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Inspector Zhang Gets His Wish (Inspector Zhang)
by
Stephen Leather (Goodreads Author)
Inspector Zhang loves mysteries, but as a Detective Inspector with the Singapore Police Force he knows that mysteries are few and far between. There are relatively few crimes in the city state and those that are committed are usually solved quickly. But that all changes when Inspector Zhang is called to a top Singapore hotel where a guest has been found murdered in a locke...more
Kindle Edition, 43 pages
Published
June 16th 2011
by Three Elephants
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This tale is a short story at just under 9,000 words and demonstrates the author's adaptability in expertly penning a tremendous variety of style in his fictional works.
It introduces readers to the very dapper Inspector Zhang of Singapore Police. Together with his sidekick Sergeant Lee, the narrative has the Inspector leading his sergeant through his very carefully deliberated thought processes in solving the murder of a businessman in a five star hotel - a crime that is very rare in Singapore....more
It introduces readers to the very dapper Inspector Zhang of Singapore Police. Together with his sidekick Sergeant Lee, the narrative has the Inspector leading his sergeant through his very carefully deliberated thought processes in solving the murder of a businessman in a five star hotel - a crime that is very rare in Singapore....more
I picked this short story up on amazon as I've been wanting to try this author for a while. I have to admit it took me a while to decide what I thought of it.
The character, Inspector Zhang, is quite quirky, but in a fairly stereotypical way. He reminded me a fair bit of Sherlock holmes and I think that was probably deliberate but I didn't feel like I got to know him well enough, which is often the problem with short stories. Less time for character development. I did really like this one though,...more
The character, Inspector Zhang, is quite quirky, but in a fairly stereotypical way. He reminded me a fair bit of Sherlock holmes and I think that was probably deliberate but I didn't feel like I got to know him well enough, which is often the problem with short stories. Less time for character development. I did really like this one though,...more
A charming homage to John Dickson Carr, master of the "locked room" mysteries. Zhang is excited because he has been called to the location of a murder in which the scene is straight out of Carr and Zhang recognizes that in Singapore, where few crimes are committed, he may never get another opportunity to emulate the great literary detectives. Sergeant Lee plays Watson to Zhang's assumed role of Holmes.
A man is found dead in his hotel room, stabbed, but with no murder weapon in the room and CCTV...more
A man is found dead in his hotel room, stabbed, but with no murder weapon in the room and CCTV...more
Not a bad book but the trick to unlocking the locked room mystery was quite simple and this is my first real venture into this genre. As for Inspector Zhang, he seemed strange to me. Almost straight away he went against protocol and put off calling in forensics, against arguments from his assistant. He then acted like a child explaining with glee how this was a wonderful crime to investigate. He went on to describe the idea of a locked room mystery to the reader and even gave away the solutions...more
I really enjoyed this short story by Stephen Leather, and it will definitely lead me to download more of his 'Inspector Zhang' stories.
For me, the central character was well developed and instantly likeable, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way in which he interacted with his assistant.
I also liked the way the author laid down the 'rules' for a locked door mystery before revealing how this particular crime was committed.
This piece of work seemed a million miles away from some of his other books whic...more
For me, the central character was well developed and instantly likeable, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way in which he interacted with his assistant.
I also liked the way the author laid down the 'rules' for a locked door mystery before revealing how this particular crime was committed.
This piece of work seemed a million miles away from some of his other books whic...more
"Inspector Zhang Gets His Wish" by Stephen Leather is an excellent short crime story. I am not a huge fan of crime fiction but have heard my partner talk about the closed room cases many times.
Inspector Zhang investigates one of such cases where the victim is locked and dead in a locked room without a murder weapon present or the murderer. Determined to solve the case without forensics he uses logic and plenty of references to other such cases to solve the murder.
Crime fiction lovers will adore...more
Inspector Zhang investigates one of such cases where the victim is locked and dead in a locked room without a murder weapon present or the murderer. Determined to solve the case without forensics he uses logic and plenty of references to other such cases to solve the murder.
Crime fiction lovers will adore...more
This is a short story about Inspector Zhang. He is somewhat a connoisseur of 'Locked Room Mysteries'. He finally gets his greatest wish and recieves a call, a man has been killed and noone has been in or out of the room.
Being somewhat of a newcomer to this 'Locked Room Mystery' genre, I had no idea what to expect. I loved it. I loved the intrigue and mystery surrounding the whole conundrum. Inspector Zhang attacked the problem with steadfast logic and came to his conclusion by eliminating all th...more
Being somewhat of a newcomer to this 'Locked Room Mystery' genre, I had no idea what to expect. I loved it. I loved the intrigue and mystery surrounding the whole conundrum. Inspector Zhang attacked the problem with steadfast logic and came to his conclusion by eliminating all th...more
Inspector Inspector. You love fiction way too much.
I loved the fact that this book is filled with literary references.
The setting is duly foreign and the murder a real mystery.
My one complaint is that the story was a short but I can see why if this were a longer novella or such it would lose it's punch.
A story worth your time if murder mystery is your thing.
I myself would however not rush out to get the next book by the author. It is however a book that I will recommend if this is your genre...more
I loved the fact that this book is filled with literary references.
The setting is duly foreign and the murder a real mystery.
