The Magistrate

Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries #3

by Brian Klingborg

A brutal murder investigation with connections to corruption at the very highest level threatens not just the career but also the life of Inspector Lu Fei in Brian Klingborg's latest mystery…

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, China, Fiction, Asia, International

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10.
A bit Reacheresque; I hope the next one will be more police procedural.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MAGISTRATE
Brian Klingborg

I think it is interesting that the cover reminds me of the guy that did GANGNAM STYLE (a bit scary). But I really enjoyed the plot and story. At first, the characters were a bit more difficult to keep up with because the names were not familiar to me, but I caught on and it became no problem.

The plot is current and relevant to sex trafficking concerns and more so in the countries where the book is situated. I love that I got a glimpse into that culture even if the hero(s) are similar to some in American books (Jack Reacher for one).

This is the first book for me, but I intend to read the first two now. Great book choice.

5 stars

Happy Reading!

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoy this entertaining detective series set in modern-day China and sometimes wonder why it doesn’t have a wider readership. Police Inspector Lu Fei is our hero. He’s very good at his job but has been banished to a rural outpost from the big city of Harbin for catching his highly connected boss with an underage prostitute. In this entry, the third in the series, Lu Fei finds himself summoned back to Harbin to assist in investigating a series of violent attacks, escalating to murder, of a number of shady bigwigs, including—you guessed it—his former boss. Is Lu Fei going to survive this investigation? As he approaches the answer, he finds himself framed for murder and thrown into prison to face the harsh and brutally swift judgement of the corrupt Chinese criminal justice system.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeper and darker than the previous installments with government corruption and human trafficking at the heart of this latest investigation for modern Chinese police Inspector Lu. I stumbled upon the first book, but have since then eagerly anticipated each new release in a series that gives audio listeners a peek inside the Communist China world following straight arrow Inspector Lu’s detecting adventures.

The Magistrate is the third installment in the series. The mystery is standalone, but the backdrop of the characters particularly Lu Fei have built from book one so I recommend these in order.

The Magistrate finds Inspector Lu facing his usual struggles in Raven Valley as a small city police detective with plans to marry a local barkeeper and concerns about one of his officers who plans to leave the force to marry a guy Lu Fey isn’t keen about. Then he lands a case for a killing that isn’t the typical local crime and has all the earmarks of dragging Lu into something bigger and darker. The trail leads back to his former city, Harbin, and to the police precinct he was forced to leave because of the corruption there he wasn’t willing to turn a blind eye to or join in on. Because of his need to walk the straight and narrow and not having anyone with powerful clout protecting or backing him, his work is a constant tightrope balance. Never more than this time around when his poking about and discovery that the killer, stylizing as The Magistrate, is part of a plot with massive ramifications and Lu faces a lethal threat personally when he is framed for murder in a judicial system where there is no ‘innocent until proven guilty’ or ‘fair trial’, but full of vice and often antiquated methods.

As I said, this one went darker than I anticipated. It was too much for me at times. North Koreans fleeing intolerable living conditions only to find that their misery got worse when they reached China into the hands of traffickers who work with corrupt officials to go about their filthy business. The violence was gritty and what was going on was brutal at times. No one, not even Inspector Lu comes through pristine. This is old style noir in some ways. And, this read more like a thriller- the second book had shades of this, too.
I wasn’t expecting this to take that tone and I had to adjust from my thinking that I was going to get more straight up investigation. My heart was broken by so much I was hearing, but I was really behind Lu Fey more than ever as he stands like a light standard in the dark (probably unrealistic in the climate he’s working, but I needed something bright and hopeful to grasp).

Speaking of something bright, I do love the way Lu takes protective care of his police team and his special down time with Yanyan. There is some amusing witting dialogue exchanges with him and others, too.

I’ve listened to the series on audio so I am used to and like PJ Ochlan’s narration work. He is smooth through the cultural words and talented with the distinct members of the character cast. He brought the storyline to life and kept me right in the moment.

