The General of Tiananmen Square

Ava Lee #15

by Ian Hamilton

Ava Lee squares off against the Chinese government over a controversial film depicting the infamous Tiananmen Square Massacre in the latest thriller from bestselling author Ian Hamilton.

Ava Lee is in the French Riviera with Pang Fai and Lau Lau for the long-awaited premiere of Tiananmen at the Cannes Film Festival. As the film wins numerous awards and international acclaim, a distribution deal with a major American firm is arranged by the film’s producer, Chen.

When several months go by with no word from the Americans, Chen decides to travel to Los Angeles to determine what is preventing the film’s release. En route from his home in Bangkok, Chen goes missing. Ava is called in to investigate and soon learns that Chen is being held by the Thai Immigration Services on orders of the Chinese government, which is unhappy with the film’s depiction of the infamous massacre at Tiananmen Square. Using its growing power and influence, the Chinese government seeks to block the film’s distribution and punish those responsible for its production.

To protect her investment, Ava must find a way for Tiananmen to be released, while keeping secret her own involvement in the film’s creation and ensuring that her friends are kept safe from retribution. It is a difficult balancing act, perhaps the most difficult of her life, as the stakes have never been higher nor has failure been more costly.

Genres: Canada, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Asia, Mystery Thriller, Adventure

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2023

About the author

Ian Hamilton has been a journalist, a senior executive with the federal government, a diplomat, and a businessman with international links. He has written for several magazines and newspapers in Canada and the U.S., including Maclean's, Boston Magazine, Saturday Night, Regina Leader Post, Calgary Albertan, and the Calgary Herald. His nonfiction book, The Children's Crusade, was a Canadian Book of the Month Club selection.

Reviews

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiananmen, the long awaited movie collaboration of actress Pang Fai, director Lau Lau and producer Chen is premiered to wonderful acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. Chen negotiates a $10 million distribution contract with a reputable American firm, but he cannot reach his partners and time is short to exhibit the film in the U.S. to qualify for the Oscars so Chen decides to fly to Los Angeles. His girlfriend calls Ava because Chen has not contacted her, and Ava decides to investigate using all of her formidable resources. It is quickly determined that the Chinese film industry is responsible for Chen's kidnapping and has suborned the film distributor. Ava hires a Californian attorney claiming breach of contract, but things do not go as planned until Ava pulls a rabbit of the proverbial hat, convincing the judge to rethink his preliminary decision to grant an injunction for just long enough for the movie to be shown by a sympathetic theater owner, again to rave reviews. When Chinese protesters create a scene, Ava has to resort to her Triad "brother." More twists and turns too.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Lee has gone into the film production business with director Lau Lau and her girlfriend Pang Fai.
His film about Tiananmen Square was a winner At Cannes. Release in the United States has hit a snag with the Chinese Government applying pressure to the company who bought the filming rights. Ava is determined the film will be shown. And we know what a determined Ava looks like.
A departure from the usual Ava books but the twists at the end had me on the edge of my seat and absolutely gobsmacked. But then given the audacity of the PRC why should I be surprised.

[DeB · Rating 2 out of 5]

The “old” and exciting Ava Lee of former books was a mere whiff of that personality in this one. I miss her physicality, broad connections and Lord love me, that food! So much conversation; I flipped pages to speed up the pacing. Not my fav at all in this series.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book # 15, in the Ava Lee series

Ava is in the French Riviera with Pang Fai and Lau Lau for the premiere of Tiananmen at the Cannes Film Festival. The film wins numerous awards and international acclaim. Chen is the producer and soon makes a distribution deal with a major American firm. Several months later the film hasn’t been released Chen is worried and travels to Los Angeles to see what is preventing it to be shown to the public. En route from his home in Bangkok he goes missing.... Ava is called to investigate and the story takes off....

I love this series each installment has its own captivating story. It is sheer pleasure to follow Ava globetrotting experiences. It took some time for the excitement to kick in but after a short while I was completely swept up. As in its predecessors, the plot is complex and fast-paced; the writing style is strong, clever and involving. The story is simply irresistible, once started it is easy to be hooked to the last page. No fear if you read this one out of sequence, it stands well on its own.

Although we have less action than some of the previous stories rather we have much hopping around: plane flights, restaurant meals and lots and lots of wine drinking, oh yes description galore of fancy gala clothes nevertheless I say “The General of Tiananmen Square” is another great caper I enjoyed quite a bit and furthermore it is not a taxing read.

This ARC was provided by the House of Anansi/Groundwood Books via Edelweiss for my thoughts.

