The Shanghai Circle

Chinese Circles #1

by Tony Henderson

TAIPAN MEETS TRIAD IN PRE-WAR SHANGHAI

The Shanghai Circle is the first book in the Chinese Circles series. A taipan, a triad leader and a beautiful White Russian find their lives intertwined as Japan threatens Shanghai in 1936. Charles and Davina Guest, Taipan and daughter, must help steer the family trading house through tumultuous times. The imminent Japanese invasion and the rise of communism threaten their beloved company, but unbeknown to them another deadly menace lurks in the shadows. As heir to the Sung Society, Joseph Cheung must learn the ways of the triad. Vice and violence dominate Shanghai’s criminal world but for Joseph, a personal vendetta remains unfinished business. Irina, a young beautiful stateless Russian woman, unwittingly falls into the clutches of the triads and fights to escape. It is 1936, and Shanghai, the ‘Paris of the East’ or ‘The Whore of Asia’, plays backdrop to the drama, as these characters find their lives are circling each other in a dangerous world. This book describes the city as it was in 1936 as the Japanese were fighting across China to capture the flawed jewel, which was Shanghai. It is the setting for the first part of my novelShanghai until my characters escape to Hong Kong in 1937.

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Born and raised near London, I was fortunate enough to live in an apartment in London at the beginning of the ‘Swinging Sixties’, and since leaving home at 18 have lived well over half my life overseas.
My working life has been like a series of projects, whether it be living in Spain in the mid-sixties looking at Spanish companies being considered for acquisition. Later in the UK, working out a system for charging other airlines for BOAC’s first Flight Simulator, juggling an overdraft for a failing (different) airline, and working for a subsidiary of the Greyhound Bus. Then in the early 1970s, I started ten years in Hong Kong including a six-month fill-in job with Cathay Pacific Airways, but then designing and running an insurance system, together with financial and management information systems. Back to the UK in the mid-eighties to install an online group management information system from worldwide data, introducing an international email system to replace faxes, dabbling in one of the first company internet sites, supporting systems in Portugal, Spain and Italy, and embracing the early days of Local Area Networks and Help Desks.
One of those lucky people who enjoyed their career.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, when in 1999 my wife, Jo, and I, retired and moved to live in the sun in a 150-year-old finca on the Costa Blanca, we were bored within three months. So we started selling houses and sold over eighty, worth nearly €40 million before the financial crisis spoiled our fun in 2008.
Frustrated again I spent some time exploring my ancestry and had a few surprises, not least finding my ancestors fought in China and Spain over a century before I lived in those countries. Until then I thought I was the traveller in the family!
I wrote a couple of short stories which were published, and then thought why not write a novel? When I lived in Hong Kong, two work colleagues had fled Shanghai in 1937 to escape a Japanese invasion, and two of the Chinese staff were ‘Freedom Swimmers’ who had swum five miles across Mirs Bay to escape Mao’s communism.
So I developed a new passion/project. Research. This revealed many fascinating events in China and Hong Kong from the mid-1930s. All I needed to do was create some characters, blend them in with real people and weave stories around actual events. I wrote three novels quite quickly, built a website and published them on Amazon.
Then over the years, I moved on to other stuff until two things happened. Firstly one of my daughters, Diana, had her first novel, ‘Alberto’s Lost BIrthday’, published by Macmillan’s in 2016, and later translated into German, French and Italian. Her second book, ‘Pippo and Clara‘ was published in February 2021, and has so far been translated into Portuguese and Italian. These can be found on her website dianarosie.co.uk
Secondly, after 20 years, Jo and I decided the decision to live in an old house in a village called Jesus Pobre, with 4,500 m² of land, and on a national park on a mountain called Montgo, was not as sensible as it was in 1999. So in 2020 we sold the house and moved just ten kilometres to our apartment in the port of Javea, which is a two-minute walk to the Mediterranean sea.
I found apartment life was more restricted. So I had a literary consultant edit one of my novels and suggest improvements. So I came back to the cities I came to love, Shanghai and Hong Kong, which today are again two of the most exciting and charismatic cities in the world, just as they were in the 1930s.
I took all the novels off Amazon and am rewriting them. The first, The Shanghai Circle will be released on Kindle in the 4th quarter 2022, others will follow in 2023.
Yes, I have of course had other important stuff in my personal life. A first wife, Valerie, who is still a friend, three great kids scattered over the world (Canada, Spain and the UK), and a second wife who recognises and accepts I’m not perfect.
So in summary I’ve had, and am still having, a wonderful li

