The Red Pole of Macau: An Ava Lee Novel

Canadian author Hamilton's third Ava Lee novel (after The Wild Beasts of Wuhan) has Ava traveling to China to rescue her distant half brother and his partner from financial disaster that could in turn risk her extended family's fortune. Ava is up against the "Red Pole of Macau," the enforcer for a powerful gang in the former Portuguese colony. Relying on her mentor, "Uncle," she also enlists the help of a former client, the cunning May Ling Wong. More cerebral and dependent on interrelationships than in the earlier books, Ava, a forensic accountant with martial arts skills, is sharp, clever, and cultured. Strong and independent, she also has a vulnerable side; she prays to St. Jude, the patron of lost causes, as she sets out to rescue her brother's kidnapped partner. Ava plans her approach down to the smallest detail, envisioning every possible scenario. Her dedication pays off in an edge-of-your-seat rescue attempt, with less violence than her previous adventures.