The Murder of Mr. Ma

By: John Shen Yen Nee, SJ Rozan

Narrated by: 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

Critic reviews

“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

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.

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.

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.