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The Red Pole of Macau (Ava Lee #4)
by
Ian Hamilton
In The Red Pole of Macau, Ava's half-brother Michael is desperate to pull out of a multi-million-dollar real estate deal in the territory of Macau. The developers are threatening to halt construction unless Michael and his business partner put up another $80 million; the bank is looking for repayment on their loan; and her father is prepared to sell everything to protect h...more
Paperback, 1st, 336 pages
Published
September 1st 2012
by House of Anansi
(first published August 8th 2012)
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I downloaded this ebook for free as part of Apple's 12 Days of Christmas free apps. This is the first ebook I've read on my iPhone and actually didn't mind it. I can see the appeal of ereaders!
I am not familiar with Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee series of books, but I would definitely read another one. I love that Ava Lee, the protagonist, is a strong young woman doing what most people are used to reading about men doing: helping the good guys. She figures out the problem and works with a network of s...more
I am not familiar with Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee series of books, but I would definitely read another one. I love that Ava Lee, the protagonist, is a strong young woman doing what most people are used to reading about men doing: helping the good guys. She figures out the problem and works with a network of s...more
The Red Pole of Macau features forensic accountant Ava Lee who is a kickass heroine. Yes, I said accountant and kickass in the same sentence. In addition to a calculator, Ava possesses some scary martial arts skills. She is called to Hong Kong to help her half brother Michael who she has only met once. He and his business partner, Simon, bought into an investment in Macau with a property developer. A year later, nothing has happened with the property and the developer is demanding an additional...more
This was an Apple freebie at Christmas time. I like free music. I don't mind wagering 3 minutes while I do something else, but I have previously shunned free books. Just to see, though, I had a quick look at the first page, and it swept me up.
The compelling writing continued throughout the book. It is part of a continuing series about a lesbian forensic accountant trained in martial arts, resident in Toronto, but with ties to Hong Kong, including possible ties to the Triads, and her own complex...more
The compelling writing continued throughout the book. It is part of a continuing series about a lesbian forensic accountant trained in martial arts, resident in Toronto, but with ties to Hong Kong, including possible ties to the Triads, and her own complex...more
Good read. I'll find other books in the series to read.
Except for the one action sequence practically every interaction between charactes centered around food. The author spent almost as much time describintg what was eaten as he did advancing the plot. I have no idea what most of the foods were.
I always wonder about powerful female protaganists with a capacity for violence who are created by male authors -- I wonder if a woman wrote this character would it come out the same way?
The single a...more
Except for the one action sequence practically every interaction between charactes centered around food. The author spent almost as much time describintg what was eaten as he did advancing the plot. I have no idea what most of the foods were.
I always wonder about powerful female protaganists with a capacity for violence who are created by male authors -- I wonder if a woman wrote this character would it come out the same way?
The single a...more
I think this is my favourite Ava Lee book as of late. It's the most exciting one (compared to the first three) and has a lot of dynamics in play, especially the uncertainty Ava has to face in her decisions to retrieve not only the money but a victim from a business deal gone wrong from the Red Pole. Normally sure of herself, Ava faces a situation where she has to weigh the outcomes of her decisions before putting her plans in action. It's nice to see this change because she can't always be in co...more
Another hit from Ian Hamilton. Ava Lee, intrepid forensic accountant travels to Macau to help her brother who has landed himself in a disastrous business entanglement. With her usual aplomb, intelligence and feistiness, and with the help of some extra muscle, Ava flies to the rescue. It is a complicated mission and not exactly in Ava’s usual “accounting” zone, but family ties and obligations allow little choice.
