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Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries #2
Wild Prey
"[A] taut thriller on a topical theme perfect for readers longing for an au courant successor to Eliot Pattison’s Inspector Shan Tao Yun mysteries" -- Los Angeles Times
"The details are fascinating and the story fully engaging. Klingborg does an excellent job bringing to life many of the subtle details of Chinese life and culture" -- Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
The search for a missing girl sends Inspector Lu Fei undercover into the wild corners of Myanmar, and the compound of the deadly and mysterious woman warlord responsible for the illegal trafficking of exotic animals and possibly more, in the next book from Brian Klingborg, Wild Prey .
Police Inspector Lu Fei has an unfortunate talent for getting himself into hot water with powerful and well-connected people. Which is why he’s been assigned to a backwater town in a rural area of Northern China and quietly warned to keep his head down. But while running a sting operation on the sale and consumption of rare and endangered animals, Lu comes across the curious case of a waitress who has gone missing. Her last known a restaurant frequented by local elites, owned by smooth-talking gangster, and known for its exotic -- and highly illegal -- delicacies.
As usual, Lu's investigation ruffles some feathers, resulting in his suspension from the police force. Lu figures he's reached a dead-end. Then he's contacted by a mysterious government official in Beijing who wants him to go undercover to track down the mastermind behind an illegal animal trafficking network -- and hopefully, the answer to the fate of the missing waitress. The mission will require Lu to travel deep into the lawless wilds of Myanmar, where he will risk his life to infiltrate the hidden compound of a mysterious and ruthless female warlord in a bloody and nearly hopeless quest for justice.
"The details are fascinating and the story fully engaging. Klingborg does an excellent job bringing to life many of the subtle details of Chinese life and culture" -- Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
The search for a missing girl sends Inspector Lu Fei undercover into the wild corners of Myanmar, and the compound of the deadly and mysterious woman warlord responsible for the illegal trafficking of exotic animals and possibly more, in the next book from Brian Klingborg, Wild Prey .
Police Inspector Lu Fei has an unfortunate talent for getting himself into hot water with powerful and well-connected people. Which is why he’s been assigned to a backwater town in a rural area of Northern China and quietly warned to keep his head down. But while running a sting operation on the sale and consumption of rare and endangered animals, Lu comes across the curious case of a waitress who has gone missing. Her last known a restaurant frequented by local elites, owned by smooth-talking gangster, and known for its exotic -- and highly illegal -- delicacies.
As usual, Lu's investigation ruffles some feathers, resulting in his suspension from the police force. Lu figures he's reached a dead-end. Then he's contacted by a mysterious government official in Beijing who wants him to go undercover to track down the mastermind behind an illegal animal trafficking network -- and hopefully, the answer to the fate of the missing waitress. The mission will require Lu to travel deep into the lawless wilds of Myanmar, where he will risk his life to infiltrate the hidden compound of a mysterious and ruthless female warlord in a bloody and nearly hopeless quest for justice.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2022
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August 18, 2022
Wild Prey (Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries #2)
by Brian Klingborg, P.J. Ochlan (Narrator)
This is the second book in the Inspector Lu Fei series. Taking place in China and surrounding areas, Lu is still pining for the beautiful bar owner, who is still mourning for her long dead husband. Lu is supposed to be laying low and not stirring up anymore trouble like he'd done in the past but he just doesn't seem to do a very good job of keeping his nose out of places that get him into more hot water.
A small, frail girl who looks to be twelve but is actually fifteen comes to Lu and asks him to find her nineteen year old sister. This girl is determined and she will not allow Lu to forget her sister. She sits in the lobby of his police station, she follows him, she is her sister's greatest champion. So Lu begins an unofficial investigation after he's told by his boss, in no uncertain terms, that he is not to look for the missing sister.
Lu keeps digging deeper until he is suspended which works out great for him to go undercover and find himself into the heart of an illegal animal trafficking network. This is a brutal story, humans and animals suffer, gore flies, and it's impossible to imagine Lu surviving the danger he finds himself in at a remote compound in Myanmar. It's a good story, too violent for me, but the character of Lu has me coming back.
Pub May 17th 2022
by Brian Klingborg, P.J. Ochlan (Narrator)
This is the second book in the Inspector Lu Fei series. Taking place in China and surrounding areas, Lu is still pining for the beautiful bar owner, who is still mourning for her long dead husband. Lu is supposed to be laying low and not stirring up anymore trouble like he'd done in the past but he just doesn't seem to do a very good job of keeping his nose out of places that get him into more hot water.
A small, frail girl who looks to be twelve but is actually fifteen comes to Lu and asks him to find her nineteen year old sister. This girl is determined and she will not allow Lu to forget her sister. She sits in the lobby of his police station, she follows him, she is her sister's greatest champion. So Lu begins an unofficial investigation after he's told by his boss, in no uncertain terms, that he is not to look for the missing sister.
Lu keeps digging deeper until he is suspended which works out great for him to go undercover and find himself into the heart of an illegal animal trafficking network. This is a brutal story, humans and animals suffer, gore flies, and it's impossible to imagine Lu surviving the danger he finds himself in at a remote compound in Myanmar. It's a good story, too violent for me, but the character of Lu has me coming back.
Pub May 17th 2022
April 16, 2022
An easy 4 stars for an engaging mystery set in northern rural China, near Harbin. This is book 2 in the Lu Fei series and I read book 1. I recommend that you read them in order. Inspector Lu Fei of the PSB(Public Security Bureau) agrees to look for a missing teenager, Meixiang, after her sister, Meirong, begs him to do so. When he investigates, he ruffles some important people. They lean on his boss, who orders him to stop investigating. But he persists, and is suspended as a result. Then he gets a mysterious phone call. He agrees to meet this mystery man. The meeting is actually a video meeting and the mystery man says that he works for the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. He tells Lu to call him Jia and says that they have a mutual interest, Wilson Fang. Lu believes Fang may have killed Meixiang or knows who did. Jia says that Fang is involved in the illegal trade of endangered species and he wants to arrest him and his superiors.
He persuades Lu to go undercover on his behalf. There many twists and turns in this mystery, but I liked the ending. I read this book in 2 days. It is a fast,easy read.
One quote: Dinner at an illegal wildlife farm: "Dinner consists of the ubiquitous tea leaf salad, rice balls with fish and turmeric; various curries; noodles in fish broth; a range of tropical fruits. Also: crocodile carpaccio; bat boiled in a ginger and coconut soup; bamboo rat stuffed with vegetables and roasted; and a hot pot consisting of pangolin, snake, and caterpillar simmered in a base of chicken broth, soy sauce, ginger, Shaoxing wined, and spring onion."
Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
He persuades Lu to go undercover on his behalf. There many twists and turns in this mystery, but I liked the ending. I read this book in 2 days. It is a fast,easy read.
One quote: Dinner at an illegal wildlife farm: "Dinner consists of the ubiquitous tea leaf salad, rice balls with fish and turmeric; various curries; noodles in fish broth; a range of tropical fruits. Also: crocodile carpaccio; bat boiled in a ginger and coconut soup; bamboo rat stuffed with vegetables and roasted; and a hot pot consisting of pangolin, snake, and caterpillar simmered in a base of chicken broth, soy sauce, ginger, Shaoxing wined, and spring onion."
Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
May 25, 2022
Having recently read and enjoyed 'Thief of Souls' (Inspector Lu Fei mysteries #1), I eagerly awaited the second book in the series by Brian Klingborg. The author majored in East Asian studies at Harvard with a particular interest in Chinese folklore and religion. He lived and worked in Asia for several years.
The story is set in modern-day rural China, Raven Valley, with connections with the city of Harbin, 70 miles distant.
Deputy Chief Lu Fei graduated from the police academy at the top of his class but was unjustly exiled by his corrupt boss to the cold, quiet Raven Valley. He now works alongside rural officers under the leadership of Chief Liang. There is little crime to investigate in the countryside where Lu now works. Police work might entail finding a stolen pig, rounding up stray chickens, or even responding to calls to help residents with the internet.
Lu's life is about to become disrupted by a young girl, Meriong, demanding he looks for her missing sister. The girl is poorly dressed, unkempt, and looks to be 12 years old. Lu learns that she is actually 15, probably small due to poor nutrition. Her 19-year-old sister, Mexiang, disappeared while working at an upscale restaurant in Harbin. They were very close and communicated almost every day. Rich and powerful men frequented the restaurant. It catered to wealthy clients with a special secret menu serving meat from exotic and endangered animals. Consuming such rare, expensive meals is considered a status symbol and believed to have medicinal benefits. Some of the animal parts were served in spicy sauces and included tigers, pangolin, snakes, bats, bamboo rats, bears and caterpillars. The butchering and trafficking of parts of endangered animals is an alarming subject. This horrific crime is offset somewhat by Lu's sarcastic and humorous dialogue when he is not fighting for his life.
Inspector Lu is becoming one of my favourite detectives. He is a moral and dedicated officer in a corrupt political and legal system. The police do not consider finding Mexiang a priority. Their reaction is that she was probably a runaway, went away with a boyfriend, or moved on to another job. The younger girl sits in the police office day after day, hoping to learn what they are doing to find her sister. She even shows up at Lu's apartment, demanding that he do more to find her. The more Lu learns about the restaurant and its clients, he fears she may have been killed there. Some of its important, powerful customers are irate that Lu is snooping around, and put pressure on his chief to have him suspended.
Lu is approached by a mysterious man through a video conference. He says he is named Jia and works for the government in Beijing in the National Forestry and Grasslands branch. He says they have cases in common. He wants to protect endangered animals and to arrest Wilson Fang, the owner of the establishment serving exotic wild meat. He believes Fang murdered Mexiang or knows who did. As both their cases involve the same restaurant, he offers Lu tempting rewards and promotions for his help. Lu is only intent on finding out what happened to Mexiang.
After a shooting in the restaurant, Fang vanishes. It is believed he is in hiding or may have been kidnapped. Jia suspects he may be hiding or held in a fortress in the wilds of Myanmar (formerly Burma) jungle. There is a compound run by a ruthless, mysterious female warlord and is where the illegal meat and also drugs come from and are smuggled across the border into China. Lu reluctantly accepts the assignment to go undercover, in disguise and pose as a buyer of exotic meat and find Wilson Fang.
Readers often enjoy being transported to an unknown place through the pages of a book. This jungle fortress is not a place anyone would want to visit! People who incur the wrath of the warlord are regularly tortured, mutilated, thrown to feed the tigers, and the lucky ones are merely shot. Needless to say, Lu regrets accepting the assignment and his visit is far from relaxing. Powerful weapons and explosives are in abundance and Lu must find a way to get out of there alive. What happened to Mexiang?
