Un asesino en serie acecha a las jóvenes de Shanghai. Sus crímenes han creado gran revuelo en la prensa y entre los ciudadanos, sobre todo porque suele abandonar los cadáveres de sus víctimas enfundados en un vestido muy llamativo, rojo y de estilo mandarín. Precisamente cuando el caso empieza a cobrar dimensiones alarmantes, Chen Cao, el inspector jefe del Departamento de Policía de Shanghai, está de permiso: acaba de matricularse en un máster sobre literatura clásica china en la Universidad de Shanghai. Pero en el momento en que el asesino ataca directamente al equipo de investigadores del Departamento, a Chen no le queda más remedio que volver al trabajo y participar en las pesquisas. Mientras intenta atrapar al asesino antes de que se cobre nuevas víctimas, irá descubriendo que la raíz de estos asesinatos se remonta al trágico y tumultuoso pasado reciente del país.

When Shanghai’s Chief Inspector Chen is asked to look into a politically charged corruption case, he begs off with the excuse that his studies for his literature course won’t give him enough time for it. He’s been meaning to enroll in a literature course, so what better time than now? Chen’s course also keeps him away from headquarters as his colleagues investigate a serial murder case in which the victims are found wearing red mandarin dresses. Even though he is officially on leave, Chen works behind the scenes to help his partner Yu identify and catch the serial killer.

I didn’t enjoy this series installment as much as I’ve liked earlier books in the series. It’s been several years since I read the last book in this series, but Chen seemed more impulsive than the Chen I remembered. It seems surprising that Chen could decide to take a leave of absence or go on vacation without letting his employer know what he was doing. This book didn’t include as much poetry as I remember from previous books in the series, but classical Chinese literature is more prominent in this one. I didn’t enjoy the descriptions of food, particularly the “cruel dishes”. There wasn’t enough of Yu’s wife, Peiqin, a sharp woman whose insight is often helpful in investigations, and Yu’s father, Old Hunter, only appears at the other end of a telephone and readers don’t even get to hear his voice.

I liked the historical antecedents of the crime in China’s Cultural Revolution, and what amounts to an insider’s perspective of that era. Chen’s reflections on the differences between between Chinese culture and philosophy and Western culture and Freudian psychology were also interesting. ( )

The beginning of this installment in the series started off a bit slowly for me, I suspect because of the time spent with characters other than Chen himself. I don't enjoy being attached to the other characters so much, especially when it comes to Yu and his wife, and for a while it felt as if they were actually going to be the focus here more so than Chen. By the midway point, though, the book evened out for me and felt more like earlier works in the series, so that I could get lost in Chen's investigation and other concerns. I wouldn't say this is the strongest in the series for me, but I still enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the series. ( )

I liked Death of a Red Heroine better. Still learned something about Chinese culture - but "Death" was a better mystery. Not as many threads to tie together. ( )

This is the fifth volume of the Inspector Chen series. As so often, I started in the middle of a series. A couple of years ago, I've already read volume six. It will probably be time to read the next time band one.
The story takes place in Shanghai. Chief Inspector Chen devotes himself to the time of Chinese literature and leaves his crew in charge, but without him, it does not go. As with the last book I read, I learned a lot about Chinese history before, during and after the revolution. Prostitution is forbidden, but under the cover of a kind of escort service everything is possible for paying guests. Weekly, murdered women are found wearing a traditional red mandarin dress. For Shanghai the first serial killer case. While Chen's team is determined in all directions, Chen is more likely to hit the right track by chance.
Of course the tradition of Chinese food is of great importance. Great dishes are served according to old tradition, which we would not eat in part.
I like this kind of crime in a foreign culture. ( )