enemy?
Due to the nature of the death, Lu contacts the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Beijing. Superintendent Song, deputy director of the CIB and his team arrive to help. How well do different branches of police work together in China?
The author does a great job of giving the reader a sense of time and place as well as people. He is quite descriptive, but sometimes ‘tells’ rather than shows. However, I easily pictured the small patrol car coming to pick up Lu with Sergeant Bing and four constables already in it. He also provided a look at some of the legal and cultural differences in China versus the United States.
Interspersed throughout the book, the reader gets to hear the killer’s thoughts and actions. The author does a good job of not telling the reader who this is, but I did determine the killer by the halfway point. Themes include corruption, theft, murder, lies, stigmas attached to certain professions, and much more. Will you guess the unique reason for the murder?
The plot is well done with lots of unknowns and some twists. One of the fascinating things about this book was the interactions of the characters as the stakes got higher. Will you be surprised by some of the events? The ending was dramatic.
Overall, this book is entertaining and suspenseful. This is the first novel in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. I definitely want to read the next book in the series. If you like mysteries or police procedurals set in other countries, then you may enjoy this one as much as I did.
I received a digital copy of this book from the St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Brian Klingborg in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is scheduled for May 4, 2021.
Despite graduating from China’s top police college, Lu has been assigned to this rural community where calls are normally for the theft of a chicken or help with someone’s internet. What went wrong with his career? Lu’s character has depth and shows growth over the course of the book. He also has some character flaws that make him seem more realistic. How does he handle facing an old enemy?
Due to the nature of the death, Lu contacts the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Beijing. Superintendent Song, deputy director of the CIB and his team arrive to help. How well do different branches of police work together in China?
The author does a great job of giving the reader a sense of time and place as well as people. He is quite descriptive, but sometimes ‘tells’ rather than shows. However, I easily pictured the small patrol car coming to pick up Lu with Sergeant Bing and four constables already in it. He also provided a look at some of the legal and cultural differences in China versus the United States.
Interspersed throughout the book, the reader gets to hear the killer’s thoughts and actions. The author does a good job of not telling the reader who this is, but I did determine the killer by the halfway point. Themes include corruption, theft, murder, lies, stigmas attached to certain professions, and much more. Will you guess the unique reason for the murder?
The plot is well done with lots of unknowns and some twists. One of the fascinating things about this book was the interactions of the characters as the stakes got higher. Will you be surprised by some of the events? The ending was dramatic.
Overall, this book is entertaining and suspenseful. This is the first novel in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. I definitely want to read the next book in the series. If you like mysteries or police procedurals set in other countries, then you may enjoy this one as much as I did.
I received a digital copy of this book from the St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Brian Klingborg in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is scheduled for May 4, 2021.
May 25, 2022
3.5 stars. The author, American Brian Klingborg, majored in East Asian studies at Harvard with a particular interest in Chinese folklore and religion. He lived and worked in Asia for years. The story is set in modern-day rural China, Raven Valley, with connections with the city of Harbin, 70 miles distant. The area is known for its long, biting, cold winters. Homes are poorly heated and uncomfortable.
People are not far removed from political and legal coercion and corruption, even in the quiet countryside. Deputy Chief Lu Fei graduated from police academy at the top of his class but was unjustly exiled by his corrupt boss to the rural area of Raven Valley. Lu now works alongside other rural officers under the unsteady leadership of Chief Liang.
Lu considers himself happy in this place where nothing much happens. He often drinks in a bar owned by a young widow. She interests him but he is shy and awkward around women. He has been urged to marry but refuses to do so for social convenience. He intends to stay single unless he finds true love.
Lu attends a brutal crime scene. In this Raven Valley District, police work usually entails rounding up stray chickens, finding a stolen pig, accompanying firefighters to determine arson or even calls to help residents with their internet. One day, Lu receives a phone call reporting the murder of a young woman. He received the call because the person could not locate Chief Liang, who was probably somewhere drunk. The woman was butchered in her apartment, her body preserved in the cold. Her liver, lungs, and heart had been expertly removed, and her body sewn up. Joss money, for use in the afterlife, had been stuffed in her mouth.
A simple-minded local worker at a butcher shop had been set up for the crime and arrested. He had attended school with the young woman and had shown excessive interest in her. Lu and people who knew the man arrested thought he was incapable of the crime. He can be kept in prison, even executed, unless Lu can find the true killer. Lu is an honest policeman who is determined to find who committed this unusual and horrendous murder. Is someone harvesting organs for a profit?
Lu calls Beijing and reports to Superintendant Song, Deputy Director of the Crime Investigation Bureau. It was found out that the young woman worked in Harbin and had just returned home when her mother died. Song answers the call with a police team, and they head to Harbin looking for answers. They discover that two women in Harbin were murdered there in the same manner, their organs removed, and the crimes hidden, reportedly to maintain social stability. No connections could be found between the three women murdered in this dreadful manner. Lu and Song have differences in political and legal beliefs but soon join in an uneasy alliance. Lu is subject to contempt from old enemies, and both he and Song are in danger.
Chinese beliefs, customs, religions, and folklore, including ancestor worship, are intrinsic to the plot.
We are reminded how fanatics can twist any spiritual belief to suit their frenzied personal mindset and evil intentions. The plot races towards a dramatic and life-threatening level before the crimes are connected and solved. The killer and the motive were difficult to guess.
I thought this compelling tale transported the reader to an unfamiliar place and culture. I enjoyed the character of Lu and his diligence and have already downloaded the second book in the series.
People are not far removed from political and legal coercion and corruption, even in the quiet countryside. Deputy Chief Lu Fei graduated from police academy at the top of his class but was unjustly exiled by his corrupt boss to the rural area of Raven Valley. Lu now works alongside other rural officers under the unsteady leadership of Chief Liang.
Lu considers himself happy in this place where nothing much happens. He often drinks in a bar owned by a young widow. She interests him but he is shy and awkward around women. He has been urged to marry but refuses to do so for social convenience. He intends to stay single unless he finds true love.
Lu attends a brutal crime scene. In this Raven Valley District, police work usually entails rounding up stray chickens, finding a stolen pig, accompanying firefighters to determine arson or even calls to help residents with their internet. One day, Lu receives a phone call reporting the murder of a young woman. He received the call because the person could not locate Chief Liang, who was probably somewhere drunk. The woman was butchered in her apartment, her body preserved in the cold. Her liver, lungs, and heart had been expertly removed, and her body sewn up. Joss money, for use in the afterlife, had been stuffed in her mouth.
A simple-minded local worker at a butcher shop had been set up for the crime and arrested. He had attended school with the young woman and had shown excessive interest in her. Lu and people who knew the man arrested thought he was incapable of the crime. He can be kept in prison, even executed, unless Lu can find the true killer. Lu is an honest policeman who is determined to find who committed this unusual and horrendous murder. Is someone harvesting organs for a profit?
Lu calls Beijing and reports to Superintendant Song, Deputy Director of the Crime Investigation Bureau. It was found out that the young woman worked in Harbin and had just returned home when her mother died. Song answers the call with a police team, and they head to Harbin looking for answers. They discover that two women in Harbin were murdered there in the same manner, their organs removed, and the crimes hidden, reportedly to maintain social stability. No connections could be found between the three women murdered in this dreadful manner. Lu and Song have differences in political and legal beliefs but soon join in an uneasy alliance. Lu is subject to contempt from old enemies, and both he and Song are in danger.
Chinese beliefs, customs, religions, and folklore, including ancestor worship, are intrinsic to the plot.
We are reminded how fanatics can twist any spiritual belief to suit their frenzied personal mindset and evil intentions. The plot races towards a dramatic and life-threatening level before the crimes are connected and solved. The killer and the motive were difficult to guess.
I thought this compelling tale transported the reader to an unfamiliar place and culture. I enjoyed the character of Lu and his diligence and have already downloaded the second book in the series.
May 18, 2022
Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg is a 2021 Minotaur Books publication.
A young woman is brutally murdered just weeks after her mother died. A suspect is quickly brought in, but Lu Fei isn’t convinced he is the guilty party. As he digs deeper, he comes under scrutiny by the CID who has been called in to help with the investigation. Lu Fei doesn’t play by the same rules and is the only one truly interested in seeking justice for the murder victim.
