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Rep and Melissa Pennyworth #4
The Firemaker
Margaret Campbell is a forensic pathologist from Chicago. Li Yan is a Beijing detective with a horribly burned corpse on his hands. She has a broken life behind her, a lonely future dedicated to her profession in front. He has survived two decades of violent change by marrying himself to a career which now promises, at last, to bring him the respected place in Chinese society that his family lost in the Cultural Revolution. Neither of them is ready for the consequences of asking the wrong questions about the dead man - the ones that lead to the terrifying truth.
419 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 616 reviews
January 13, 2019
By the time Peter May wrote this first novel of his first series he had published 4 other standalone novels in the prior two decades. I haven’t read his earliest work yet, but it would be interesting to discover more about the launch of his writing journey.
This novel was a good initial outing for the China series. It is high-octane action and has a solid, fast pace throughout. As he mentions in his author’s notes, this is a fictional account of events that could very well happen in our world today. To me, it is possible it may even be happening already and we are unaware of it.
Margaret Campbell is a pathologist who has been invited to spend six weeks in a series of lectures at a University in Beijing. Li Yan is a police officer who just moved up in the ranks and on the first day in his new position, three deaths occur. They seem to be linked by one clue, and the police force stretches itself thin with interviews: people connected to those murdered, as well as possible witnesses. This could entail thousands of interviews altogether and they are swamped.
One of the deaths brings a request to Margaret Campbell for assistance with the autopsy. Margaret and Li Yan end up working together to figure out what happened the day of the deaths and to determine why it appears that someone is attempting to hide or destroy evidence.
I enjoyed the storyline that was written – and the descriptive prose Peter May employs placed me right in the midst of Beijing and its people, buildings, and atmosphere which I loved. There is a conversation about the Cultural Revolution and how it came into being that was fascinating. It wasn’t very long, and it was in dialogue – an answer to a question – yet so much was revealed that I had never heard before. I also learned a lot about genetic engineering: what it actually means, why it is done, and why it is potentially harmful, depending on what is done.
There is also a sub-plot that revolves around the main plot in the novel involving a couple of romances. I could have done without those parts, and would rather have seen them re-worked as something else. However, that is a personal preference and prejudice; maybe they were well done but I am not the best person to judge that.
Overall, I did enjoy this first novel in Peter May’s “China Series” and I’m looking forward to reading more.
This buddy read with Sue D is our second exploration into Peter May’s two series. I also look forward to more reading and discussions ahead.
This novel was a good initial outing for the China series. It is high-octane action and has a solid, fast pace throughout. As he mentions in his author’s notes, this is a fictional account of events that could very well happen in our world today. To me, it is possible it may even be happening already and we are unaware of it.
Margaret Campbell is a pathologist who has been invited to spend six weeks in a series of lectures at a University in Beijing. Li Yan is a police officer who just moved up in the ranks and on the first day in his new position, three deaths occur. They seem to be linked by one clue, and the police force stretches itself thin with interviews: people connected to those murdered, as well as possible witnesses. This could entail thousands of interviews altogether and they are swamped.
One of the deaths brings a request to Margaret Campbell for assistance with the autopsy. Margaret and Li Yan end up working together to figure out what happened the day of the deaths and to determine why it appears that someone is attempting to hide or destroy evidence.
I enjoyed the storyline that was written – and the descriptive prose Peter May employs placed me right in the midst of Beijing and its people, buildings, and atmosphere which I loved. There is a conversation about the Cultural Revolution and how it came into being that was fascinating. It wasn’t very long, and it was in dialogue – an answer to a question – yet so much was revealed that I had never heard before. I also learned a lot about genetic engineering: what it actually means, why it is done, and why it is potentially harmful, depending on what is done.
There is also a sub-plot that revolves around the main plot in the novel involving a couple of romances. I could have done without those parts, and would rather have seen them re-worked as something else. However, that is a personal preference and prejudice; maybe they were well done but I am not the best person to judge that.
Overall, I did enjoy this first novel in Peter May’s “China Series” and I’m looking forward to reading more.
This buddy read with Sue D is our second exploration into Peter May’s two series. I also look forward to more reading and discussions ahead.
February 4, 2018
I recently read The Blackhouse by Peter May and was glad to be given the opportunity to read his republished earlier work The Firemaker on NetGalley.
