Beijing Payback

A Novel

By: Daniel Nieh

Narrated by: Ewan Chung

A fresh, smart, and fast-paced revenge thriller, bursting with personality and pathos

Victor Li is devastated by his father’s murder, and shocked by a confessional letter he finds among his father’s things. In it, his father admits that he was never just a restaurateur—in fact he was part of a vast international crime syndicate that formed during China’s leanest communist years.

Victor travels to Beijing, where he navigates his father’s secret criminal life, confronting decades-old grudges, violent spats, and a shocking new enterprise that the organization wants to undertake. Standing up against it is likely what got his father killed, but Victor remains undeterred. He enlists his growing network of allies and friends to finish what his father started, no matter the costs.

A fun light romp

Something to read if you like lightweight action thrillers. A good first novel with some fun plot twists.

Narration is awesome

The story is not very deep or intriguing but the glimpse into Chinese culture was fascinating for me. I really enjoyed the narration more than the story itself - the Chinese narration followed by the translation as well as the various intonations and inflections were done very well. The book was a good listen but not compelling.

Enjoyable easy interesting reading

Nice novel, away from normal- yet hits on subject matter in a relevant way, if lightly, to keep it intriguing but not make your head hurt keeping up with the details

Recommended

Fast paced story interesting bicultural characters. Well written and performed. Recommended to test reader stereotypes

The reader is outstanding

The novel is a fun ride; most characters are lovable and clever. But the reader gave the story a warmth that I really enjoyed.
Made me want to hear Chinese all day (I do not know a single word).