All in all, I’m still reeling from this one and it will stick with me a bit after because of the darker content. For most, the next book will be a must-listen/read, but I might have to wait and see if it’s one I can handle. I definitely recommend this wonderful series that is strong on culture and feels authentic with a good twisting mystery and unique characters.

I rec'd an audio copy from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.


My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer July 12th.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Magistrate took a different turn in style of the story.  We have punishments and brutal murders but they are of the corrupt in government, law enforcement and business.  They use methods from a historical tale. Lu is called in by the forensic group to help with the investigation.  The group of targets doesn't want them there and keeps trying to cover up the crimes.

Lu is our main character throughout the Inspector Lu series.  He is a person of integrity and works hard to find the actual criminals. He treats others with respect and compassion.   He is not interested in power and politics which only make his job more difficult.

Lu is popular in the small town where he lives now.  His relationship has developed with his care and he now plans to marry his bar owner girlfriend, the widow Yanyan.  His trusted co-worker is also planning to marry (a misogynist) and leave the force to stay home and be a wife.  Lu thinks it is a mistake and the fiance is a jerk.  So he takes her with him on the crime task force.

These crimes are in the town where Lu worked 10 years ago and was sent out because basically, he was too honest and wouldn't go along with the corruption.  He knows the players somewhat and he works on solving the crimes without their surveillance.  He uncovers the bigger plot and is framed for murder because of his discovery.

I enjoyed learning about China and its culture but the politics and corruption are brutal.  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 with the wealth 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.

There are many "bad guys" here and even the good guys are walking a fine line. Lu has decisions to make which aren't black or white either.  He perseveres even with those trying to deter him or just outright kill him. I do worry that his police work might prove dangerous to family life.  I look forward to seeing how Lu navigates it, although the small town is better, he keeps getting called in to bigger investigations.

Narration:
The Magistrate is my first experience with narrator, PJ Ochlan.  I read the first two in the series in ebook format.  I enjoyed the narration with the emotional tones in the performance.  The voices were differentiated enough to recognize main characters and the accents were comfortable. I am not knowledgeable enough to know if the accents were accurate.  I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

The Magistrate took a different turn in style of the story.  We have punishments and brutal murders but they are of the corrupt in government, law enforcement and business.  They use methods from a historical tale. Lu is called in by the forensic group to help with the investigation.  The group of targets doesn't want them there and keeps trying to cover up the crimes.

Lu is our main character throughout the Inspector Lu series.  He is a person of integrity and works hard to find the actual criminals. He treats others with respect and compassion.   He is not interested in power and politics which only make his job more difficult.

Lu is popular in the small town where he lives now.  His relationship has developed with his care and he now plans to marry his bar owner girlfriend, the widow Yanyan.  His trusted co-worker is also planning to marry (a misogynist) and leave the force to stay home and be a wife.  Lu thinks it is a mistake and the fiance is a jerk.  So he takes her with him on the crime task force.

These crimes are in the town where Lu worked 10 years ago and was sent out because basically, he was too honest and wouldn't go along with the corruption.  He knows the players somewhat and he works on solving the crimes without their surveillance.  He uncovers the bigger plot and is framed for murder because of his discovery.

I enjoyed learning about China and its culture but the politics and corruption are brutal.  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 with the wealth 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.

There are many "bad guys" here and even the good guys are walking a fine line. Lu has decisions to make which aren't black or white either.  He perseveres even with those trying to deter him or just outright kill him. I do worry that his police work might prove dangerous to family life.  I look forward to seeing how Lu navigates it, although the small town is better, he keeps getting called in to bigger investigations.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not intentionally noir, this bleak look at the rampant corruption in China is as dark as a Winter’s night in Harbin. Inspector Luo creates justice out of the chaos of the society around him, finding stalwart Allies who may be as shady as an Elm tree in summer but who assist him. The author, has an MA in East Asian studies from Harvard and it shows in the richly textured background, Chinese phrases, and sure knowledge of Chinese politics and society. The book is gripping, the plot interesting, and the characters clearly delineated. Overall, a great read for someone with an interest in police procedurals or contemporary China!

