Jade Woman: A Lovejoy Mystery - Softcover

Gash, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 014012280X ISBN 13: 9780140122800

Publisher: Penguin Books, 1990

Synopsis

Bankrupt and forced to flee England, Lovejoy, a con man and connoisseur of antiques, travels to Hong Kong, only to become caught up in murder

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

Lovejoy's latest and best-yet caper is set in the teeming, steaming diversity of Hong Kong where Gash plumbs the passions of his famous antique "divvy" and scamsman sleuth. Forced to flee England after the police destroy his latest forgery, Lovejoy ends up in the Hong Kong airport where he is relieved of his worldly possessions and forced to fend for himself. His first benefactor, an antiques dealer, is shot shortly after their meeting; he is saved next by an expatriate gigolo who needs a partner to accommodate excess business. Though successful at his newest trade, Lovejoy's divvying talenthe can spot a real antique in a warehouseful of fakesmust out. Soon he is also working for a powerful Triad with tentacles reaching deep into international government, commerce and the antique trade. As Lovejoy moves toward the Triad's inner circle, he is drawn to the "jade woman" of the title, a combination of brains and beauty and fame, trained for her role since infancy. Realizing he knows too much Triad business ever to leave Hong Kong alive, the rogue-artist must save his skin with the forgery scheme of a lifetime. Along with comic sex scenes and the latest in British slang, Gash gives his readers enough details about the manufacture of fake masterpieces to spawn a new generation of forgers. Ever appealing, ever the con, Lovejoy delivers the real thing. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo/ Mystery Guild selection; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Lovejoy's mock-heroic escapades continue in rare form when he travels to Hong Kong to escape a crook/creditor. At first pressed into service as a gigolo (not altogether grudgingly), he soon schemes (at the insistence of the notorious Triad) to take over an international antiques firm. Needless to say, Lovejoy survives numerous close calls, amorous women, and more. Crammed with flavorful detail and history, educational bits on antiques, Lovejoy's picturesque and witty language, and an improbable but well-focused plot, this stands as best in the series so far.-- REK
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 014012280X
• ISBN 13: 9780140122800
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 288