The author tells an exciting story and even finds a way to include some humour in a horrifying tale.
Warning: Cruelty to animals, and to humans.
The story is set in modern-day rural China, Raven Valley, with connections with the city of Harbin, 70 miles distant.
Deputy Chief Lu Fei graduated from the police academy at the top of his class but was unjustly exiled by his corrupt boss to the cold, quiet Raven Valley. He now works alongside rural officers under the leadership of Chief Liang. There is little crime to investigate in the countryside where Lu now works. Police work might entail finding a stolen pig, rounding up stray chickens, or even responding to calls to help residents with the internet.
Lu's life is about to become disrupted by a young girl, Meriong, demanding he looks for her missing sister. The girl is poorly dressed, unkempt, and looks to be 12 years old. Lu learns that she is actually 15, probably small due to poor nutrition. Her 19-year-old sister, Mexiang, disappeared while working at an upscale restaurant in Harbin. They were very close and communicated almost every day. Rich and powerful men frequented the restaurant. It catered to wealthy clients with a special secret menu serving meat from exotic and endangered animals. Consuming such rare, expensive meals is considered a status symbol and believed to have medicinal benefits. Some of the animal parts were served in spicy sauces and included tigers, pangolin, snakes, bats, bamboo rats, bears and caterpillars. The butchering and trafficking of parts of endangered animals is an alarming subject. This horrific crime is offset somewhat by Lu's sarcastic and humorous dialogue when he is not fighting for his life.
Inspector Lu is becoming one of my favourite detectives. He is a moral and dedicated officer in a corrupt political and legal system. The police do not consider finding Mexiang a priority. Their reaction is that she was probably a runaway, went away with a boyfriend, or moved on to another job. The younger girl sits in the police office day after day, hoping to learn what they are doing to find her sister. She even shows up at Lu's apartment, demanding that he do more to find her. The more Lu learns about the restaurant and its clients, he fears she may have been killed there. Some of its important, powerful customers are irate that Lu is snooping around, and put pressure on his chief to have him suspended.
Lu is approached by a mysterious man through a video conference. He says he is named Jia and works for the government in Beijing in the National Forestry and Grasslands branch. He says they have cases in common. He wants to protect endangered animals and to arrest Wilson Fang, the owner of the establishment serving exotic wild meat. He believes Fang murdered Mexiang or knows who did. As both their cases involve the same restaurant, he offers Lu tempting rewards and promotions for his help. Lu is only intent on finding out what happened to Mexiang.
After a shooting in the restaurant, Fang vanishes. It is believed he is in hiding or may have been kidnapped. Jia suspects he may be hiding or held in a fortress in the wilds of Myanmar (formerly Burma) jungle. There is a compound run by a ruthless, mysterious female warlord and is where the illegal meat and also drugs come from and are smuggled across the border into China. Lu reluctantly accepts the assignment to go undercover, in disguise and pose as a buyer of exotic meat and find Wilson Fang.
Readers often enjoy being transported to an unknown place through the pages of a book. This jungle fortress is not a place anyone would want to visit! People who incur the wrath of the warlord are regularly tortured, mutilated, thrown to feed the tigers, and the lucky ones are merely shot. Needless to say, Lu regrets accepting the assignment and his visit is far from relaxing. Powerful weapons and explosives are in abundance and Lu must find a way to get out of there alive. What happened to Mexiang?
The author tells an exciting story and even finds a way to include some humour in a horrifying tale.
Warning: Cruelty to animals, and to humans.
August 18, 2022
Wild Prey by Brian Klingborg is a 2022 Minotaur publication.
This is the second book in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series. I was intrigued by this series as it is set in China, which is something different, at least, but I wondered how the series would fare once that novelty wore off. If this installment is any indication, it looks as though the mysteries will be strong enough to outlast the uniqueness of the premise.
The subject matter of the plot is timely considering the Coronavirus and certain ‘edible delicacies’ that are now illegal to serve. This creates a black-market trade, which is how Lu gets involved in a case that takes a strange turn when he gets involved in a missing persons case that gets him suspended…
I thought the debut was solid- which is why I came back for book two. But, I also thought it was safe beginning, as well, more or less a standard procedural set in an exotic location...
But hang on to your hat because...
This second installment was even more suspenseful- but also more graphic than the debut- but my goodness what a wild ride! A very solid sophomore effort- and then some!
The characters develop a bit more as well and while sometimes Lu seemed petulant with his widow friend, he's a stand up guy who bravely lives by his own moral code.
I loved the way things wrapped up- with some unexpected surprises- and I’m still very intrigued by this series and am eagerly anticipating book three!
This is the second book in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series. I was intrigued by this series as it is set in China, which is something different, at least, but I wondered how the series would fare once that novelty wore off. If this installment is any indication, it looks as though the mysteries will be strong enough to outlast the uniqueness of the premise.
The subject matter of the plot is timely considering the Coronavirus and certain ‘edible delicacies’ that are now illegal to serve. This creates a black-market trade, which is how Lu gets involved in a case that takes a strange turn when he gets involved in a missing persons case that gets him suspended…
I thought the debut was solid- which is why I came back for book two. But, I also thought it was safe beginning, as well, more or less a standard procedural set in an exotic location...
But hang on to your hat because...
This second installment was even more suspenseful- but also more graphic than the debut- but my goodness what a wild ride! A very solid sophomore effort- and then some!
The characters develop a bit more as well and while sometimes Lu seemed petulant with his widow friend, he's a stand up guy who bravely lives by his own moral code.
I loved the way things wrapped up- with some unexpected surprises- and I’m still very intrigued by this series and am eagerly anticipating book three!
April 28, 2022
My Review will be published on 4/22 at Mystery and
Suspense Magazine
WILD PREY - AN INSPECTOR LU FEI MYSTERY
By Brian KLINGBORG
Publication Date: 5/17/22 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
He’s back! Inspector Lu Fei …. a righteous and highly scrupled cop with dogged determination returns for an even more harrowing case, determined to wade through a morass
of obstacles to uncover truth and justice. An immersive police procedural transitions into a thrilling espionage novel as Lu’s investigation catapults him into an undercover operation. The setting is the contemporary People’s Republic of China, in which the ethical inspector Lu Fei faces the challenge of seeking justice in a complex and corrupt society. The narrative unfolds with a healthy dose of humor, history, philosophy and an unbridled multi-layered characterization of the main protagonists. Inspector Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police university, yet finds himself mired in a small backwater provincial town of Raven Valley. His present demotion and exile is the result of Lu’s unfortunate confrontation with his corrupt boss of the Harbin City Police Department. The inspector executed an unscheduled raid, and found his boss engaged in the service of an underage prostitute.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with ongoing international pressure, the conservationists in the government have intensified efforts to crack down on the illegal trade of endangered animal meat and byproducts. Lu finds himself on stake out in a local market to apprehend Chen, a known and wanted peddler of black market animal products to local restaurants and apothecaries. Not only the meat, but also bones, teeth, skin, scales and genitals are greatly desirable. Exotic wildlife and their genitals are touted as aids for erectile dysfunction. Tiger and bear penises and the meat of pangolin, including their scales yield extensive profits on the black market. With over two hundred million surveillance cameras monitoring the citizens of China, it was only a matter of time before Chen was apprehended.
Inspector Lu Fei is confronted in the lobby of his “paichusuo” (police station) by a young girl
sitting on a bench …. fifteen year old Tan Meirong pleads for his help. Her sister, nineteen year old, Tan Meixiang is missing and she fears the worst. “She’s dead or has been kidnapped and sold to a brothel.” We soon learn of the situation. Meixang supports the family by working at a restaurant in the nearby city of Harbin. Their mother is dead from cancer, and the father is usually drunk and has not worked for three years, because of a “bad back”. She has messaged her dozens of times, and called a hundred times without response. Lu responds by embarking on an extensive investigation…. initially the usual checking of phone records, social media, financials and multiple databases…. and hospitals and morgues. When calling the Harbin paichusuo he encounters the expected response: “We’re pretty busy - but we’ll “jin liang”. Lu knows when they say “we’ll do our best” … they actually mean …. they might get around to thinking about doing something if absolutely nothing else better comes along. Lu takes matters into his own hands, and travels to Harbin to further the investigation by visiting Meixang’s apartment and place of employment. The restaurant is a rather high end establishment that features exotic meats and dishes that feature medicinal properties. By judging the attire and accoutrements of the diners, this establishment obviously caters to the rich and powerful. Although the main menu does not list any forbidden dishes… there are whispers and requests for “the special menu”. Lu Fei meets with the owner and manager, “Wilson” Fang, and although he denies any knowledge of Meixiang’s disappearance and can provide no helpful information…. Lu Fei suspects a linkage between her disappearance and the probable Illegal special menu.
Brian Klingborg provides a masterful and immersive narrative creating a riveting twisted string of multiple unexpected reveals that propel this page-turner. Inspector Lu Fei indicates he’s not a special agent .. and just a cop. And, yet to achieve closure and justice he must go undercover, change his appearance, develop a backstory and infiltrate the inner circle of a nefarious global animal-trafficking operation, embedded deep in the interior jungles of Myanmar. He is posing as Long, Ming, a buyer of exotic bushmeat. During the course of his deception, he is treated to a multi-course meal of: crocodile carpaccio, bat boiled in ginger, bamboo rat stuffed with vegetables, and a “hot pot” consisting of pangolin, snake and caterpillar simmered in a base of chicken broth, along with a glass of Shaoxing wine …. and for appetizers the penises of either tiger or bear.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This novel will appeal to fans of other beloved series .. such as those of Detective Bernie Gunther from the pen of Philip Kerr and Deon Meyer’s equally enjoyable Detective Benny Griessel. Klingborg’s knowledge of East Asian Studies and his experience with living and working in Asia are on full display in this fascinating tale. Hopefully, there will be many more Inspector Lu Fei investigations.