[Nancy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final Lu Fei novel was another good read. This one actually included a very helpful (and necessary) list of characters along with their job affiliations, so thanks for that. I hated the section where Lu Fei is incarcerated due to the stark, realistic depiction of Chinese prison life, and was quite relieved when he was finally set free. Looking forward to more from this author.

[Heather Denboer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts out a little slow because there is a lot of things to set up but by about halfway through it gets really good and intense. I am a huge fan of these books and the dive into Chinese culture. I feel like I learn something new with each book. I was not expecting the ending which is always a good thing with books. I wouldn't mind more books with inspector Lu Fei.

[Cameron Macioce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of twists and turns. A lot of characters to keep track of but very interesting and a relatively easy read.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. So this is An Inspector Lu Fei mystery. I believe when I enter the Goodreads Giveaways, the books are loaded into my Want to Read list. Anyway, this is not my typical fare. That being said, I throughly enjoyed this novel. It kept my interest and has some interesting twists and turns. I love a good detective novel! I would recommend with the caveat that you need to just chill, relax, and read. You will enjoy!

[Laurence Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun!

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This last installment of Lu Fei Mystery series was the best among all and I was so sad to see it end! (I'm hoping it's not the end of the series but the last I checked on Amazon, it listed this as "Book 3 of 3".) As mentioned in my previous post on Book Two ("Wild Prey"), this series can read as a standalone but it's recommended to read them in order for the flow of characters developments and connected story plots.

Onto the review. Lu Fei is a meticulous and diligent inspector who couldn't tolerate corruption and the injustice of the law. He's one who'd pursue the cases relentlessly and there are times that even Chief Liang, his immediate superior, couldn't do anything about his impulsiveness and his enthusiasm in the investigations once he's set his eyes on them. Although his impulsive actions sometimes got him into trouble, such as offended the higher-ranked officials or get himself suspended, he's also lucky that he has a few trustful colleagues and friends whom he could count on.

This book focus a lot on sex trafficking and the corruption of various officials who have the power and authority to bend the law. Lu Fei has gone through a tough mission as an undercover filled with various action-packed scenes in Book Two and while this installment features him back to his inspector role, his investigations are filled with obstacles as he suspected the sex trafficking ring is run by someone who's well protected by the officials. How could Lu Fei override that authority without compromising his role while trying to catch the perpetrator(s)? His investigations are further complicated by someone who called the Magistrate; as it seems that they've their own ways of punishing the sex traffickers through torturous methods (similarly to the Five Punishments in ancient Chinese legal system) and even murder.

This book was dark and brutal in some ways, but it gives the readers more than a glimpse of the reality where the girls and the women are duped/forced into selling their bodies in which they've no idea of initially. Many of them live in intolerable living conditions (in this case North Korea) and they wish to escape or simply to find a job which might lead them to somewhere better, only to find themselves jump out of the frying pan into the fire. As always, I'd great faith in Lu Fei and he didn't disappoint in each of the cases he solved. I really hope that the author will continue to write this series because Lu Fei is a great character and it'd be a pity to see this series come to an end.

[Don Sawyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series, Thief of Souls, and thoroughly enjoyed it, giving it a five-star rating. Because I have a special interest in China, I skipped the second book and went right to The Magistrate, which is also set in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang, China's northernmost province. Unfortunately, that is about where similarities between the two books end.

The Magistrate is a bit of a mess. The story stumbles along, a mix off swirling plots and subplots that never quite gels. The bad guys (of which there are many) seem almost interchangeable with minimal character development to differentiate them, and even the good guys become confused and confusing. Inspector Liu, the principled lead in the first book, steeped in Chinese philosophy and culture, is hardly recognizable here as a peripatetic cop who has lost his moral compass along the way. (Even his musings at having participated in torture and mass killings are shallow and unconvincing.) Strong characters from Thief of Souls, such as Dr. Ma and Deputy Director Song, do reappear here, but only as shadows of themselves, reduced to vaguely inept sidekicks.