But as he dodges political interests, he slowly comes to a horrifying realization, one that could put those he cares about in grave danger…
A modern-day murder mystery set in China- I think that would be a first for me. This story forced me to pay closer attention to details, to absorb a different political landscape and the corruption that lay within.
Because of the unique cultural setting, the story feels fresh, and a change of scenery can certainly do wonders-
But at the end of the day, this is still basically your standard police procedural. Once this became apparent, I couldn’t allow the uniqueness of the location to distract me from the quality of the mystery itself.
After some thought, I’ve decided the story was very solid. The author follows the usual formula for this genre and doesn’t veer too far of course in that regard. Still, despite having made a few 'whodunit' guesses, I found I was way off track.
As a first book in a series, the author gives the reader a good foundation to build on. Lu Fei has great potential, and I am looking forward to seeing how this series will progress from here. I hope that once the cultural novelty wears off, what remains will be a go-to series with developing characters and thought-provoking mysteries.
4 stars
A young woman is brutally murdered just weeks after her mother died. A suspect is quickly brought in, but Lu Fei isn’t convinced he is the guilty party. As he digs deeper, he comes under scrutiny by the CID who has been called in to help with the investigation. Lu Fei doesn’t play by the same rules and is the only one truly interested in seeking justice for the murder victim.
But as he dodges political interests, he slowly comes to a horrifying realization, one that could put those he cares about in grave danger…
A modern-day murder mystery set in China- I think that would be a first for me. This story forced me to pay closer attention to details, to absorb a different political landscape and the corruption that lay within.
Because of the unique cultural setting, the story feels fresh, and a change of scenery can certainly do wonders-
But at the end of the day, this is still basically your standard police procedural. Once this became apparent, I couldn’t allow the uniqueness of the location to distract me from the quality of the mystery itself.
After some thought, I’ve decided the story was very solid. The author follows the usual formula for this genre and doesn’t veer too far of course in that regard. Still, despite having made a few 'whodunit' guesses, I found I was way off track.
As a first book in a series, the author gives the reader a good foundation to build on. Lu Fei has great potential, and I am looking forward to seeing how this series will progress from here. I hope that once the cultural novelty wears off, what remains will be a go-to series with developing characters and thought-provoking mysteries.
4 stars
April 19, 2021
3.5 stars
I read a lot of mysteries and the setting of China was the motivating factor in me choosing this one. The cultural aspects of this story held my interest the most and the mystery itself is decent but I wouldn't say it knocked my socks off. It's an average mystery but the historical facts the author incorporates into the story enhances the book for sure.
Inspector Lu Fei works for the police force in a small Northern China town. A young woman is found dead and her organs have been removed. It's fair to say this case will present some challenges for Lu Fei as he attempts to figure everything out.
There is a great deal of background info about the country that is provided by the author. I've always loved police detective mysteries and the fact this one took place in China did bring something unique to the table. Things like the political atmosphere both past and present just added these complex layers to the story.
With that being said, my knowledge of the history of China is probably similar to the average American. So the book presented the opportunity to learn a thing or two and made it a worthwhile read. However, if you already know a lot about China going in, perhaps the mystery just won't be enough to sustain your interest. This book is the first in the series and while you get little bits about the main character's personal life, I do hope there is more development with him in future books.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
I read a lot of mysteries and the setting of China was the motivating factor in me choosing this one. The cultural aspects of this story held my interest the most and the mystery itself is decent but I wouldn't say it knocked my socks off. It's an average mystery but the historical facts the author incorporates into the story enhances the book for sure.
Inspector Lu Fei works for the police force in a small Northern China town. A young woman is found dead and her organs have been removed. It's fair to say this case will present some challenges for Lu Fei as he attempts to figure everything out.
There is a great deal of background info about the country that is provided by the author. I've always loved police detective mysteries and the fact this one took place in China did bring something unique to the table. Things like the political atmosphere both past and present just added these complex layers to the story.
With that being said, my knowledge of the history of China is probably similar to the average American. So the book presented the opportunity to learn a thing or two and made it a worthwhile read. However, if you already know a lot about China going in, perhaps the mystery just won't be enough to sustain your interest. This book is the first in the series and while you get little bits about the main character's personal life, I do hope there is more development with him in future books.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
March 15, 2021
"A homicide investigation is rarely just about the homicide itself...the cops, the local party representatives and government officials, the prosecutors- everyone has an agenda. A desire to advance one's career...sometimes at the expense of the truth".
Inspector Lu Fei had been promoted and reassigned to the rural Raven Valley Township, seventy kilometers from Harbin City, having had a falling out with his superior in Harbin. Lu's goals were modest: "a full belly and a full glass". Seventeen year veteran Lu, was drinking Shaoxing wine provided by Yanyan, proprietor of the Red Lotus Bar, when he received a call from the paichusuo ( the local Public Security Bureau Station). A murder had been committed at the Yang residence. The victim: Ms. Yang Fenfang, twenty-three years old, was found on the bathroom floor. There was no sign of a struggle, no blood, no mess. Fenfang had been living and working in Harbin for the last three years but returned home due to her mother's failing health. Her mother's funeral was one week ago.
The crime scene was ghastly. Was Fenfang a victim of organ harvesting? Her heart, lungs and liver, three body organs "imbued with some aspect of the soul or spirit", had been removed. Joss paper was stuffed in her mouth. Inspector Lu Fei enlisted the assistance of Superintendent Song and his team from the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing. Song was ambitious, power hungry and spoke to Lu in a brusque, dismissive manner. Lu's immediate superior Liang stated, "You're a good cop, Lu Fei...that's not enough. You need to play the game, or you're going to end up in Raven Valley for the rest of your life".
"Lu considers the boyfriend a viable lead. More than half the murders committed in rural China are the result of a love gone wrong". "Zhang Zhaoxing ticks a lot of boxes...Physically strong. A consumer of pornography. No mother or father. Socially awkward. A Peeping Tom. Experience with butchering animals". Zhang had surveillance photos of Fenfang on his cell phone. He worked as a butcher at a pork processing plant. Zhang had tried to flee. The county procurator Gao, in charge of investigation and prosecution, issued an arrest warrant. "If Zhang ends up in court, his fate is all but certain". But, did he do it? Lu says, "I'm not going to let Song mistreat our suspect...or railroad him".
Lu bucks the system, relentlessly searching for the real murderer, despite obstacles thrown in his path. Examining police files in Harbin, he discovers two additional cases with similar MO's. Could a serial killer be in their midst? Lu will keep digging until justice is served.
"Thief of Souls" (An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery) by Brian Klingborg introduces the reader to Inspector Lu Fei of Raven Valley Township. Yes, he drinks too much, can be pig-headed, and is not always respectful of his superiors or follows the chain of command. His unrelenting doggedness and determination are an investigative skill set to be admired. I look forward to the next mystery in this promising series. Highly recommended.
Thank you St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Inspector Lu Fei had been promoted and reassigned to the rural Raven Valley Township, seventy kilometers from Harbin City, having had a falling out with his superior in Harbin. Lu's goals were modest: "a full belly and a full glass". Seventeen year veteran Lu, was drinking Shaoxing wine provided by Yanyan, proprietor of the Red Lotus Bar, when he received a call from the paichusuo ( the local Public Security Bureau Station). A murder had been committed at the Yang residence. The victim: Ms. Yang Fenfang, twenty-three years old, was found on the bathroom floor. There was no sign of a struggle, no blood, no mess. Fenfang had been living and working in Harbin for the last three years but returned home due to her mother's failing health. Her mother's funeral was one week ago.
The crime scene was ghastly. Was Fenfang a victim of organ harvesting? Her heart, lungs and liver, three body organs "imbued with some aspect of the soul or spirit", had been removed. Joss paper was stuffed in her mouth. Inspector Lu Fei enlisted the assistance of Superintendent Song and his team from the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing. Song was ambitious, power hungry and spoke to Lu in a brusque, dismissive manner. Lu's immediate superior Liang stated, "You're a good cop, Lu Fei...that's not enough. You need to play the game, or you're going to end up in Raven Valley for the rest of your life".