Suspense Magazine
WILD PREY - AN INSPECTOR LU FEI MYSTERY
By Brian KLINGBORG
Publication Date: 5/17/22 by St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
He’s back! Inspector Lu Fei …. a righteous and highly scrupled cop with dogged determination returns for an even more harrowing case, determined to wade through a morass
of obstacles to uncover truth and justice. An immersive police procedural transitions into a thrilling espionage novel as Lu’s investigation catapults him into an undercover operation. The setting is the contemporary People’s Republic of China, in which the ethical inspector Lu Fei faces the challenge of seeking justice in a complex and corrupt society. The narrative unfolds with a healthy dose of humor, history, philosophy and an unbridled multi-layered characterization of the main protagonists. Inspector Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police university, yet finds himself mired in a small backwater provincial town of Raven Valley. His present demotion and exile is the result of Lu’s unfortunate confrontation with his corrupt boss of the Harbin City Police Department. The inspector executed an unscheduled raid, and found his boss engaged in the service of an underage prostitute.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with ongoing international pressure, the conservationists in the government have intensified efforts to crack down on the illegal trade of endangered animal meat and byproducts. Lu finds himself on stake out in a local market to apprehend Chen, a known and wanted peddler of black market animal products to local restaurants and apothecaries. Not only the meat, but also bones, teeth, skin, scales and genitals are greatly desirable. Exotic wildlife and their genitals are touted as aids for erectile dysfunction. Tiger and bear penises and the meat of pangolin, including their scales yield extensive profits on the black market. With over two hundred million surveillance cameras monitoring the citizens of China, it was only a matter of time before Chen was apprehended.
Inspector Lu Fei is confronted in the lobby of his “paichusuo” (police station) by a young girl
sitting on a bench …. fifteen year old Tan Meirong pleads for his help. Her sister, nineteen year old, Tan Meixiang is missing and she fears the worst. “She’s dead or has been kidnapped and sold to a brothel.” We soon learn of the situation. Meixang supports the family by working at a restaurant in the nearby city of Harbin. Their mother is dead from cancer, and the father is usually drunk and has not worked for three years, because of a “bad back”. She has messaged her dozens of times, and called a hundred times without response. Lu responds by embarking on an extensive investigation…. initially the usual checking of phone records, social media, financials and multiple databases…. and hospitals and morgues. When calling the Harbin paichusuo he encounters the expected response: “We’re pretty busy - but we’ll “jin liang”. Lu knows when they say “we’ll do our best” … they actually mean …. they might get around to thinking about doing something if absolutely nothing else better comes along. Lu takes matters into his own hands, and travels to Harbin to further the investigation by visiting Meixang’s apartment and place of employment. The restaurant is a rather high end establishment that features exotic meats and dishes that feature medicinal properties. By judging the attire and accoutrements of the diners, this establishment obviously caters to the rich and powerful. Although the main menu does not list any forbidden dishes… there are whispers and requests for “the special menu”. Lu Fei meets with the owner and manager, “Wilson” Fang, and although he denies any knowledge of Meixiang’s disappearance and can provide no helpful information…. Lu Fei suspects a linkage between her disappearance and the probable Illegal special menu.
Brian Klingborg provides a masterful and immersive narrative creating a riveting twisted string of multiple unexpected reveals that propel this page-turner. Inspector Lu Fei indicates he’s not a special agent .. and just a cop. And, yet to achieve closure and justice he must go undercover, change his appearance, develop a backstory and infiltrate the inner circle of a nefarious global animal-trafficking operation, embedded deep in the interior jungles of Myanmar. He is posing as Long, Ming, a buyer of exotic bushmeat. During the course of his deception, he is treated to a multi-course meal of: crocodile carpaccio, bat boiled in ginger, bamboo rat stuffed with vegetables, and a “hot pot” consisting of pangolin, snake and caterpillar simmered in a base of chicken broth, along with a glass of Shaoxing wine …. and for appetizers the penises of either tiger or bear.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This novel will appeal to fans of other beloved series .. such as those of Detective Bernie Gunther from the pen of Philip Kerr and Deon Meyer’s equally enjoyable Detective Benny Griessel. Klingborg’s knowledge of East Asian Studies and his experience with living and working in Asia are on full display in this fascinating tale. Hopefully, there will be many more Inspector Lu Fei investigations.
October 3, 2022
An engaging protagonist,interesting plot,good writing.
Great new series!
Great new series!
May 19, 2022
Chinese police procedural thriller!
Klingborg has taken up various themes and run with them through this continuation into the exploits of the very unusual Deputy Chief Inspector Lu Fei a police officer with the Public Security Bureau, in the township of Raven, Heilongjiang Province in Northern China. When we first see Lu he’s staking out a local market looking for a fugitive involved in the black market trade of exotic animal products that will be made into medicinal remedies. What with the increasing pressure from international conservationists and in the wake of the ravages of coronavirus, the Peoples Republic of China is serious about stamping out this centuries old trade.
Meanwhile a young girl, Tan Meirong, haunts the Raven police station (the paichusuo) insisting someone find her older missing sister, Meixiang.
It turns out Meixiang was working for a restaurant that sold illicit bushmeat’s for those men needing the vigor of viagara but using the traditional, illegal methods. There’s a little more going on in this restaurant than this though.
Lu ends up going undercover into Burma (Myanmar) to source the operational headquarters of these outlawed products. What he finds is more than he’d bargained for. What he faces is dangerous in the extreme, as is the very unusual person in charge of the operation. All this is part of endeavouring to find out the fate of Miexiang. Lu’s overriding concern is for her.
Along the way were given an insight into the lives of the general populace in the PRC, the hidden face of who is entitled to medical benefits, the fate of unemployed young country women seeking to become more financially independent who often end up working as prostitutes or in sweat shop factories.
Lu’s personal life has him still endeavoring to build his relationship with the delightful Lou Yanyan owner of the tiny bar, the Red Lotus. I love their interactions.
The pandemic flows along underneath, not focused on, just a part of life today.
Lu’s determination to do the right thing is part of the endearment of who he is. That conviction leads him into dangerous situations that had me on the edge of my seat exclaiming, “Now What?”
An enthralling and clever novel, with a lovely underlying wit, that speaks into the today of this area of the world.
More than ever Lu is up there with my favorite Chinese detectives.
A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley
Klingborg has taken up various themes and run with them through this continuation into the exploits of the very unusual Deputy Chief Inspector Lu Fei a police officer with the Public Security Bureau, in the township of Raven, Heilongjiang Province in Northern China. When we first see Lu he’s staking out a local market looking for a fugitive involved in the black market trade of exotic animal products that will be made into medicinal remedies. What with the increasing pressure from international conservationists and in the wake of the ravages of coronavirus, the Peoples Republic of China is serious about stamping out this centuries old trade.
Meanwhile a young girl, Tan Meirong, haunts the Raven police station (the paichusuo) insisting someone find her older missing sister, Meixiang.
It turns out Meixiang was working for a restaurant that sold illicit bushmeat’s for those men needing the vigor of viagara but using the traditional, illegal methods. There’s a little more going on in this restaurant than this though.
Lu ends up going undercover into Burma (Myanmar) to source the operational headquarters of these outlawed products. What he finds is more than he’d bargained for. What he faces is dangerous in the extreme, as is the very unusual person in charge of the operation. All this is part of endeavouring to find out the fate of Miexiang. Lu’s overriding concern is for her.
Along the way were given an insight into the lives of the general populace in the PRC, the hidden face of who is entitled to medical benefits, the fate of unemployed young country women seeking to become more financially independent who often end up working as prostitutes or in sweat shop factories.
Lu’s personal life has him still endeavoring to build his relationship with the delightful Lou Yanyan owner of the tiny bar, the Red Lotus. I love their interactions.
The pandemic flows along underneath, not focused on, just a part of life today.
Lu’s determination to do the right thing is part of the endearment of who he is. That conviction leads him into dangerous situations that had me on the edge of my seat exclaiming, “Now What?”
An enthralling and clever novel, with a lovely underlying wit, that speaks into the today of this area of the world.
More than ever Lu is up there with my favorite Chinese detectives.
A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley
October 30, 2023
I enjoyed this very much. It must be so frustrating to be a moral police officer when the system is broken. The series continues in China with a young girl looking for her missing sister and pestering Lu daily. He can’t help but feel bad and, as usual, gets himself in hot water with his bosses. He ends up suspended and going undercover in a related matter for a mysterious man. He gets in deep and I wondered if there would be any chance of a 3rd book in the series. The illicit meat trade for exotic animals being used to both ingest and as medicine is quite awful. There was a lot going on but I was happy to see Lu move a little closer to his love interest. Another great story!
May 4, 2022
A missing woman, an exotic animal black market connection, and a policeman undercover make for an intense second installment to this series set in modern day China. After the first book captured my attention, I was primed and ready to grab up this next standalone mystery which took me on another amazing visit to China and following along with the engaging Inspector Lu.
Wild Prey could standalone easily as it begins a new case for the unconventional Inspector Lu Fei though I will say that I think the author gave a much deeper background into Lu Fei and the situation in his part of China in the first book.
Wild Prey opens with a gruesome prologue set in the steaming jungle of Myanmar before shifting to the backwater city, Raven Valley, in China where Inspector Lu is going about his usual police cases and still trying to get the pretty Yanyan to give him a chance. He ends up with a missing person case that should have never been his jurisdiction because it happened in the city of Harlen some distance away.
The author has already painted a picture of modern day China and how things work. Lu is a man of parts. He ended up in a backwater precinct where he probably won’t advance far because he isn’t exactly one who plays by the rules when it comes to the social and political games one must play. He doesn’t care how powerful the person is; he’s not turning a blind eye and will stay tenaciously on a case that others are trying to sweep under the carpet.
That is the situation he finds himself in once again with this mystery. He’s been warned off a case because it might expose powerful party officials who’ve been frequenting a restaurant that serves illegal exotic animals on the menu and some hanky panky with the waitresses ala carte. One of the waitresses has gone missing and her little sister’s persistent pleas for justice keep him on the trail when warnings from the restaurant owner, the Harlen police chief, and his own chief don’t stop him.
The first mystery was more police procedural tracking a serial killer, but this one jumps those rails and heads into spy thriller territory when Lu is put on probation and approached by a shadowy figure from China’s version of the CIA to go undercover and pursue the missing woman case by following the exotic animal procurement end and tracking the on the run restaurant owner who could lead him to the woman. I was on the edge of my seat and flipping pages rapidly trying to see how Lu, who is the least like an undercover agent as it gets, is dropped into the deep end of the pool playing a shady character role, hanging out with real criminals, and eventually going into a female warlord’s territory down in Myanmar.
Wild Prey was intense and exciting and the build to the end was full of twists and surprises. It even goes over the top as to plausibility, but I was hooked and couldn’t have stopped reading for anything. The resolve was a big surprise. I was left most satisfied and looking forward to more from this fledgling series. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy murder mysteries set in Asia with a lone wolf Chinese detective as the main figure.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
Wild Prey could standalone easily as it begins a new case for the unconventional Inspector Lu Fei though I will say that I think the author gave a much deeper background into Lu Fei and the situation in his part of China in the first book.