My one complaint is that the story was a short but I can see why if this were a longer novella or such it would lose it's punch.
A story worth your time if murder mystery is your thing.
I myself would however not rush out to get the next book by the author. It is however a book that I will recommend if this is your genre...more
Inspector Zhang loves reading mysteries, and is quite excited when a hotel reports a murder to the police, because in Singapore murders are quite rare. Even better, it's a locked room mystery, and Zhang sets out to educate Sergeant Lee and the hotel employees on all the possible types of locked room mysteries as he solves the murder.
Pretty good! I hope with subsequent stories we get more of a feel for Singapore.
Pretty good! I hope with subsequent stories we get more of a feel for Singapore.
A good short story, with an interesting cast of characters. You instantly get a feeling for the main characters, Zhang and Lee, and how their relationship is; Lee, the ever faithful student,
Zhang, the wiser, slightly eccentric Mentor.
You get all of this in a very short amount of time, and though the story is simple, and quick, I enjoyed every moment. I will definitely be reading the rest of the Inspector Zhang series.
Zhang, the wiser, slightly eccentric Mentor.
You get all of this in a very short amount of time, and though the story is simple, and quick, I enjoyed every moment. I will definitely be reading the rest of the Inspector Zhang series.
2.7/5
Free from Kindle Amazon. A good short story on fictional crime in neighbouring country of Malaysia. :)
"Murders are rare in Singapore. Our island state is the most tightly controlled place on the planet; our Government knows everything there is to know about its citizens, so our crime rate is one of the lowest in the world."
Interesting remarks there. :)
Free from Kindle Amazon. A good short story on fictional crime in neighbouring country of Malaysia. :)
"Murders are rare in Singapore. Our island state is the most tightly controlled place on the planet; our Government knows everything there is to know about its citizens, so our crime rate is one of the lowest in the world."
Interesting remarks there. :)
This begins a series of short ebooks available in the Kindle store by thriller writer Stephen Leather. Set in Singapore these are "closed room" murder mysteries self published by the author. There are five all together and a couple have been free with the others for $.99. Nice, fast reads and good puzzles to solve.
A short story that was free on the kindle. I thought there was too much talking. A writer should "show, not tell." Not much character development. Needed a more varied vocabulary. The woman "scribbled in her notebook" until I wanted to take it away from her and tell her to do something else with it.
This book was very easy to read. I would think that most adolescents would be able to understand it well. My husband and I were looking for a short story to read and picked this one. Turned out to be a good one. Clean, easy to read, and short; it was a perfect short story book.
A Kindle free short story, old style detective whodunit in the style of Agatha Christie's Poirot about a murder in a locked room, well written and executed I did not guess the culprit and will certainly look out for some more books from this author.
What a quick read. This was my Stephen Leather book and I have others of his on my TBR (tree books) and it won't be my last.
Stephen writes a good mystery short novel and can't wait to read his other in the Inspector Zhang series.
Stephen writes a good mystery short novel and can't wait to read his other in the Inspector Zhang series.
The word "quaint" comes to mind. But in a good way. A Singapore detective gets his very own locked room mystery. Short story, kindle edition ends at about 64%, the remainder being made up of an excerpt from one of the author's novels.
A great fun short story. Nice character description, i felt comfortable with them in moments. I too (Like Inspector Zhang) like a locked door mystery - I shall look forward to reading more of Stephen Leather's work
Another great Inspector Zhang adventure. I think this must be the first in the series. Here Stephen Leather uses the tale to tell us about the closed-room mystery structure. Foiled by the ending though, darn!
A good little short story, well written and easily read. Passed a very pleasurable hour curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea whilst I read this, will definitely be checking out the others in the series.
Dec 31, 2012
Jade Clements
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who like short crime books
Recommended to Jade by:
amazon
Shelves:
free-kindle
I read this because it was free on amazon kindle. It was a good short story about a closed room murder. Inspector Zhang, A modern day Sherlock Holmes. It was a fun short read.
this is a hilarious short story (and free, too!). i loved the dry humour and references to british and american detective stories. very funny. perfect treadmill fodder.
The first story with Singaporean Inspector Zhang is an enjoyable study in how to solve a Locked Room Murder by applying 7 basic scenarios.
There are also 3 intriguing chapters introducing another book called Bangkok Bob and the Missing Mormon (I am not joking) which I intend to get.
There are also 3 intriguing chapters introducing another book called Bangkok Bob and the Missing Mormon (I am not joking) which I intend to get.
A really good short story. Definitely reminded me of Sherlock Holmes and Watson, parts of it had me chuckling out loud!
Could have done without the monospaced font, but otherwise it was an entertaining (and short) murder-mystery.
I really liked this, it's a murder-mystery-short-story. Inspector Zhang, A modern day Sherlock Holmes. Recommended.
Very Sherlock Holmes, but also quite short, good to read on my break or on a long journey.
Very short story, but a good read. It's also free so who can complain about that!
An interesting locked room mystery - easy to read, thought provoking with intrigue
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Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Before that, he was employed as a biochemist for ICI, shovelled limestone in a quarry, worked as a baker, a petrol pump attendant, a barman, and worked for the Inland Revenue. He began writing full-time in 1992. His bestsellers have been translated...more
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