Caffeinated Reviewer

Please welcome Sophia Rose back to the blog with the first audio in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series, Thief of Souls. Grab a cuppa and find out why you’ll want to travel to the People’s Republic of China, to a small town in the north.

The brutal murder of a young woman in a rural village in Northern China sends shockwaves all the way to Beijing - but seemingly only Inspector Lu Fei, living in exile in the small town, is interested in justice for the victim.

Lu Fei is a graduate of China's top police college but he's been assigned to a sleepy backwater town in northern China, where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth. The CID in Beijing - headed by a rising political star - is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own.

As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger.

Sophia Rose’s Review

When a murder happens in a small backwater Chinese town, Deputy Inspector Lu Fei is called in on his night off to begin the investigation. Battling bureaucracy, hidden agendas, and the distinguished investigative team out of Beijing who all want a quick arrest, Lu carefully tracks witnesses and evidence one bit at a time.

Thief of Souls intrigued me as soon as I knew it was set in the People’s Republic of China in a small town in the north and that the detective was Chinese. I settled into the story carefully narrated by Lu Fei. He was a world-weary sort and middle-aged. He was trained and had experience in big-city police work, but was sent to the boonies because he’s a straight arrow and wouldn’t stand silently for the corruption of a fellow officer who had clout.  He has a fun, dry-humored relationship with his boss and a secret crush on Yan-Yan, the local bar owner.

It was interesting seeing how they did police work in China, but also social customs, family, and more.  I thought that was folded into the story so well that there were no info dumps, nor was I confused by how something was done or why.

As to the mystery, it had me stumped for a bit and then suddenly I knew who it was well before the big reveal. Not that this took away from the book because I was eager to see how they would catch the killer and then there was the suspense when the killer started stalking and captured his next victim and there was a race against time to get the killer before they finished off their victim.

As to narration, I was expecting a narrator with a Chinese accent, but then I settled in and really enjoyed my first time listening to P. J. Ochlan. He gave distinct personality to the large cast of characters he voiced, and I liked his Lu Fei in particular.

All in all, it was a great start to the series and I can’t wait for more Inspector Lu Fei on the job. Those who enjoy mysteries in an International setting should definitely consider this one.

Amazon | Audible

About Brian Klingborg

Brian Klingborg is a graduate of Harvard's Regional Studies East Asia program, and spent many years living and working in Asia and Europe. In addition to his first novel, Kill Devil Falls, published in 2017, he's written widely on Chinese martial arts. His second novel, Thief of Souls, will be published by Minotaur Books

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About P.J. Ochlan

P. J. Ochlan, an Audie Award–nominated and multiple AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, has recorded close to 200 audiobooks. His acting career spans more than thirty years and has included Broadway, the New York Shakespeare Festival (under Joseph Papp), critically acclaimed feature films, and regular roles in television series. Along the way, he's worked with countless icons, including Jodie Foster, Clint Eastwood, Robin Williams, Al Pacino, and Garry Marshall.

Website | Twitter

About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Twitter | Goodreads

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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