"Lu considers the boyfriend a viable lead. More than half the murders committed in rural China are the result of a love gone wrong". "Zhang Zhaoxing ticks a lot of boxes...Physically strong. A consumer of pornography. No mother or father. Socially awkward. A Peeping Tom. Experience with butchering animals". Zhang had surveillance photos of Fenfang on his cell phone. He worked as a butcher at a pork processing plant. Zhang had tried to flee. The county procurator Gao, in charge of investigation and prosecution, issued an arrest warrant. "If Zhang ends up in court, his fate is all but certain". But, did he do it? Lu says, "I'm not going to let Song mistreat our suspect...or railroad him".
Lu bucks the system, relentlessly searching for the real murderer, despite obstacles thrown in his path. Examining police files in Harbin, he discovers two additional cases with similar MO's. Could a serial killer be in their midst? Lu will keep digging until justice is served.
"Thief of Souls" (An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery) by Brian Klingborg introduces the reader to Inspector Lu Fei of Raven Valley Township. Yes, he drinks too much, can be pig-headed, and is not always respectful of his superiors or follows the chain of command. His unrelenting doggedness and determination are an investigative skill set to be admired. I look forward to the next mystery in this promising series. Highly recommended.
Thank you St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2021
Nothing too exciting happens in the quiet town of Raven Valley Township in northern China, which doesn’t bother Inspector Lu Fei much. He prefers it, in fact, to his previous job in the much larger city of Harbin, where he did not get along with his superior officer. Suddenly, Lu finds himself jolted into action when a young woman’s body is found dead and left in a bizarre condition. What kind of killer is responsible for this? Is he a sexual sadist? A religious fanatic? Perhaps both?
Thief of Souls is Brian Klingborg’s first novel is what appears to be a series featuring Lu Fei. Our protagonist is an interesting character. He is in his late 30s, is single, and he is a graduate of a top police academy in China. He has also trained in Michigan. He seldom dates, but he spends a lot of time at the Red Lotus Bar drinking alone and hoping to engage the owner, Luo Yanyan in conversation. As a detective, Lu has good instincts, and he often does not hesitate to question higher-ranking officials, especially when it is his case. What surprised me was his flair for martial arts. Despite what seems to be his outwardly calm demeanor, Lu Fei can fight when he has to. And he doesn’t take any nonsense from his men, either.
As a police procedural, Klingborg’s plot moves along fairly well. The writing often struck me as dull, dry, and at times, didactic. Each chapter begins with a quote from Chairman Mao, and also we get plenty of information about Chinese politics and culture. There were spots of humor, though. I especially liked the nicknames, like Lu’s nickname for Chu – Yuehan Weien – after the American actor John Wayne! Some of the conversations seem stilted; perhaps that’s normal in China, but I found it made for lackluster reading.
There is a second Lu Fei novel coming out later this year. Some may be looking forward to it; while I found Thief of Souls entertaining at times, I will take a pass the second time around.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher of St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
3 stars
Thief of Souls is Brian Klingborg’s first novel is what appears to be a series featuring Lu Fei. Our protagonist is an interesting character. He is in his late 30s, is single, and he is a graduate of a top police academy in China. He has also trained in Michigan. He seldom dates, but he spends a lot of time at the Red Lotus Bar drinking alone and hoping to engage the owner, Luo Yanyan in conversation. As a detective, Lu has good instincts, and he often does not hesitate to question higher-ranking officials, especially when it is his case. What surprised me was his flair for martial arts. Despite what seems to be his outwardly calm demeanor, Lu Fei can fight when he has to. And he doesn’t take any nonsense from his men, either.
As a police procedural, Klingborg’s plot moves along fairly well. The writing often struck me as dull, dry, and at times, didactic. Each chapter begins with a quote from Chairman Mao, and also we get plenty of information about Chinese politics and culture. There were spots of humor, though. I especially liked the nicknames, like Lu’s nickname for Chu – Yuehan Weien – after the American actor John Wayne! Some of the conversations seem stilted; perhaps that’s normal in China, but I found it made for lackluster reading.
There is a second Lu Fei novel coming out later this year. Some may be looking forward to it; while I found Thief of Souls entertaining at times, I will take a pass the second time around.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher of St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
3 stars
May 7, 2022
Engaging new series featuring crime and detecting in China!
I rather think Klingborg has nailed it with his introduction of a new Police Officer and his crimal investigations in the countryside of modern Northern China.
Inspector Lu Fei lives in a rural region as an officer with Public Security Bureau by preference. When a particularly grotesque murder is revealed right in his backyard, he contacts the Criminal Investigations Bureau in Beijing. An uneasy alliance ensues with Superintendent Song.
The inquiry leads Lu to some strange places, including evidence of Party graft and corruption, and to the conclusion that they have a serial killer on their hands.
A commentary on life in general in China, of how Lu came to be where he is, of historical happenings in the recent past effecting Lu’s decisions about his life, I found fascinating, as are the chapter introductions wth quotes from Chairman Mao.
I must admit I wondered about Klingborg’s understandings but reading his bio shows that he is indeed qualified to write from Lu’s viewpoint. He’s a Harvard Graduate of the East Asia Studies program, has lived in South East Asia. He also studies and writes about martial arts.
It so happens Surprise! Surprise! that Lu Fei is a martial arts proponent earning the name Bruce Lu during his school years. I must say Lu’s reactions are realistic if not always graceful.
I enjoyed looking at life through his laconic, rather cynical lens after the mode of the ‘hard boiled detective with heart’ trope.
I’m pleased to say that Inspector Lu joins the other modern Chinese detecting / police novels I enjoy such as Inspector Chan, Rei Shimura and Inspector Chen Cao.
The way Lu looks at his life, his passion for duty, and respect he displays are aspects I enjoyed.
I’m hooked!
A Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley
I rather think Klingborg has nailed it with his introduction of a new Police Officer and his crimal investigations in the countryside of modern Northern China.
Inspector Lu Fei lives in a rural region as an officer with Public Security Bureau by preference. When a particularly grotesque murder is revealed right in his backyard, he contacts the Criminal Investigations Bureau in Beijing. An uneasy alliance ensues with Superintendent Song.
The inquiry leads Lu to some strange places, including evidence of Party graft and corruption, and to the conclusion that they have a serial killer on their hands.
A commentary on life in general in China, of how Lu came to be where he is, of historical happenings in the recent past effecting Lu’s decisions about his life, I found fascinating, as are the chapter introductions wth quotes from Chairman Mao.
I must admit I wondered about Klingborg’s understandings but reading his bio shows that he is indeed qualified to write from Lu’s viewpoint. He’s a Harvard Graduate of the East Asia Studies program, has lived in South East Asia. He also studies and writes about martial arts.
It so happens Surprise! Surprise! that Lu Fei is a martial arts proponent earning the name Bruce Lu during his school years. I must say Lu’s reactions are realistic if not always graceful.
I enjoyed looking at life through his laconic, rather cynical lens after the mode of the ‘hard boiled detective with heart’ trope.
I’m pleased to say that Inspector Lu joins the other modern Chinese detecting / police novels I enjoy such as Inspector Chan, Rei Shimura and Inspector Chen Cao.
The way Lu looks at his life, his passion for duty, and respect he displays are aspects I enjoyed.
I’m hooked!
A Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley
June 1, 2022
9/10. Surprisingly good. Interesting characters, solid plot (the culprit was relatively easy to guess,but still).A series to follow.
December 31, 2021
Police procedurals, post 87th Precinct, seem to all have similar setups -- if the series is to continue, there is a recognizable set of rascals and heroes populating the stationhouse, no matter whether the location is in Manhattan, Detroit, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Rio de Janero, Dublin along with many other UK locations. Wherever the setting, it's the interplay between the central character and his coworkers that provides for me the greatest interest along with information about the surrounding country, its customs and procedures. So here we are in provincial China, several air hours from Beijing. Since local stations don't usually experience anything more dire than a stolen pig or a malfunctioning traffic light (or the occasional request by an elder regarding trouble with an Internet connection), resources are limited, so when a particularly grisly murder is discovered, it is necessary to have a big city squad fly in.
Each chapter in Thief of Souls starts out with a quote from Chairman Mao, but is then followed by deconstruction of that ideology, providing a clear picture of life in today's China complete with whatever traditions (usually based on the theology of Dao) survive. Interaction between the police force and the townspeople has moments of high hilarity, and Brian Klingborg, well versed in martial arts, provides action scenes that resonate off the page. I am hoping that this is the first of what will prove to be a long series.
