There’s no Lawrence Osborne book that I didn’t absolutely love, and this one is no exception. His writing is urbane, mercurial, and atmospheric—compellingly noir. As a British ex-pat residing in Bangkok, Osborne’s Asian settings for his novels are enveloping and alluring. His characters are typically lurid or naïve ex-pats themselves, and often deeply flawed in that alien culture way that gets them in trouble. ON JAVA ROAD is centrally about a friendship between a British journalist, Adrian Gyle, who has lived in Hong Kong for decades (he calls himself a hack), and his good friend, Jimmy Tang, a wealthy local elite. In Osborne’s usual measured voice and tone, a disappearance interferes, or threatens to interfere, with their friendship. What I enjoy so much about this writer is how the language itself tells the story.

Student protests against the extradition bill point the way to the darker side of Hong Kong politics. Drian is covering some of these protests, and meets a rebel student half his age who is dating the married Jimmy. Adrian is intrigued by this woman, who is independent and unthreatened by Jimmy’s marital status and unimpressed by his wealth. However, when Tang’s power and potential betrayal comes knocking on Gyle’s door, Adrian’s investigative skills and inclination to delve further into sinister undercurrents in the city bring him to a precipice in his relationship with Jimmy.

I was immediately installed in Osborne’s rich and textured tale, and, as usual, riveted by the moody and sensual narrative. I read him for the prose as well as the story. “…I wondered just how fully I understood the tight-knit warp and weave of a society like Honk Kong: incestuous, gossipy, given to rumors and backstabbing, its money all wrapped up in a few clans, always ready to flee to foreign parts if the going gets rough.” Mmm…tasty from start to finish.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for sending an early copy for review.

Lawrence Osborne once again inhabits the mantle of Graham Greene. On Java Road has more than the usual infusion of historical interest against observance of the current condition, in this case, the state of Hong Kong on the 25th anniversary of the handover which has caused disruption and citywide unrest. Old hand journalist Adrian Gyle, who has covered HK for over 20 years, met Jimmy Tang while both were students in England. Jimmy, scion of a billionaire family insists on lavish lunches, rare wines, and furnishing Adrian with (unwanted) sartorial delights, and it is their "friendship" that fuels the narrative. Imbued with Osborne's trademark atmospheric pall, the reader gets more than bargained for thanks to an insider's knowledge of HK and how its elements clash and coalesce. I'll read anything he writes.

I think that Lawrence Osborne is the modern day equivalent to Graham Greene crossed with John Le Carre. The latest is no exception. The atmosphere, the modern story that is both now amc nostalgic, it’s intelligent escapist literature. You feel you are on the Nathan Road with Adrian. Really fantastic, and I can’t wait for the next novel, and more exotic locations. He so envelops the life of the British ex-pat in all of its glory and pain.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Definitely creepy. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rebecca is an enigma. Born into wealth, she is ready to set all that to fire, joining the anti-China protesters in Hong Kong. Her volatility attracts the scion of a local powerhouse, Jimmy Tang. Journalist Adrian Gyles is an unwitting bystander to the relationship and finds himself in unsavory territory when things go awry. The novel incisively explores the waning days of old-school journalism. It also defines friendship and what one does in the name of loyalty. Osborne’s picturesque imagery of a roiling Hong Kong, combined with his ear for dialog, makes the novel a standout. Osborne delivers another winner.

Very interesting book How Hong-Kong It was a part of the Britain but then he returned CHI NA. This book is about a journalist named A DRI AN Who writes for a newspaper. And his friends with a very prominent family called Jimmy. And you see this in the sport cow very fun ship develops over time and then it's completely disappears you'll find this out later in the book. Jimmy decides to have an affair with Rebecca who is demonstrating out demonstrating out in the streets against China China putting restrictions on freedom of press. The journalist gets caught up this a little bit as well and and you realize this is crazy Rebecca tries to have his affair with Jimmy but Jimmy doesn't realize how she's so involved out in the streets. Part of the book is based on how Jimmy gets caught in this affair and has terrible connection points as which will find out later. It's interesting how books are like this and it's called Java road. And how the journalist gets very paranoid because he thinks people are listening to him because he wants to report on things happening and eventually realizes if you're too old for this and we've moved on with this life And Rebecca's family came over from China we're from China in 1947 and they were part of like a mob type thing so thanks so which meant they were like black marketing stuff like that it's very interesting how the past and the future all seems to mingle together. This is why I thought the book was very interesting it showed respect upon everybody's side and how they came to this crazy conclusion