Reviews

[sushmitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating this 4.25/5.

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triad known as the Sung Society and a British trading family are fighting for the wealth and power in Shanghai. As you read chapter after chapter you'll flip between the different viewpoints of a variety of different characters. All the characters are somehow related to one another causing them to be brought together into this story.

Each chapter and character are unalike any other character and chapter, giving this book something for everyone to read. Everyone is trying to accomplish their goal regardless of how it affects others, only you as the reader can see how even the smallest of actions can cause a pyramid of problems.

Pre World War II Shanghai is a prosperous city that is brought to life by Tony Henderson, who divulges the underside to the city with it's racial tendencies and drug. I've never been that interested in Shanghai during this time period, but after reading this book I am super anxious to learn more, and then re-read A Circle Has No Ends.

This book was exciting and entertaining that is well written in a very structured manner which made this an easy and uncomplicated read. The dialect and time period stays true throughout the whole book making this a believable read concerning the era.

[Kathryn Podstawek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and really tried to connect with this book. There was something that didn't feel right about it, and it's hard to describe without giving too much away. It's not bad, but it reads like it should be the second book in a series. The reader is introduced to many characters one after the other, and it feels like you don't get enough time with any of them. I liked some characters and disliked others, but it reads like the reader is expected to know things about the characters already. I understand that some people enjoy reading stories like this, and I can understand why, but it was like reading a collection of short stories as opposed to one story with multiple characters.
There are several stories happening in the book, only some of them get really closed off.

There could be so much more in this book. It would make a good series. The author tries to display the good and bad parts of people, but the context is missing. I got close to connecting with the characters, but then the writer switches to a totally different character, and the connection breaks before it really forms. It is like the author is trying to write a Game of Thrones-style novel but doesn't have the same word count available to them. The book could have been twice as long, and I think that would have made a real difference.

I will be checking out the author's other works to see if I have missed anything and if there are other books in the series that explain things more. I love reading series, but I like the first book to establish a proper background for the main characters before it introduces other characters and side stories. It was difficult to tell who the main characters were.

[Balkha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shanghai Circle is the story of Irina, a Russian refugee; Joseph, the son of a triad boss; Davina, the daughter of a Taipan; and Thomas, a British employee of Davina’s company, newly arrived in Shanghai. The book is set in 1936 & ’37 when Shanghai was divided into three parts: the French Concession, the International Settlement and the old Chinese area.


The book is well-researched and presents as comprehensive a picture of Shanghai during that period as possible. We get to know about the inner workings of a triad society, the lives of the very rich expatriate Taipans and their even richer Compradors (people who take care of the Chinese side of business for European & American companies), the lives of the poor factory workers and Russian and Jewish refugees who were fleeing war and persecution, respectively.


I found this book interesting because I know little about China and its history. It was fascinating to read about the European treaties, the divided state of Shanghai, the Japanese invasion and Bloody Saturday, and the typhoon in Hong Kong. All of these are mentioned as factual events in the Fact and Fiction section of the book at the end. So, this book is a less academic, more entertaining way to learn the history of a place.


The writing is not evocative enough to bring the Shanghai of 1936 to life. At some points in the book, the descriptions read like news reports, which I found jarring. For example, the description of Typhoon Bella on pages 200 & 201 read like a weather report, which wasn’t required as the characters were experiencing it. The food, culture, and seedy underbelly of Shanghai described in the book were engrossing despite this drawback in the writing.