Wild Prey opens with a gruesome prologue set in the steaming jungle of Myanmar before shifting to the backwater city, Raven Valley, in China where Inspector Lu is going about his usual police cases and still trying to get the pretty Yanyan to give him a chance. He ends up with a missing person case that should have never been his jurisdiction because it happened in the city of Harlen some distance away.
The author has already painted a picture of modern day China and how things work. Lu is a man of parts. He ended up in a backwater precinct where he probably won’t advance far because he isn’t exactly one who plays by the rules when it comes to the social and political games one must play. He doesn’t care how powerful the person is; he’s not turning a blind eye and will stay tenaciously on a case that others are trying to sweep under the carpet.
That is the situation he finds himself in once again with this mystery. He’s been warned off a case because it might expose powerful party officials who’ve been frequenting a restaurant that serves illegal exotic animals on the menu and some hanky panky with the waitresses ala carte. One of the waitresses has gone missing and her little sister’s persistent pleas for justice keep him on the trail when warnings from the restaurant owner, the Harlen police chief, and his own chief don’t stop him.
The first mystery was more police procedural tracking a serial killer, but this one jumps those rails and heads into spy thriller territory when Lu is put on probation and approached by a shadowy figure from China’s version of the CIA to go undercover and pursue the missing woman case by following the exotic animal procurement end and tracking the on the run restaurant owner who could lead him to the woman. I was on the edge of my seat and flipping pages rapidly trying to see how Lu, who is the least like an undercover agent as it gets, is dropped into the deep end of the pool playing a shady character role, hanging out with real criminals, and eventually going into a female warlord’s territory down in Myanmar.
Wild Prey was intense and exciting and the build to the end was full of twists and surprises. It even goes over the top as to plausibility, but I was hooked and couldn’t have stopped reading for anything. The resolve was a big surprise. I was left most satisfied and looking forward to more from this fledgling series. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy murder mysteries set in Asia with a lone wolf Chinese detective as the main figure.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2021
In his earlier escapade, Inspector Lu Fei didn't stray far from home, and my joy in that book arose from interplay between the denizens of the police station in a small village. Here, he has to travel far afield in search of the answers to a missing, presumed dead, girl thanks to that girl's sister's perseverance. As I've mentioned before, for me a police procedural has to present more than plot in its pages, and Brian Klingborg delivers once again. Centered around the horrifying trafficking of exotic animals and the supposed medicinal properties of their parts, this page turner brings to life a foray into the steaming netherlands of Myanmar, with, at times, excruciating brutality, but Inspector Lu is a hero worth the effort.
May 18, 2022
This is the second book I have read in the Inspector Lu Fei mystery series. This is such a gripping mystery series that I am loving my visit to the gritty world of this police procedural. I really enjoyed the unique setting and glimpses of Chinese culture.
Police Inspector Lu Fei is such an interesting character. He keeps getting sideways with those in power and it really adds to some interesting scenes in the book. I feel like I got to know him better, which was a wish after reading the first book in the series. Everything he has to go through while he is undercover...yikes!
All in all, a nail-biter with an action packed undercover assignment culminating in a satisfying ending.
I received a complementary review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Police Inspector Lu Fei is such an interesting character. He keeps getting sideways with those in power and it really adds to some interesting scenes in the book. I feel like I got to know him better, which was a wish after reading the first book in the series. Everything he has to go through while he is undercover...yikes!
All in all, a nail-biter with an action packed undercover assignment culminating in a satisfying ending.
I received a complementary review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2022
This is a full 3.5 star book. It is worth reading the series. Not much at all for the investigations as much as for the ambiance of this writer and the locales. Placed entirely under the Peoples' CCP China.
Witty and much is nuance. Love, love learning the colloquial understood, as when anyone official or not says "jin liang". Which has a full boating meaning opposite of what the mannerly words predict for outcomes. Rather like the USA's Southern "Bless Your Heart". Te ma di and other phrases too.
The humor is dark, like MASH was for the Korean War. And yet, this if anything is BRUTAL with all capital letters. Starts brutal and has brutality evident all along the way. I would have given it a full 4 for sure without the last few action scenes in Myanmar, which were so confusing and in the dark that after reading all the actions happening in that compound that particular night, I still never got who was with who. But neither does Lu.
The ending also seemed beyond my ability to swallow such an outcome. Not that it could be IMPOSSIBLE to happen, but so very much doubt that it would. Lu has principles. Almost no one in this system does. But I learned an immense amount about Chinese present law. Especially for country people of origin to go to the city or urban anywhere. Or how other ethnicity beyond Han are embedded. Or not. Like the Hui numbers who ended up in China across the borders from Muslim civil and other district wars. We all know about the Uyghur populations but there are others too. Some with entirely singular dress and huge populations. This was probably the most instructive fiction book I have come across in this genre for years.
How Chinese laws work in reality practicality and process! Very much like Chicago has been run for the last 100 years. No kidding. Very similar. Grease and association is all.
Excellent read. I wish the plotting and sense of violence were not so harsh. But it is what it is. Perhaps it is 4 stars after all. I definitely will be reading more Lu Fei. A man of principles is as hard to find as this lethal (deadly times 10) jungle animal provider female queen of the distributors becomes in this one. If you are an animal adorer- you will NOT want to read what happens to these creatures. Dozens of types like pangolins or rats. Not to speak of the bigger prey of 100 species. All for food and medicine by Chinese antiquity definitions. Some are kept alive too so organs can be harvested or bile used etc. This is not for the faint of animal heart. Beware.
Witty and much is nuance. Love, love learning the colloquial understood, as when anyone official or not says "jin liang". Which has a full boating meaning opposite of what the mannerly words predict for outcomes. Rather like the USA's Southern "Bless Your Heart". Te ma di and other phrases too.
The humor is dark, like MASH was for the Korean War. And yet, this if anything is BRUTAL with all capital letters. Starts brutal and has brutality evident all along the way. I would have given it a full 4 for sure without the last few action scenes in Myanmar, which were so confusing and in the dark that after reading all the actions happening in that compound that particular night, I still never got who was with who. But neither does Lu.
The ending also seemed beyond my ability to swallow such an outcome. Not that it could be IMPOSSIBLE to happen, but so very much doubt that it would. Lu has principles. Almost no one in this system does. But I learned an immense amount about Chinese present law. Especially for country people of origin to go to the city or urban anywhere. Or how other ethnicity beyond Han are embedded. Or not. Like the Hui numbers who ended up in China across the borders from Muslim civil and other district wars. We all know about the Uyghur populations but there are others too. Some with entirely singular dress and huge populations. This was probably the most instructive fiction book I have come across in this genre for years.
How Chinese laws work in reality practicality and process! Very much like Chicago has been run for the last 100 years. No kidding. Very similar. Grease and association is all.
Excellent read. I wish the plotting and sense of violence were not so harsh. But it is what it is. Perhaps it is 4 stars after all. I definitely will be reading more Lu Fei. A man of principles is as hard to find as this lethal (deadly times 10) jungle animal provider female queen of the distributors becomes in this one. If you are an animal adorer- you will NOT want to read what happens to these creatures. Dozens of types like pangolins or rats. Not to speak of the bigger prey of 100 species. All for food and medicine by Chinese antiquity definitions. Some are kept alive too so organs can be harvested or bile used etc. This is not for the faint of animal heart. Beware.
May 21, 2023
HOARDER CHALLENGE #4-BLUE COVER
3.8 stars (b/c of the Eek animal factor)
This is the 2nd book in the Lu Fei series and I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to there being more books to come. I like Lu Fei & the supporting characters.
This is more of a detective story but instead of a PI, it's a cop. It's not a police procedural. It takes place in Rural China. I don't know much about that so I liked reading some of the details & learning about the government/culture/lifestyle from that area. Since I know nothing, I have no way of knowing if the writer is making it all up or if he's done research. But for me, it was believable.
The crime however is quite gruesome. It involves the killing & eating of exotic animals. As a vegetarian, that was a serious YUCK factor. I tended to skim those sections. The mystery involves a missing girl who worked in one of the restaurants serving such delicacies. Of course, the case evolves into a more complex one past just a missing girl. I kept reading as the mystery was compelling and I enjoyed Fei's investigation.
Of note, it's set in present day so COVID & China restrictions are mentioned throughout. And um...yeah...they really eat all that stuff??? Eek!
The case spills over into Myanmar so it was interesting to learn about that countries border w/China & the various ethnic minorities that populate those areas.
3.8 stars (b/c of the Eek animal factor)
This is the 2nd book in the Lu Fei series and I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to there being more books to come. I like Lu Fei & the supporting characters.
This is more of a detective story but instead of a PI, it's a cop. It's not a police procedural. It takes place in Rural China. I don't know much about that so I liked reading some of the details & learning about the government/culture/lifestyle from that area. Since I know nothing, I have no way of knowing if the writer is making it all up or if he's done research. But for me, it was believable.
The crime however is quite gruesome. It involves the killing & eating of exotic animals. As a vegetarian, that was a serious YUCK factor. I tended to skim those sections. The mystery involves a missing girl who worked in one of the restaurants serving such delicacies. Of course, the case evolves into a more complex one past just a missing girl. I kept reading as the mystery was compelling and I enjoyed Fei's investigation.
Of note, it's set in present day so COVID & China restrictions are mentioned throughout. And um...yeah...they really eat all that stuff??? Eek!
The case spills over into Myanmar so it was interesting to learn about that countries border w/China & the various ethnic minorities that populate those areas.
June 30, 2022
Wild Prey is the second outing for Inspector Lu Fei, once a detective with the Harbin Public Security Bureau but now exiled to Raven Valley, a rural backwater about 70 km away. Again, much like the first, this is a rather dark novel – featuring not a serial killer this time, but the illegal trade in wild animal parts for medicinal purposes in China. However, gruesome though some of the scenes might be, and as upsetting as the trade in wild animals is, this novel fast-moving, exciting, and a lot of fun.
We are introduced to the trade in wild animals at the beginning of the novel with Inspector Lu Fei taking part in the arrest of a local man in Raven Valley involved in the selling of animal parts. Then a girl, Tan Meirong, arrives at the police station to report the disappearance of her elder sister, Tan Meixang, who has vanished in Harbin while working for a restaurant specialising in very exotic fare….
