Flower Net by Lisa See
A while back, I discovered that Lisa See, author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, had written some mysteries earlier in her career. I've been meaning to check them out ever since, and I finally remembered to grab the first, Flower Net, a couple weeks ago.
The story is set primarily in Beijing and Los Angeles. When the body of the American ambassador's son is discovered in a frozen lake in Beijing, Investigator Liu Hulan is assigned to the case, and despite pressure from both the boy's family and her superiors, she is determined to solve his murder. U.S. Attorney David Stark, who's trying to prosecute Chinese triad gangs in LA, discovers another murder victim on a Chinese boat off the California coast. When it's determined that both deaths were caused by the same rare toxin, the American and Chinese governments agree to collaborate on the investigation, and David is sent to China. Hulan and David have a romantic past and realize immediately that their being assigned to work together is most likely not a coincidence. And the deeper they dig into the murders, the more questions arise...
I enjoyed this book very much. The mystery was intriguing and satisfyingly convoluted, but it was even more interesting to read about Chinese history and culture. Some aspects relating to the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 70s were more frightening than the murders, but nevertheless worth knowing. I've only read about Chinese history in fiction, but as with so much of history, I'd like to read more someday. I generally don't believe in wishing to change the past, but I've often thought I should have majored in history instead of minoring. If I ever win the lottery (which is unlikely since I almost never play), I'd definitely like to go back to school and take many more history classes.
I was pleased to learn that Lisa See wrote two more mysteries with Hulan and David, and I look forward to reading them when I catch up on my current set of library books.
The story is set primarily in Beijing and Los Angeles. When the body of the American ambassador's son is discovered in a frozen lake in Beijing, Investigator Liu Hulan is assigned to the case, and despite pressure from both the boy's family and her superiors, she is determined to solve his murder. U.S. Attorney David Stark, who's trying to prosecute Chinese triad gangs in LA, discovers another murder victim on a Chinese boat off the California coast. When it's determined that both deaths were caused by the same rare toxin, the American and Chinese governments agree to collaborate on the investigation, and David is sent to China. Hulan and David have a romantic past and realize immediately that their being assigned to work together is most likely not a coincidence. And the deeper they dig into the murders, the more questions arise...
I enjoyed this book very much. The mystery was intriguing and satisfyingly convoluted, but it was even more interesting to read about Chinese history and culture. Some aspects relating to the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 70s were more frightening than the murders, but nevertheless worth knowing. I've only read about Chinese history in fiction, but as with so much of history, I'd like to read more someday. I generally don't believe in wishing to change the past, but I've often thought I should have majored in history instead of minoring. If I ever win the lottery (which is unlikely since I almost never play), I'd definitely like to go back to school and take many more history classes.
I was pleased to learn that Lisa See wrote two more mysteries with Hulan and David, and I look forward to reading them when I catch up on my current set of library books.