The characters led action-filled lives, often faced with one dilemma or another. The story remained fast-paced to the end, the climax being the cherry on top. If you like history but have only peripheral knowledge of Far Eastern history, this book is a decent place to start. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

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[John B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Henderson’s The Shanghai Circle is an engrossing journey into 1936 Shanghai, where opulence collides with corruption and danger lurks in every shadow. Henderson’s gift lies in making the city itself a character, glittering ballrooms contrast with back-alley brutality, creating an atmosphere both intoxicating and terrifying.

The Guests, as taipan father and daughter, are caught in a struggle to protect their legacy from war, politics, and betrayal. Joseph Cheung’s inheritance of the Sung Society pulls him into the ruthless triad world, where loyalty comes at a terrible cost. Irina, the stateless Russian beauty, provides the emotional core of the novel, embodying resilience against impossible odds.

What impressed me most was the balance of sweeping historical drama with deeply human stories. Henderson’s attention to detail paints a world on the brink of destruction, yet he never loses sight of the characters’ personal battles. The “circles” in which their lives orbit one another create a sense of inevitability and tragic beauty.

Rich in atmosphere and suspense, The Shanghai Circle feels cinematic in scope yet intimate in emotion. Henderson weaves history and fiction seamlessly, reminding us that behind every political upheaval are ordinary people forced into extraordinary choices.

For fans of historical sagas like Shogun or The Winds of War, this novel delivers everything, meticulous research, gripping plotlines, and characters you will not forget. This is historical fiction at its finest: a story that thrills, educates, and lingers long after the final page.

[Emily Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Henderson’s The Shanghai Circle vividly resurrects a city on the brink of transformation and destruction. Set against the tense backdrop of 1936 Shanghai, this first installment in the Chinese Circles series successfully intertwines multiple compelling narratives each rich with intrigue, personal drama, and historical nuance.

The story centers on three key characters: Charles Guest, a British taipan managing a family trading empire; Joseph Cheung, heir to a powerful triad society; and Irina, a stateless Russian woman caught in the web of Shanghai’s criminal underworld. Henderson does an excellent job fleshing out these characters, particularly Joseph, whose struggle between duty, revenge, and morality provides a poignant counterbalance to the more business-focused dilemmas faced by Charles and his daughter Davina.

Henderson paints pre-war Shanghai with remarkable detail, its colonial decadence, its cosmopolitan mix of cultures, and the looming threats from Japan and internal Communist insurgency. But the real power of the book lies in how these characters are drawn into each other’s orbit, creating a web of fate that feels inevitable and tense throughout.

Fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in Asia's turbulent 20th-century history, will find this novel both educational and thrilling. Henderson’s clear grasp of the era and location adds depth to an already suspenseful narrative. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a richly detailed and emotionally complex adventure.

[Michael J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few novels manage to combine sweeping history with nail-biting drama as effectively as Tony Henderson’s The Shanghai Circle. From the first page, I was transported into pre-war Shanghai, a city dazzling in its elegance yet steeped in vice and looming peril. Henderson recreates its contradictions with breathtaking clarity, the “Paris of the East” and the “Whore of Asia” bound together in one unforgettable setting.

The characters are equally vivid. Charles and Davina Guest shoulder the burden of preserving their trading house while Japan’s threat grows nearer. Joseph Cheung wrestles with a dual inheritance, family honor and the brutal world of the Sung Society triads. And Irina, perhaps the most poignant of all, embodies the plight of the powerless in a city that devours innocence. Her story is harrowing, yet she shines with resilience.

What elevates this novel is its emotional depth. The characters are not simply swept along by history, they fight, suffer, and grow in ways that feel heartbreakingly real. Henderson’s pacing is masterful: just when you think you know where the story is heading, a new twist draws you deeper into the world.

This book is both a page-turner and a deeply moving exploration of survival, power, and destiny. Henderson’s prose is elegant, his research meticulous, but most importantly, his storytelling grips you from start to finish. The Shanghai Circle is historical fiction done right: rich, gritty, and unforgettable. I can’t wait to continue this series.