Hamilton always depicts a very rich, vibrant atmosphere wherever Ava travels and thi...more
Hamilton always depicts a very rich, vibrant atmosphere wherever Ava travels and thi...more
I love the Ava Lee books, but by this fourth one, I was getting tired of the fact that all Lee does is make phone calls to make things happen. There wasn't that much action and not that much investigation in this book. I did like that we learned more about Lee's background and family circumstances. We also learned more about the strength of her bond with Uncle and how he thinks of her as more than an employee. I felt like we got to know more about her beyond her work, but the pacing in this was...more
It was the first time for me, when I read an entire ebook on my 4 inch iPod touch, and it wasn't a bad experience at all! I really enjoyed Ian Hamilton's writing. It was the first of Ava Lee series books that I've read, and it was full of thrill! I really liked how the author described various Macau and Hong Kong plots and how the story took place! It was a bit boring at start, but after that it was really thrilling and interesting! I finished it in one day, which was quite fast for me regarding...more
A page-turner, for sure. And also an interesting slice of a world that I know very little of. Asian, Chinese culture, business practices, organizations, habits.
I read this novel only because it was part of Apple's 12 Days of iTunes Christmas giveaways, and I'm delighted to report that should another of the books cross my path, I would definitely read it.
Action like Stephenson, straightforward and clean writing, a clever insight into character, and a world-building that engages & invites.
Go...more
I read this novel only because it was part of Apple's 12 Days of iTunes Christmas giveaways, and I'm delighted to report that should another of the books cross my path, I would definitely read it.
Action like Stephenson, straightforward and clean writing, a clever insight into character, and a world-building that engages & invites.
Go...more
I received this free from iTunes and enjoyed it. I may pick up another in the series.
For me it was fairly straightforward action -- not a ton of surprises or character growth. Nothing really stood out for me, but I liked the characters and the depictions of places and cultural differences was vivid, lending a sort of "travel writing" feel to it in parts. Basically I enjoyed it enough to consider repeating the experience but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to others. Good but not outs...more
For me it was fairly straightforward action -- not a ton of surprises or character growth. Nothing really stood out for me, but I liked the characters and the depictions of places and cultural differences was vivid, lending a sort of "travel writing" feel to it in parts. Basically I enjoyed it enough to consider repeating the experience but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to others. Good but not outs...more
A delight. This is the third in Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee series, and I can't wait for the next one. I'm enjoying the international travel and adventure, Ava Lee's courage and intelligence, and the fact that the mysteries involve business stories, an unusual spin in a mystery. Ava is an accountant in partnership with 'Uncle' (ex-triad) in Hong Kong; they chase bad debts, and always at great personal risk. Highly recommended for a good read.
If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Ava Lee, you are in for a treat. A forensic accountant with martial arts skills, Ava specializes in recovering lost and/or stolen money. When her brother calls her from Hong Kong about a deal gone bad, she goes to help him. With Uncle and his driver as well as a few others Ava problem solves with the best of them. Read the series in order, starting with The Water Rat of Wanchai
I got the ebook as one of the gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas (from Apple).
This is my first experience reading work by author Ian Hamilton. I was so impressed with his writing that I will definitely be reading more of his books.
Ava is a great character! She's intelligent and feisty with martial arts skills to boot. She's a modern crime-fighter by all means, even though she claims to be only an accountant.
This is my first experience reading work by author Ian Hamilton. I was so impressed with his writing that I will definitely be reading more of his books.
Ava is a great character! She's intelligent and feisty with martial arts skills to boot. She's a modern crime-fighter by all means, even though she claims to be only an accountant.
I read this cause I got it free from Apple and I left my books in Bac Lieu.
This is my first Ava Lee novel and while it was interesting enough, it seemed rather simplistic. There was no suspense and the action was short lived. Ava is supposedly an accountant but her skills there were barely used.
But, the characters were entertaining, albeit one dimensional.
Probably won't read the others unless I get them free.
This is my first Ava Lee novel and while it was interesting enough, it seemed rather simplistic. There was no suspense and the action was short lived. Ava is supposedly an accountant but her skills there were barely used.
But, the characters were entertaining, albeit one dimensional.
Probably won't read the others unless I get them free.
Solid book. Liked that the character was Canadian-Chinese. Also a setting that was fresh (at least to me). And I liked that the heroine was a regular person. Not superhuman talent and luck, while pretending to pass of as a real person. Not too intense. No twists or turns. But enjoyable. Will go back and read first three novels in series.