[Tim Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very different book than the rest of the series with an incredibly shocking ending that sets up the next book. While satisfying, it is going in a direction much different than when the series started. I have some concerns about it being too different but I do enjoy the fact that this series is not procedural in nature and the status quo does continue to change. One of my favourite series and author.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s too bad we don’t have a real Ava Lee doing battle with Xi and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The ending is a shock but not surprising given the patience and long term view of the CCP. But it primes Ava for vengeance. And you don’t want to F with Ava. Can’t wait for the next one.

[Peter Learn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Low reading level.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know about this one. The pace is entirely different. Ava seems to be a changed person embracing lost causes, getting political, poking the dragon, and throwing millions around to fix problems. As if the Chinese government wouldn’t react to a film about Tiananmen Square. It’s almost as if the all-seeing Ava had not foreseen this. And to be picky… The author notes that there was a change of editor and it's all too obvious right from the first page where Cap Ferrat is misspelled Farrat. There are a half dozen instances of missing or misspelled English words and some appalling French errors. Sloppy.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay for me. It was a strange mix of characters, geopolitical and human rights issues involving China and the Tiananmen Square Massacre somehow watered down for me by superficial descriptions of various meals and restaurants and some relationship descriptions. Definitely has a dramatic ending which serves to set up a sequel.

[David Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The General of Tiananmen Square is Ian Hamilton’s fifteenth Ava Lee novel. Hamilton also wrote four other books dealing with the last four decades of Uncle Chow Tung, as well as a stand-alone work, Bonnie Jack. In the opening scene, Hamilton places his heroine on The French Riviera, with her lover Pang Fai and friend Lau Lau. The latter has directed a movie entitled Tiananmen, in which Pang Fai has starred. Lau Lau’s work is being screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and is up for a many prestigious awards, including the Palme D’Or prize. However, the Chinese government has made it plain it doesn’t approve of the movie at all, and wants to discredit it and make sure it is removed from circulation. After the successful screening and award presentation, the producer, Chen is able to arrange a distribution deal with a major American firm for millions of dollars, ensuring the film’s success. However several months go by, and there is no word from the American distribution company. Chen wants to find out why there is no plan to distribute the movie, and intends to fly to Los Angeles to find the answer. En route from his home in Thailand, Chen has gone missing. Ava soon learns that Chen is being held by Thai immigration services, so he can be sent to China, as the government of that country has paid for his kidnapping so he can be imprisoned there. Ava must outfox Chinese government officials in order to obtain his release so he can go to Los Angeles to get the movie proper distribution. Other reviewers have stated that this book isn’t as exciting as many of Hamilton’s other efforts, but I found it suspenseful enough to want to finish it. The ending is really surprising, and it does set up the story for Hamilton’s next Ava Lee adventure.

[Sandra Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The General of Tiananmen Square by Ian Hamilton is the 15th Ava Lee novel. I have been following Ian's books since the first one-The Water Rat of Wanchai. I was intrigued by a Canadian author that wrote about a female protagonist who was a forensic accountant. The fifteenth in the series did not disappoint. Ava and her investment group Three Sisters have invested time, money and interest in a movie called Tiananmen starring her lover, Fai who is a Chinese movie star. Ava has personally backed Lau Lau, the famous Chinese director, to go to rehab and while there to write a script that will get him back into the limelight. This novel deals with the pitfalls and challenges trying to release this movie to the public with the weight of the Chinese government against anything showing this massacre to the world.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the reasons why I try to read as much fiction as I can is that it’s a way to indulge in transporting yourself in another world. This series is sentimental to me at this point, and devouring the latest release has become an annual tradition.

This book has the usual players, though I must say it was less action than I expected. It felt more like an attempt by the author to make a grander point about the current state of affairs rather than a classic Ava Lee novel.

Nonetheless, this book had some action, Ava Lee ass kicking, and enough descriptions of food that it’s worth it just for that alone (for me anyway). Also, that ending!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Lee has moved on from debt collection with Uncle to being a successful business woman and a behind the scenes film backer. When Lau Lau's film Tiananmen wins the Palme D'Or at Cannes as well as awards for acting and directing, Ava, her lover Fai, Lau Lau and Chen, the producer are on top of the world. Selling distribution rights to an American distributor, they become concerned when they do not receive any information about how the film will be marketed. When Chen goes missing on his way to LA from Bangkok, Ava faces some unique challenges. I love this series and can't wait for the next book since this one ended in a cliff hanger.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian Hamilton does such a great job with this series. I read the book in a day. I just picked it up one morning and...it was like eating bon-bons...each chapter led inexorably to the next. There are some great characters introduced to us in this one--someone connected to immigration in Bangkok--that would chill you to the core.