[Ralph I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shanghai Circle is a remarkable achievement, offering readers a vivid portrait of a city at its most glamorous, and most perilous. Henderson transports us to 1936 Shanghai with astonishing authenticity: neon-lit dance halls, smoky opium dens, crowded lanes, and lavish drawing rooms all come alive on the page. Yet this is more than a history lesson, it’s a gripping, character-driven story.

The Guests represent the old world of business and duty, struggling to preserve stability in a storm. Joseph Cheung’s arc is electrifying, his reluctant entry into triad leadership is as tragic as it is compelling. Irina’s storyline gave me chills; she embodies both vulnerability and defiance, making her one of the novel’s emotional anchors.

What I admired most is Henderson’s weaving of personal drama into a larger historical tapestry. The Japanese invasion and the rise of communism loom over everything, but the human struggles, love, betrayal, vengeance, and survival, are what keep you glued to the page. The narrative circles around each character until their fates collide, and the tension builds with perfect precision.

Henderson writes with elegance but never sacrifices pace. The book is immersive, cinematic, and profoundly human. It reminded me of great sagas like Noble House or The Winds of War, where history feels immediate and personal.

This is more than just a historical novel, it’s an experience, one that leaves you shaken, moved, and eager for the next installment. Henderson has delivered a masterclass in storytelling.

[Sarah L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Tony Henderson’s The Shanghai Circle felt like watching a sweeping, beautifully shot film. From the first chapter, the city pulses with contradictions, decadence alongside poverty, honor against betrayal, love under the shadow of war. Henderson captures this complexity with writing that is both lyrical and unflinchingly raw.

The plot unfolds with perfect rhythm. The Guests’ determination to steer their family trading house through chaos, Joseph Cheung’s initiation into the brutal Sung Society, and Irina’s desperate fight for survival intertwine in ways that feel natural and inevitable. Each perspective adds depth until the story crescendos in unforgettable fashion.

Irina’s plight struck me hardest. A stateless Russian trapped by forces beyond her control, she symbolizes the human cost of political upheaval. Yet her courage radiates, and Henderson portrays her not as a victim but as a survivor. Likewise, Joseph’s moral conflict, loyalty to family versus his own conscience, creates a powerful internal struggle.

The brilliance of this novel lies in its balance: grand historical sweep paired with deeply personal stakes. The looming Japanese invasion is ever-present, but it never overshadows the human drama at the story’s core.

Henderson’s prose is cinematic; every scene could unfold on a widescreen. This book will satisfy lovers of epic historical fiction, but it also resonates on an emotional level that lingers long after you finish. Simply put, The Shanghai Circle is unforgettable.

[Chris J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often, you find a novel that makes history feel alive, immediate, and urgent. Tony Henderson’s The Shanghai Circle is such a book. With masterful prose and meticulous research, Henderson pulls readers into the heart of Shanghai on the brink of catastrophe.

The city is painted in contradictions: glamorous dance halls glitter under the threat of Japanese bombs, triad rulers carve out empires in the shadows, and displaced refugees struggle for survival. Against this backdrop, Henderson introduces characters whose lives circle and collide with devastating inevitability.

Joseph Cheung fascinated me most, his reluctant inheritance of triad leadership captures both the allure and the horror of power. Charles and Davina Guest embody loyalty and resilience in the face of looming disaster. And Irina’s plight, falling prey to the triads, yet never losing her strength, adds a raw, emotional heartbeat to the narrative.

What sets this novel apart is how seamlessly Henderson blends sweeping history with intimate storytelling. You don’t just observe Shanghai, you feel it, smell it, breathe it. The pacing is taut, the atmosphere electric, and the emotional stakes incredibly high.

This is historical fiction at its very best: gritty, elegant, and deeply moving. Henderson doesn’t just chronicle an era; he makes you live inside it. I finished the final page feeling both shaken and exhilarated, already longing for the next book in the series.