May sets The Firemaker in China of which he has personal knowledge. This makes the book both educational and entertaining. The descriptions of life in Beijing and Chinese culture are fascinating.
Margaret Campbell, an American forensic pathologist from Chicago, is invited to teach in Beijing for six weeks. She arrives totally unprepared for life in China. Circumstances bring her to work side by side with Li Yan, recently promoted to deputy section chief, on a case where a person was ignited on fire in a city park. Her expertise is in burn victims. Humorous at times the two of them clash big time. They end up uncovering a conspiracy and get into a lot of trouble throughout the book.
I found the book to be slow at times. Also the romance that develops too quickly between Li and Margaret was unnecessary. Otherwise, The Firemaker was quite enjoyable. My favorite character was Li’s uncle recently retired from the police force. I loved the manner in which he dispensed his wisdom.
I’m looking forward to continuing this series after I finish the Lewis trilogy!
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Many thanks to Quercus, Peter May, and NetGalley for the ARC.
May sets The Firemaker in China of which he has personal knowledge. This makes the book both educational and entertaining. The descriptions of life in Beijing and Chinese culture are fascinating.
Margaret Campbell, an American forensic pathologist from Chicago, is invited to teach in Beijing for six weeks. She arrives totally unprepared for life in China. Circumstances bring her to work side by side with Li Yan, recently promoted to deputy section chief, on a case where a person was ignited on fire in a city park. Her expertise is in burn victims. Humorous at times the two of them clash big time. They end up uncovering a conspiracy and get into a lot of trouble throughout the book.
I found the book to be slow at times. Also the romance that develops too quickly between Li and Margaret was unnecessary. Otherwise, The Firemaker was quite enjoyable. My favorite character was Li’s uncle recently retired from the police force. I loved the manner in which he dispensed his wisdom.
I’m looking forward to continuing this series after I finish the Lewis trilogy!
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Many thanks to Quercus, Peter May, and NetGalley for the ARC.
January 17, 2019
I am discovering that Peter May writes interesting novels, often mysteries, in many settings, many cultures, and appears to do so well. In the new introduction to Firemaker, May discussed his time in China, his research and relationships with members of the Chinese Police who assisted his understanding of their society and how they worked. And May passes much of this along through his story. I believe I have begun to grasp some of the fundamentals of Chinese society that are quite different from my own but explain how we simply view some aspects of life in different ways. I am not discussing politics here but rather philosophy or spirituality.
Well on to Firemaker! This is an eminently readable and quite addictive book. Involving Chinese police, a trio of odd murders, an American forensic pathologist on a six week visit to the Beijing school to share her expertise, and the plot that throws them all together with expected and unexpected results. Li Yan, the lead detective, is not quite sure how to deal with Margaret Campbell, the blond and blue eyed woman who easily performs autopsies. Margaret is not sure how to deal with Li Yan who seems so brutal...and then there are the rules for everything in China. But she believes she can help. And as she helps, she also learns:
Li shrugged. “The Cultural Revolution ruined many lives
in China....”
Margaret shook her head... “What exactly was the Cultural
Revolution?” And she was immediately embarrassed by her
ignorance. “I mean, I know I should probably know.... I never
realised how little I knew about the rest of the world until I
came here.”
Li glanced at her...and thought for a moment. “You know how
it is, as a young person, to feel you have no control over your
life,that everything is run by old people? And that by the time
you are old enough to change things,you are too old to enjoy
them? Well, the Cultural Revolution reversed all that. It gave
power to the young, to change things while they were young...
Young people came from all over China to Beijing to become
Red Guards and parade in front of Mao... But really, they were
just children with all discipline removed. They went crazy. They
attacked people just because they were ‘intellectuals.’ They
could come...and take over your home...
Many people were
put in prisons or sent to labour camps. Others were killed—
just murdered. And nothing would happen to those who
killed them because the legal system had fallen apart, and
most policemen were in prison themselves or had been sent
to labour in the countryside. ( loc3350)
This is a lengthy aside in a mystery novel but this background adds much important information to Li Yan’s personal history and to the history of all of China where so many lives were lost or irrevocably changed.
