When Red Is Black
When Red Is Black by Xiaolong Qiu is an intriguing addition to the Inspector Chen series, published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2006. This edition spans 309 pages and is presented in English. The narrative begins with Inspector Chen Cao accepting a translation job from a businessman with Triad connections, which seems to come with no strings attached, providing him with a laptop and medical care for his mother. However, the tranquility is disrupted when a murder is reported, prompting Sergeant Yu to take charge of the investigation in Chen’s absence.
Readers will find a complex mystery unfolding as Chen delves into the circumstances surrounding the murder of a middle-aged teacher found dead in her home. The investigation reveals that only a neighbor could be the culprit, yet the absence of a clear motive complicates matters. As Chen returns to piece together the past, he confronts his own challenges. This installment continues to explore themes of intrigue and societal dynamics in post-Cultural Revolution China, making it a notable entry in the mystery and detective genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
When Inspector Chen Cao agrees to do a translation job for a Triad-connected businessman he is given a laptop, a ‘little secretary’ to provide for his every need, medical care for his mother. There are, it seems, no strings attached . . .
Then a murder is reported: Chen is loath to shorten his working holiday, so Sergeant Yu is forced to take charge of the investigation. The victim, a middle-aged teacher, has been found dead in her tiny room in a converted multi-family house. Only a neighbour could have committed the crime, but there is no motive.
It is only when Chen returns and starts to investigate the past that he finds answers. But by then he has troubles of his own. This is the third critically acclaimed Inspector Chen mystery set in post-Cultural Revolution China.
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