A Warning to the Curious
This is the third book in the Dee and Lao Anthony Award-winning mystery series featuring two Chinese investigators: Judge Dee, a man involved in much subterfuge and many disguises, and his well-dressed friend Lao. In 1924 London, both are concerned with a shipment of arms that has gone astray. It was supposed to go to Sun-Yat Sen, the historical physician who, in 1911, overthrew the Qing Dynasty and established the Republic of China. Judge Dee is thought to be dead, and Sun-Yat Sen sends Judge Cheng to investigate his death. Judge Cheng brings his family with him, including his beautiful daughter Irene, an electric engineer who does research on radio and phonograph recordings in spite of her family and fiancé’s objections. When Irene is found dead in her lab, Judge Dee and Lao have two cases to solve.
Nee and Rozan are creating an updated version of Gong’an and Wuxia novels. Gong’an stories feature a wise judge of incredible abilities, including the martial arts skills typical of Wuxia novels. The fights in the book are well described, but I did wish that this was a graphic novel so I could enjoy every flip of the deadly steel fans or every hit of the throwing stars, not to mention the balletic kicks, leaps, and punches. A fast-moving blend of steampunk, homage to the Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey, Jr., and Gong’an and Wuxia-style subterfuge and strategy.
