In this lively series about two New York private investigators, the central characters take turns narrating the books. In this one, the "I" is Lydia Chin, and a revered Chinatown elder has asked her and her partner Bill Smith to go to Hong Kong perform a family errand. The plot, not unnaturally, thickens once Bill and Lydia reach HK -- both in terms of mysterious happenings, and in terms of their ever volatile relationship. Lydia is an appealing and upbeat character, the setting is interesting, and the plot moves briskly. ( )

Set in Hong Kong, the seventh in the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith mystery series finds the detectives on a mission to deliver a jade necklace to a dead man's grandson and a letter to his brother. But what should normally be a routine assignment becomes anything but, when Lydia and Bill find themselves involved in a kidnapping plot and a murder investigation.
As always, Lydia and Bill work as a team and the novel is structured around their evolving relationship. Set against the lush backdrop of Hong Kong, they meet up with Mark Quan, a Hong Kong cop who also happens to be a transplanted ABC (American Born Chinese).
Lots of drama, action and romantic tension make for an enjoyable read.
(Read April 2003) ( )

Lydia sent by grandpop from Chinatown to Hong Kong; kidnapping

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