What was especially appealing is hearing about the screening of the film Tiananmen in Cannes, and the troubles they had getting it shown in the U.S. Ava is her usual cool self but shows she has the kind of stamina and street smarts her companions don't always possess.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Ian’s writing. As always the wait between books is never a disappointment. This one I found different than the other books. Less action than normal. Reading through it I kept thinking this but know something is going to happen. As I approached the end and saw I had very little book left, I wondered ‘oh my maybe his writing has changed’. Wrong thank goodness. I can not wait for the next instalment as this book just sets up what is most likely to be an action filled story. I can not wait for the next to come out, as always.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A political thriller in which Chinese-Canadian Ava Lee takes on the government of China in order to distribute a feature film about the events at Tiananmen Square - a film which she has had a role in financing. There is lots of info about the film industry, and the awards, festivals and behind-the-scenes activities which take place, but I don't know how accurate/plausible the novel is. (And it is certainly helpful that she seems to have unlimited funds.) An enjoyable series, and I want to read the next one dealing with the same characters.

[Brian Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian Hamilton has produced another brilliant thriller. In this one, Ava takes on the Communist Chinese government, with mixed results. The nasty side of the Chinese government is on full display.
A great plot and atmosphere with a cast of interesting characters. The story is tense and suspenseful, with a cliffhanger at the end when Ava says: "..I promise you that whoever did this will pay for it."

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just did a speed read of the 15th book in Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee series! It was really exciting and a book I had a hard time putting down, hence the 2 day read! I have read all of this series and earlier books in series focusing on Ava's Uncle and others active in the Triads. I saw that another book is coming, but not until 2024! Fooey. I think it follows on from this book's story line. Can't wait!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are always interesting, always good stories. I really like the main character, and I like the glimpses of Chinese culture.

And I'm so curious about the "why" behind them. Why is a Welsh/Canadian man writing from the perspective of a Chinese Canadian woman? Why have they shifted from stories about tracking down auditing mysteries, to this long, drawn-out story about the Chinese government? Interesting stuff.

[Mark Edlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery Series - this book was just a bit longer than a novella. Ava Lee's movie director friend makes a movie about Tiananmen Square. The Chinese Communist Party is not happy and wheels are set in motion to prevent the movie's release. Favours are called in, lawyers are involved but the ending is not all rainbows and unicorns. And I just bet there is another book in the way.
No pharmacy references.
Canadian references - Ava Lee and her family live in Toronto.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of the Ava Lee series. One would think Ian Hamilton would run out of ways to continue to make Ava's adventures exciting. That is not the case. And the surprising (or not) ending is the prelude for the next one. In this book, Hamilton has tackled a sensitive topic with no apologies. He is to be admired for naming the situation in China for what it is.

[Kate Wick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee Series books. I find I am always cheering her along, admiring her ingenuity, intelligence and how resourceful she can be. Plus you usually learn something new each book, be it politics, banking or in this case the Oscar nomination criteria. Am anxiously awaiting the next book to see how this plays out and how revenge is dished out.

[Rob Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can count the hours it took to read The General of Tiananmen Square on two hands. I opened this up on May 21st and now it’s been put down. Not everybook I read needs to have multiple twists and turns. Hamilton knows how to craft a story. Ava Lee once again leads the way to success and then heartbreak - a heartbreak that can only be cured with Ava Lee #16)

[Fred Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the forward, the author says that his publisher has indicated they don't want any more Ava Lee Books. I have been a big fan of the Ava Lee series but I found with this one so much of the language and description was predictable. There is not much to learn about Ava anymore as it has all been divulged in the previous books so I hate to say it but I think the publisher is right.

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava is not doing what she used to. She is now putting money in a movie, because her lover is in it and she, Ava, wished to help a broken down producer. Very quick read and not king to China, one bit. Perhaps for good reasons.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

The General of Tiananmen Square is another good read. This time we see the extent efforts are made to prevent the film from being shown again. Without a doubt, the shocking conclusion was unexpected.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to see Ava Lee back to her forensic accounting ways. The action was a bit more muted and less gangster-y, this being set in the world of Hollywood, fewer Triads involved than recent books in the series. Still a winner -- I'm here for book 16!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, what a great story Ian!!!! Your series just gets better with each book!! Thank you for taking me along on this wild, wild ride!! I am afraid to say much more because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone else. You really knocked me out with this one Ian!!!!

[Petra Willemse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series a lot. There are a lot of great things going for it: interesting characters, great plot lines, different locations. Occasionally the writing is clunky (how many times do I need to hear Ava’s t-shirt brand?!?!) but overall entertaining especially with the movie aspect added.

[Bob Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Lee is always a fun easy read.