Thief of Souls: An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery
May 2021 · Inspector Lu Fei Series Book 1 · Minotaur Books
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In Brian Klingborg's Thief of Souls, the brutal murder of a young woman in a rural village in Northern China sends shockwaves all the way to Beijing—but seemingly only Inspector Lu Fei, living in exile in the small town, is interested in justice for the victim.
Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police college but he’s been assigned to a sleepy backwater town in northern China, where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth. The CID in Beijing—headed by a rising political star—is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own.
As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger.
Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police college but he’s been assigned to a sleepy backwater town in northern China, where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth. The CID in Beijing—headed by a rising political star—is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own.
As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger.
Ratings and reviews
5.0
2 reviews
brf1948
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May 4, 2021
I received a free electronic ARC of this mystery novel from Netgalley, Brian Klingborg, and a special request from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Brian Klingborg to friends and family. He writes a tight, complex mystery with personable characters. He is an author I will follow. Lu Fei is a 30-year-old Constable with the local Public Security Bureau Station in the small community of Raven Valley Township in China. In more familiar locales, the PSB would compare to a western police department, with branches at the provincial, county, municipal and local levels just as it would be in the U.S. Lu Fei and his co-workers are all well presented, individual and with personalities that we will all recognize instantly among our co-workers, friends, and family. I found this a very good, well-paced mystery, with the added benefit of dissolving some of the mystique that has always surrounded our Chinese neighbors in most American minds. The bridge between their life and ours seems much less threatening today. This is good, because May 1, 2021, is the First Day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We have many walls that need to come down.
Linda Dossett
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May 4, 2021
This is a different type who done it and I enjoyed the whole experience. The distinctive difference in cultures is evident throughout, although much is the same as the “west”. Here we have a serial killer with a twist. The oriental view of the police and life in general is entertaining and intense. Enjoy this puzzle.
About the author
BRIAN KLINGBORG has both a B.A. (University of California, Davis) and an M.A. (Harvard) in East Asian Studies and spent years living and working in Asia. He currently works in early childhood educational publishing and lives in New York City. Klingborg is also the author of Kill Devil Falls.
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