These books do not disappoint. This is the fourth Ava Lee book from Ian Hamilton. Ava Lee is a brilliant and beautiful forensic accountant who handles sticky financial situations. I'm not sure how Ian Hamilton keeps Ava going - new places, new fraudulent schemes to unravel, and more connections to tap, but they are fabulous. Keep 'em coming!!
Ava is my hero! Ian, the writer is getting better and better as the series goes along. this time Ava has to do something totally out of character for her, and does it with poise, and effectiveness. Nothwithstanding the seriousness of it, she saves the day once again! full of action, adventure, and exotic locales, cannot wait until February when the next one comes out!
Cool book, set mainly in modern Hong Kong and Macau this time. I could see it being made into a good movie because of it's interesting but relatively simple and short story about Ava Lee helping her half-brother get out of a nasty business situation with a rogue red pole triad in Macau.
I say it's simple after just coming from reading Noble House with its intricate story lines involving multiple character's perspectives. Anyways, it a really good read and you learn more about HK and Macau. Lookin...more
I say it's simple after just coming from reading Noble House with its intricate story lines involving multiple character's perspectives. Anyways, it a really good read and you learn more about HK and Macau. Lookin...more
My brother recently flew to Hong Kong...had I read this sooner, I would have told him not to go to Macau. Another fast Ava read, true to the series, and with more insight into her family and loyalties. Less accounting though, boo (say I, the accountant).
The fourth in the series and Ian Hamilton continues to evolve as does his character Ava Lee. This time we see her sense of family obligation as she risks her safety and relationship with Uncle to be of help to her half brother whom she barely knows.
This is a decent book. The comparison between Ava and Salander from the Millennium books is a fair one (although having read that somewhere before starting this book, it may have influenced my impressions somewhat).
I would have liked more tension in some areas. It seemed that some solutions occurred to easily. Still a good book.
I would have liked more tension in some areas. It seemed that some solutions occurred to easily. Still a good book.
Ava Lee keeps getting deeper and more human as her stories keep turning the pages themselves. I'm happily hooked on this series.
And I've officially stopped star-rating books, but if I was rating this, it would be high.
And I've officially stopped star-rating books, but if I was rating this, it would be high.
This one had me from the start and held on tight as Ava travelled to Hong Kong and Macau. She runs into fascinating characters and we learn some more about Ava's family. This is my favourite Ava Lee novel so far.
Garry Ryan
Garry Ryan
This was a freebie from iTunes and I was in no rush to read it but started one day because it was there on my iPad while I was bored waiting in a line and it totally sucked me in from the first few pages. I really enjoyed this (having been to and loved Hong Kong many years ago probably helped). I think I'll probably read the other books in the series. Big thumbs up.
This was a return to the thrill and excitement that I experienced in his earlier books. I'm very curious of the movie versions as I hope they live up to books. Can't wait to read the next one in February.
Another great read with Ava Lee at her most ruthless best when she must save the life of her brother's partner and to save the honour of her family. Great plot.
3.5 Another good thriller in this always reliable series. I'd like to learn a little more about Uncle but maybe his mysteriousness is part of his charm.
I got this as a free book from iTunes. I tend to start reading books and then forget about then but I managed to complete this one. I think the fact that it was an ebook helped because I was able to read it on both my iPhone and iPad.
I enjoyed the book and will likely read more of this series.
I enjoyed the book and will likely read more of this series.
Got this one as part of apple's 12 days of Christmas give-away. Pretty interesting read, although the writing could be better. As far as martial-art practising accountants go, the main character is a fun to imagine. It'll make a good movie. Someone call Lucy Lu!
It was just a coincidence that as we plan our trip to China I read two books that take place in China.
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Ian Hamilton has been a journalist, a senior executive with the federal government, a diplomat, and a businessman with international links. He has written for several magazines and newspapers in Canada and the U.S., including Maclean's, Boston Magazine, Saturday Night, Regina Leader Post, Calgary Albertan, and the Calgary Herald. His nonfiction book, The Children's Crusade, was a Canadian Book of...more
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Mar 02, 2013 04:04pm