Inspector Shan, a disgraced Beijing investigator, was sent to a Chinese gulag in Tibet in the first book. Shan is horrified by the treatment of the Tibetan monks and intrigued by the courage and calm acceptance the monks exhibit. In each successive book, Shan's situation improves as he proves himself a skillful investigator and useful to Colonel Tan.
In Bones of the Earth, Shan witnesses the execution of a Tibetan, then finds himself investigating the deaths of an American woman and an archaeologist, and realizes that the executed Tibetan was not guilty of corruption, but a witness to the murders of the woman and the archaeologist who were trying to prevent the destruction of a Tibetan holy site. As usual, Shan is in a precarious situation as he attempts to bring the guilty to justice.
While I'm sad to see this series end, I'm happy that the conclusion provides a sense of hope for Shan and the people he loves. I was pleased to see a couple of characters from earlier books make reappearances. And I loved Tara, the goat!
This is an excellent series with characters the have depth and dimension, complex mysteries and investigations, and exemplary research and knowledge of Tibet and its people.
Highly recommended. To understand why Eliot Pattison writes about Tibet.
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Mystery/Crime. March 26, 2019. Print length: 352 pages.
Max Allan Collins' Girl Most Likely has received mixed reviews on Goodreads (from 2-5 stars). It starts with a brutal murder told in the first person, and the murderer voices his concerns about his next victim(s) in several other chapters. Who and why?
Set in Galena, Illinois, much is made of the Scandinavian roots of Krista Larson, the young woman police chief of Galena. There is an awful lot of "virtue signaling," a phrase I've not heard of before, but was actually in need of for a recent novel. Thanks to reviewer Glen for providing me with the perfect way to describe an author's tendency to keep pounding the characteristics of a good character as if I needed constant reminding.
There are WAY too many details of clothing, which irritated me as well. Yes, clothing details can be revealing, but details for every item, for almost every character feels like filler.
OK, Krista must discover the guilty party among her former classmates when a murder during their ten-year reunion occurs.
NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer
Crime/ Police Procedural. April 1, 2019. Print length: 272 pages.
Shattered Dreams annoyed me with the constant references of how good a character was (because once wasn't enough for me to understand) and with dialogue that turned into philosophical musings rather than conversation (because everyone I know talks like that). Thankfully, Glen's term of "virtue signaling" is perfect.
Obviously, the series is loved by many readers, but not every book fits every reader, and I'll stick with Craig Johnson and Longmire for my western mysteries.
NetGalley/Beyond the Page Publishing
Crime/Western. March 22, 2019. Print length: 297 pages.
------------National Letter Writing Month--------------
a mix of letters and postcards
That's a lovely variety of books you read, Jenclair. Eliot Pattison's series sound interesting; I don't think I've heard of the author. Another new author to explore. And I'm looking forward to receiving your letter. :)
ReplyDeleteI've loved the complexity of the mysteries and the characters are so interesting! Yep, that letter is on its way; I mailed at the first of April, but it takes a long time to get to Singapore. :)
DeleteVirtue signaling. Never heard it called that before, but it's the perfect phrase for that heavyhanded kind of writing. And I love your postcards and envelopes. Especially your thumbprint character. Thanks for sharing! :D
ReplyDeleteVirtue signaling is a useful term, isn't it? :) I've had fun with National Letter Writing Month!
DeleteExcessive clothing detail is a real bugbear of mine too. If it doesn’t serve the story, leave it out, I say.
ReplyDeleteThe Inspector Shan series sounds great. And while I understand that fans will be sad, I always think it good when a book series ends on a high note.
The mysteries are embedded in such a fascinating paradox of cultures. The Tibetans still trying to adhere to their religious beliefs even as they are imprisoned and tortured; the Chinese trying to erase every aspect of Tibetan Buddhism.
DeleteAw, I was hoping Girl Most Likely would be a better read :(
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed, but it seems most readers liked it better than I did. I won't continue with the series.
DeleteYou might be interested to know, depending on your politics, that "virtue signaling" is an alt-right term that describes authors supposedly inserting their own liberal opinions into the mouths of their characters, presumably for nefarious left-wing purposes. I would hesitate before embracing it, were I you.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did find several definitions including "the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue." Also, "Academically, the phrase relates to signalling theory to describe a subset of social behaviors that could be used to signal virtue"source It can be a political phrase for anyone, left or right and can apply to personal behavior without political meaning, in that it can be used to make someone more appealing to someone else. I don't have any qualms about using it as "literary term" about characters.
DeleteYou should perhaps have qualms, depending on your own politics. Everything you say about "virtue signaling" is true, but the alt-right has co-opted (and popularized) the phrase, and unless your politics are far-right conservative, you risk sending an unintended message. I have no argument with your review; your opinions are your own and you were not nasty in expressing them, as some have been (though the reviews overall have been fine). I am just cautioning you about the use of a loaded phrase. Thanks.
Delete