Each chapter in Thief of Souls starts out with a quote from Chairman Mao, but is then followed by deconstruction of that ideology, providing a clear picture of life in today's China complete with whatever traditions (usually based on the theology of Dao) survive. Interaction between the police force and the townspeople has moments of high hilarity, and Brian Klingborg, well versed in martial arts, provides action scenes that resonate off the page. I am hoping that this is the first of what will prove to be a long series.
March 17, 2022
"“Idiot.” Liang opens the office door. “You’re a good cop, Lu Fei. Unfortunately, that’s not enough. You need to play the game, or you’re going to end up in Raven Valley for the rest of your life.”
“Raven Valley’s not so bad.”
“Is that the extent of your ambition? To ascend to the lofty position of Raven Valley PSB chief?”
“It’s good enough for you.”
“My goals are modest: a full belly and a full glass.”
“You are like the Daoist sages of old.”
“Those fools lived in grass huts, retained their semen, and ate nothing but uncooked grains. Pretty dumb, if you ask me.”"
Lu is a smart guy in a “backwater” community in northern China. An official investigator who, when there is nothing challenging his intellect, is content to spend his evenings drinking mass quantities of wine in the local pub and trying to get its young female owner interested in him.
His job isn’t easy:
"Sadly, after a thousand-plus years of corruption, abuse, and incompetence, many Chinese citizens regard the institution of law enforcement as equivalent to a pit of quicksand. A hazard that is largely avoidable—but if you are careless enough to step in it, you’re probably screwed."
We get to know Lu Fei well in this opening novel of Klingborg’s series of procedurals. The way Klingborg sketches Lu, it is easy to empathize with his situations and challenges but less easy to find empathy with his personality and approach to life.
Where Klingborg grabs my interest is not just in the mystery, but in his deep dive into what the PRC is like today. This includes politics, bureaucracy, customs, class conflicts, regional attitudes and their views of Western people and countries.
"“Why are you so worried about what will happen to a brutal murderer while he’s locked up?” Mao asks.
“I’m not so sure he is the murderer, Party Secretary.”
“He’s been arrested, hasn’t he?”
“An arrest isn’t a conviction.”
Party Secretary Mao exhales smoke. “One usually follows the other.”
“The investigation is ongoing.”"…I prefer to collect the facts and make a judgment rather than the other way around, Party Secretary.”"
And….
"He and Dr. Ma chat freely about their experiences in America. The customs they found curious. How everyone seemed to have at least two guns, including children and old ladies. The American notion of food portions. “When you go to a restaurant, they give you so much!” Dr. Ma says. “Enough to feed a small village.”
“And Americans feel like they wasted their money if they don’t eat it all,” Lu agrees.
“That’s why they are so huge and fat.”
“And they drink ice-cold water even in dead of winter.”
“So bad for your qi.”"
Each chapter starts with a quote of modern inspiration from former Chairman Mao:
"Concrete analysis of concrete conditions, Lenin said, is “the most essential thing in Marxism, the living soul of Marxism.” Lacking an analytical approach, many of our comrades do not want to go deeply into complex matters, to analyze and study them over and over again, but like to draw simple conclusions which are either absolutely affirmative or absolutely negative.… From now on we should remedy this state of affairs. —Chairman Mao Zedong"
Some are serious and some are humorous: "Lu is reminded of the old saying: “When in heaven, consume the flesh of dragons; while on earth, eat donkey meat.”"
This is part modern Chinese police procedural and part thriller; an exotic blend and not a “cozy” journey. Maybe that’s the hook that may have me coming back for further cases.
"… Lu wants something more than just a warm body and an incubator for his offspring. What he desires is more along the lines of the sentiment expressed in the ancient poem “Oh, Heaven”:
My wish to be close to you
Will never wane, though my life be long
Only when the mountain peaks have worn away
Rivers have dried up It thunders in the winter
Snows in the summer
And Heaven and Earth collide
Would I ever dare to say goodbye"
3.5*
My thanks to GR Friend Fran for pointing out this series.
“Raven Valley’s not so bad.”
“Is that the extent of your ambition? To ascend to the lofty position of Raven Valley PSB chief?”
“It’s good enough for you.”
“My goals are modest: a full belly and a full glass.”
“You are like the Daoist sages of old.”
“Those fools lived in grass huts, retained their semen, and ate nothing but uncooked grains. Pretty dumb, if you ask me.”"
Lu is a smart guy in a “backwater” community in northern China. An official investigator who, when there is nothing challenging his intellect, is content to spend his evenings drinking mass quantities of wine in the local pub and trying to get its young female owner interested in him.
His job isn’t easy:
"Sadly, after a thousand-plus years of corruption, abuse, and incompetence, many Chinese citizens regard the institution of law enforcement as equivalent to a pit of quicksand. A hazard that is largely avoidable—but if you are careless enough to step in it, you’re probably screwed."
We get to know Lu Fei well in this opening novel of Klingborg’s series of procedurals. The way Klingborg sketches Lu, it is easy to empathize with his situations and challenges but less easy to find empathy with his personality and approach to life.
Where Klingborg grabs my interest is not just in the mystery, but in his deep dive into what the PRC is like today. This includes politics, bureaucracy, customs, class conflicts, regional attitudes and their views of Western people and countries.
"“Why are you so worried about what will happen to a brutal murderer while he’s locked up?” Mao asks.
“I’m not so sure he is the murderer, Party Secretary.”
“He’s been arrested, hasn’t he?”
“An arrest isn’t a conviction.”
Party Secretary Mao exhales smoke. “One usually follows the other.”
“The investigation is ongoing.”"…I prefer to collect the facts and make a judgment rather than the other way around, Party Secretary.”"
And….
"He and Dr. Ma chat freely about their experiences in America. The customs they found curious. How everyone seemed to have at least two guns, including children and old ladies. The American notion of food portions. “When you go to a restaurant, they give you so much!” Dr. Ma says. “Enough to feed a small village.”
“And Americans feel like they wasted their money if they don’t eat it all,” Lu agrees.
“That’s why they are so huge and fat.”
“And they drink ice-cold water even in dead of winter.”
“So bad for your qi.”"
Each chapter starts with a quote of modern inspiration from former Chairman Mao:
"Concrete analysis of concrete conditions, Lenin said, is “the most essential thing in Marxism, the living soul of Marxism.” Lacking an analytical approach, many of our comrades do not want to go deeply into complex matters, to analyze and study them over and over again, but like to draw simple conclusions which are either absolutely affirmative or absolutely negative.… From now on we should remedy this state of affairs. —Chairman Mao Zedong"
Some are serious and some are humorous: "Lu is reminded of the old saying: “When in heaven, consume the flesh of dragons; while on earth, eat donkey meat.”"
This is part modern Chinese police procedural and part thriller; an exotic blend and not a “cozy” journey. Maybe that’s the hook that may have me coming back for further cases.
"… Lu wants something more than just a warm body and an incubator for his offspring. What he desires is more along the lines of the sentiment expressed in the ancient poem “Oh, Heaven”:
My wish to be close to you
Will never wane, though my life be long
Only when the mountain peaks have worn away
Rivers have dried up It thunders in the winter
Snows in the summer
And Heaven and Earth collide
Would I ever dare to say goodbye"
3.5*
My thanks to GR Friend Fran for pointing out this series.
March 28, 2021
Thief of Souls
March 19, 2021
Book Review
Thief of Souls
Brian Klingborg
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
An immersive police procedural involving a serial killer, with a healthy dose of humor, history, philosophy, and an unbridled rich characterization. The setting is contemporary Communist China, in which ethical Inspector Lu Fei faces the challenge of seeking justice in a complex and corrupt society.
Inspector Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police university, yet finds himself entrenched in a small backwater provincial town of Raven Valley Township, where major crime is a rarity. This “promotion” position is a result of an unfortunate confrontation with his corrupt boss of the Harbin City Police Department, when Inspector Lu Fei, executing an unscheduled raid, found his boss engaged in the service of an underage prostitute.
Lu Fei is enjoying a cup of Shaoxing wine at his neighborhood bar, The Red Lotus, when his cell phone rings. This breaks him from the reverie of admiration and desire for the beautiful owner, Yanyan (a harbinger of future conflict), summoned to a murder scene. There, a young woman, Yang Fenfag, was found brutally murdered in her bathroom by a neighbor, who came over to complain about the incessant barking of her dog.
