Jade Woman

Lovejoy #12

by Jonathan Gash

Hong kong was filled with noise, heat, pandemonium, six year old water carriers, lepers, porters, chineese so much of everything that exhausted after the plane ride, lovejoy fell asleep and woke up to find he had been robbed of his passport, his travelers checks and drivers license

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

John Grant is an English crime writer, who writes under the pen name Jonathan Gash. He is the author of the Lovejoy series of novels. He wrote the novel The Incomer under the pen name Graham Gaunt.

Grant is a doctor by training and worked as a general practitioner and pathologist. He served in the British Army and attained the rank of Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was head of bacteriology at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for the University of London between 1971 and 1988.

Grant won the John Creasey Award in 1977 for his first Lovejoy novel, The Judas Pair. He is also the author of a series of medical thrillers featuring the character Dr. Clare Burtonall.

Grant lives outside Colchester in Essex, the setting for many of his novels. He has also been published in Postscripts.

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the 80s I rather enjoyed the Lovejoy TV series with Ian McShane. He was a bit of a bungler but everything always came out well. Then I came across The Judas Pair and got about a third of the way through it before I got sidetracked, and it wasn't memorable enough to go back to--partly when he hopped in the sack with a much-older woman for lack of anything better to do with an afternoon. When I came across "Jade Woman" for some reason I decided to give it another go. The woman in the title is not a jade figurine, but supposedly the acme of perfection (though how the author could expect even one woman in the world to be sooo good at absolutely everything in the world before the age of 50 is beyond me. But then, it's guy-wish-fulfillment fiction, isn't it.)

On the plus side, I did finish it rather quickly (in part due to sitting waiting for an appointment that I arrived too early for and which transpired rather late.) So at least it held my attention better than the first attempt. He's frequently back in the sack, but at least the sex takes place "off camera", and in this instalment our woman-scorning Lovejoy (who doesn't seem to mind taking money, clothes and favours from the birds he plays with) gets his comeuppance in a unique manner. The shoe's definitely on the other...or do I mean the condom's on the other...never mind. On the minus side, the author admits that he has taken his Hong Kong from his 1960s memories; okay, I guess, but having firmly entrenched his character in the 80s, he doesn't do himself any favours. I know it's a delicate business, getting foreshadowing right, but in this book it clatters instead of clunking. There's a lot of "How was I to know that I was making this happen" and such. There are also several non-events that are referred to in passing to flesh out the details the author doesn't really give. How did he get some of his information about the organisation, at the same time he's blundering around clueless?

It was a light, harmless enough way to pass the three or four hours it took to finish, but I can't imagine an "expert" faker who is as hapless as Lovejoy surviving very long in East Anglia, let alone Hong Kong. And if he's got that kind of artistic talent, why doesn't he just become an artist?

[Edward Amato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be enjoyable because 1) I have a great admiration for antiques and 2) Before ever reading a Lovejoy mystery I watch the BBC show starring Ian McShane. So while reading these books I am hearing said actor's voice in my head and I am a huge fan. Recommend seeing the series (more PG13 than the books) before reading Jonathan Gash's books.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1983456.html[return][return][return][return]Another Lovejoy book with a particularly implausible plot, allowing Gash to place his hero in Hong Kong (not contemporary 1980s Hong Kong, but the 1960s city that the author clearly knew well and loved) for fun with organised crime, sex work and inventing a previously unheard-of Chinese Impressionist painter. The antiques scam itself is as beautifully detailed as Gash's description of the city, and Lovejoy is clear that the criminality in which he becomes enmeshed is a consequence of capitalism rather than ethnicity or culture. But the mechanisms for getting him to Hong Kong in the first place, and then out again in the end, are hopelessly contrived. Generally good fun though.

