The Mao Case An Inspector Chen Novel

Chief Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Department is often assigned cases considered politically "sensitive" and now the Minister of Public Security insists that Chen personally take on a 'special assignment.' Leery of international embarrassment, the party is concerned about rumors related to Chairman Mao. Jiao, the granddaughter of an actress who had a 'special relationship' to Mao has moved into a luxury apartment and become involved with a new social set centered around the remnants of pre-Communist Shanghai society. All without any visible means of support. Worried that Jiao has inherited some sort of artifact that could prove damaging to Mao's reputation, Chen has been given a few short days to infiltrate her social circle, determine if the feared material exists and, if it does, retrieve it quietly. And if he fails, the consequences will be unpleasant for all concerned.

QIU XIAOLONG is a poet, professor and author of five previous novels featuring Inspector Chen.  Born and raised in Shanghai, where he was a renowned poet and translator, Qiu lives with his family in St. Louis, MO.

"Qiu's deftly paced suspense keeps the reader flipping pages..." --Publisher's Weekly "No one writes about modern China...the way the sensitivity and caring of this author.  For all mystery collections." --Library Journal (starred review) "Stylistically cadenced and charmingly mannered...very clever." --Winnipeg Free Press  "Full, as always, of crisp detail and vivid atmospherics..." --Booklist