This was a great start to a new trilogy. Filled with colorful characters and intrigue, this book is atmospheric and gives us a look at present day China.
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the beginning I was drawn into the tragedy of the recluse expat Paul Leibovitz, an American living in Honk Kong for the past 30 years. Here he has lived and loved and lost all. When his son succumbs to leukaemia, Paul withdraws from the bustle of the mainland and lives cocooned in a small village, marking his life with memories of his son deliberately and carefully.
By chance he connects with an American woman Elizabeth whose son is missing and agrees to make enquiries on the off chance via a connection he has that something might come to light. What they find is tragedy and dark secrets beneath the veneer of respectability of this modern China.

An Atria ARC via NetGalley

This was a surprisingly good read. I am not sure what I had in mind for it, but Jan-Philipp Sendker made this one really enjoyable. I love how most of this story was set in China and how we got to see some cultural things about that country.

Paul has been living in Hong Kong for 30 years and when he meets Elizabeth in her state of near collapse, he knows that he has a new mission that he is intent on solving. The murder, mystery and suspense will keep you flipping through the pages of this story until you reach the end and then leave you longing for more. I can't wait to see what is next for us from Jan-Philipp Sendker. This was my first read by this author but I can guarantee you it won't be my last.