But modern times have reached Beijing as the story of Firemaker makes clear. This crowded urban space is busy tearing down the past and building for the future. They have a police force with all of the latest tools but can use an alternate point of view, a different way of thinking and a highly skilled pathologist in the right place at the right time in solving these murders and their complex motivations.
Recommended along with all of Peter May’s work. I plan to read this entire series.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Well on to Firemaker! This is an eminently readable and quite addictive book. Involving Chinese police, a trio of odd murders, an American forensic pathologist on a six week visit to the Beijing school to share her expertise, and the plot that throws them all together with expected and unexpected results. Li Yan, the lead detective, is not quite sure how to deal with Margaret Campbell, the blond and blue eyed woman who easily performs autopsies. Margaret is not sure how to deal with Li Yan who seems so brutal...and then there are the rules for everything in China. But she believes she can help. And as she helps, she also learns:
Li shrugged. “The Cultural Revolution ruined many lives
in China....”
Margaret shook her head... “What exactly was the Cultural
Revolution?” And she was immediately embarrassed by her
ignorance. “I mean, I know I should probably know.... I never
realised how little I knew about the rest of the world until I
came here.”
Li glanced at her...and thought for a moment. “You know how
it is, as a young person, to feel you have no control over your
life,that everything is run by old people? And that by the time
you are old enough to change things,you are too old to enjoy
them? Well, the Cultural Revolution reversed all that. It gave
power to the young, to change things while they were young...
Young people came from all over China to Beijing to become
Red Guards and parade in front of Mao... But really, they were
just children with all discipline removed. They went crazy. They
attacked people just because they were ‘intellectuals.’ They
could come...and take over your home...
Many people were
put in prisons or sent to labour camps. Others were killed—
just murdered. And nothing would happen to those who
killed them because the legal system had fallen apart, and
most policemen were in prison themselves or had been sent
to labour in the countryside. ( loc3350)
This is a lengthy aside in a mystery novel but this background adds much important information to Li Yan’s personal history and to the history of all of China where so many lives were lost or irrevocably changed.
But modern times have reached Beijing as the story of Firemaker makes clear. This crowded urban space is busy tearing down the past and building for the future. They have a police force with all of the latest tools but can use an alternate point of view, a different way of thinking and a highly skilled pathologist in the right place at the right time in solving these murders and their complex motivations.
Recommended along with all of Peter May’s work. I plan to read this entire series.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
March 3, 2016
I have read many of Peter May's latest books and in fact his most recent 'Coffin Road' was the best novel I have read so far this year. So when offered the opportunity to read one of his earlier books it was a perfect chance to sample the his series based in China.
I enjoy Peter May's writing style, which I have found to be excellent stories interspersed with descriptive text that can often educate as well as entertain. This book did just that, set in China it gave an excellent insight into the culture and the people through the eyes of May's characters.
The main character is Margaret Campbell who is a Chicago forensic pathologist and has been invited by the Chinese government to teach at the Beijing police university. She has accepted a six-week assignment with little preparation but is desperate to escape a troubled life in America.
She pairs up with Li Yan a newly promoted detective who requires Margaret to examine a horribly burned corpse. Margaret and Li must bury their personal and cultural differences when they uncover a conspiracy that threatens not only their lives, but the lives of millions.
The book was an excellent prelude to the series as personnel are introduced and a lot of the character building is made for the series. On completion of the book I felt I was ready to read more of this series.
A very enjoyable and educational read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Quercus Books for supplying me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I enjoy Peter May's writing style, which I have found to be excellent stories interspersed with descriptive text that can often educate as well as entertain. This book did just that, set in China it gave an excellent insight into the culture and the people through the eyes of May's characters.
The main character is Margaret Campbell who is a Chicago forensic pathologist and has been invited by the Chinese government to teach at the Beijing police university. She has accepted a six-week assignment with little preparation but is desperate to escape a troubled life in America.
She pairs up with Li Yan a newly promoted detective who requires Margaret to examine a horribly burned corpse. Margaret and Li must bury their personal and cultural differences when they uncover a conspiracy that threatens not only their lives, but the lives of millions.
The book was an excellent prelude to the series as personnel are introduced and a lot of the character building is made for the series. On completion of the book I felt I was ready to read more of this series.
A very enjoyable and educational read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Quercus Books for supplying me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
November 6, 2018
This achieves the single star more because it is incorrectly classified than anything else. It is a romance. A romance with a murder story draped over it. A sheep in lamb’s clothing.
