It's the autumn of 1708, and imperial librarian and traveler Li Du, introduced in
Jade Dragon Mountain, is on the move again, this time as part of a caravan taking a shortcut to reach the Tibetan trading city of Lhasa. When a bad storm forces the caravan to shelter at a manor house in a remote mountain valley, the group stumbles upon the body of renowned—and reclusive—painter Dhamo, presumably a victim of suicide. Of course, all is not as it appears, and the investigation sets in motion events that lead to escalating danger for the entire valley. The mountains are high, the politics compelling, and the culture fascinating and rich. With so much complexity, the author can be forgiven if there are occasionally too many plot threads going, some of which are resolved rather neatly.
VERDICT Fans of the first book who wished to know more about the enigmatic Li Du will be well rewarded here. Readers who appreciate historical mysteries, especially the classic "Judge Dee" series by Robert van Gulik, will be enthralled by this fascinating mystery.
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