The Wild Beasts of Wuhan

Ava Lee, Book 3

By: Ian Hamilton

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

"Formidable...Ava Lee is unbeatable at just about everything....She's perfect."—Toronto Star

Meet Ava Lee, alluring but deadly, with a mind like a steel trap, as she chases millions of dollars and dangerous criminals around the globe in this exotic and fast-paced new crime series by Ian Hamilton.

In The Wild Beasts of Wuhan, Wong Changxing, a rich Chinese powerbroker, has just been bilked out of $100 million in an elaborate art forgery con. His one hope of recovering the money, and of saving face, is Ava Lee—a forensic accountant with a talent for tracking down untraceable funds. With the help of her mentor, the Triad-connected Uncle, Ava traces the provenance of the meticulously forged paintings to Denmark, the Faroe Islands, New York, and London. As she infiltrates one of the most prestigious auction houses in the world, she uncovers a massive web of corruption, where high art and high-stakes fraud threaten more than just her client's business—this is one scam that could get her killed. Ava Lee is one of the most scintillating, unique heroines to come along in years.

©2012 Ian Hamilton (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“With its exotic settings (from Asia to America and places in between) and its equally exotic investigator, this book is miles from the ordinary. The main character, Ava Lee is the 'whole package.'” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“You haven't seen cold and calculating until you've double-crossed this number cruncher. Another strong entry from Arthur Ellis Award-winner Hamilton.” —Booklist

“Ian Hamilton really knows his stuff, offering intriguing insights into a secret world and a heroine as fascinating as she is fierce. A fantastic read, I can't wait for the next one.” —Simon Lewis, author of Bad Traffic

Very good

I enjoyed the book. Ava Lee brings a couple different perspectives or approaches to this sort of thriller. Still I felt there was something missing. It is difficult to criticize a book, even gently, without talking about spoilers, so I will leave it at my 4 star rating. I think if you enjoy this book, you would enjoy many by Barry Eisler. Also, it may be that I am retired and reading a book a week etc. so maybe I am jaded a bit, but I am not sure 9 hours is really enough to develop an interesting story.