[George Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shanghai Circle is the kind of book that drops you into the heart of history and never lets go. Tony Henderson’s meticulous attention to historical authenticity is evident from the first page, immersing the reader in a city that’s glamorous, dangerous, and teetering on the edge of chaos.

What stands out most in this novel is the depth and interplay of its characters. Charles and Davina Guest, navigating the shifting sands of colonial commerce, bring a Western lens to the story, while Joseph Cheung offers insight into the secretive and often brutal world of the triads. Irina, meanwhile, adds a layer of vulnerability and survival, her plight mirroring that of many displaced Russians in Shanghai at the time.

The pacing is deliberate but satisfying, Henderson clearly wants the reader to savor the setting and fully understand the stakes before events escalate. When they do, the novel becomes a true page-turner. The climax sets up the continuation of the series effectively, leaving enough unanswered questions to compel readers forward without feeling incomplete.

This book is not just a story; it’s a cinematic experience that could easily be adapted to screen. With its blend of historical realism, political intrigue, and personal drama, The Shanghai Circle is a strong opening to what promises to be a riveting series.

[Lucille robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Henderson’s The Shanghai Circle masterfully captures a unique moment in history, the decadent, dangerous, and diverse Shanghai of 1936. In this cosmopolitan crossroads of East and West, power and poverty, tradition and revolution, Henderson crafts a narrative that is both sweeping and intimate.

The plot balances the corporate maneuverings of Charles Guest and his daughter Davina with the blood-soaked legacy of Joseph Cheung, whose initiation into the world of the Sung Society is marked by inner conflict and brutal necessity. Irina’s storyline provides a powerful counterpoint, her descent into the criminal world and fight for freedom is one of the most emotionally resonant arcs in the book.

What makes this novel stand out is Henderson’s ability to weave these personal stories into the larger tapestry of political tension, especially the encroaching threat of Japanese forces. Shanghai is portrayed not just as a setting but as a living, breathing character, full of contradictions, shadows, and fleeting beauty.

Although the book demands some patience at the start, the payoff is immense. By the end, the reader is left with a sense of awe at how these “circles” of fate come together. It’s a powerful meditation on survival, identity, and destiny in times of upheaval. I’m eager to follow these characters into the next chapter of their journey.

[Jennifer W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shanghai Circle transported me into a world I didn’t know I’d been craving. Tony Henderson has written a gripping, character-driven story set in pre-war Shanghai one of the most fascinating and chaotic cities in modern history. His portrayal of 1936 Shanghai is nothing short of mesmerizing. From the opium dens and teahouses to the lavish colonial clubs and dangerous back alleys, every detail made me feel like I was walking through the “Paris of the East.”

The three main storylines Charles Guest, the pragmatic taipan navigating political chaos; Joseph Cheung, caught in the deadly web of triads and legacy; and Irina, a stateless Russian woman fighting for freedom are all compelling on their own. But it’s how their lives collide that truly brings the story to life.

This book doesn’t just entertain, it educates and immerses. Fans of historical fiction, crime thrillers, and Asian history will be deeply satisfied. I can’t wait to continue the series and see where the characters go from here.

[Anne Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Henderson is the kind of writer who doesn’t just craft stories, he architects emotional worlds. The Shanghai Circle is the result of not just literary talent, but a lifetime of lived experience, multicultural fluency, and reverence for the past. The book doesn’t read like fiction, it reads like someone passed down their memories, complete with heartbreak, danger, romance, and the smell of jasmine and gunpowder lingering in the air.

What stands out most is Henderson’s ability to make Shanghai itself a living, breathing character. The city pulses on every page, from the decadent corridors of foreign concessions to the dangerous underbelly of triad-controlled territories. He captures its contradictions with such care and nuance that I felt like I’d walked its streets myself.

This novel deserves not just readers, it deserves preservation. It should be taught, discussed, shared, and loved for years to come. Tony, you have given the literary world something rare: a novel that educates, entertains, and elevates.