Inspector Lu is confronted by a corpse with ligature marks on the wrists and welts around the neck, dressed in yellow silk button-up dress and made-up with powder on the cheeks, lipstick, and eyeshadow, looking like a porcelain doll with her cold, dead eyes staring upward. His search of the house is fruitless, without obvious signs of struggle; no blood, no mess. He enlists the aid of the forensic team from the CID in Beijing which consists of Deputy Director Song, a rising political star in the complex authoritarian hierarchy of the Chinese police department, along with two crime technicians and the inimitable Dr. Ma, the medical examiner. A unique and richly developed character, Dr Ma Xiulan is one of only a few woman to achieve a high position in the forensic field. Author of a controversial book that criticizes the current state of forensics in China, her work maintains that it is slipshod and subject to political tampering. Her book jacket contains a photo of her in full make-up and a low-cut blouse, offering a significant amount of cleavage.
With the aid of Song and Dr. Ma, it is revealed the victim has been bludgeoned by a hammer, violated, and has had her heart, lungs, and liver harvested. And, stuffed into her mouth is a single pledget of joss paper, also known as spirit money or Hell money. According to Chinese folk religion, in the afterlife the soul requires money to buy needed essentials. After a loved one dies, relatives and friends make these paper offerings in a show of love and devotion, something like making a deposit in a spectral Venmo account. These notes are signed in front by the Jade Emperor and in back by Yan Wang, the god of death and ruler of the netherworld. Lu Fei opines that the heart, liver, and lungs are imbued with some aspects of the soul or spirit. Perhaps by removing them, the killer is trying to “steal her soul.”
In the early stage of investigation, a shadow is cast upon an old high school boyfriend of Fenfag. A simple, not too bright male, Zhang was noted to follow her around in high school like a lost little puppy. Although there is no known history of violence, he is physically imposing, socially awkward, and is employed in a position where he butchers pigs at a processing plant. Lu Fei is pressured by the local government bureaucracy to arrest and charge him for the murder. He will not be rushed and methodically pursues for a full investigation. He is a true rarity, as the average Chinese citizen has been exposed to hundreds of years of corruption, abuse, and incompetency in their police force. Some, referring to the character of Inspector Lu, indicate he is as rare as a Qilin, the Chinese unicorn.
In Thief of Souls, Brian Klingborg provides a masterful and immersive narrative creating a riveting twisted string of reveals that propels this page turner onward. Most chapters begin with a quote from Chairman Mao Zedong, espousing socialist dogma and virtues that will be deconstructed in the chapter, while providing further insights into the realities of modern China. Several chapters involve the inner thoughts of the unidentified killer, slowly revealing his motivations.
The resourceful and ethical Lu Fei will not be deterred in his investigation to bring forth justice. He forms an unlikely friendship and alliance with Deputy Director Song that proves mutually beneficial. This novel will appeal to fans of beloved Detective Bernie Gunther from the pen of Philip Kerr and Deon Meyer’s equally enjoyed Detective Benny Griessel. Klingborn’s knowledge of East Asian Studies and his experience with living and working in Asia are on full display in this fascinating tale.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minatour Books) for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. Published at Mystery and Suspense Magazine
Available on Amazon
March 19, 2021
Book Review
Thief of Souls
Brian Klingborg
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
An immersive police procedural involving a serial killer, with a healthy dose of humor, history, philosophy, and an unbridled rich characterization. The setting is contemporary Communist China, in which ethical Inspector Lu Fei faces the challenge of seeking justice in a complex and corrupt society.
Inspector Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police university, yet finds himself entrenched in a small backwater provincial town of Raven Valley Township, where major crime is a rarity. This “promotion” position is a result of an unfortunate confrontation with his corrupt boss of the Harbin City Police Department, when Inspector Lu Fei, executing an unscheduled raid, found his boss engaged in the service of an underage prostitute.
Lu Fei is enjoying a cup of Shaoxing wine at his neighborhood bar, The Red Lotus, when his cell phone rings. This breaks him from the reverie of admiration and desire for the beautiful owner, Yanyan (a harbinger of future conflict), summoned to a murder scene. There, a young woman, Yang Fenfag, was found brutally murdered in her bathroom by a neighbor, who came over to complain about the incessant barking of her dog.
Inspector Lu is confronted by a corpse with ligature marks on the wrists and welts around the neck, dressed in yellow silk button-up dress and made-up with powder on the cheeks, lipstick, and eyeshadow, looking like a porcelain doll with her cold, dead eyes staring upward. His search of the house is fruitless, without obvious signs of struggle; no blood, no mess. He enlists the aid of the forensic team from the CID in Beijing which consists of Deputy Director Song, a rising political star in the complex authoritarian hierarchy of the Chinese police department, along with two crime technicians and the inimitable Dr. Ma, the medical examiner. A unique and richly developed character, Dr Ma Xiulan is one of only a few woman to achieve a high position in the forensic field. Author of a controversial book that criticizes the current state of forensics in China, her work maintains that it is slipshod and subject to political tampering. Her book jacket contains a photo of her in full make-up and a low-cut blouse, offering a significant amount of cleavage.
With the aid of Song and Dr. Ma, it is revealed the victim has been bludgeoned by a hammer, violated, and has had her heart, lungs, and liver harvested. And, stuffed into her mouth is a single pledget of joss paper, also known as spirit money or Hell money. According to Chinese folk religion, in the afterlife the soul requires money to buy needed essentials. After a loved one dies, relatives and friends make these paper offerings in a show of love and devotion, something like making a deposit in a spectral Venmo account. These notes are signed in front by the Jade Emperor and in back by Yan Wang, the god of death and ruler of the netherworld. Lu Fei opines that the heart, liver, and lungs are imbued with some aspects of the soul or spirit. Perhaps by removing them, the killer is trying to “steal her soul.”
In the early stage of investigation, a shadow is cast upon an old high school boyfriend of Fenfag. A simple, not too bright male, Zhang was noted to follow her around in high school like a lost little puppy. Although there is no known history of violence, he is physically imposing, socially awkward, and is employed in a position where he butchers pigs at a processing plant. Lu Fei is pressured by the local government bureaucracy to arrest and charge him for the murder. He will not be rushed and methodically pursues for a full investigation. He is a true rarity, as the average Chinese citizen has been exposed to hundreds of years of corruption, abuse, and incompetency in their police force. Some, referring to the character of Inspector Lu, indicate he is as rare as a Qilin, the Chinese unicorn.
In Thief of Souls, Brian Klingborg provides a masterful and immersive narrative creating a riveting twisted string of reveals that propels this page turner onward. Most chapters begin with a quote from Chairman Mao Zedong, espousing socialist dogma and virtues that will be deconstructed in the chapter, while providing further insights into the realities of modern China. Several chapters involve the inner thoughts of the unidentified killer, slowly revealing his motivations.
The resourceful and ethical Lu Fei will not be deterred in his investigation to bring forth justice. He forms an unlikely friendship and alliance with Deputy Director Song that proves mutually beneficial. This novel will appeal to fans of beloved Detective Bernie Gunther from the pen of Philip Kerr and Deon Meyer’s equally enjoyed Detective Benny Griessel. Klingborn’s knowledge of East Asian Studies and his experience with living and working in Asia are on full display in this fascinating tale.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minatour Books) for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. Published at Mystery and Suspense Magazine
Available on Amazon
March 19, 2021
This was a difficult book for me to read. While Inspector Lu had some positive aspects, I found him difficult to like. The remaining characters in law enforcement were even more unpleasant. I also didn't care for the negative way the society was presented. While China is a very different social and political structure, there was nothing positive about it in the entire book, which left reading the book feel more like an obligation than an enjoyable experience. I almost gave up about 50% of the way through, but I continued to work to finish the book, doing some skimming to finish it faster. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me an advance digital copy of this book for review.
May 17, 2021
Interesting as a police procedural novel - I also learned a lot due to the setting in rural China. Well written characters but not a thrilling story line.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the free advanced copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the free advanced copy.
June 20, 2021
Here's the new series of the year. Absolutely. 4.5 stars and nearly a 5. Only the brutality of the last 20 pages kept me from giving it the full 5. Not only a terrific characterization in at least 6 comrade police but on nearly all levels of locale and politico or intersection placements- this was done in superior manner. Prose flow, colloquial dialect nuance, personality quirk and idiosyncrasy superb.