Unable to get much help from his old colleagues at Harbin PSB and unsettled by the stubbornness of Tan Meirong who refuses to let the matter drop or, indeed, leave the police station, Inspector Lu Fei decides against orders to go to Harbin and investigate the matter himself. But the manager of the restaurant where Tan Meixang had been working, Wilson Fang, is not only up to his neck in the illegal trade in wild animals, he is also in the habit of filming his patrons when they are up to no good, and is a very well-connected man – connected enough to get Inspector Lu Fei suspended from the police on his return to Raven Valley having failed to find any trace of the missing girl. But other shadowy figures are at work and soon enough Wilson Fang vanishes himself, and a senior official in the National Forestry and Grassland Administration persuades Inspector Lu Fei that he might get his career back on track and also possibly find the missing girl if he would only track down Wilson Fang for them, as well as a mysterious woman, Daw Khaw, known to be a supplier of illegal animal parts, both of them now most likely to be found over the border in the steamy jungles of Myanmar.
So begins a wild ride for Inspector Lu, admirably helped by his friend Monk and his reluctant love interest, Yanyan, proprietor of the Red Lotus bar, a ride that will take him deep undercover and into mortal danger – colourful tattoos and all – working for people whose motivations are unclear and uncertain.
In many ways, this novel is more of a thriller than a police procedural. Brian Klingborg’s writing is as slick as ever, the pace of the story never slowing, and indeed speeding up as it races to its violent conclusion. This novel could be read as a standalone but I would advise reading the first novel, Thief of Souls (City of Ice in the UK), to fully understand how Inspector Lu Fei came to be exiled to Raven Valley in the first instance. Once again Inspector Lu Fei seems very much the impotent victim of murky and byzantine law enforcement bureaucracy in China, and yet he soldiers on in his own way, never giving up, always doing his best in the interests of justice. Brian Klingborg is writing primarily for a Western audience so he goes into a lot of detail – expertly weaved into the plot – in regard to Chinese culture and the complexities of policing in a one-party authoritarian state. Moreover, this novel is right up-to-date in terms of the Chinese response to the COVID pandemic and the ‘advances’ in surveillance of the people. For my own taste, Brian Klingborg lays it on a bit thick in terms of explaining China. But, in writing for a Western audience, I suppose it is always a case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t – and I reckon most people won’t mind learning as much as they can about Chinese culture.
For me, also, Inspector Lu Fei remains a rather enigmatic character, his motivations, the reasons for his dedication to bringing justice to the people in spite of all the obstacles thrown up in his way, still elude me. I appreciate that too much introspection or even a flashback or two will spoil the fast pace of the story, so I hope Brian Klingborg might soon write a ‘coming of age’ novel, or a novel that harks back to Inspector Lu Fei’s past, so we might get to know him better. Or maybe I am alone in thinking this, everyone else content just to have Inspector Lu Fei out there doing what he does best – solving crimes in spite of all that’s thrown in his way!
In conclusion then, this novel is exciting and a lot of fun, if indeed it is a bit gruesome at times. Those concerned for the welfare of animals might find the story a bit dark for them, but Brian Klingborg is never gratuitous in his descriptions, and we ought to thank him for shining a light on the terrible trade in wild animal parts in China. There is also a touch of Papillon – the memoir by Henri Charriere - about this novel in regard to how Inspector Lu Fei has to hide a camera about his person – but I will say no more than that!!
4.5 Stars
Highly recommended.
We are introduced to the trade in wild animals at the beginning of the novel with Inspector Lu Fei taking part in the arrest of a local man in Raven Valley involved in the selling of animal parts. Then a girl, Tan Meirong, arrives at the police station to report the disappearance of her elder sister, Tan Meixang, who has vanished in Harbin while working for a restaurant specialising in very exotic fare….
Unable to get much help from his old colleagues at Harbin PSB and unsettled by the stubbornness of Tan Meirong who refuses to let the matter drop or, indeed, leave the police station, Inspector Lu Fei decides against orders to go to Harbin and investigate the matter himself. But the manager of the restaurant where Tan Meixang had been working, Wilson Fang, is not only up to his neck in the illegal trade in wild animals, he is also in the habit of filming his patrons when they are up to no good, and is a very well-connected man – connected enough to get Inspector Lu Fei suspended from the police on his return to Raven Valley having failed to find any trace of the missing girl. But other shadowy figures are at work and soon enough Wilson Fang vanishes himself, and a senior official in the National Forestry and Grassland Administration persuades Inspector Lu Fei that he might get his career back on track and also possibly find the missing girl if he would only track down Wilson Fang for them, as well as a mysterious woman, Daw Khaw, known to be a supplier of illegal animal parts, both of them now most likely to be found over the border in the steamy jungles of Myanmar.
So begins a wild ride for Inspector Lu, admirably helped by his friend Monk and his reluctant love interest, Yanyan, proprietor of the Red Lotus bar, a ride that will take him deep undercover and into mortal danger – colourful tattoos and all – working for people whose motivations are unclear and uncertain.
In many ways, this novel is more of a thriller than a police procedural. Brian Klingborg’s writing is as slick as ever, the pace of the story never slowing, and indeed speeding up as it races to its violent conclusion. This novel could be read as a standalone but I would advise reading the first novel, Thief of Souls (City of Ice in the UK), to fully understand how Inspector Lu Fei came to be exiled to Raven Valley in the first instance. Once again Inspector Lu Fei seems very much the impotent victim of murky and byzantine law enforcement bureaucracy in China, and yet he soldiers on in his own way, never giving up, always doing his best in the interests of justice. Brian Klingborg is writing primarily for a Western audience so he goes into a lot of detail – expertly weaved into the plot – in regard to Chinese culture and the complexities of policing in a one-party authoritarian state. Moreover, this novel is right up-to-date in terms of the Chinese response to the COVID pandemic and the ‘advances’ in surveillance of the people. For my own taste, Brian Klingborg lays it on a bit thick in terms of explaining China. But, in writing for a Western audience, I suppose it is always a case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t – and I reckon most people won’t mind learning as much as they can about Chinese culture.
For me, also, Inspector Lu Fei remains a rather enigmatic character, his motivations, the reasons for his dedication to bringing justice to the people in spite of all the obstacles thrown up in his way, still elude me. I appreciate that too much introspection or even a flashback or two will spoil the fast pace of the story, so I hope Brian Klingborg might soon write a ‘coming of age’ novel, or a novel that harks back to Inspector Lu Fei’s past, so we might get to know him better. Or maybe I am alone in thinking this, everyone else content just to have Inspector Lu Fei out there doing what he does best – solving crimes in spite of all that’s thrown in his way!
In conclusion then, this novel is exciting and a lot of fun, if indeed it is a bit gruesome at times. Those concerned for the welfare of animals might find the story a bit dark for them, but Brian Klingborg is never gratuitous in his descriptions, and we ought to thank him for shining a light on the terrible trade in wild animal parts in China. There is also a touch of Papillon – the memoir by Henri Charriere - about this novel in regard to how Inspector Lu Fei has to hide a camera about his person – but I will say no more than that!!
4.5 Stars
Highly recommended.
May 29, 2022
Whoosh. Wow. W O W.
When one doesn't read the blurbs of books [because I don't WANT to know everything that is going to happen in 2 paragraphs; if I did, I'd just read that and not the whole book [eyeroll] ] by authors one has already read [or not read for that matter, but in this case, I had read the first book in this series and loved it], one is often surprised by the subject matter of said book that one is currently reading. That is exactly what happened with me and this book.
I need to preface this review with this - I really liked this book. It was so good and so well-written and I never saw anything that happened coming. Most of the book blew me away. I learned a TON of stuff that I never needed to learn. E V E R. Still, learning is learning right?
All that said, this was a rough book. There were days where I could only read 5% of the book and then had to quit because it had unsettled me so much. NOT because I was unaware that these things were happening, but because I WAS aware and the writing was so good that it really creeped me out and there were moments where my heart was racing so bad I thought I was going to have a panic attack [yes, I still believe this was an excellent read. I am a weirdo]. I finally finished this at 3am this morning [5.28.2022] and then couldn't sleep because I had wild animals and the jungle and a very creepy man haunting me. I will say that the reveal and the ending was extremely satisfying and very unexpected. And left me with hope that there will be a third book. It was all one could ask for [and not ask for if one is honest] in a good mystery/cultural read. The author does his research and writes with a deft hand and produces an amazing read. I am so glad I found this author and this series; it is absolutely one of my favorites now.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brian Klingborg, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When one doesn't read the blurbs of books [because I don't WANT to know everything that is going to happen in 2 paragraphs; if I did, I'd just read that and not the whole book [eyeroll] ] by authors one has already read [or not read for that matter, but in this case, I had read the first book in this series and loved it], one is often surprised by the subject matter of said book that one is currently reading. That is exactly what happened with me and this book.
I need to preface this review with this - I really liked this book. It was so good and so well-written and I never saw anything that happened coming. Most of the book blew me away. I learned a TON of stuff that I never needed to learn. E V E R. Still, learning is learning right?
All that said, this was a rough book. There were days where I could only read 5% of the book and then had to quit because it had unsettled me so much. NOT because I was unaware that these things were happening, but because I WAS aware and the writing was so good that it really creeped me out and there were moments where my heart was racing so bad I thought I was going to have a panic attack [yes, I still believe this was an excellent read. I am a weirdo]. I finally finished this at 3am this morning [5.28.2022] and then couldn't sleep because I had wild animals and the jungle and a very creepy man haunting me. I will say that the reveal and the ending was extremely satisfying and very unexpected. And left me with hope that there will be a third book. It was all one could ask for [and not ask for if one is honest] in a good mystery/cultural read. The author does his research and writes with a deft hand and produces an amazing read. I am so glad I found this author and this series; it is absolutely one of my favorites now.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brian Klingborg, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2022
Thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Police Inspector Lu Fei has a way of finding trouble as he bucks the establishment to find the killer of a young woman. He travels in China, then abroad in Myanmar, searching for answers and justice.
I began this book not sure what to expect. I hadn't read the first Inspector Lu Fei mystery but that didn't matter. There are slight references to the first novel which only made me more excited to go back and check it out than detract from the story. I appreciated the detailed descriptions of the government and how all the various systems work. For someone that isn't knowledgeable of Communist China, having cultural explanations is a plus. Lu Fei himself was also a great character. I found his way of doggedly following the clues very engaging. By the time Lu Fei journeyed to Mynamar, I was hooked and wanted to find out who the killer was. Without giving anything away, I was surprised with how everything developed and enjoyed the mystery from start to end. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys mystery and wants to expand their cultural horizons.