This was really not for me, didn’t like the plot, didn’t like the constant references to just how different Chinese culture is, didn’t like a relationship dominating all else (and one which grows from dislike to full blown love in less than a week).
Yawn.
This was really not for me, didn’t like the plot, didn’t like the constant references to just how different Chinese culture is, didn’t like a relationship dominating all else (and one which grows from dislike to full blown love in less than a week).
Yawn.
July 10, 2013
Perhaps I came to this with unreasonable expectations: I loved May's Lewis trilogy.
Here, he goes even further out of the way: to China. Good idea. But straight black hair and a Chinese name does not a Chinese make.
After a good 40-50 pages at the beginning of the novel, in which the cultural differences between China and the west are explored, as soon as the police investigation proper begins, suddenly it is as if none of this had ever been: we are presented with any old cop in Chinese clothing. Nothing of the police procedural that follows seems even remotely connected to the context established in the opening chapters.
Furthermore, May insists on telling, not showing. Huge chunks of dialogue are used to present the author's research, whether of feng shui, 'saving face', autopsies, whatever.
May even seems to acknowledge this inadequacy by referring explicitly to 'lectures' given by characters who are 'smug' - but the impression given is either that May doesn't mind his characters looking stupid (bad), or that he can't be bothered to write properly (worse), or that he thinks his audience is stupid (worst of all). I mean, the passage where the ethics of GM crops are discussed would disgrace a sixth-form debating society.
Nor are the characters worth following: Margaret Campbell is insultingly sketchily drawn, and unpleasant with it. The fact that she's suffering a mysterious heartache which has driven her to China is simply not enough.
Sorry to rant, but I'd really been looking forward to this. And it's just rubbish.
Here, he goes even further out of the way: to China. Good idea. But straight black hair and a Chinese name does not a Chinese make.
After a good 40-50 pages at the beginning of the novel, in which the cultural differences between China and the west are explored, as soon as the police investigation proper begins, suddenly it is as if none of this had ever been: we are presented with any old cop in Chinese clothing. Nothing of the police procedural that follows seems even remotely connected to the context established in the opening chapters.
Furthermore, May insists on telling, not showing. Huge chunks of dialogue are used to present the author's research, whether of feng shui, 'saving face', autopsies, whatever.
May even seems to acknowledge this inadequacy by referring explicitly to 'lectures' given by characters who are 'smug' - but the impression given is either that May doesn't mind his characters looking stupid (bad), or that he can't be bothered to write properly (worse), or that he thinks his audience is stupid (worst of all). I mean, the passage where the ethics of GM crops are discussed would disgrace a sixth-form debating society.
Nor are the characters worth following: Margaret Campbell is insultingly sketchily drawn, and unpleasant with it. The fact that she's suffering a mysterious heartache which has driven her to China is simply not enough.
Sorry to rant, but I'd really been looking forward to this. And it's just rubbish.
August 19, 2019
A first book in this series by Peter May. Very different to the Enzo McLeod books that I have read so far. This is set in China, and although dated I found the cultural and historical information very interesting.
Margaret Campbell is a pathologist from the US who has accepted a short stint as a guest lecturer at a University in Beijing. It seems from the start that everything Margaret does is an affront to the Chinese people that she is supposed to be working with. After a series of events she finds herself assisting in solving the brutal murder of three men.
The story really picked up speed as it went, I found the reason for the killings a bit over the top, but still an enjoyable read.
Margaret Campbell is a pathologist from the US who has accepted a short stint as a guest lecturer at a University in Beijing. It seems from the start that everything Margaret does is an affront to the Chinese people that she is supposed to be working with. After a series of events she finds herself assisting in solving the brutal murder of three men.
The story really picked up speed as it went, I found the reason for the killings a bit over the top, but still an enjoyable read.
February 18, 2018
Book one in the China thrillers series.
As usual Peter May gives his readers value for money with this book.
Before starting this book I new next to nothing about Chinese history or it's culture. By the end of the book I was a lot more enlightened.
