In this sequel to Dragon's Eye, senior homicide investigator Sun Piao is released from a mental hospital for dissidents just as China is preparing for the 2008 Olympics. When one of his best friends and colleagues is murdered while investigating the killings of young women on a construction site, the government assigns the case to Sun Piao, China's most successful maverick detective. VERDICT Superimposing a capitalist economy on a totalitarian political and social structure works only to a point. Oakes's mystery reveals the hidden machinations that keep the Chinese people under control. Recommended for fans of Peter May and Qiu Xiaolong and readers who like to explore foreign countries where we have little firsthand knowledge.
