Year of the Dragon

by Robert Daley

Nobody tells the story of the big-city cop as authoritatively and as suspensefully as bestselling author Robert Daley. Now Daley returns with his classic thriller. Here the adversaries are two men, locked in a war to the death. They couldn't be more different. One is hte overlord fo New York's powerful Chinatown mafia, a renegade ex-policeman to whom crime is simply a force of nature, like the tide. The other is an NYPD captain, a relentless crime fighter who takes evil personally -- and who knows that even if there is no victor, there can be only one surevivor in the....Year of the Dragon

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Novels, Mystery

425 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1981

About the author

Robert Daley is the author of seventeen novels and eleven non-fiction books. Born and brought up in New York, he graduated from Fordham University, did his military service in the Air Force and began writing stories, articles and books immediately afterward. He was a New York Times foreign correspondents for six years based in France but covering stories from Russia to Ireland to Tunisia, fifteen or more countries in all. Much later he served as an NYPD deputy commissioner, which explains why many of his books have played out against a police background. His work has been translated into fourteen languages, and six of his books have been filmed. He is married with three daughters. He and his French born wife divide their time between a house in Connecticut and an apartment in Nice. France.

Reviews

[Checkman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am swearing off of Robert Daley's novels. They aren't terrible, but they also aren't all that involving. "Year of the Dragon" was made into a pretty poor movie (screenplay by Oliver Stone) in 1985 with Mickey Rourke. I remember that Mr. Daley was very unhappy with the adaptation and I have to say it isn't a great movie. However the novel isn't all that engrossing either (it took me a couple of months to get through it). The other big thing was that I didn't care for any of the characters in the book. All in all it's a big yawner. I rarely rate a book one star however, it seems to be as unrealistic as always handing our five stars. My copy was returned to the used book store from where I found it.

[Thrillers R Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly about real estate schemes and stock price manipulation, the transcontinental rail road was designed to connect both coasts of the United States from Iowa to San Francisco to facilitate commerce and migration, and paid about $16,000 per mile in 1865, courtesy of the American taxpayer. Naturally exploiting the land, resources, and people, those in charge of making it happen realized that immigrant labor, those with the least power, with the most to lose, and more than willing to lend a hand and break a back, were the best way to guarantee maximum profits. Somewhat muddled as to which line goes from where and connects to what, the railroad was built with para-slave labor, taking advantage of a lot of Chinese looking to escape big trouble in China and made their way across the Pacific Ocean. To abuse their legacy of more, Robert Daley's seventh novel overall and first of the 80s explores the life in and impact of Chinese Americans in New York City, the United States, and the world. Specifically, being responsible for the flood of Horse, Smack, White Lady, Yum Yum. However, it's not Brooklyn or the Bronx, it's not even New York. It's Chinatown and it's 1982, YEAR OF THE DRAGON.

Inheriting a new precinct after an attack on a Chinatown restaurant with automatic weapons by unknown assailants for reasons unknown, old-hand precinct commander of the seven-nine in Brooklyn Captain Artie Powers is transplanted into a part of NYC with the most trigger-happy citizens the city has ever known. At a time when the city was nearly bankrupt and too few cops were on patrol in the streets, Chinatown was New York, but the people who lived there belonged to a different world, one Powers had never looked at closely before. A stout traditionalist who loves the NYPD, Powers inherits a station house that was built in the 1880s, one of the oldest in the city, and a precinct in turmoil. A deposed BIG BOSS of Chinatown, a new criminally visionary Cho Kun plus power hungry and blood thirsty triad gangs -- a bad mix for only two hundred cops and eleven radio cars. A lone wolf by nature, Power's one and only job is to nail The Undertaker, the Cho Kun, his partners and associates out to exploit the good natured denizens by implementing plans altogether grand, devious and worldwide in scope.

Wearer of the badge himself, Robert Daley dazzles once again with procedures and insights into the life in blue, albeit from almost forty years ago. YEAR OF THE DRAGON alleges that all cops talk too much, that there are no secrets in station houses, that info is a cop's first best weapon, and the principal police emotion is cynicism. Cops, according to Daley, are rough men, hearty, and ribald, who're decently paid, notorious, and unpredictable. Thus, to cops, lawyers are more dangerous than criminals. Interestingly enough, Powers gets entangled with a hot-shot DA, turning that into the most unlikely part of the book; Powers, the purveyor of hard truth, the kind that can convict in a court of law, constantly lies to himself about betraying his wife who he insists he loves and cares for. He has obligations, both as a husband and a policeman, which he treats as though they don't exist. Seemingly, he is compelled by background, by training, and to a large extent by inclination to act in certain ways, considering himself neither a good man or a bad one. Evil, YEAR OF THE DRAGON proffers, is incomprehensible, setting up the premise of whether Captain Powers can get the bad guys on crimes against humanity or will it be a crime against love?