This starts with the classic East meets West and when they do there's fireworks. When Li Yan, a Beijing Policeman and Dr.Margaret Campbell, a visiting forensic pathologist from the USA , meet for the first time it's an instant dislike for both of them. Dr. Margaret is asked to perform and autopsy on the body of a man who has burnt himself to death. During her autopsy Dr. Margaret discovers that the man did not commit suicide but was murdered. This discovery brings Li and Margaret together as working partners on the murder.
This is not a happy union. They argue over cultural differences constantly. In the end Margaret decides that she is the foreigner and has to make an effort to understand the Chinese way of life and in so doing the reader is also educated.
The investigation into the death of the burn victim starts to uncover a conspiracy of such magnitude that lives of, possibly, hundreds of millions of people are at risk.
This is such a good book on so many different levels. It's an intense thriller, it's a love story and it's a journey into the history and culture of China.
An engrossing read that comes with a 4 star recommendation.
As usual Peter May gives his readers value for money with this book.
Before starting this book I new next to nothing about Chinese history or it's culture. By the end of the book I was a lot more enlightened.
This starts with the classic East meets West and when they do there's fireworks. When Li Yan, a Beijing Policeman and Dr.Margaret Campbell, a visiting forensic pathologist from the USA , meet for the first time it's an instant dislike for both of them. Dr. Margaret is asked to perform and autopsy on the body of a man who has burnt himself to death. During her autopsy Dr. Margaret discovers that the man did not commit suicide but was murdered. This discovery brings Li and Margaret together as working partners on the murder.
This is not a happy union. They argue over cultural differences constantly. In the end Margaret decides that she is the foreigner and has to make an effort to understand the Chinese way of life and in so doing the reader is also educated.
The investigation into the death of the burn victim starts to uncover a conspiracy of such magnitude that lives of, possibly, hundreds of millions of people are at risk.
This is such a good book on so many different levels. It's an intense thriller, it's a love story and it's a journey into the history and culture of China.
An engrossing read that comes with a 4 star recommendation.
April 25, 2018
Having read the Lewis Trilogy it was with great expectation that I started on this the first of the China thrillers. Unfortunately I was disappointed, the main character, Dr Margaret Campbell arrived in China to lecture at the University ill prepared for the experience was rude, overbearing and so drunk in the first few days that she failed to turn up at work. So frustrating.
As the story unfolds more pages are devoted to the relationship between herself and the detective Li Yan, than on the plot, the case or the increasing violence. The story rather dragged on until the last 100 pages when the action, however unlikely, begins to unfold.
I wanted to throw this down early on but am not prone to give up once I have started and found myself rather plodding to the end.
2 stars only and give thought to whether I will continue with the series.
As the story unfolds more pages are devoted to the relationship between herself and the detective Li Yan, than on the plot, the case or the increasing violence. The story rather dragged on until the last 100 pages when the action, however unlikely, begins to unfold.
I wanted to throw this down early on but am not prone to give up once I have started and found myself rather plodding to the end.
2 stars only and give thought to whether I will continue with the series.
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September 28, 2018
Audiobook - 13:53 hours - Narrator: Peter Forbes
3.0 Stars
I have 19 books in my Peter May collection, and his only other work that I had listened to previously was "The Blackhouse" (#1 of "The Lewis Trilogy"), an excellent novel to which I awarded five stars. I selected "The Firemaker" as my next Peter May because it was the first of six books in "The China Thrillers" series. I won't say I was disappointed with "The Firemaker" because I enjoyed it, but based on "The Blackhouse" I think I may have been expecting something that deserved more than three stars. Published in 1999, a point of difference was that the book was set in a then modern-day China which provided an interesting insight into police methods at the time. Not a 'must-read' but I intend to continue with this series and venture into more of his books.
3.0 Stars
I have 19 books in my Peter May collection, and his only other work that I had listened to previously was "The Blackhouse" (#1 of "The Lewis Trilogy"), an excellent novel to which I awarded five stars. I selected "The Firemaker" as my next Peter May because it was the first of six books in "The China Thrillers" series. I won't say I was disappointed with "The Firemaker" because I enjoyed it, but based on "The Blackhouse" I think I may have been expecting something that deserved more than three stars. Published in 1999, a point of difference was that the book was set in a then modern-day China which provided an interesting insight into police methods at the time. Not a 'must-read' but I intend to continue with this series and venture into more of his books.