Lu Fei is as much a part of Northern Chinese culture/authority cognition, mores, savvy as a Brunetti is Venetian or Miss Marple part of the English 1930's town life. It's remarkable. You know how many years this author has lived in the East to translate the parlance this well. And to also start each chapter with a relevant quote from Chairman Mao.
It reminded me immensely in several aspects to a Agatha Christie. The divergence to "other attentions" was done THAT well. Until page 244, I didn't have the least positing to the real perp. And the politico of big city to township cabals took over my Lu concern. That's the type of diversion and illusion Agatha did so well. And this one in this locale and with these sets of hospital, policing, neighborhood "friends" scenarios! It's absolutely intriguing.
But also BE WARNED. You cozy people are not going to like the real in this one. Serial killer Daoist style and that's putting it mildly. But the only truly horrific parts were in the last 20 pages. Do I see this being made into a movie. It would be on a par with the Montalbano police station in Sicily that was done so perfectly in that film series.
Strongly recommend if you are a mystery, procedural, police who-dun-it buff. Strongly recommend.
Those of us who lived through those times and saw witness remember the 30 million plus starvation dead through the Great Leap Forward. (You got to break a few eggs). But for those of you who really do not understand the last century's Chinese Revolution; I double recommend this one. You'll learn something.
There are some other (dozens really) total comparable situations with my home town.
"Guanxi. Connections. Influence. Power. The grease that turns wheels at all levels of business and politics in the People's Republic. With the right guanxi, you can make a fortune in business. Flout laws. Ignore regulations."
Also reading this taught me a new favorite Chinese phrase "Ta ma de". Lu says it all the time. Yes, there is quite a bit of language here too. From the highly graphic to the occasional traditional stanzas of Chinese historic poetry. Tang dynasty had no composite hierarchy more complex than the present one.
Enjoy! "Ta ma de". Entertaining value- this was a 6 star book for me if you only take the "think" piece enjoyment quotient into full consideration.
Lu Fei is as much a part of Northern Chinese culture/authority cognition, mores, savvy as a Brunetti is Venetian or Miss Marple part of the English 1930's town life. It's remarkable. You know how many years this author has lived in the East to translate the parlance this well. And to also start each chapter with a relevant quote from Chairman Mao.
It reminded me immensely in several aspects to a Agatha Christie. The divergence to "other attentions" was done THAT well. Until page 244, I didn't have the least positing to the real perp. And the politico of big city to township cabals took over my Lu concern. That's the type of diversion and illusion Agatha did so well. And this one in this locale and with these sets of hospital, policing, neighborhood "friends" scenarios! It's absolutely intriguing.
But also BE WARNED. You cozy people are not going to like the real in this one. Serial killer Daoist style and that's putting it mildly. But the only truly horrific parts were in the last 20 pages. Do I see this being made into a movie. It would be on a par with the Montalbano police station in Sicily that was done so perfectly in that film series.
Strongly recommend if you are a mystery, procedural, police who-dun-it buff. Strongly recommend.
Those of us who lived through those times and saw witness remember the 30 million plus starvation dead through the Great Leap Forward. (You got to break a few eggs). But for those of you who really do not understand the last century's Chinese Revolution; I double recommend this one. You'll learn something.
There are some other (dozens really) total comparable situations with my home town.
"Guanxi. Connections. Influence. Power. The grease that turns wheels at all levels of business and politics in the People's Republic. With the right guanxi, you can make a fortune in business. Flout laws. Ignore regulations."
Also reading this taught me a new favorite Chinese phrase "Ta ma de". Lu says it all the time. Yes, there is quite a bit of language here too. From the highly graphic to the occasional traditional stanzas of Chinese historic poetry. Tang dynasty had no composite hierarchy more complex than the present one.
Enjoy! "Ta ma de". Entertaining value- this was a 6 star book for me if you only take the "think" piece enjoyment quotient into full consideration.
March 6, 2021
This was an interesting police procedural set in the current day northeast Chinese province of Heilongjiang. It's winter and the wind bites through to one's soul in this sleepy backwater town of Raven Valley Township. University educated, Detective Inspector Lu Fei is called on scene to a gruesome murder where a young woman has been brutally and sexually violated and her organs removed. For a quick and tidy conviction, her old high school boyfriend is accused and jailed for the murder regardless of Lu Fei's belief in his innocence. Lu fights the heavy-handed bureaucracy every inch of the way toward finding who the actual perpetrator is. Will Lu be able to spare this young man from the horror's of incarceration and ultimate death? Only time will tell.
Author Brian Klingborg, through his extensive research, has created a story richly atmospheric, thrilling and quite engaging. In Lu Fei, he has created a noble, duty-bound, Confucian and most poetic protagonist. He also educates the readers in China's ethos, political climate, culture and spiritual traditions. But this is by no means a textbook. It is gritty and at times most graphic in its portrayal of horror. Yet there are also moments of tenderness, thoughtfulness and even humor. Although, a bit too gritty and graphic for this reader, the story is certainly well written, informative and entertaining.
Triggers: graphic violence, homosexuality and coarse language.
I am grateful to author Brian Klingborg and Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Author Brian Klingborg, through his extensive research, has created a story richly atmospheric, thrilling and quite engaging. In Lu Fei, he has created a noble, duty-bound, Confucian and most poetic protagonist. He also educates the readers in China's ethos, political climate, culture and spiritual traditions. But this is by no means a textbook. It is gritty and at times most graphic in its portrayal of horror. Yet there are also moments of tenderness, thoughtfulness and even humor. Although, a bit too gritty and graphic for this reader, the story is certainly well written, informative and entertaining.
Triggers: graphic violence, homosexuality and coarse language.
I am grateful to author Brian Klingborg and Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
May 10, 2021
City of Ice is the first instalment in the Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries series, in which the brutal murder of a young woman in a rural village in Northern China sends shockwaves all the way to Beijing but seemingly only Inspector Lu Fei, living in exile in the small town, is interested in justice for the victim. Lu Fei is a graduate of China's top police university but has been transferred from Harbin City PD due to a confrontation with a corrupt superior and has stepped into the role of deputy chief of police in the sleepy backwater town of Raven Valley Township, in Heilongjiang Province, close to the North Korean border; the type of place where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. Lu is spending the night drinking himself into a stupor with his usual tipple - Shaoxing wine - at the Red Lotus Bar knowing he has little in the way of work. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth and Lu is called in to investigate. It's safe to say both he and the rest of the sleepy community were given a very rude awakening. The victim is 23-year-old Yang Fenfang who worked as a barmaid in a Harbin bar and had been residing with her dying mother when her body was found in her mother’s house “hollowed out like a birchbark canoe.” The corpse has noticeable ligature marks on the wrists and around the neck.
After looking around Lu finds no blood or signs a struggle had ensued so he calls in the forensic team from CID in Beijing led by Deputy Director Song, a rising political star, who is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own. Shortly after the brutal slaying, a suspect is identified; Ex-boyfriend Zhang Zhaoxing went to high school with Fenfang and appeared to still be besotted with her. A simple-minded butcher of pigs at the local meat processing plant, Zhang flees from the police and despite having no history of violence, Lu is under intense pressure from government bureaucracy to arrest and charge Zhang regardless of whether he's innocent or not but Lu believes he wasn't the perpetrator and there is no forensic evidence to the contrary. As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses, the Public Security Bureau and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides with similar modus operandi.
But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger. This is a riveting, enthralling and richly cultured police procedural, and Klingborg's years studying China as well as residing there inform the narrative with each chapter beginning with an intriguing quote from Chairman Mao Zedong, regarding communism and its development and whose influence is still felt throughout the country. Infused with tidbits from Confucius, Mao Tse-tung and other Chinese philosophical luminaries, City of Ice brings to life the lives of ordinary Chinese citizens and the trials and tribulations of the quotidian. The local politics, criminal justice, the steps taken in an investigation, and the pervasive influence of the Chinese Communist Party, are true to life and the way this information is seamlessly woven into the narrative is not at all disruptive yet it certainly could be if written by a less adept writer. It is an immersive and masterful tour de force with twists and surprises aplenty, a serial killer on the loose, a large suspect pool and the interspersing of politics, history and philosophy throughout its pages. Protagonist Lu is a fascinating character who is quite the maverick and contrarian and is not at all scared to disagree with the ’big boys’ when it comes to moral or ethical considerations.