Possibly set up as a variation of THE FRENCH CONNECTION, perhaps the Chinese connection, YEAR OF THE DRAGON biggest problem is being uncertain if it's a love story, a soap opera, a hard charging cop thriller or international mystery. Among a curious shoutout to slain mob boss Albert Anastasia, cringe mimicry of accents and a bizarre side trip to Hong Kong, YEAR OF THE DRAGON goes long to explain Chinese-centric things like Oolong tea, tongs, red envelopes, gambling, the Gold Mountain, and patience. Most of all, YEAR OF THE DRAGON dwells on 'the Chinese curse', as to a Chinese, face is everything. Face is fortune, it makes business success possible and it's only face that makes the rest of life possible. It is the hardest of all currencies--Face. Some other lessons YEAR OF THE DRAGON wishes to leave with the reader are that accuracy and efficiency are dreams that can't be paid for, one must sometimes sacrifice a finger to save an arm, that you can't master temptation with a gun, nor can bullets conquer greed. Somewhat outdated and probably not a desired ride for the woke train of post 2020 America, YEAR OF THE DRAGON is an interesting look at the thin blue NYPD line of 1982 and the citizens of Chinatown in NYC. Less so than the mess that is the 1985 film version of the same name and starring Mickey Rourke, the story is convoluted, the plot simple, and probably too far right of THE GODFATHER to make for a great book. Though in the annals of police procedurals, YEAR OF THE DRAGON is thoroughly researched, fascinating, and a raw look at the brutal world of triad controlled territory. YEAR OF THE DRAGON is not for everyone, though there's no better time to read it than in the year of the dragon.

[Kemal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa, 425 pages. An examination of Chinese history in America, the immigration, the drugs, the police procedure and the study of what evil look like to another human being. If there is anything to be learned, i just discovered how losing “face” were that important and the reality, the crime itself were a huge waves that never end. I tend to be liking this more than the film version. 1980s Mickey Rourke was THAT guy.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but flawed

While elements of the main characters were well mapped out I felt many aspects fell short. Particularly the writing of the affair and the lack of follow through on the ending, leaving me feel somewhat short changed after investing in the individual story threads over the course of the book.

[Random Hodgepodge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the descriptive writing! Could have done without so many pages of romance. Having personally witnessed only a tiny fraction of the mysterious Chinese mentality, all I can say is he wasn't wrong. Born and raised American doesn't mean you can delete thousands of years of heritage you weren't even aware of.

[Ross McClintock · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's not a cop cliche in the proverbial book that Robert Daley doesn't throw into this actual book. That's really all I can add to this review. The book was perfectly fine if you want to read about a loose cannon cop who doesn't play by the department's rules.

[Booksmylove · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasted a month of my life on this book. Absolutely no closure, no interesting characters to root for except for Eleanor and Lunag... disappointed. I was at least expecting the ending to save it, but it didn't. Oh and, CHEATER!

[Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un poliziesco ambientato a Chinatown: la lotta impari tra un poliziotto incorruttibile, reduce pluridecorato dal Vietnam e la mafia cinese trapiantata in USA

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1981. Cop drama about a New York police captain ordered to crush the Tong, the much feared Mafia-like organization in Chinatown. Tough and uncompromising.

[Dimitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book i wanted to be a police officer... i changed my mind after reading this

[Donald Trump · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a 'Loser'!
* 1 Star.

[V-Ro BM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un bon thriller policier des années 80.

[Jemmalix · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

A serviceable thriller with some excellent insight into the psychology of triad members.

I read this as a teenager in the 90's and remember it fondly.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

