The Mao Case: An Inspector Chen Novel (Inspector Chen Cao, 6) - Softcover

Xiaolong, Qiu

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312601239 ISBN 13: 9780312601232

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2010

Synopsis

Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department is often assigned cases considered politically "sensitive," and now the Minister of Public Security insists that Chen personally take on a 'special assignment.' Leery of international embarrassment, the party is concerned about rumors related to Chairman Mao. Jiao, the granddaughter of an actress who had a 'special relationship' to Mao has moved into a luxury apartment and become involved with a new social set centered around the remnants of pre-Communist Shanghai society. All without any visible means of support.

Worried that Jiao has inherited some sort of artifact that could prove damaging to Mao's reputation, Chen has been given a few short days to infiltrate her social circle, determine if the feared material exists and, if it does, retrieve it quietly. And if he fails to solve this 'Mao case,' the consequences will be unpleasant for all concerned.

About this title

About the Author:

QIU XIAOLONG is a poet, professor and author of five previous novels featuring Inspector Chen. Born and raised in Shanghai, where he was a renowned poet and translator, Qiu lives with his family in St. Louis, MO.

From Booklist:

Inspector Chen of the Shanghai police returns in his sixth book (following Red Mandarin Dress, 2007). Continuing to gain prestige among the party cadre, Chen is assigned a case so delicate he must keep it secret from the Special Case team and even from his dedicated assistant Yu. A young woman with black ancestors, Jiao has suddenly risen from poverty and appears at parties dedicated to reliving the glory days of the 1930s. Internal Security is worried about Jiao’s growing power and especially about her connection to Mao (her grandmother was one of Mao’s lovers), a link that could protect her from any kind of official censure. Using Mao’s poetry and a censored biography, Chen investigates in his leisurely and unconventional style, posing as a rich businessman and aspiring writer. With the assistance of Yu’s father, Old Hunter, Chen delves deep into the murk of the Cultural Revolution, uncovering Jiao’s family history and her real connections to Mao. Full, as always, of crisp detail and vivid atmospherics evoking contemporary Shanghai, this latest installment further establishes the series’ stature on the international crime beat. --Jessica Moyer

About this edition

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0312601239
• ISBN 13: 9780312601232
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304