Recommended for fans of complex mysteries with political undertones. The book provides a deep insight into the political atmosphere of Shanghai and the challenges faced by Inspector Chen, making it a gripping read. The most unique feature of the book is its depiction of the complex relationship between Inspector Chen and his former lover, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.

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• Barry Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2001)
• Anthony Award for Best First Novel (2001)
• Edgar Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2001)

Qiu Xiaolong's Anthony Award-winning debut introduces Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police.A young “national model worker,” renowned for her adherence to the principles of the Communist Party, turns up dead in a Shanghai canal. As Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Special Cases Bureau struggles to trace the hidden threads of her past, he finds himself challenging the very political forces that have guided his life since birth. Chen must tiptoe around his superiors if he wants to get to the bottom of this crime, and risk his career—perhaps even his life—to see justice done.

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