[Robert A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Henderson masterfully captures a city on the brink of collapse, with political turmoil, underworld power plays, and emotional journeys all coming to a boiling point in The Shanghai Circle. The book has the cinematic quality of The Last Emperor or Empire of the Sun, yet feels incredibly personal through the eyes of its characters.

Joseph Cheung's internal struggle between duty, revenge, and morality is heart-wrenching, while Irina’s arc from innocent to fighter is both tragic and empowering. The contrast between the corporate world of the Guests and the brutal criminal world of the triads builds an atmosphere of constant tension.

The writing is crisp, elegant, and filled with rich imagery. The historical setting isn't just background, it's a living, breathing character in itself. This book is perfect for readers who appreciate historical fiction with emotional intelligence and narrative suspense. Highly recommended!

[Charlotte R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is storytelling at its finest. The Shanghai Circle is one of those rare books that balances history, action, emotion, and atmosphere with finesse. I was pulled into the story from the very first chapter and couldn’t put it down.

Tony Henderson has created a vivid and dangerous world where each character is fighting their own war whether it's against societal expectations, political corruption, or personal demons. I was particularly struck by how authentic and grounded Irina’s story felt her desperation, her strength, her need for escape. And Joseph’s evolution is one of the most satisfying arcs I’ve read in a long time.

The pacing is perfect, and the stakes grow exponentially without ever feeling forced. If you love books that blend historical accuracy with personal drama and tension, this is a must-read.

[Steven M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Shanghai Circle is like watching a grand, historical chess match unfold in slow motion, each move more daring and dangerous than the last. The cast is sprawling but never overwhelming, and Henderson keeps the narrative tightly focused while weaving a broad, ambitious story.

The historical context Japanese aggression, colonial politics, the rise of communism, and the triads is handled with depth and subtlety. It’s clear the author has done his research, and the setting never feels like a backdrop but rather the catalyst for every twist and turn.

As a fan of both espionage and historical fiction, this book scratched every itch. There’s danger, betrayal, unexpected alliances, and emotional beats that hit hard. It reminded me of Clavell’s Tai-Pan series but with a sharper focus and more heart.

[Érika Assmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is meant for success, however, the writing needs some improvements. Let me explain.

The story of this book is awesome and quite original. WWII + Pre Communist China + Triads + romance + vengeance, it is difficult to not be an interesting background to a lot of people. You have a bit of everything. There's an interesting mix of characters ( English, Russians, Chinese, Japanese). It is well thought, and the events in the book are supported by real life events.

However, the description needs improvement. A lot of important events are not well described, the writer is rushing and not adding a lot of details. The character miss a bit of depth and I don't understand how one of the main chinese character's, that is part of the Shanghai triad, is called Joseph. I would expect a Chinese name.

Also, I missed some political positioning from the characters. How a big important European business man doesn't have/share an opinion about the communist party that is spreading across china? How a triad boss doesn't? What about the Japanese invasion? It is quite weird that all the characters just "let it happen" and fell victims of the events in a passive way.

I am not going to lie, it needs work, but only because I believe it is a great story with a lot of potential.

In any case, I would definitely read a sequel ! And I do recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shanghai in 1936 and 1937 was a place of decadence, vice, and fear. I've read many books set during this time, but none has conveyed the aura of that time as Tony Henderson's new novel, A Circle Has No End. Yes, it's graphic (in more ways than one), but it stays true to the time. This book is the first in a trilogy and tells the story of the Sung Society triad and the Guest family, who owns a trading company along the lines of Jardine and Swire. The story finishes in Hong Kong just as the Japanese have invaded Shanghai. The Sung Society and the Guests both fled to the British Crown Colony. And that's where the sequel will take place. Looking forward to it!

[Diana Rosie]

This is packed full of fast-paced story and fascinating characters. I was quickly sucked into the heady world of pre-war Shanghai with all its different facets.

For a debut author, Tony has demonstrated he knows what it takes to write a page-turner. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

[Sherry Ledet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little history in this book. Not what I expected at all so I won't order book 2 of the series.