The Murder of Mr. Ma

De: John Shen Yen Nee, SJ Rozan

Narrado por: Daniel York Loh

London, 1924. When shy academic Lao She meets larger-than-life Judge Dee Ren Jie, his quiet life abruptly turns from books and lectures to daring chases and narrow escapes.

Dee has come to London to investigate the murder of a man he’d known during World War I when serving with the Chinese Labour Corps. No sooner has Dee interviewed the grieving widow than another dead body turns up. Then another. All stabbed to death with a butterfly sword. Will Dee and Lao be able to connect the threads of the murders—or are they next in line as victims?

Blending traditional gong’an crime fiction with the most iconic aspects of the Sherlock Holmes canon, Dee and Lao’s first adventure is as thrilling and visual as an action film, as imaginative and transportive as a timeless classic.

©2024 Erasmus Fox (P)2024 Recorded Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Fans of Sherlock Holmes, devotees of intricate crime, and lovers of historical London will thrill over The Murder of Mr. Ma … With a plot as clever as Chinese veteran of WWI turned independent investigator Dee, and pacing as light-footed as the martial artists engaged in the frequent fisticuffs, this case has it all—even romance and authentic food, if you can stomach such things. I’m only miffed because I don’t know when the next in the series will land on my doorstep.”—Lyndsay Faye, author of Dust and Shadow

A mystery fill of delightful surprises

Set in 1920s London, this is an atmospheric mystery in the modern of Sherlock Holmes. It’s “Watson” is a writer and lecturer named Lao and it’s great detective is Judge Dee, transplanted from his usual time and place.

This is more than a pastiche, for Dee, Lao, and the other characters are wonderfully drawn, with complex characterizations and interesting interactions.

The story features a clever mystery focusing on the titular murder, a tontine, and the early years of the motion picture industry. It also turns an unflinching eye on the many forms of anti-Chinese racism in the late British Empire and Dee’s struggles with morphine addiction.

That is heavy subject material, but the book has some wonderful warmth and whimsy also. From the unexpected kindness of unlikely characters, to a great use of Spring-heeled Jack, the terror of London, to the cats from Mars, The book is a terrific read from beginning to end.

One is enough

Based on reviews, I purchased this book in a 2 for 1 credit sale. Unfortunately, you can not return sale books or I would have. This book is filled with martial arts fighting, which I find boring. The narrator is outstanding, and the mystery is ok.

History post war England and the Chinese part in the war

Loved the voices! Great back story! Plot twists! History of post war England! Drama and sympathy for characters.

like the reader!

We enjoyed the reader and Chinese experience in London was interesting, a new genre for us. the humor was appreciated also

Refreshing type of who-done-it

Old fashion style mystery which was very refreshing and enjoyable. The narrator was wonderful. Also learned a bit about WW11 and post war experience of the Chinese that I had no idea of.

A British mystery from a different point of view

Strong story that provides a view of 1920s Britain through a lens not often considered.

Wonderful adventure in 1920s London

A truely wonderful tale of adventure and mystery as Judge Dee arrives in London and through a series of events using Chinese fighting skills they work through the mystery of the death of a Chinese shop keeper Mr. Ma.

A fascinating story that draws you into post World War I London where the effects of the war and what we now call PTSD affect Judge Dee, along with Mr Lao who is teaching Chinese to British students wishing to travel to China.

I highly recommend this book to those people looking for a twist on an Edwardian style mystery intersecting with two strangers from Ciina solving a murder mystery.

The book is written in a cinematic fashion where the characters a nd locations have a movie like quality. The fight scenes are
Choreographed with tremendous detail you will feel as though you are watching a movie. I could easily see this book made into a movie.

Raw narrator David York Loh the book alive through his narration. He does an excellent job with all the Chinese names and names of foods. It is a detail that makes everything come alive.

After finishing the book I hope the authors will continue this series so we can have the further adventures of Judge Dee and Mr Lao.

An Intriguing Puzzle

Set in 1920’s London with a Sherlockian pair of detectives now Chinese, a judge who is concerned with the death of a fellow conscript during the Great War and an academic whose quiet life is upended as he is enlisted in the search for the murderer of that conscript and shortly after of others. Witty, adventurous, and full of surprises, this novel disappointed in only one way—it is the first in what will hopefully become a series but for now has no sequels to turn to. I regret coming to its end.

Outstanding narration!

The narrator, Daniel York Loh, made each of the characters a vivid individual in a natural and believable way.

Good story, will probably buy next in series

Interesting characters, was afraid it would turn into some ghost story but main character, despite some very human faults, is a good guy you want to cheer on. The surrounding characters are not all the bad prejudiced idiots that did occur based on race and skin color. Getting tired of the “woke” culture that condemns a group of people based on skin color and seen in literature.