[Jeff Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Jade Woman" sees Lovejoy on uppers and on the run from Big Jim Sheehan. So with a little help from female friend he decides to follow ex-employee Algernon and go to Hong Kong. Things from bad to worse after Lovejoy is pick pocketed on arrival. The only thing saving him from destitution is his skills as a "divvy" but this only brings him contact with the Triads where he combines his antique expertise with being a gigolo. To avoid a life of servitude, Lovejoy has to come up with a scam to end and all scams to earn his freedom."Jade Woman" is very much a postcard, of love and hate, from author who spent time there before becoming a doctor. The book has aged but I've no doubt if you look hard enough it's still there.

[Peter Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to read 'Lovejoy' if you are a fan of the BBC series. There is a darker side to Lovejoy and the antiques trade than is portrayed on television. In the books Lovejoy is more on his own(or with his enemies) than the merry band of characters on television(some of which are only mentioned and never appear).
Gash novels are perfect when you are in between books you actually want to read.
The dialogue isn't always chatty or memorable but his descriptions of antiques and in this case the landscape of Hong Kong is particularly interesting.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovejoy could have been more instrumental in getting himself out of his predicament, which pulls the book down a bit, but OMG the predicament itself was entertaining as hell. And I had Ian McShane's voice narrating the story in my head, which is never a bad thing.

[Lura Frazey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovejoy is a charming, funny, conman-with-a-soft-heart protagonist. Well worth reading more of this series. This particular book stretched a little long in a few too many places, but was enjoyable overall.

[Mira · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ah my dear Lovejoy we meet again! This is my 11th incursion into to land of dodgy antiques, gangsters, objectified ladies and impenetrable slang!

Notes on this particular novel. Super clunky foreshadowing at the end of each of the first six chapters. After an unlikely call to action (on falling asleep at his arrival at the HK airport he is pickpocketed of everything and forced to become a gigalo - we've all been there haven't we?), he subsequently gets caught up with the Triads all the while shagging every female character we meet. (Standard for Lovejoy).

There is a pretty liberal sprinkling of the usual antique facts supplemented by many many general knowledge facts dropped relentlessly by an overeducated "perfect" woman.

Lovejoy remains a dreadful but seemingly lovable rogue and I look forward to his complete lack of evolution in the next novel.

[Trina Talma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the last Lovejoy book I read (Moonspender); it was easier to follow the characters and plot. Not really a mystery per se. There were some twisty reveals -- mostly right at the end -- but no real mystery plot. More the story of a con job -- setting it up took longer than carrying it out. Interesting but not that satisfying.

[David Lindley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the likeable rogue portrayed by Ian McShane, but a more enthusiastic gigolo involved in hardened criminality.

Not altogether believable, as on arrival in HK he loses his money and passport ( so can he leave at the end?) A very onerous tale linking all that is good and bad on HK, but, for me, a little too contrived to be realistic.

[Estott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this book. It was at about this point in the series that the author plainly got tired of his original concept and shifted away from the antiques aspect into the kind of crime novel I hate. After taking a dip or two into subsequent books I wrote the rest of the series off.

[Jeffrey Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very fun Lovejoy. Actually, it might be his best yet. Now the campy gay character he always has is just putting it on. Makes me want to go to Hong Kong.

[Kate Hopkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got to page 36 & gave up - not my bag, didn't care for the style of writing.

[Sara Aye Moung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun

[Thomas Thuthiyil]

wonderful book

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book for lads who can't quite outgrow their fantasies - and yet who receive a little tingle of arousal whenever Antiques Roadshow is on television.

[Toffolotty · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's something good about the prose of this book that keeps you reading even when you realize how pathetic the character and the character writing are. Took me quite some effort to get to the end though. Totally milking it in some chapters, and building up to the climax way too slowly and inefficiently.

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool setting, but Lovejoy spends three quarters of the book completely clueless and has very little to do with the resolution of the story.
There is no charm and cleverness in these books. Get DVDs of the TV show instead. Much more fun and the TV Lovejoy is a much more interesting character.

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pictured Ian McShane all the way through reading this

[Cherie Waggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is really no particular storyline in this book. The main character isn't a good guy, never was, and the end to the book leaves a great deal to be desired. It does give a good description of the seedier side of Hong Kong. Not something that would make any reader want to visit.