A Loyal Character Dancer by Qiu Xiaolong (Soho Crime)

Inspector Chen Cao is a member of the Shanghai Police Bureau. He likes to spend his mornings reading Chinese poetry there. However, on this occasion, he was approached by a senior park security officer. The park officer led him to a dead and mutilated body, dressed in his pajamas. 

So begins Qiu Xiaolong’s novel A Loyal Character Dancer. It is a sequel to Xiaolong’s debut novel, Death of a Red Heroine and features a rising star in China’s politically complicated government - Chief Inspector Chen Cao. 

Inspector Chen is soon joined by his assistant, Detective Yu Guangming who took pictures of the victim and told his boss that it was Triad killing, the Triads being a secret society originating in China and is usually involved in organized crime. 

Forensics determined the man was killed by eighteen blows from axes. Chen and Yu also determined that the body was left in the park so it would easily be found. The only question is why. Detective Yu suggests that it may be a warning. But to who and why remains a mystery.

Inspector Chen is then summoned to his superior’s office, Party Secretary Li Guohua. Guohua is not only Chen’s superior but his mentor as well. The Party Secretary was speaking to Chen, telling him, “The Party has always thought highly of you, so this is a job for you, Chief Inspector Chen, for you alone”. 

Chen was surprised that Party Secretary Li was already informed about the murder victim found in the Bund Park.  But then, Party Secretary Li shows Inspector Chen a picture of an American woman and tells him, she is Inspector Catherine Rohn, a representative of the U.S. Marshals Service. Inspector Rohn is in China to escort a woman named Wen Liping back to the United States. Inspector Chen’s job is to help her accomplish this mission. 

Inspector Chen has no idea who Wen Liping is or who her husband, Feng Dexiang is. A major triad leader named Jia Xinzhi, has been arrested in New York. He is allegedly involved in a number of criminal activities, including people smuggling. The only one who can testify against him is Feng Dexiang. However, he will only do so if his wife is brought to the U.S. from China. 

Chen believes this assignment is more of a show to the U.S. Government and is not really interested in babysitting a U.S. Marshall, although Catherine Rohn will be a guest of the nation of China. It appears to be a simple job which Inspector Chen hopes to finish before focusing on the murder victim found in the Bund Park. 

Unfortunately for Chen, things go awry even before Inspector Rohn comes to China. Wen Liping has gone missing and nobody knows her whereabouts. The only information the police received was that she received a phone call from Feng who told her that her life is in danger and she should escape while she still has a chance. 

Qiu Xiaolong weaves an intricate tale of organized crime, political corruption, and international cooperation between Communist China and the democracy of the United States. Inspector Chen is a key figure as he must find a balance to help an American and still remain a loyal Party member. 

Will Inspector Chen find Wen Liping before Inspector Rohn gets to China? Will he enlist her help if he doesn’t? And what is the mystery of the dead man in the park? All these questions will be answered and will make the reader look forward to the next Inspector Chen adventure. ~Ernie Hoyt