Police Inspector Lu Fei has a way of finding trouble as he bucks the establishment to find the killer of a young woman. He travels in China, then abroad in Myanmar, searching for answers and justice.
I began this book not sure what to expect. I hadn't read the first Inspector Lu Fei mystery but that didn't matter. There are slight references to the first novel which only made me more excited to go back and check it out than detract from the story. I appreciated the detailed descriptions of the government and how all the various systems work. For someone that isn't knowledgeable of Communist China, having cultural explanations is a plus. Lu Fei himself was also a great character. I found his way of doggedly following the clues very engaging. By the time Lu Fei journeyed to Mynamar, I was hooked and wanted to find out who the killer was. Without giving anything away, I was surprised with how everything developed and enjoyed the mystery from start to end. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys mystery and wants to expand their cultural horizons.
February 22, 2022
I don’t inherently think about it, but it’s rare that I read a book about or set in China. That changed with Wild Prey. It was set in both China and Myanmar and it was a wild ride. The beginning was a bit slow and it was a bit of a struggle to get through the first quarter because of that. But once I was in the thick of the plot it flowed fast.
Lu Fei is a cop that goes undercover to find a missing girl. He ends up at a wildlife park that caters to people that eat the illegal animals for “medicinal purposes.”
There is so much going on here with the wildlife, the corrupt officials, the park owner, etc. And because it’s set in present day, they mention coronavirus many times. I appreciated that it was part of the storyline but didn’t take away from the story.
I enjoyed this book and liked the twist at the end. I look forward to reading other Lu Fei stories.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Lu Fei is a cop that goes undercover to find a missing girl. He ends up at a wildlife park that caters to people that eat the illegal animals for “medicinal purposes.”
There is so much going on here with the wildlife, the corrupt officials, the park owner, etc. And because it’s set in present day, they mention coronavirus many times. I appreciated that it was part of the storyline but didn’t take away from the story.
I enjoyed this book and liked the twist at the end. I look forward to reading other Lu Fei stories.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2022
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Everything I said in my review of the first book, Thief of Souls, is still true. I like Inspector Lu and his integrity is solid. He is the point of view for our view into this unfamiliar country, China, its culture and politics. Lu cares about people and treats them with respect. He is not interested in power and politics but they often get in the way of his job.
It’s an interesting world culturally. There are so many dangers and severe consequences with few upsides available. Dictatorship with oligarchy has all downsides unless you are at the top. You either have to be born there or extremely ruthless. I’m not thinking one can work their way up. One could get favors maybe but those would be pretty limited and at anytime one could be cut off.
For the current case of a missing young women, a nobody except to her younger sister, he works to determine what happened to her and if she is still alive. Unfortunately, those who are powerful either don't care, or prefer her dead. It's a good thing Inspector Lu has skills and fortitude because stepped in it here. He was in extreme danger most of the time. People around him died and he could have easily died as well. The pace was frenetic!
To the displeasure of some in power, he investigates with meticulous efforts, slowly progressing to the truth. Truth can be a dangerous thing, but he perseveres. More than one person tries to disable him to stop him from finding the young women or her body and uncover unsavory truths. Fortunately, he has a few friends but he easily makes new enemies. The political situation is oppressive and he barely manages.
Personally, he continues to pursue a relationship with the widow, Yanyan. He seems to make a bit of progress. I worry about her business and safety if Lu continues to pursue the truth instead of caving to politics. I look forward to continuing to read the Inspector Lu series.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Everything I said in my review of the first book, Thief of Souls, is still true. I like Inspector Lu and his integrity is solid. He is the point of view for our view into this unfamiliar country, China, its culture and politics. Lu cares about people and treats them with respect. He is not interested in power and politics but they often get in the way of his job.
It’s an interesting world culturally. There are so many dangers and severe consequences with few upsides available. Dictatorship with oligarchy has all downsides unless you are at the top. You either have to be born there or extremely ruthless. I’m not thinking one can work their way up. One could get favors maybe but those would be pretty limited and at anytime one could be cut off.
For the current case of a missing young women, a nobody except to her younger sister, he works to determine what happened to her and if she is still alive. Unfortunately, those who are powerful either don't care, or prefer her dead. It's a good thing Inspector Lu has skills and fortitude because stepped in it here. He was in extreme danger most of the time. People around him died and he could have easily died as well. The pace was frenetic!
To the displeasure of some in power, he investigates with meticulous efforts, slowly progressing to the truth. Truth can be a dangerous thing, but he perseveres. More than one person tries to disable him to stop him from finding the young women or her body and uncover unsavory truths. Fortunately, he has a few friends but he easily makes new enemies. The political situation is oppressive and he barely manages.
Personally, he continues to pursue a relationship with the widow, Yanyan. He seems to make a bit of progress. I worry about her business and safety if Lu continues to pursue the truth instead of caving to politics. I look forward to continuing to read the Inspector Lu series.
January 5, 2025
#2 of 75 of my 2025 “We have unread books at home” reading goal
August 5, 2024
I enjoyed this one even more than book 1 in the Lu Fei series, mostly because of the unusual, quirky subject matter. We all know of Chinese dishes that feature endangered game (and all kinds of other yucky stuff), but hunting and sales of these delicacies is now illegal, hence Lu Fei’s undercover assignment. Fun, original, suspenseful = an easy 4+ star rating.
May 8, 2022
This is the second novel about Inspector Lu Fei, who works in a small town outside of Harbin, China. The charm of the first novel, Thief of Souls, were the inner workings of a small town Chinese police department and the lives of the officers, including and especially Lu Fei, who is an incredibly appealing character. In Wild Prey Lu Fei remains appealing, but the topic Klingborg has chosen to spotlight is far more difficult. The first novel was a serial killer story; this one focuses on the illegal (and immoral) killing of rare animals for food.
The book opens with an incredibly awful scene (power through it) that involves the killing of a tiger. What was especially well done, however, was Klingborg’s portrait of the two men who kill the tiger – they are absolutely desperate and will use whatever money they gain to help feed their entire village. It doesn’t excuse what they do but it makes it understandable.
Then the reader is invited back to Lu Fei’s tiny town where a young girl begins showing up at the police station and refusing to leave. She’s looking for her missing sister, who was not only the economic backbone of their little family (their mother is dead, and their dad is an unemployed drunk who “can’t work”) but the emotional center of the girls’ life. Meixiang, the older sister, worked as a waitress at an exclusive place in Harbin. Meirong, the younger sister, shows up every day demanding answers, and Lu Fei cannot refuse her.
His investigation takes him to the Meixiang’s restaurant, which appears to be the place she was last seen, and in doing so he upsets the status quo and alarms some Harbin higher ups. He’s suspended and that’s when he recruited by an officer in the National Forestry and Grassland Association. They are looking to curb the illegal consumption of exotic animals (including bear, pangolin, tiger, wolf, and many others) and shut down a large operation that appears to be based in Myanmar.
One of the delights of the book is Lu’s trip to Harbin with his hopefully soon to be girlfriend, Yanyang, to effect his undercover transformation, which includes euro trash clothes, a fake tattoo, and a new haircut. He then heads to the airport where he’ll meet with the mystery man who he’s seen only on video. His incentive: to find out what happened to Meixiang, and hopefully regain his job in the police department. He can’t imagine doing anything else with his life.
The book than becomes a nonstop adventure story, studded with memorable characters. While what the people in the book are doing to animals (and also, frequently, to humans) is completely grotesque, Klingborg manages to create some fascinating and compellingly interesting characters who prove to be unforgettable.
While I think Klingborg’s gifts are character based, he’s fond of action as both of his novels prove, and he’s also fond of the unexpected twist. There were at least three in this book I didn’t see coming, including the final one, which is very well done. While the idea that Lu Fei would be killed seemed remote – he’s the hero of the series – he sure comes close many times in this novel.
I loved the explication of culture, and the look into a life so different from my own. Books are such an expansive way to see the world – while I may never go to Harbin, China or the jungles of Myanmar, I feel like I made a journey, and that the talented Klingborg has lifted the veil a bit for me to see what’s behind it. I very much look forward to book three.
The book opens with an incredibly awful scene (power through it) that involves the killing of a tiger. What was especially well done, however, was Klingborg’s portrait of the two men who kill the tiger – they are absolutely desperate and will use whatever money they gain to help feed their entire village. It doesn’t excuse what they do but it makes it understandable.
Then the reader is invited back to Lu Fei’s tiny town where a young girl begins showing up at the police station and refusing to leave. She’s looking for her missing sister, who was not only the economic backbone of their little family (their mother is dead, and their dad is an unemployed drunk who “can’t work”) but the emotional center of the girls’ life. Meixiang, the older sister, worked as a waitress at an exclusive place in Harbin. Meirong, the younger sister, shows up every day demanding answers, and Lu Fei cannot refuse her.
His investigation takes him to the Meixiang’s restaurant, which appears to be the place she was last seen, and in doing so he upsets the status quo and alarms some Harbin higher ups. He’s suspended and that’s when he recruited by an officer in the National Forestry and Grassland Association. They are looking to curb the illegal consumption of exotic animals (including bear, pangolin, tiger, wolf, and many others) and shut down a large operation that appears to be based in Myanmar.
One of the delights of the book is Lu’s trip to Harbin with his hopefully soon to be girlfriend, Yanyang, to effect his undercover transformation, which includes euro trash clothes, a fake tattoo, and a new haircut. He then heads to the airport where he’ll meet with the mystery man who he’s seen only on video. His incentive: to find out what happened to Meixiang, and hopefully regain his job in the police department. He can’t imagine doing anything else with his life.
The book than becomes a nonstop adventure story, studded with memorable characters. While what the people in the book are doing to animals (and also, frequently, to humans) is completely grotesque, Klingborg manages to create some fascinating and compellingly interesting characters who prove to be unforgettable.
While I think Klingborg’s gifts are character based, he’s fond of action as both of his novels prove, and he’s also fond of the unexpected twist. There were at least three in this book I didn’t see coming, including the final one, which is very well done. While the idea that Lu Fei would be killed seemed remote – he’s the hero of the series – he sure comes close many times in this novel.
I loved the explication of culture, and the look into a life so different from my own. Books are such an expansive way to see the world – while I may never go to Harbin, China or the jungles of Myanmar, I feel like I made a journey, and that the talented Klingborg has lifted the veil a bit for me to see what’s behind it. I very much look forward to book three.
