Visit the settings in the novel set in Bejing


Having watched Strangers on TV also set in China, I started to read this series of thrillers having read a lot of Peter May beforehand. For some reason, I’ve never taken a second look at these, until now!

From the first page, I was thrown in at the deep-end. This is the centre of Bejing and in the weird and wonderful world of Chinese forensics. A police investigation can be very territorial between any two cities, so imagine between China and America. This is the crux of the novel and it brings up so many interesting threads of how investigations are carried out, why motive is more valued in America and how the Chinese are conscious of ‘saving face’

The plot is fast and thrilling. There’s a international conspiracy involved here and the details and the twists and turns are page-turningly good. The setting is what grabbed me from the off and it was really unique to have a dual country investigation in the bustling city of Bejing. A bit of science and a conspiracy theme rounds things off nicely even if it did go a bit Dan Brown at times. There’s a fair bit of suspending your sense of disbelief but that was ok with me.

I found the whole relationship between Li Yan and Margaret really interesting. At first she’s the balshy and I-know-best American and Li Yan strictly conditioned by his Chinese and police upbringing but things start to become more complex.

I really enjoyed this and am already on book three having bought the others to find out what happens to test my favourite new couple in crime fiction. When you read the author note to the book and the level of access Peter May had to get some of the facts and background in the book, well this is an author who knows and loves his research

Enjoyed getting to find out about this series!