This is a historical mystery set in Tang Dynasty China and starring the semi-fictional, semi-historical character Judge Dee. There was a historical magistrate by that name, but the Judge Dee of this novel is based on his various fictionalizations: first in an eighteenth-century Chinese crime novel, and then in the mysteries written by translator and writer Robert van Gulik (in English) in the mid-twentieth century. Qiu Xiaolong has a detailed postscript going into this, along with the historical basis for the novel and the changes he chose to make in writing it.

So! What's the plot of the book? Basically, the Empress Wu has quashed a recent rebellion, and assigns Judge Dee to track down a missing poet, one of the rebellion's figureheads, who vanished during the uprising and may, or may not, be dead. As Judge Dee attempts to track down his quarry, he finds himself being shadowed by mysterious figures with mysterious aims - and more than one death may be laid at the feet of his investigation by the end. Judge Dee himself is turmoiled; he is ambivalent about the Empress Wu and the rebellion, and unsure if he's been told the truth about the Empress's reasons - or if the entire investigation is a smokescreen, a way to force him into a public failure which could result in his own denunciation. I guess what I'm saying is, this is very much a book that exists in the shadow of modern China, and for that matter many other totalitarian regimes, where even those people acting on behalf of the existing power structure don't necessarily support it, and may in fact be its next victims - a fact of which they are well aware. Judge Dee is older in this book, suffering from numerous health problems, and walking a very fine line between betraying his morals and betraying his duty.

As a mystery, it's more complicated and ambiguous than most. The real mystery - and focus of the book - is the mystery of what choices Judge Dee is being faced with. It's not solving the mystery of the missing poet - it's figuring out why he's been asked to solve the mystery of the missing poet, and what choices he makes based on his theories. The solution, and ending, to the book is most satisfying when that is kept in mind. The prose style felt a little flat, but this is true of a lot of translated work and also very much in keeping with the van Gulik books.

I found the book on the whole readable and enjoyable, but more evocative and philosophical than most mysteries. The poetry of the Tang period plays a role and the author has translated a number of Tang poems which make appearances in the narrative. As a work of historical fiction this is excellent and engrossing, but readers expecting a more typical mystery may be disappointed.

Set during the Tang dynasty in China, the story follows the investigation of Judge Dee into the fate of the poet Luo Binwang. Ordered by the Empress Wu to either find Luo and bring him to her, or else confirm his death, Dee sets out with his loyal assistant, Yang, to see what he can discover. As he travels around the country, he is closely pursued by deaths that leave him feeling uncomfortable with his role.
The story started off slowly and it took me a while to engage with it. Once the scene had been set and Dee started his investigation the story followed better. The story is based on a real historic mystery and the style of the narrative reflected the ancient times and the characters grew on me as I continued to read.
This is a very short story and so a quick read and an interesting, gentle mystery.