October 14, 2022
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Wild Prey is the second Inspector Lu Fei mystery/thriller by Brian Klingborg. Released 17th May 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a very well written, tautly plotted mystery set in Asia post-covid. The protagonist is wonderfully rendered. He's a morally uncomplicated police inspector, sent to a less desirable posting in a rural area, despite being intelligent, driven, and exceedingly honest. In fact, his utter incorruptibility is a large part of *why* he finds himself policing in a backwater town in China.
This time, a missing persons case gets him drawn into a huge undercover assignment, trying to break up an international smuggling ring dealing in the trade of wild endangered animal products on the black market. I loved the pacing and action driven plot. The writing is superb and the author manages to make the culture and customs accessible at the same time accentuating the challenges of modern conservation in a system with literally thousands of years of support and acceptance of traditional herbal medicine.
The dialogue is peppered with transliterated Chinese phrases which the author does a good job of translating in context. It added verisimilitude without being overly intrusive. There is a pleasantly surprising amount of warm humor in the writing as well, and the dialogue surprised a few chuckles out of me (in a good way).
Four and a half stars. This is top shelf fiction. Although the plot, resolution, and denouement are self contained in this volume, I recommend the first book in the series as well. They would make a great weekend mini-binge read. I heartily wish and hope for further books in the series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Wild Prey is the second Inspector Lu Fei mystery/thriller by Brian Klingborg. Released 17th May 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a very well written, tautly plotted mystery set in Asia post-covid. The protagonist is wonderfully rendered. He's a morally uncomplicated police inspector, sent to a less desirable posting in a rural area, despite being intelligent, driven, and exceedingly honest. In fact, his utter incorruptibility is a large part of *why* he finds himself policing in a backwater town in China.
This time, a missing persons case gets him drawn into a huge undercover assignment, trying to break up an international smuggling ring dealing in the trade of wild endangered animal products on the black market. I loved the pacing and action driven plot. The writing is superb and the author manages to make the culture and customs accessible at the same time accentuating the challenges of modern conservation in a system with literally thousands of years of support and acceptance of traditional herbal medicine.
The dialogue is peppered with transliterated Chinese phrases which the author does a good job of translating in context. It added verisimilitude without being overly intrusive. There is a pleasantly surprising amount of warm humor in the writing as well, and the dialogue surprised a few chuckles out of me (in a good way).
Four and a half stars. This is top shelf fiction. Although the plot, resolution, and denouement are self contained in this volume, I recommend the first book in the series as well. They would make a great weekend mini-binge read. I heartily wish and hope for further books in the series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 1, 2022
A Most Dangerous Game
Once in a great while you come across a driving taut what’s-going-on-here thriller with exotic characters and locations creating the feel of a contemporary Chinese noir. A devious world reminiscent of Raymond Chandler’s “Murder, My Sweet” made into the 1944 film classic with Dick Powell as Philip Marlowe.
A young Chinese girl in Raven Valley, outside of Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in modern day Northeastern China, comes to the local police station for help. Her older sister has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, seemingly without a trace. Most of the local Public Security Bureau, aka police, ignore her… except one, Inspector Lu Fei.
What might seem to be an unpromising start to another day at the station, however, has been foreshadowed by mysterious, grisly doings in a jungle far away. And cleaning up a local mess peddling black market animal products for medicinal and other devious remedies.
Before long, Brian Klingborg’s 2022 dark twisty “Wild Prey”, the sequel to his “Thief of Souls”, sweeps us along on an off-the-record hunt for dangerous prey in the forests of Southeast Asia. No reading of the author’s first work required to appreciate this tale.
Deep into the world of the illegal market for endangered animal products enters the Inspector with his own thin disguise chasing a sleek nightclub manager appropriately named, Fang. And soon surrounded by a slate of others dubious characters – Ding, Bang and Khaw.
Against a rich atmospheric backdrop Klingborg blends in romance with Lu’s other pursuit of the widowed Luo Yanyan in her tiny bar, the Red Lotus. And intriguing tidbits about modern China, its expressions like “wu ming nu shi (no name women – i.e., Jane Does)”, and some of its more unusual endangered species such as the lethal Irukandji.
And, of course, the main character’s world-weary humor: Huang, fellow staffer at the police station, is sketched by Lu as “good-natured and honest, but dumb as a petrified tree stump.” Or describing two middle-aged men sitting in the local plaza with shirts pulled up exposing bellies as “a budget version of air-conditioning that some wag dubbed the ‘Beijing bikini’”.
And pure Chandler: “You don’t strike me as stupid, but you ask a lot of dumb questions.”
If you have been missing a deft noir thriller, pounce.
Once in a great while you come across a driving taut what’s-going-on-here thriller with exotic characters and locations creating the feel of a contemporary Chinese noir. A devious world reminiscent of Raymond Chandler’s “Murder, My Sweet” made into the 1944 film classic with Dick Powell as Philip Marlowe.
A young Chinese girl in Raven Valley, outside of Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in modern day Northeastern China, comes to the local police station for help. Her older sister has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, seemingly without a trace. Most of the local Public Security Bureau, aka police, ignore her… except one, Inspector Lu Fei.
What might seem to be an unpromising start to another day at the station, however, has been foreshadowed by mysterious, grisly doings in a jungle far away. And cleaning up a local mess peddling black market animal products for medicinal and other devious remedies.
Before long, Brian Klingborg’s 2022 dark twisty “Wild Prey”, the sequel to his “Thief of Souls”, sweeps us along on an off-the-record hunt for dangerous prey in the forests of Southeast Asia. No reading of the author’s first work required to appreciate this tale.
Deep into the world of the illegal market for endangered animal products enters the Inspector with his own thin disguise chasing a sleek nightclub manager appropriately named, Fang. And soon surrounded by a slate of others dubious characters – Ding, Bang and Khaw.
Against a rich atmospheric backdrop Klingborg blends in romance with Lu’s other pursuit of the widowed Luo Yanyan in her tiny bar, the Red Lotus. And intriguing tidbits about modern China, its expressions like “wu ming nu shi (no name women – i.e., Jane Does)”, and some of its more unusual endangered species such as the lethal Irukandji.
And, of course, the main character’s world-weary humor: Huang, fellow staffer at the police station, is sketched by Lu as “good-natured and honest, but dumb as a petrified tree stump.” Or describing two middle-aged men sitting in the local plaza with shirts pulled up exposing bellies as “a budget version of air-conditioning that some wag dubbed the ‘Beijing bikini’”.
And pure Chandler: “You don’t strike me as stupid, but you ask a lot of dumb questions.”
If you have been missing a deft noir thriller, pounce.
June 19, 2022
I really enjoy this series. Lu is an interesting protagonist and a great lead for these stories. He's dogged determined, dedicated to justice in a place that isn't, but he's pragmatic (knows that there's a certain bit of leeway he has to give to get his target) and a touch impatient. He fights for people that most don't, like the victim at the start of this story who's written off by everyone but her little sister and Lu. I love rooting for him. The insights into contemporary China are also absolutely fascinating and really set it apart from other detective series I've read before.
This second mystery is set up well in the first few chapters though I did find it a bit slow to get to the promise of the book. For this genre I'd say it was too slow but I stuck with it because I knew in the end it'd be worth it (thanks to my trust in this author) and it was. I enjoyed the setting up of Lu's undercover persona and his adoption of it. I'd say once I hit the 40-ish percent mark, I was well into it and read voraciously to the end.
It was low-key thrilling until it got to the explosive bit which was really exciting. I enjoyed the big villain in the jungle (trying so hard to not spoil anything but you'll know when you read it) and their philosophy on things, including how it plays into Lu's survival. (I don't think it's a spoiler to say Lu doesn't die because, really, this is a detective series and he's the lead.) The ending was fantastic! Everything had been planted well for things to turn out how they did and it was really satisfying. I can't wait to see more on Lu's personal side in the future with Yanyan in particular after their last scene together especially.
All in all, I'm looking forward to book three in the Lu series! I still recommend this one, even with its slow start, because I think this series brings a lot of unique things to the table compared to other detective novels out there right now. If you like the genre, don't miss it!
Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.
This second mystery is set up well in the first few chapters though I did find it a bit slow to get to the promise of the book. For this genre I'd say it was too slow but I stuck with it because I knew in the end it'd be worth it (thanks to my trust in this author) and it was. I enjoyed the setting up of Lu's undercover persona and his adoption of it. I'd say once I hit the 40-ish percent mark, I was well into it and read voraciously to the end.
It was low-key thrilling until it got to the explosive bit which was really exciting. I enjoyed the big villain in the jungle (trying so hard to not spoil anything but you'll know when you read it) and their philosophy on things, including how it plays into Lu's survival. (I don't think it's a spoiler to say Lu doesn't die because, really, this is a detective series and he's the lead.) The ending was fantastic! Everything had been planted well for things to turn out how they did and it was really satisfying. I can't wait to see more on Lu's personal side in the future with Yanyan in particular after their last scene together especially.
All in all, I'm looking forward to book three in the Lu series! I still recommend this one, even with its slow start, because I think this series brings a lot of unique things to the table compared to other detective novels out there right now. If you like the genre, don't miss it!
Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.
May 13, 2022
Lu Fei is a police inspector relegated to rural northern China. A teenaged girl wants him to find her missing sister, and, while he’s reluctant to do so, the girl is persistent and he finally agrees to investigate the older sister’s disappearance. The more he digs, the more intrigued he becomes. He is suspended from the police force when his digging goes too deep and ruffles the feathers of the rich and powerful. When given the opportunity to continue his hunt, he goes undercover for another agency and travels to Myanmar.
This book, unlike the first in this series, is not for the faint of heart. There is animal cruelty, which is not gratuitous, and serves the purpose of showing that there are still those in China who believe that animals will provide men with prowesses, etc. Did the author have to be so graphic in his descriptions, probably not, but perhaps he wanted to bring attention to the underworld trade in exotic, and sometimes endangered, species and this was one way of doing that.
This is the second book in the series and can be read without having read the first book because the author does a good job of giving just enough information on some of the characters from the first book, so the reader isn’t lost. However, the first book was character driven and Klingborg created an unusual character in the ethical police inspector Lu Fei. Read the first book so you understand more clearly why Lu Fei is willing to jeopardize his livelihood to bring these criminals to justice.
If you can’t abide the animal cruelty in this book and you haven’t read the first book in the series, read the first one instead. If you can’t abide animal cruelty and can skip over those scenes, then read this book.
This is definitely a series you’ll want to read if you like books set in foreign countries and featuring a well-researched main character who lives there.
