When David Stark is offered a job in a private firm that would allow him to be reunited with Liu Hulan, his lover, in China he takes it without questioning too deep. Meanwhile Hulan is asked by an old friend to look into Miaoshan's, her only child, death. The two of them meet from opposite sides of the same case involving American companies breaking a lot of laws on Chinese soil. While they struggle not to break their professional code of ethics, they try to solve the the puzzle to figure out who killed Miaoshan. Along the way the drama ramps up, several more people are gruesomely killed, and the horrible sides of business practises are brought to light. This is the second book in the Red Princess series. (Flower Net was the first, and Dragon Bones is the third.) Their are many parts that allude to the first book, but I think it could do well as a stand alone. It is solidly written, and far more exciting than the first book of the series too. One of the things that I really liked about this book is how See tied all loose ends down. Instead of the "bad guy talks us to death" method she used in the first book, this method tied the answers into the story. And what answers were left they were quickly tied quite elegantly with quick dialogues. Another thing I'm finding absolutely fascinating about See's writing is the way she nails the American and Chinese cultures. While reading this book, I thought of the brief 8 months I was in China, and was amazed at how closely it relates to what I experienced personally. This made the characters really come alive for me. Once again, I felt like I was a shadow watching the action as it happened. I'm looking forward to digging the third book, Dragon Bones, out and reading it soon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~Writer notes: See does a great job of investigating her stories, and it shows. There was not a single time that I raised a finger in a questioning motion. This shows me how important it is to really research the concepts that I intend to write about.
The "elements of fiction" are most often listed as follows: plot, character, setting, theme, and style. Genre fiction generally relies on one or more of the first three--plot, character, or setting--to carry the reader along. Strengths of theme and style are more characteristic of literary fiction. As I read Lisa See's The Interior, however, it seems that the strongest element is theme.On page 380, a minor character remarks, "For so many years the government has talked about what is good for the masses. But these days I wonder. What if individual happiness can serve the people more than anything else?" Lisa See does a great job of depicting a country in which individuals, regardless of rank, are addressed formally by their title or function; everyone is spied upon; permission must be obtained to travel, marry, or carry a pregnancy to term; and order is maintained by subtle terrorism. The China she describes seems to function well in terms of its own brand of capitalism, but for individuals within its borders, fear, oppression, and hopelessness seem to be the norm. The Interior is not a "light" read in any sense of the word. I thought the plot was convoluted and the characters rather flat. Still, the book was very interesting. Should I ever develop a desire to know more about modern China, I'll probably add more of Lisa See's books to my "to read" list.
What do You think about The Interior (2015)?
I've enjoyed previous books by See but this one, readable enough, didn't hold my attention. I got anxious to be done with it even though the climax of events and resolution of the main mystery should have made the ending more compelling.I admit to knowing very little about China in general let alone China/US relations and factory corruption. I did get a picture that I trust knowing that See is Chinese herself and is a thorough researcher. This is one of a series known as Red Princess mysteries featuring American lawyer David Stark and detective Liu Hulan.
—Jean Carlton
I am now a big fan of Lisa See! "The Interior" is the second book in her mystery series and I think it was just as interesting and mysterious as the first. However, instead of mainly taking place in Beijing, Liu Hulan, the Chinese detective goes back to an area in the interior of China where she had worked alongside the peasants during the Cultural Revolution. The daughter of her friend was working for an American toy factory when she died. Although made to look like a suicide Hulan believed differently and decided to go undercover and work in the factory. The culture and circumstances of the Chinese are so well described by the author as well as the abilities of the corporations to excuse their abuses.See's novels are a great insight into the history and present day life of the Chinese.
—Patty
I so enjoyed Lisa See's novels "Peony In Love" and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" I could not help but pick this book up from a used bookstore, not knowing it was a second in a series. The story stood alone, though I did wonder throughout what had happened to David and Hulan in the previous story. The novel gives a glimpse of Chinese traditions in the modern-day world, and brings to light the poverty, illiteracy, corruption and class consciousness still prevalent in today's China, woven into a good mystery. I had my suspicions about "who" but didn't understand the motivations. A good read for those who are into mysteries.
—Susan
