Jade Dragon Mountain

A Novel

By: Elsa Hart

Narrated by: David Shih

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

On the mountainous border of China and Tibet in 1708, a detective must learn what a killer already knows: that empires rise and fall on the strength of the stories they tell.

Li Du was an imperial librarian. Now he is an exile. Arriving in Dayan, the last Chinese town before the Tibetan border, he is surprised to find it teeming with travelers, soldiers, and merchants. All have come for a spectacle unprecedented in this remote province: an eclipse of the sun commanded by the emperor himself.

When a Jesuit astronomer is found murdered in the home of the local magistrate, blame is hastily placed on Tibetan bandits. But Li Du suspects this was no random killing. Everyone has secrets: the ambitious magistrate, the powerful consort, the bitter servant, the irreproachable secretary, the East India Company merchant, the nervous missionary, and the traveling storyteller who can't keep his own story straight.

Beyond the sloping roofs and festival banners, Li Du can see the mountain pass that will take him out of China forever. He must choose whether to leave and embrace his exile or to stay and investigate a murder that the town of Dayan seems all too willing to forget.

©2015 Elsa Hart (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

A a different twist on a murder mystery

I enjoyed this subtle twist on a murder mystery set in a different country and time. it is not fast paced but you slowly get pulled into the story and plot and before too long you will hate to stop listening.

Interesting story

I came across this book when I was looking for something similar to the Judge Dee mystery stories.

I found this story interesting to listen to. It takes place during the early 1700's. The main character is Li Du, who was an imperial librarian. He arrives in the Dayan on the Tibetian border in time for a solar eclipse. A Jesuit priest is found murdered and the story takes off.

The story line flowed well and you learn a little about the chinese culture in the area where the story takes place. A very good read. An "Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes entry"

It ain't over till it's over!!!

Would you listen to Jade Dragon Mountain again? Why?

Absolutely!! Outstanding Story!! Great Narration

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes! Multi-layered story which is not evident at the beginning. Excellent character development!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It left me wanting more!! Hopefully this is the first book in a Series.

Any additional comments?

I rarely write a review, but then I rarely get half way through a book and go back to Audible to see what other books the author has available!! Outstanding "Story",Truely a Yogi Berra type story, I.e. It ain't over till it's over. Great Character Development, Outstanding Narration!!

Intriguing Mystery, Richly Woven

There is a richness to this story that moves it beyond a typical mystery. The setting is as detailed as a Chinese scroll. The characters' modes of thought are as varied as their backgrounds. Delicious bits of culture and history are revealed in every scene.
Behind the hard-won solution to the primary mystery lies another, more dangerous mystery. The golden, jewel-encrusted clockwork solar system that lies at the heart of the story is an intellectually challenging puzzle as well as a beautiful cultural artifact. If that type of thing intrigues you, so will this book. The performance by David Shih is excellent.

An interesting mystery

This book has some absolutely beautiful prose, particularly in the descriptions of landscapes and settings. I found the descriptions to be really evocative. I liked the overall premise of the story and I really enjoyed learning how Li Du navigated the intrigue of the world in which he found himself.

That said, I did find some aspects of the story somewhat dull. I have learned that I do not particularly like mysteries that focus on political intrigue. I knew that I didn't really like US politically-based mysteries, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that politically-motivated mysteries from other countries are also not my cup of tea.

I liked the character of Hamza, the storyteller, but I didn't fully appreciate his role. His stories were somewhat entertaining, but didn't seem to lend that much to the book overall. I found some of the conversations stilted and awkward, and as a result had trouble 'losing myself' in the story.

I listened to this book at 1.2 x regular speed because I found the narrator to be good, but a bit slow.

A First Class Mystery

I did not really know what to expect with this book. However, I always enjoy a good mystery and this did not disappoint. The cast of characters is manageable for the reader/listener to manage, the narration is good (at times a tiny bit tedious) and the final plot twist is a logical conclusion. I look forward to other works by this author.

Loved this book

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I liked the references to Chinese history and customs. I liked the story involving Judge Dee. I am a big fan of Robert van Gulik books. The narrator was awesome. He had fitting and distinctive voices for each character. I hope the author writes more of these stories.

So good!

Loved the history that was put into the book. Classic detective badassery, but with the spin of both eastern, and period filters. What’s not to love?

Dragon

I enjoyed the intricate story and the historical focus of this book. It was a thoughtful presentation and the reader was very effective. I want more of this type of mystery!

enjoyable, entertaining!

full of twists, just when I figure one thing out, twist - ah should have known.
a detective story set amid early china and beautifully done. loved the history and descriptive narrative. will be buying the second one!