My thanks to Minotaur and Edelweiss for an eARC.
This book, unlike the first in this series, is not for the faint of heart. There is animal cruelty, which is not gratuitous, and serves the purpose of showing that there are still those in China who believe that animals will provide men with prowesses, etc. Did the author have to be so graphic in his descriptions, probably not, but perhaps he wanted to bring attention to the underworld trade in exotic, and sometimes endangered, species and this was one way of doing that.
This is the second book in the series and can be read without having read the first book because the author does a good job of giving just enough information on some of the characters from the first book, so the reader isn’t lost. However, the first book was character driven and Klingborg created an unusual character in the ethical police inspector Lu Fei. Read the first book so you understand more clearly why Lu Fei is willing to jeopardize his livelihood to bring these criminals to justice.
If you can’t abide the animal cruelty in this book and you haven’t read the first book in the series, read the first one instead. If you can’t abide animal cruelty and can skip over those scenes, then read this book.
This is definitely a series you’ll want to read if you like books set in foreign countries and featuring a well-researched main character who lives there.
My thanks to Minotaur and Edelweiss for an eARC.
May 16, 2022
Brian Klingborg introduced police inspector Lu Fei in Thief of Souls. In a system where it is wise to keep a low profile, he is an honest man who follows his conscience, which inevitably leads to trouble. In Wild Prey, Meiring, a fifteen year old girl, arrives at the station to report that her sister is missing. She is persistent and sits a bench at the station every day demanding action. Lu Fei traces her to a restaurant where the special menu features endangered animals. The restaurant has powerful patrons. When Lu Fei refuses to give up his search for the girl he is suspended. In exchange for information on the girl, Lu Fei is recruited by a government minister to go undercover as a buyer of exotic animals. The trail leads to a compound in the forests of Mayanmar. It is run by Khaw, a female warlord who is surrounded by guards. Lu Fei’s biggest fear is that he will not get out alive.
Klingborg’s story presents a fascinating look at Chinese culture. Lu Fei quotes poetry and has a saying for almost every occasion. He is in love with Luo Yanyan, owner of a local bar. While they have grown closer, she is a widow who still mourns her husband. There are lighter moments provided by Meiring when she insists on helping Lu Fei with his investigation and also comes between Yanyan and LuFei. The descriptions of endangered animals being served and prepared for slaughter are disturbing, but Klingborg keeps the narrative brief. It is Lu Fei’s reaction to what he observes that conveys his revulsion. He is a character that also approaches situations with humor, making him easy to love. This is a wonderful series and Wild Prey will leave you looking forward to Lu Fei’s next case. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.
Klingborg’s story presents a fascinating look at Chinese culture. Lu Fei quotes poetry and has a saying for almost every occasion. He is in love with Luo Yanyan, owner of a local bar. While they have grown closer, she is a widow who still mourns her husband. There are lighter moments provided by Meiring when she insists on helping Lu Fei with his investigation and also comes between Yanyan and LuFei. The descriptions of endangered animals being served and prepared for slaughter are disturbing, but Klingborg keeps the narrative brief. It is Lu Fei’s reaction to what he observes that conveys his revulsion. He is a character that also approaches situations with humor, making him easy to love. This is a wonderful series and Wild Prey will leave you looking forward to Lu Fei’s next case. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.
May 16, 2022
Inspector Lu Fei is a wonderful character. In a series best read in order, Lu Fei os a member of the Public Security Bureau and has a knack for getting on the wrong side of those in power. He finds himself in a backwater after an incident involving his boss. His current case is to track down Chen who is involved with the illegal trade in bush meat - exotic animals and various body parts bring big money and the purveyors will stop at nothing to keep their business going. After a stake out at the public market he returns to the police station and encounters a teenaged girl asking for help finding her missing sister. One thing leads to another and Lu Fei is, again, told to stop his investigation. The missing girl was working at a very upscale restaurant which had a secret menu for those with money and knowledge of its existence. The menu is all exotic fare and 100% illegal. Lu Fei is sticking his nose into their business and must be stopped. Instead of being stopped he finds himself redirected into doing undercover work to investigate the trafficking of bush meat and the powerful woman who is behind the operation.
I read the first book of the series, Thief of Souls and gave it 5 stars. Wild Prey also deserves 5 stars. The topic is dark but not gratuitous and the use of humor is pitch perfect. From the town in Northern China into the wilds of Myanmar, this is a trip into areas hidden from most people. I'm saving a spot on my TBR for future books in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I read the first book of the series, Thief of Souls and gave it 5 stars. Wild Prey also deserves 5 stars. The topic is dark but not gratuitous and the use of humor is pitch perfect. From the town in Northern China into the wilds of Myanmar, this is a trip into areas hidden from most people. I'm saving a spot on my TBR for future books in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 15, 2022
Author Brian Klingborg mined all the potential from his first Lu Fei mystery, Thief of Souls, and created a standout in Wild Prey-- even though the treatment of animals and most of the listed cuisine is stomach-churning. From flashes of laugh-out-loud humor to learning Chinese slang to the mind-boggling fact that there are 200 million surveillance cameras in China to the story itself, I was engrossed. Even though there is still the age-old problem of the rich and powerful insisting on being above the law, it is good to learn that China is finally bowing to international pressure and the coronavirus to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade.
Inspector Lu Fei still finds almost no help from his fellow police officers, but at least he does have one friend in a high place-- and two fellow characters to help him carry the load. One, the teenage Meirong, is alternately funny and endearing as she camps out in the police station to shame Lu Fei into finding her sister. Little does she know, he is working on the case, he's just not telling her everything he's doing. The second character helping to carry the story load is the female warlord in Myanmar. She's not your typical thug even though you'd be a fool to turn your back on her. And at least Lu Fei has one person who's not involved in his work. It's the bar owner Yanyan with whom he's passionately in love, although she still seems to be in love with her dead husband. Watching that relationship unfold is interesting, to say the least. Will Lu Fei win Yanyan over? We shall see.
For those of you worried about those animal trafficking scenes and the descriptions of the dishes made from the animals, Klingborg does not go overboard. He knows that a light touch is the best way to proceed and although those scenes are few and of short duration, they still resonate and show the importance of why this trade must stop. We humans have to be intelligent enough to devise new ways to show off immense wealth and to cure erectile dysfunction. Don't we? In Wild Prey, Brian Klingborg shows that there are people willing to put their lives on the line to put a stop to one of the more disgusting ways to prove you're a big shot.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
Inspector Lu Fei still finds almost no help from his fellow police officers, but at least he does have one friend in a high place-- and two fellow characters to help him carry the load. One, the teenage Meirong, is alternately funny and endearing as she camps out in the police station to shame Lu Fei into finding her sister. Little does she know, he is working on the case, he's just not telling her everything he's doing. The second character helping to carry the story load is the female warlord in Myanmar. She's not your typical thug even though you'd be a fool to turn your back on her. And at least Lu Fei has one person who's not involved in his work. It's the bar owner Yanyan with whom he's passionately in love, although she still seems to be in love with her dead husband. Watching that relationship unfold is interesting, to say the least. Will Lu Fei win Yanyan over? We shall see.
For those of you worried about those animal trafficking scenes and the descriptions of the dishes made from the animals, Klingborg does not go overboard. He knows that a light touch is the best way to proceed and although those scenes are few and of short duration, they still resonate and show the importance of why this trade must stop. We humans have to be intelligent enough to devise new ways to show off immense wealth and to cure erectile dysfunction. Don't we? In Wild Prey, Brian Klingborg shows that there are people willing to put their lives on the line to put a stop to one of the more disgusting ways to prove you're a big shot.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
July 18, 2022
This is a good book, it is the second in a series and though I had not read the first one, I think one could read it as a stand alone. Inspector Lu Fei works at the Public Security Bureau in a small town about an hour out of Harbin, he used to work in Harbin, but after the events in the first book, he has been banished to this backwoods' town. A young girl comes in to report her older sister missing, Lu initially attempts to tell her that the sister likely met someone and is busy having a good time. After the younger sister hangs around the building for a day, Lu decides to look into her last place of employment to see if she has taken off with someone. The sister worked at a restaurant that secretly sold the meat of endangered animals (tiger, bats, bear, etc), since this took place during covid, this type of activity is highly illegal, but the patrons of the restaurant are all high ranking members of society. After Lu sneaks into the restaurant to investigate further he is almost caught and someone is killed, pressure is put on his boss and he is suspended. He's contacted by a guy that says he's interested in stopping the trade of illegal meat at the source and convinces Lu to go to Myanmar undercover to the source. This is where the suspense and action really take off. This was a good book that i would recommend, I will have to go back and read the first one now. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur Books for the ARC.
March 25, 2022
The aftermath of the pandemic combines with desperation and greed in the second in Klingborg’s series, a thriller set in northern China and Myanmar. It stars Inspector Lu Fei, whom we meet while he and his colleagues—idiots every one, if we’re to believe Lu—stalk a man who’s suspected of selling endangered-animal parts that are popular as folk remedies. The government has cracked down hard on live-animal (or “wet”) markets since COVID-19 made them the focus of the world’s attention, and it’s Lu’s duty to make the rigid bureaucracy felt on the ground.
Back at the station, a thin, scared girl, Tan Meirong, won’t leave until someone pays attention to the disappearance of her sister, Meixiang, who works in a restaurant that Lu learns has “off-menu” items for rich diners. It’s hard for even Lu to get someone to care about Meixiang, who’s regarded as rather disposable, but he persists, going undercover to the source of the forbidden delicacies. Lu Fei is a character to ponder. He’s mean to his girlfriend and even Meirong, but he won’t let Meixiang go.
But mostly readers will be caught up in the exciting international chase that sees Lu hitting the road with little regard for his safety and armed with little except a strong desire to trample odious characters. James Patterson fans, this one’s for you!—Henrietta Verma
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Back at the station, a thin, scared girl, Tan Meirong, won’t leave until someone pays attention to the disappearance of her sister, Meixiang, who works in a restaurant that Lu learns has “off-menu” items for rich diners. It’s hard for even Lu to get someone to care about Meixiang, who’s regarded as rather disposable, but he persists, going undercover to the source of the forbidden delicacies. Lu Fei is a character to ponder. He’s mean to his girlfriend and even Meirong, but he won’t let Meixiang go.
But mostly readers will be caught up in the exciting international chase that sees Lu hitting the road with little regard for his safety and armed with little except a strong desire to trample odious characters. James Patterson fans, this one’s for you!—Henrietta Verma
For more reviews of new crime fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
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