January 16, 2015
I got eight percent of the way into this book. TBH, I thought I did pretty well to get that far.
If you want soap opera melodrama obviousness in a book, you will love this.
If you've read May's Lewis Men trilogy, don't sully the memory by going anywhere near this egregious garbage.
If you want soap opera melodrama obviousness in a book, you will love this.
If you've read May's Lewis Men trilogy, don't sully the memory by going anywhere near this egregious garbage.
April 23, 2016
This one has good points and not so good points, probably in equal measures. The author is determined that we should learn lots of things about Chinese culture ( a bit out of date but not his fault since the book is quite old), about genetic modification ( he holds very strong views on this) and about techniques used in post-mortems (at least this was really interesting). This information is occasionally delivered via dialogue between someone knowledgeable and someone who must live under a rock not to know any of it already. Still this reader learned a few interesting facts along the way. Apart from that there are some entertaining characters, a bit of humour, a good story and a modicum of suspense. Surprisingly for a male author there was also a lot of romance or at least thoughts of romance and even whole paragraphs describing what people were wearing. I skimmed some of that as irrelevant. So as I said at the beginning good points and not so good points. Not sure yet if I will follow up with the next in the series. Maybe. One day.
May 13, 2023
First of all this book will keep you hooked from beginning to end. The story is a blend of action, mystery, and romance. Secondly the blend is perfect!
The cultural clashes between the two protagonists add a unique layer of tension to the plot, and as they get closer to solving the case, they uncover a web of corruption, danger, and secrets that threaten to unravel everything they've worked for.
Well its a good read for all the thrill seekers!
Recommended!!!
The cultural clashes between the two protagonists add a unique layer of tension to the plot, and as they get closer to solving the case, they uncover a web of corruption, danger, and secrets that threaten to unravel everything they've worked for.
Well its a good read for all the thrill seekers!
Recommended!!!
July 3, 2016
I have been a fan of Peter May ever since I picked up the first book in his Lewis Trilogy, The Blackhouse, a few years ago. Whilst none of his books have ever reached the same high, I have enjoyed them all.
The Lewis Trilogy will always be my favourite. The first one pulled me in and I was so engaged I went out and brought books two and three instantly. I thoroughly enjoyed them and promised myself I would read more. It took me a while, but I finally got hold of Entry Island. Like books two and three of the Lewis Trilogy, the book was great. It wasn’t The Blackhouse, but I had lots of fun with it. Again, a rather long time period passed before I read my next Peter May book – this time it was the first in his Enzo Files series. Fortunately, I had the five books sitting at my bedside and worked through one after the other. They were my least favourite of his books, but I still had a lot of fun with them. In fact, I’m hoping we’ll get a couple more of them to complete the series. This was followed by a find in the university’s second-hand bookstore. Hidden away, I managed to find one of his older works – Virtually Dead. It was completely different to what I was used to from him, but still enjoyable. At that point, I knew beyond doubt that I wanted to read the China Thrillers; however, I ended up picking up Runaway instead. I have yet to read it as my to-read list got out of hand and I picked up so many books that were parts of series I was part way through, but it is sitting by my bed waiting to be read in the foreseeable future.
Prior to picking up Runaway, I requested Coffin Road on NetGalley. I was disheartened when I did not get a chance to read it. I’ll still pick up the book, but I’d been so eager to give it an early read! Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I jumped at The Firemaker when I saw it on NetGalley. At first, I was confused as to why it was on NetGalley. The book had been out for years – why was it suddenly on NetGalley? I didn’t question it for long – I simply requested the book. I wasn’t going to miss out on the chance of reading it. I was fearful I would not be accepted, that it would be a repeat of Coffin Road, but I was surprised – I quickly found my request accepted. It was at this point in time that I realised why it was on NetGalley. A couple of days after being accepted to read The Firemaker, I walked into a local bookstore and found the book sitting there with a brand new cover. That was why NetGalley had put it up.
My only regret is that it took me so long to read it.
I’ll start by saying that has nothing to do with the book itself – the book was thoroughly enjoyable. The issue was I decided to start reading it at an exceptionally busy time. Trying to read one of your favourite authors during exam period is not the best of plans. Thus, it took me a while to get through it. When I was finally able to sit down and read it, though, I powered through it. I was pulled into the story, left unwilling to put it down until I knew how it ended.