#RetoLector2021 #Junio
🐉
#AñoDelDragón 👮🔎👣👣👣👣👤
#RobertDaley ✒
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Lo primero que he de decir del libro, es que no me gustô. Creo que se queda corto en cuanto al contexto que se plantea. De igual forma los personajes no estân bien desarrollados. Desgraciadamente cuando uno lee novelas policîacas, donde interviene la mafia, cualquiera que sea su origen, ya se tiene como estândar de comparaciôn la novela ( y pelîcula) de #ElPadrino de #MarioPuzo. Y pues, a comparaciôn de Daley, Puzo se las ingenia de manera magistral para situarnos en la cultura y contexto de la mafia italiana, sin descuidar la historia a contar.
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Con esta novela no pasa asî. En el Barrio Chino de NY las cosas se han mantenido sin cambios en los ûltimos 50 años, y por ello sólo unos acaudalados "empresarios" se han beneficiado de ello. Por ello, el dueño de la funeraria, Koy, ha decidido que las cosas en el Barrio deben dar un giro y sangre fresca debe circular en los "negocios". Orquesta un atentado en el Palacio Dorado, el lugar mâs prestigioso del Barrio Chino para ir a cenar y beber unos tragos. Nada es personal, son sôlo de negocios, a pesar de las decenas de heridos y muertos producto de las armas de fuego disparadas contra los comensales. Esto no dejarâ bien parado al administrador del Palacio Dorado, alcalde del Barrio, y "consiglieri" de los cuatro hombres mâs ricos del barrio, y claro, los cuatro representantes de las familias del ampa que tienen a su cargo la divisiôn del barrio. Pronto, el actual alcalde del barrio, tendrâ que presentar su dimisiôn por haber permitido semejante masacre. Por ello, Koy, aprovechara el suceso, y levantarâ la mano, y los billetes, para ganarse el puesto.
🐉
Pero Koy no contaba con que, dentro de los comensales del dîa del atentado, se encontrara el detective Powers, policia con 25 años de servicio, casado, con dos hijos y pronto a comenzar una aventura amorosa con una presentadora de televisiôn que le acompañaba esa noche a cenar.
🐉
El detective Powers se tomarâ personal el atentado de Koy, y pronto se convertiræ en su ûnico objetivo y obsesiôn para verle tras las rejas.
🐉
#libros #leer #literatura #bookclub #clubdelectura #México #bookstagram

[Bella Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Η ιστορία διαδραματίζεται στη Νέα Υόρκη, με επίκεντρο τη δράση στην Τσάιναταουν.
Κεντρικός χαρακτήρας είναι ο Άρτι Πάουερς , ένας σκληρός, βετεράνος αστυνομικός λοχαγός, γνωστός για την αδιαλλαξία του απέναντι στο έγκλημα. Ο Πάουερς τοποθετείται επικεφαλής του αστυνομικού τμήματος της Τσάιναταουν με εντολή να εξαρθρώσει το οργανωμένο έγκλημα στην περιοχή.
Έρχεται σε σύγκρουση με τον Τζόι Κόι , έναν φιλόδοξο και αδίστακτο νεαρό αρχηγό της κινεζικής μαφίας , ο οποίος προσπαθεί να ενοποιήσει το έγκλημα στην περιοχή και να αναλάβει τον έλεγχο της διακίνησης ναρκωτικών, εξοντώνοντας ακόμη και την ιταλική μαφία.
Ο Πάουερς παίρνει το κακό προσωπικά, αλλά η εμμονή του αυτή τον οδηγεί σε αμφιλεγόμενες μεθόδους, καταστρέφοντας παράλληλα την προσωπική του ζωή και τις σχέσεις του....
Το βιβλίο εξερευνά τη διαφθορά μέσα στην αστυνομία και την πολιτική εξουσία που επιτρέπει στο έγκλημα να ανθεί.
Η πλοκή είναι γρήγορη, καταιγιστική στο ειδικά πρώτο μισό του βιβλίου , το δεύτερο μισό του βιβλίου θα σας φανεί κάπως πιο αργό γι αυτό και τα τέσσερα αστεράκια . Παρόλαυτα δε παύει να είναι ένα κλασικό, αστυνομικό θρίλερ .
Σύσταση:Έχει θετικά στοιχεία που αξίζει να αναφερθούν .

[Rouven Cyncynatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and quick read. It might make a good TV movie. A bit of a soap opera but not as boring. This book will definitely not be included in the hall of fame in the genre of crime dramas. Plus, the main character, the Captain and supposedly good guy, is a dirt bag for two-timing his wife, who he loves deeply and constantly reminds us of his love, bangs a big time TV "journalist".

[Leif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Not that good. Contains some surprisingly astute writing about the mental processes of the characters, giving this pot-boiler an almost post-modern aspect...almost. Ends too quickly for so much build-up.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book and the movie.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading this book over 4 years ago around the time that I was receiving chemo for breast cancer treatment. I don't seem to have any comments in my journal about it.

[Patricia]

Great book. I like that it was love that was the undoing of Jimmy Koy.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked the insight into Mafia mindsets as well as Asian cultures.

[Diane Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

[Veronica Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paperback Donated April 2012