Most disappointing to me was Klingborg's abandonment of providing insight into contemporary China and its cultural heritage. Unless. of course, you are particularly interested in traditional Chinese methods of torture and excruciating execution. As horrible as these are, they are revived here, apparently justified by the depths of the villains' debauchery. (Boiling alive in oil, anyone? Hacking off an arm? How about slowly cutting off chunks of flesh until the subject dies in agony?)

The subtleties of the first book are abandoned here for a Serpico meets John Wick hybrid long on violence and short on character or plot development.

[Jeff Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this third book in the Lu Fei series after the phenomenal WILD PREY last year, but this one fell a little short of the mark for me. I liked the way Klingborg set up Lu being framed for murder by several of his old enemies. It was complicated, but the author paced it out well. And as always in this series, I enjoyed the passages about Chinese history and culture. The author has spent some time in Asia, and his knowledge of that part of the globe shines through, educating the reader about a world so much different than ours here in the West.

Yes, a lot to like about THE MAGISTRATE. But ultimately, I found it to be a difficult read. Way too many characters with similar Asian names confused me at times. I had to keep referring back to the cast of characters in the front of the book, which interrupted the flow of the story. The plot and subplots were overly complex, which bogged down the narrative. Lu Fei languished in prison through much of the first half, taking the most interesting character offstage for large parts of the book. I like Brian Klingborg's novels, but I feel he tried to do too much here, and thusly, it all became convoluted and he lost the hook. Still, I eagerly await the author's next tale.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins with a brutal murder, with the body found within the jurisdiction of Inspector Lu Fei's Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Raven Valley, a rural area of northern China. The investigation soon leads to the bigger city of Harbin, and could possibly tie in with a series of assaults and murders there. The scope of the investigation soon comes under the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) out of Beijing, and Lu is attached to the investigative team.
This has elements of a typical police procedural. What makes this story, and series, more interesting for me is the setting. Routine police work, through my reading, is similar everywhere. But the cultural and political setting in China adds another set of layers that makes this more entertaining.
There is a dark element to this particular story concerning human trafficking. There is the corruption element which is bigger than previous installments.
There is a side plot that involves two criminal elements fighting each other. This added an additional frightening, but satisfying, part to the story.
This is the third installment in this series, and I think it is beneficial to read them in order.

[viemag · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Magistrate is the 3rd outing in Brian Klingborg's Inspector Lu Fei series. I somehow missed the second book in the series so was sometimes confused by references I either didn't remember from book 1 or occurred in book 2. But I was still able to enjoy this story. In this story Inspector Lu Fei finds himself working a serial killing in Harbin which is close to Inspector Lu Fei's current assignment in Raven Valley. It is an interesting plot but is full of characters. I had a difficult time remember which character was good and which was evil and which was just in the story for a short time. I found I really had to pay close attention when I was reading. There are several stories taking place, the search for the serial killer, Lu Fei's battle with his sworn enemies who are in power in Harbin, the revenge of Gao Yang, and the current state of "justice" in China. At times I got annoyed with the complexity of the plot and almost gave up. But Inspector Lu Fei is such a good person that i stuck with the book until the end so 3 stars over 2.

[Bruin Mccon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book on Lu Fei and his band of cop buddies in China and definitely the hardest to read. It’s about several corrupt men either running a chain of brothels or enabling the people running the brothels. And all the officials and cops who help them. What an awful topic. Several times the narrator switched to these asshole men and their thoughts on women were disgusting. There’s another reason this book was hard to take and I’m not going to spoil that part of the plot. With all these terrible topics, there wasn’t much joking and laughing for me.

