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):

he search for a missing girl sends Inspector Lu Fei undercover into the wild corners of Myanmar, and the compound of the deadly and mysterious woman warlord responsible for the illegal trafficking of exotic animals and possibly more, in the next book from Brian Klingborg, Wild Prey.

Police Inspector Lu Fei has an unfortunate talent for getting himself into hot water with powerful and well-connected people. Which is why he’s been assigned to a backwater town in a rural area of Northern China and quietly warned to keep his head down. But while running a sting operation on the sale and consumption of rare and endangered animals, Lu comes across the curious case of a waitress who has gone missing. Her last known whereabouts: a restaurant frequented by local elites, owned by smooth-talking gangster, and known for its exotic -- and highly illegal -- delicacies.

As usual, Lu's investigation ruffles some feathers, resulting in his suspension from the police force. Lu figures he's reached a dead-end. Then he's contacted by a mysterious government official in Beijing who wants him to go undercover to track down the mastermind behind an illegal animal trafficking network -- and hopefully, the answer to the fate of the missing waitress. The mission will require Lu to travel deep into the lawless wilds of Myanmar, where he will risk his life to infiltrate the hidden compound of a mysterious and ruthless female warlord in a bloody and nearly hopeless quest for justice.

Review:

I really enjoy a good detective series, and have gotten to be a fan of several Mystery book series such as the Inspector Gamache series by author Louise Penny, and the Two Rivers series by author Anne Cleeves.  Both of those series feature a troubled police detective who's integrity gets him into trouble.  The same can be said for Inspector Lu Fei.  This series, written by author Brian Klingborg has a main character who drinks too much, has a long-standing crush on the local bar owner, and has a sense of justice that gets him into lots of trouble.  This series takes place in China in a small city where not much happens, and yet...  Inspector Lu Fei seems to find himself in the center of grizzly crimes in every book. 

While investigating cases, we get a glimpse of life in China and life in a Communist country.  Much of Lu's daily life is like anyone else's.  He goes to work at the police station, where most of the time, the most exciting thing happening is getting a paper cut.  But he and his co-workers are also watched by the local Party representative, so one has to be careful not to criticize the wrong people.  After work, Lu likes to go to the local bar and moon over the proprietress, while drinking too many beers.  But when crimes are to be investigated, Lu is relentless in finding out the truth.

This was a page-turner with a mystery that takes Lu from his small city to the jungles of Myanmar.  With lots of danger, betrayals, and twists, this was a great read.

What I Liked:

Setting:

This story could really take place anywhere, in any country.  What makes this story so compelling is finding out about what life is like for Inspector Lu.  From the food, to the nosy neighbors, to the complex social structures, the details made this world come alive to me.   I liked learning about the way this society worked.

Characters:

Inspector Lu is a man who has been thrown away.  His once promising career has been derailed by his pesky sense of Right and Wrong.  If Lu sees a double standard between how the law is applied between Party big-wigs and everyday people, he feels compelled to point this out.  This isn't winning him lots of friends.  But he does have the respect of others.

Lu is in love with the owner of his local bar, a widow who is having trouble letting go of the past.  I felt for this character, as I think it's hard for any woman to move on from widowhood.  Can you find love again and not be judged by your neighbors?  I think this happens to many woman.  But there are traditions in China which make this even more of an issue.

Story: 

The story begins as a young teenager says that her sister is missing.  She makes her report, and then won't leave the police station until her sister's disappearance is investigated.  She even sleeps in the lobby of the police station, making herself a nuisance until the police finally does something.

And then the hunt begins!  Lu finds that the missing young woman works in a restaurant where exotic meat is served purporting to increase a man's virility.  Everything you can think of is on the menu, including sex workers.  But where is the restaurant getting their supply of Tiger penises and endangered animals?  And how is the young woman involved?  Lu must go undercover to get his answers.

There were a lot of scary situations that made this a book I could not put down.  And this made the book a whole lot of fun!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  May 17th, 2022

Author:  Brian Klingborg

Publisher:  Minotaur Books

Genre:  Detective Thriller

Page Length:  304 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This book is exciting, with characters that you'll want to follow into other stories.  Inspector Lu is a complex main character.  And the story is full of twists and turns.  I highly recommend this book.