After looking around Lu finds no blood or signs a struggle had ensued so he calls in the forensic team from CID in Beijing led by Deputy Director Song, a rising political star, who is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own. Shortly after the brutal slaying, a suspect is identified; Ex-boyfriend Zhang Zhaoxing went to high school with Fenfang and appeared to still be besotted with her. A simple-minded butcher of pigs at the local meat processing plant, Zhang flees from the police and despite having no history of violence, Lu is under intense pressure from government bureaucracy to arrest and charge Zhang regardless of whether he's innocent or not but Lu believes he wasn't the perpetrator and there is no forensic evidence to the contrary. As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses, the Public Security Bureau and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides with similar modus operandi.
But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger. This is a riveting, enthralling and richly cultured police procedural, and Klingborg's years studying China as well as residing there inform the narrative with each chapter beginning with an intriguing quote from Chairman Mao Zedong, regarding communism and its development and whose influence is still felt throughout the country. Infused with tidbits from Confucius, Mao Tse-tung and other Chinese philosophical luminaries, City of Ice brings to life the lives of ordinary Chinese citizens and the trials and tribulations of the quotidian. The local politics, criminal justice, the steps taken in an investigation, and the pervasive influence of the Chinese Communist Party, are true to life and the way this information is seamlessly woven into the narrative is not at all disruptive yet it certainly could be if written by a less adept writer. It is an immersive and masterful tour de force with twists and surprises aplenty, a serial killer on the loose, a large suspect pool and the interspersing of politics, history and philosophy throughout its pages. Protagonist Lu is a fascinating character who is quite the maverick and contrarian and is not at all scared to disagree with the ’big boys’ when it comes to moral or ethical considerations.
April 19, 2021
Inspector Lu Fei has been sent to work in the remote Raven Valley Township, in a part of China where the weather is often brutal, and crime, such as it is, usually consists of a few escaped chickens or an elderly lady complaining she cannot connect to the internet. Still, there are compensations, such as the Red Lotus Bar and the attractive widow, Yanyan, who runs it. When a murder case does arrive, it is quickly taken out of Lu’s hands, with the arrival of Superintendent Song, the deputy director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. However, Lu does his best to tag along with the investigation into the murder of Yang Fenfang – a beautiful young woman, who is found in her mother’s house, minus her major organs…
The author paints a really interesting picture of China, a country which I must admit I know fairly little about. I enjoyed learning about Chinese society, even if some of the facts are dropped into the story quite bluntly. I did appreciate the author explaining things though and – to be fair – I may have been looking up various titles and places, had he not briefly halted and given a comparable rank for a politician or police officer, so I could keep track of characters and their importance. I also found the information on Chinese funerals and view of the afterlife fascinating.
Ultimately, what makes any novel work are the characters and I really invested in Inspector Lu Fei, who, like so many fictional detectives, had made enemies – in Lu’s case, from the nearby city of Harbin, which had led to his removal to Raven Valley. I liked Sergeant First Class Bing, Chief Liang and the way Lu Fei battled bureaucracy and injustice. I would very much like to meet the characters again – if there is another in the sequel then I would definitely read it, which means that this is definitely a recommendation. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
The author paints a really interesting picture of China, a country which I must admit I know fairly little about. I enjoyed learning about Chinese society, even if some of the facts are dropped into the story quite bluntly. I did appreciate the author explaining things though and – to be fair – I may have been looking up various titles and places, had he not briefly halted and given a comparable rank for a politician or police officer, so I could keep track of characters and their importance. I also found the information on Chinese funerals and view of the afterlife fascinating.
Ultimately, what makes any novel work are the characters and I really invested in Inspector Lu Fei, who, like so many fictional detectives, had made enemies – in Lu’s case, from the nearby city of Harbin, which had led to his removal to Raven Valley. I liked Sergeant First Class Bing, Chief Liang and the way Lu Fei battled bureaucracy and injustice. I would very much like to meet the characters again – if there is another in the sequel then I would definitely read it, which means that this is definitely a recommendation. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
May 15, 2021
Inspector Lu Fei was trained in Beijing, and was working for the Harbin City Police Department until he called a raid that found his boss in a compromising situation. Oops! He found himself quickly transferred to the small town of Wuxi in northern China. His current preoccupation is drinking too much Shaoxing wine at the Red Lotus Bar and pining after its beautiful owner, Luo Yanyan. That is until he receives a phone call reporting the bizarre death of Yang Fenfag.
The woman has had her lungs, liver, and heart removed and joss paper placed in her mouth. [According to Chinese folk religion, in the afterlife the soul requires money to buy needed essentials.] A local butcher is accused of the crime, but Lu Fei is not convinced. Lu enjoys support from Deputy Director Song and medical examiner Dr. Ma Xiulan, but also resistance from some local Communist Party bosses and their corrupt business associates. Good thing that Lu is skilled in martial art fighting. Lu’s integrity has been described as rare as a Qilin, the Chinese unicorn.
Klingborg has spent several years living in China and his intimate knowledge of the country shines through. However, one hopes that his writing outgrows the stiffness and occasional wooden quality demonstrated here. Recommend this atmospheric crime thriller.
The woman has had her lungs, liver, and heart removed and joss paper placed in her mouth. [According to Chinese folk religion, in the afterlife the soul requires money to buy needed essentials.] A local butcher is accused of the crime, but Lu Fei is not convinced. Lu enjoys support from Deputy Director Song and medical examiner Dr. Ma Xiulan, but also resistance from some local Communist Party bosses and their corrupt business associates. Good thing that Lu is skilled in martial art fighting. Lu’s integrity has been described as rare as a Qilin, the Chinese unicorn.
Klingborg has spent several years living in China and his intimate knowledge of the country shines through. However, one hopes that his writing outgrows the stiffness and occasional wooden quality demonstrated here. Recommend this atmospheric crime thriller.
January 31, 2021
Great Story. Conjures up memories of the Bangkok Tattoo series by John Burdett, except this is China instead of Thailand. The reader is immersed both in the murder mystery and also in the Chinese culture-- the customs, taboos and world view add five spices to a story that was already compelling. Hope to see more.
March 12, 2021
He graduated from a top police academy with a brilliant and tenacious mind so when Inspector Lu Fei finds himself stationed in a small rural village he did not expect to have to deal with a brutal murder and the dark machinations of both corrupt government politicos and powerful businessmen. Could discovering the truth mean danger for himself and those he loves?
Brian Klingborg’s THIEF OF SOULS takes on a journey through a different culture and a way of life steeped in centuries of tradition. Often as much of a tour guide as it is a mystery, this tale is rich in detail, suspense and danger. If you are looking for something just a little different in your suspense reading, this one is it.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Minotaur Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher : Minotaur Books (May 4, 2021)
Genre: Murder Mystery
Print length : 288 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Brian Klingborg’s THIEF OF SOULS takes on a journey through a different culture and a way of life steeped in centuries of tradition. Often as much of a tour guide as it is a mystery, this tale is rich in detail, suspense and danger. If you are looking for something just a little different in your suspense reading, this one is it.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Minotaur Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher : Minotaur Books (May 4, 2021)
Genre: Murder Mystery
Print length : 288 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 2, 2021
*3.5 stars. This new mystery, the first in a proposed series featuring Deputy Chief Inspector Lu Fei, is a police procedural set in rural northern China. A young woman is found murdered in her deceased mother's home. Some electronics are missing--was it a robbery gone wrong? No, the body was too perfectly staged. Lu feels he and his inexperienced team at the the local Public Security Bureau will need help in this investigation so he calls in the Crime Investigation Bureau, much to the chagrin of his chief.
'A homicide investigation is rarely just about the homicide itself. There's always some degree of politics involved. The cops, the local party representatives and government officials, the prosecutors--everyone has an agenda. a desire to advance one's career. Often at the expense of others. Sometimes at the expense of the truth.'
Each chapter begins with a quotation from Chairman Mao Zedong, which contrasts nicely with this view of modern-day China and how the system functions there. Lu, college-educated, is also fond of quoting Confucius and snatches of poetry. He is an interesting character, around 40 and never married, but carrying a torch for a local widow who runs his favorite bar. He can be opinionated and violent at times and sadly mistaken on occasion. Perhaps it's fortunate he's not a climber and is happy being deputy chief at a rural security bureau.
