Jade Dragon Mountain
In this classic “who done it” set in 17th-century China, a librarian, Li Du, is exiled by the Emperor for political reasons. Wandering far from Beijing, Li comes upon the town where his cousin, Tulishan, is magistrate, and stops to pay his respects – but the Emperor is coming for a solar eclipse in six days, so Li must be gone by then.
Priests, traders, and astronomers in town for the eclipse speak freely to Li, a learned man. Hanza, a Turk, befriends Li, but his tales seem to contain warnings. Sir Nicholas Gray, who represents the East India Company, guards a clockwork model of the solar system that predicts the time of the eclipse, a very strange gift for the Emperor. The Jesuits have many skills, some hidden, and make no secret of their rivalry with the Dominicans for influence. Li’s cousin Tulishan is ambitious. He desperately wants a job in Beijing, and his consort, Lady Chen, is scheming to go with him. Li listens to all carefully.
When a Jesuit priest is found poisoned, Tulishan wants to drop the matter before the Emperor arrives. But Li, who suspects one of his new acquaintances has a motive for murder, insists that justice be done. When Li turns investigator, an attempt is made on his life. Quick thinking keeps Li alive to see the sun return – and to stop another murder.
The plot recaps are unnecessary, and the easily obtained confessions (a la Perry Mason) stretch credulity. A subplot would relieve the rather relentless pace. Hart’s characters are very convincing, however, and the ending is truly explosive. If Jade Dragon Mountain has the sequel it deserves, Li Du will have an exciting back story.
