Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

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. 

Review:

I love a good, atmospheric mystery filled with characters I can get to know over an array of books.  The new mystery series, by author Brian Klingborg, The Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries, is set in a smaller Chinese city, and checks all the boxes.  There is a collection of interesting characters in the town, a murder, and lead central character with a shadowy past, that really makes this an entertaining book.  The mystery is a gruesome murder of a local young woman, that has Lu Fei navigating a colorful cast of local characters, from nosy neighbors, to Communist bureaucrats. As he hunts the killer, we start to get to know Lu Fei.  If you enjoy the Inspector Gamache mysteries, by Louise Penny, I think you would like this book.  With all the local townspeople, it reminded me of that series.  I look forward to learning more about this character and his world in future novels.

What I Liked:

Setting:

The author has spent several years living in China, so he is uniquely qualified provide insights that make this novel authentic (without the repercussions a Chinese citizen might experience) .  The book is not shy about showing how police work in Communist China is vastly different from that in America.  No search warrants are needed, suspects can be roughed up, and if someone is charged with a crime, they are virtually guaranteed to be found guilty.  And the punishment for murder is a swift execution without time for appeals.    The book shows these differences without judgement.  Lu Fei feels a responsibility to make sure they arrest the right person, and not just to quickly solve a murder by falsely convicting an innocent person.

There are also little touches that abound showing Chinese customs that I found really interesting, especially concerning rituals about death and mourning.  I didn't know anything about some of these customs, like joss money being put in the mouth of the deceased person, and Chinese thoughts on cremation.  I also found it fascinating how traditions that have existed for thousands of years have been influenced by the current Communist government.

Characters:

Detective Lu Fei, the main character, is a single man in his late thirties who had a promising career in the police force, but now has been assigned to a small, rural city.  You'd think he would be bitter, but he seems okay with it.  But is he?  He drinks to excess most nights, and pines for the local barmaid, stumbling home to eat instant ramen.  I liked that he is very principled, but it is to his detriment.  He wants to ensure that the actual killer is found.  He doesn't want to just wrap up a case by finding the most convenient suspect. 

I also liked Lu Fei's various co-workers, from the younger constables who are already disillusioned by the low pay, and disrespect they receive, to the Police chief, who is more concerned with easy resolutions than getting to the truth.  The author shows some compelling reasons for their lack of commitment.

Story:

The story follows a violent murder with some ritualistic elements.  Why did the killer mutilate the corpse?  Can that be a clue as to who did the crime?  As Lu Fei investigates the murder, we get a look at rural Chinese society and customs.  We also see the challenges that occurs when higher ups from Beijing get involved, local independent media starts playing up the more gory details of the crime, and influential businessmen start to throw their weight around.  What are they trying to hide? 

What I Was Mixed About:

Story:

As much as I loved the story, I also found the details of the murder to be really disturbing.  If gory violence upsets you, beware!  This had several scenes that were seriously creepy.  Plus, the finale involves a violent scene with a woman being attacked.  If violence such as this is triggering to you, you might now want to read this book.

TRIGGER WARNING FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  May 4th, 2021

Author:  Brian Klingborg

Publisher:  Minotaur Books

Genre:  Mystery Thriller

Page Length:  288 Pages

Source:  Publisher and NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  I found the story to be exciting and and page-turner.  I look forward to future books in the series.