First Sentence: Detective Yu Guangming of the Shanghai Police Bureau stood alone, still reeling of the blow.Inspector Chen Cao is taking time off from his role with the police. He has been asked to translate a business proposal for a triad-related businessman. The proposal is for the construction of a new shopping/residential complex in Shanghai called the New World. Both the salary and the benefits are too good to resist, but Chen ultimately finds everything has strings. With Chen unavailable, Sgt. Yu must take charge of the newest investigation. Yin was a college teacher and novelist living in a tiny room in a multi-family house. While she wasn't well liked, she kept to herself. With the house locked at night, was she murdered by a neighbor? If so, why did they ransack her room but not take her money?Qiu Xiaolong (pronounced "chew shao-long") has become one of my favorite authors. He creates such a strong sense of place with wonderful descriptions, from the largest panorama to the smallest detail. The inclusion of both Chinese and western poetry is something I so appreciate and enjoy. Food plays such a significant role in China. Its inclusion is so well done and, even if some of the particular dishes may not appeal to my western palate, I always end up hungry while reading. There is one particular scene when Chen goes to a restaurant with 1930s European style serving supposedly western food which was very interesting. I learned so much about life during the Cultural Revolution; a period about which I know virtually nothing. It is interesting to read about the lasting impact on those who lived through it as well as the confusion of living in a rapidly changing China. I very much enjoy Qui's characters. While I was glad Chen wasn't completely absent from the scene, it was nice to have Yu and his wife, Peiqin, move to the forefront. Not only did I learn more about them and their lives, but saw all the major characters grow and develop as the book progressed. The story's plot is very effective. I find the difference in the style of questioning fascinating but the process of following the leads is the same in all cultures. My one criticism would be that the confession of the killer seemed abrupt, but that could be a cultural difference as well. I did think the ending was excellent. I highly recommend "When Red is Black" although, as always, I suggest starting the series at the beginning.WHEN RED IS BLACK (Pol Proc-Sgt Yu/Insp Chen Cao-Shanghai,China-Cont/1990s) - VGXiaolong, Qiu - 3rd in seriesSoho Press, C2004, US Hardcover - ISBN: 1569473692
Planed to write a review...and finally have a little something...I was browsing the shelves when this book popped into my hands. I didn't realize it was a book in a series, a murder-mystery series. The book made no indication to me of the fact. Yet it worked as a standalone just fine. Perhaps this book is a little different than others in the named Inspector Chen Cao series, as he was not the principal investigator in this murder. Instead he is working on a translation project and living a little better thanks to it and his "Little Secretary." There certainly are references to things I do not completely understand, such as these Little Secretaries and all that it means. Regardless, Inspector Chen does remain proper. He does have a hard time accepting all the little gifts that came with this translation project.The book is centered more around the inspector's partner, Detective Yu, who hasn't gone very far with being in the police force. His family lives in the tiniest of places, sharing with his father. The book opens with Yu finding out the promised one-bedroom apartment was suddenly denied him on the day he was to get the key. Despite her disappointment, his wife Pequin helps tremendously with the case, as it is of a murdered author and Pequin loves reading.This book revealed another world to me, so much is in here. The story about the murder and solving it really didn't matter to me. But the backdrop of China, and the changes it is undergoing was very interesting. The book also talked about the recent past and of 1920's multi-family dwellings. The Cultural Revolution was featured largely in the book as well, with the changing politics. Definitely someone more familiar with China would have an easier time understanding all the nuances in this book. But I learned a little and enjoyed it immensely.I may look for more Inspector Chen Cao books, not sure how easy they are to find. But the first one is at my library and may be worth a look.
What do You think about When Red Is Black (2005)?
What a great book. I love Xiaolong because he gives me an insight into an alien world - all the more fascinating because it is a world that actually exists; China. A former Red Guard is found murdered. Known for a book she has written about the Cultural revolution, her death could be an embarrassment for the State - they can already see the headlines "Dissident Dies!". Inspector Chen has taken time off to carry out a very lucrative translation so Yu investigates.This book is actually about the nastiness of the Cultural Revolution and the present-day pains of a China which has abandoned Maoism for a society based on the old, equally questionable values of a society based on contacts, nepotism and social unfairness.The book is almost depressing as one reads about the living conditions of the ordinary Chinese, of the loss of status of men and women who once played their part in trying to create a better world and seen their hopes, dreams and sacrifices ripped apart. Somehow they struggle through the unfairness of the world they find themselves in.Food plays an interesting side-role and gives us another dimension through which we can view this world.Reading this book I kept thinking back to other books which tried to depict the unfairness of society and of the struggle of individuals to carve out some sort of future and my thoughts constantly returned to "Man's Estate" and how little has really been achieved by the Chinese in this century.
—Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk
Deciding to read this book was a bit of a radical departure from my normal reading habits. I had never before read a novel about modern day China and do not often read detective novels.I found the insights into present day China fascinating. It must be a nightmare to keep up with the various political changes, all decreed from the top, over the last 50 years. I enjoyed reading the way that the characters in the novel negotiated this mine field. I also found the general view of acceptance of the political mix that is modern China to be convincing. Live and let live would be just about the only way of surviving in such a situation.As for being a detective novel, I felt that the book failed. It was fairly slow moving. For example once the police decided that the murder suspect was from amongst the residents of the same building as the victim, the story seemed to mark time for nearly 100 pages. There were also various loose ends which either did not resolve themselves, which is OK, but one was often left wondering why they were introduced at all.I also found most of the characters in the novel to be fairly wooden which is not an accurate representation of Chinese I know. They can be as excitable and fun as a group of Latins. One of the two main characters, Inspector Chen, is meant to be a poet and poetry aficionado. I liked that touch. However I felt by the end it was laboured a bit so that it slowed down the novel without really adding much to the story.In short, I would give this one a miss.
—William Knox
When Red is Black is the 3rd installment of the Detective Chen Cao series. This mystery focuses on the death of writer Yin, who was suspected of being a dissident by the Chinese government for her publication of "Death of a Chinese Professor," based loosely on her lover's life during and following the Cultural Revolution. Yin is found smothered in her apartment, and there is no clear suspect. Detective Chen is on vacation, as he took a lucrative translation job, so his partner Yu is left alone to solve the case. I liked this book, as it is Yu-centric, and his wife Peiqin helps with the case. He also ends up getting some much-needed recognition and validation for his work, as he was starting to question the reason why he was continuing on in this sometimes thankless career. The book also delved into a bit of Chinese history with explaining the Shikumen houses, and how Shanghai once was. This is probably the lightest read in the series so far, and not as slow-paced as I was hoping for. I look forward to the next one in the series.
—Sarah
