A Conspiracy in Two Many Countries to Be Realistic

SJ Rozan is an architect who has been writing detective thrillers in New York City; she has been winning awards since the 90s. John Shen Yen Nee is a media executive in Los Angeles: past president of WildStorm Productions, and senior vice president of DC Comics, publisher of Marvel Comics, CEO of Cryptozoic Entertainment, and founder of CCG Labs. This novel is the follow-up to a collaboration between these two on the historical adventure-mystery The Murder of Mr. Ma.
“Judge Dee and Lao She must use all their powers of deduction—and kung fu skills—to take down a sinister conspiracy between Imperial Russia, Japan, and China in a rollicking new mystery set in 1920s London…” There are too many countries here for this to be a coherent “conspiracy”, as instead it must be an irrational “conspiratorial”-thinking kind of a story. The first “kung fu” mention appears in “Chapter Thirty-Three”, and there is mostly a threat of a fight, without details of how the fight is fought before the story digresses. There are other mentions when Voronoff and others claim to “know kung fu”. In the latter case at least there is a “series of punches, left, right, left, Dee slid back, slapping away each blow until the final one when he jammed Voronoff with a high and low double tiger claw trapping bridge hand…” Okay this goes on to be a decently-described fight.
“London, 1924. Following several months abroad, Judge Dee Ren Jie has returned to the city to foil a transaction between a Russian diplomat and a Japanese mercenary.” Just because these characters are from different places hardly means that their countries are involved in the “conspiracy”? “Aided by Lao She—the Watson to his Holmes—along with several other colorful characters, Dee stops the illicit sale of an extremely valuable ‘dragon-taming’ mace.” When this item is described in its luxurious glory, there are questions if it is supposed to perform “magic”, or if it is even “real gold”. Apparently, the magic is that when this item is stolen “something terrible ‘appening to whosoever stole it” (23). They keep chatting about this item, without clearly explaining what its significance is, or its relevance to the larger “conspiracy” they are trying to uncover. “The mace’s owner is a Chinese businesswoman who thanks Dee for its retrieval by throwing a lavish dinner party. In attendance is British banking official A. G. Stephen, who argues with the group about the tenuous state of Chinese nationalism—and is poisoned two days later.” This poisoning could have been a dramatic scene, but instead of showing it, characters discuss that he was “Poisoned!” A bit of info is given about “a mixture of certain medicinal herbs”. Then, they blame the “butler” for disliking Chinese people. They seem to shift the fault onto the poisoning victim, as they agree that people who mistreat Chinese people deserve to be murdered… “Dee knows this cannot be a coincidence, and suspects Stephen won’t be the only victim. Sure enough, a young Chinese communist of Lao’s acquaintance is killed not long after—and a note with a strange symbol is found by his body. What could connect these murders? Could it be related to rumors of a conspiracy regarding the Chinese Eastern Railway? It is once again all on the unlikely crime-solving duo of Dee and Lao to solve the case before anyone else ends up tied to the rails.”
The story opens with a cryptic “Prologue” that is set in “1966”, but only mentions the year “1924” in its body. There is a mention of a “fight”, but no fight takes place here. It seems the authors are trying to repel all potential readers. Then, “Chapter One”, set in London, 1924, begins with a long paragraph where the trick of omitting letters is used to suggest a character has a heavy accent. Nothing clear is said in this paragraph: no explanation for what this guy wants, or what he’s trying to communicate. In the next paragraph Judge Dee at least explains they are there “to intercept” some kind of “men”. Apparently the other speaker did not ask in advance what guys they are after, or what they’d be trying to do as they lie in wait… This is pretty absurd. Generally, this is not a readable novel.
—Pennsylvania Literary Journal, Fall 2024: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-fall-2024

This second Judge Dee and Lao Shee didn't draw me in quite as much as the first, although it was still very good. I felt like there was more of an emphasis on martial arts battles, less on details of the mystery. I did enjoy the 1924 London setting and watching how the Chinese expat community was interacting with events in their homeland. This book definitely felt like a set up for future series entries; at least I hope so. I want to read more about the young woman, Feng as well as the rest of Dee's friends.

It isn't the poor book's fault, I guess. This just wasn't for me. Think swashbuckling with no pirates.

I’ve long awaited this sequel to authors S.J. Rozan and John Shen Yen Yee’s debut, The Murder of Mr Ma, and I was not disappointed! Judge Dee Ren Jie, the eminent Chinese judge and diplomat, returns to London, reuniting with his friends — Professor Lao She, merchant/martial artist Sergeant Hoong and the former pickpocket Jimmy Fingers. Just in time, too, as the crew is able to foil the attempted theft of a stolen priceless Chinese mace.

But this cleverly handled escapade is but the beginning of a reign of terror in London by competing ruthless gangs aiming for international control. Readers will enjoy the many twists and surprises. Highly, highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Soho Press in exchange for an honest review.