The mystery itself is intriguing but, being long-time mystery readers, both my husband and I easily guessed the murderer fairly early on, so that detracted somewhat from our reading experience. The conclusion was still very exciting. I'll look forward to reading more to come from this author.
I received an arc of this mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
'A homicide investigation is rarely just about the homicide itself. There's always some degree of politics involved. The cops, the local party representatives and government officials, the prosecutors--everyone has an agenda. a desire to advance one's career. Often at the expense of others. Sometimes at the expense of the truth.'
Each chapter begins with a quotation from Chairman Mao Zedong, which contrasts nicely with this view of modern-day China and how the system functions there. Lu, college-educated, is also fond of quoting Confucius and snatches of poetry. He is an interesting character, around 40 and never married, but carrying a torch for a local widow who runs his favorite bar. He can be opinionated and violent at times and sadly mistaken on occasion. Perhaps it's fortunate he's not a climber and is happy being deputy chief at a rural security bureau.
The mystery itself is intriguing but, being long-time mystery readers, both my husband and I easily guessed the murderer fairly early on, so that detracted somewhat from our reading experience. The conclusion was still very exciting. I'll look forward to reading more to come from this author.
I received an arc of this mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
September 9, 2021
This was an entertaining mystery. It was very interesting with its setting in China. Keeping the names straight was a bit of a challenge at first but I got sucked into the story and it didn’t seem to be a problem. The main character was endearing and intelligent even if he did drink a bit too much. I am sure he drank a lot to hang out with his love interest who ran the local bar though so I will cut him some slack. 😉
May 5, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg. All opinions are my own.
Inspector Lu Fei of the Raven Valley Public Security Bureau (the Chinese equivalent of a police department) likes to drink. That doesn’t stop him from being a good policeman. And in Thief of Souls, he is going to get his chance.
A young woman is murdered inside her home, in a rural area outside the city. The investigation begins, and a culprit soon identified and charged. Case closed, according to most of the other officers, including a high-flying team from Beijing. But Lu Fei doesn’t believe it, and he begins his own investigation, revealing a cast of characters and situations that rivals anything you’ll come up against in a “western” setting. Add to that the juxtaposition of modern Chinese settings with ancient traditions and passions, and you have a crackling, intelligent story that will keep you absorbed from page to page. There is a lot of description in this book, but it’s needed, providing a look at a culture most readers will likely know very little about.
For good measure chapter headings are quotations from Mao Zedong. Nothing in China is far from reminders of the Chairman, apparently.
There’s a lot of methodical police work, and the author puts it together very well. Be advised that there is also a lot of rather graphic description – the autopsy for instance, and later, when the murderer is revealed and tracked down. This is reading for adults. I’m not a fan of getting into the murderer’s head, but it is included in this book.
The book ends with an epilogue, finishing off the story. I enjoyed the investigation, the look into Inspector Lu Fei’s life and the other characters, and the outlining of how the past still underscores the present in modern-day China. Thief of Souls is well-written and fast-paced, a thought-provoking addition to fictional police procedurals.
Inspector Lu Fei of the Raven Valley Public Security Bureau (the Chinese equivalent of a police department) likes to drink. That doesn’t stop him from being a good policeman. And in Thief of Souls, he is going to get his chance.
A young woman is murdered inside her home, in a rural area outside the city. The investigation begins, and a culprit soon identified and charged. Case closed, according to most of the other officers, including a high-flying team from Beijing. But Lu Fei doesn’t believe it, and he begins his own investigation, revealing a cast of characters and situations that rivals anything you’ll come up against in a “western” setting. Add to that the juxtaposition of modern Chinese settings with ancient traditions and passions, and you have a crackling, intelligent story that will keep you absorbed from page to page. There is a lot of description in this book, but it’s needed, providing a look at a culture most readers will likely know very little about.
For good measure chapter headings are quotations from Mao Zedong. Nothing in China is far from reminders of the Chairman, apparently.
There’s a lot of methodical police work, and the author puts it together very well. Be advised that there is also a lot of rather graphic description – the autopsy for instance, and later, when the murderer is revealed and tracked down. This is reading for adults. I’m not a fan of getting into the murderer’s head, but it is included in this book.
The book ends with an epilogue, finishing off the story. I enjoyed the investigation, the look into Inspector Lu Fei’s life and the other characters, and the outlining of how the past still underscores the present in modern-day China. Thief of Souls is well-written and fast-paced, a thought-provoking addition to fictional police procedurals.
March 10, 2022
This had an interesting plot and i enjoyed the setting in China. I appreciated the author gave inside information about Chinese terminology but it seemed incongrous at times, as it wouldn't be done in a normal novel. Kiid of like mentioning a character smoked Marlboros, then elaborating that the commercials show a cowboy on a horse.
It took until about page 224 to realize that the one page tidbits at the end of some chapters were another character's perspective. I thought this unnecessary and even spoiled the solving of the crime. The characters were mostly two dimensional and didn't really lift off the pages.
It wasn't quite a four star read but certainly better than three stars.
It took until about page 224 to realize that the one page tidbits at the end of some chapters were another character's perspective. I thought this unnecessary and even spoiled the solving of the crime. The characters were mostly two dimensional and didn't really lift off the pages.
It wasn't quite a four star read but certainly better than three stars.
February 16, 2021
Thief of Souls: An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery
By Brian Klingborg
Published by Minotaur Books (4 May 2021)
“On the night the young woman’s corpse is discovered, hollowed out like a birchbark canoe, Inspector Lu Fei sits alone in the Red Louts bar, determined to get gloriously drunk.”
And so begins Thief of Souls. I was immediately taken with this book and with Inspector Lu Fei. He is intelligent, handsome, and sarcastic and wants more than anything to solve the murder of a young woman in Raven Valley Township. The murderer is arrested fairly quickly and the crime solved. Or is it?
Politics somewhat hinder his investigation, but Inspector Fei is dogged in insisting that the case be fully explored. He has to face danger, tread carefully through a political minefield, and fight an old enemy if he is to find the killer. He is aided by an unlikely friendship and alliance with Deputy Director Song from Beijing. Song comes with political baggage of his own, but is nonetheless willing to aid Inspector Fei, even if the investigation leads to violence.
The author explains the Chinese criminal system, comparing offices to their US counterparts for context, which I found interesting and helpful. The narrative had me immersed in the biting cold of a northern China winter near Harbin City. I was there, with Inspector Fei, shivering in the cold. I was in the Red Lotus bar with him as he flirted with the owner and dodged questions from locals about the case. This book was an entertaining, immersive experience with engaging characters and a fascinating setting. I’m hopeful that this is just the first in a series and we will hear more from Inspector Lu Fei.
My favorite quotes: “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down” and “A man made of mud fears the rain.”
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for the free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
By Brian Klingborg
Published by Minotaur Books (4 May 2021)
“On the night the young woman’s corpse is discovered, hollowed out like a birchbark canoe, Inspector Lu Fei sits alone in the Red Louts bar, determined to get gloriously drunk.”
And so begins Thief of Souls. I was immediately taken with this book and with Inspector Lu Fei. He is intelligent, handsome, and sarcastic and wants more than anything to solve the murder of a young woman in Raven Valley Township. The murderer is arrested fairly quickly and the crime solved. Or is it?
Politics somewhat hinder his investigation, but Inspector Fei is dogged in insisting that the case be fully explored. He has to face danger, tread carefully through a political minefield, and fight an old enemy if he is to find the killer. He is aided by an unlikely friendship and alliance with Deputy Director Song from Beijing. Song comes with political baggage of his own, but is nonetheless willing to aid Inspector Fei, even if the investigation leads to violence.
The author explains the Chinese criminal system, comparing offices to their US counterparts for context, which I found interesting and helpful. The narrative had me immersed in the biting cold of a northern China winter near Harbin City. I was there, with Inspector Fei, shivering in the cold. I was in the Red Lotus bar with him as he flirted with the owner and dodged questions from locals about the case. This book was an entertaining, immersive experience with engaging characters and a fascinating setting. I’m hopeful that this is just the first in a series and we will hear more from Inspector Lu Fei.
My favorite quotes: “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down” and “A man made of mud fears the rain.”
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for the free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
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