This is a gritty installment in the series but if you can stand reading police procedurals, you probably have it in you to read this book too. But there is a lot of killing and harming.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Klingborg’s third offering in his Lu Fei mystery series has the detective called to investigate the incineration of a Korean gangster. It soon appears that the slaying is connected to a series of gruesome crimes that are targeting a corrupt group of government officials that also belong to the Nangang Benevolent Association. The perpetrators tell their victims that “The Magistrate sends his regards.” Lu Fei is hampered by the local police in his attempts to discover the motive behind the attacks—indeed, his very life is in danger. Who could be behind the violent revenge that seems to be at play? Enjoy!

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up for the vast 2 city action modern China plus the subject matter of sex trafficking the incoming female Koreans. Lu is intrepid.

Dozens of characters and a rather wide view plotting which doesn't include much of Lu himself until halfway through. Massive corruption amid leaders' cabal becomes prime.

Huge body count and despite all of that mayhem some excellent meals graced various dining along the way. High-end except for a stint in winter unheated jail.

Very difficult to understand this depth in various Chinese politico with so many dozens of players. You will need to wear your most useful thinking cap. With patience for "te ma di".

[Valerie Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the Inspector Lu Fei mystery series was all about revenge on a local sex trafficking network that prayed on young women from North Korea. I was so glad that Brian Klingborg included a cast of characters. Those Chinese names confuse me. Sometimes they use the first name and sometimes they use the last name.

This kind of summed it up for me: “When the balance of social order is disrupted, it could only be restored by punishing the offenders. And the punishment should fit the crime.“

[Jim Bogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our hero is sent to investigate a rather odd murder in a city he has saved in before, not happily. We look at the crime, and it’s investigation, from several viewpoints. This can be a bit confusing, but it does add to the mystery. There is a lot of action, and a satisfactory denouement.
The author seems familiar with the Chinese setting for the book, and it seems realistic. One doubts the CCCP would agree, as the city officials are relentlessly corrupt.

[J.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Klingborg's first two installments of the Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries—Thief of Souls, Wild Prey—were my favorite mystery/thriller books of those years, and I was so excited to read the next one in the series. Klingborg/Fei do not disappoint! Such a unique protagonist and setting. Fun, scary, thrilling, and unpredictable...and maybe the best finale I've ever read!

[Katherine Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

New series and new author for me. Since I love all detective characters and mystery novels in general, this was right up my alley. Inspector Lu Fei finds himself entangled in corruption schemes and sextrafficing plots in his former Chinese precinct, Harbin. Inspector Fei ends up in jail as a scapegoat for a murder he did not commit. I'll leave it at that so there are no spoilers in my review.

[Mhd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up to 4-stars. A little hard to keep the characters & action straight; I'm not even sure if all the loose ends were tied up by the end. Still, I enjoyed it ... I just don't know why. Lots of examples of corruption/politics in local government in China and the intricacies of sex-slave-trade.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the last half of this novel as it became a great mystery. The first half was difficult with all the character names being somewhat similar. And the beginning of the book was confusing as to what was going on. The characters were all quite well developed and once I figured out the plot it was good.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why more folks haven't found this series. Colorful characters, fast moving stories and a policeman who goes his s own way (most of the time) and a nice tidy ending where the bad guys mostly get their comeuppance, sometimes in a brutal way. I can usually figure out the "who' but this one had me completely baffled and the person was a complete surprise.

[JYBoardwalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Lu Fei and the characters (god and very bad) who surround him. I enjoyed this third book a bit less than the first two due to some sloppy proof editing and the repetitive descriptions of gruesomeness..... So 3.5 rounded up to 4 because I do want another Lu Fei installment.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series and it was another fantastic read. The author BK knows exactly how to engage the reader. Detective Lu Fei one of my favorite characters gets in a bit of trouble in this book. Looking forward to book 4.

Rating 5 out of 5

[Vontel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Inspector Lu Fei book, and once again a most interesting read. Having actually seen the terra cotta warriors in situ, that was another added attraction & interest in this book. I'll look forward to further books in this series.