I’ll admit, a bit like his Enzo Files, the first in the China Thriller series was somewhat predictable. I feel as though the Lewis Trilogy will always be his high with surprises – it was filled with such twists and turns. Whilst the same can be said of this book – there are twists and turns throughout – they were not as shocking as in his Lewis Trilogy. You had some expectations of what was to come, as some details were a little bit too obvious. Characters and topics were introduced that did not seem to quite fit in with where the story was going, seeming to appear as mundane conversation, leaving you more than prepared for when they appeared within the deeper story.
Despite this, it was still enjoyable. Even though it is not set in the western world, it is all you would expect from a good crime thriller. Add in the fact that it is set in the east, along with the fact it is written by Peter May, and you suddenly have an extremely rich world coming to live before you. As always, Peter May is more than capable of bringing the setting and characters to life.
As much as I enjoyed the characters and their interaction, I couldn’t help but think the romance aspect was a bit forced. This, however, is partly because the whole ‘adrenaline of the hunt’ induced romance doesn’t really appeal to me. When I care for romances, I prefer them to be slow burners. It was great fun to watch their interaction, to see the way they battled over their different views, but the romance didn’t appeal to me. I’m positive I will come to enjoy it with the rest of the series, yet it seemed like too much for a first book.
Oh, didn’t I mention that? I’m more than happy to carry on. In fact, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.
All in all, it is safe to say this is another Peter May series that I’m going to find myself addicted to. In regards to where it sits on my favourite lists, it’s up there just behind Entry Island (my fifth favourite of his books, that I have read to date, in other words).
As a final note, I would like to say the biggest thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this one.
The Lewis Trilogy will always be my favourite. The first one pulled me in and I was so engaged I went out and brought books two and three instantly. I thoroughly enjoyed them and promised myself I would read more. It took me a while, but I finally got hold of Entry Island. Like books two and three of the Lewis Trilogy, the book was great. It wasn’t The Blackhouse, but I had lots of fun with it. Again, a rather long time period passed before I read my next Peter May book – this time it was the first in his Enzo Files series. Fortunately, I had the five books sitting at my bedside and worked through one after the other. They were my least favourite of his books, but I still had a lot of fun with them. In fact, I’m hoping we’ll get a couple more of them to complete the series. This was followed by a find in the university’s second-hand bookstore. Hidden away, I managed to find one of his older works – Virtually Dead. It was completely different to what I was used to from him, but still enjoyable. At that point, I knew beyond doubt that I wanted to read the China Thrillers; however, I ended up picking up Runaway instead. I have yet to read it as my to-read list got out of hand and I picked up so many books that were parts of series I was part way through, but it is sitting by my bed waiting to be read in the foreseeable future.
Prior to picking up Runaway, I requested Coffin Road on NetGalley. I was disheartened when I did not get a chance to read it. I’ll still pick up the book, but I’d been so eager to give it an early read! Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I jumped at The Firemaker when I saw it on NetGalley. At first, I was confused as to why it was on NetGalley. The book had been out for years – why was it suddenly on NetGalley? I didn’t question it for long – I simply requested the book. I wasn’t going to miss out on the chance of reading it. I was fearful I would not be accepted, that it would be a repeat of Coffin Road, but I was surprised – I quickly found my request accepted. It was at this point in time that I realised why it was on NetGalley. A couple of days after being accepted to read The Firemaker, I walked into a local bookstore and found the book sitting there with a brand new cover. That was why NetGalley had put it up.
My only regret is that it took me so long to read it.
I’ll start by saying that has nothing to do with the book itself – the book was thoroughly enjoyable. The issue was I decided to start reading it at an exceptionally busy time. Trying to read one of your favourite authors during exam period is not the best of plans. Thus, it took me a while to get through it. When I was finally able to sit down and read it, though, I powered through it. I was pulled into the story, left unwilling to put it down until I knew how it ended.
I’ll admit, a bit like his Enzo Files, the first in the China Thriller series was somewhat predictable. I feel as though the Lewis Trilogy will always be his high with surprises – it was filled with such twists and turns. Whilst the same can be said of this book – there are twists and turns throughout – they were not as shocking as in his Lewis Trilogy. You had some expectations of what was to come, as some details were a little bit too obvious. Characters and topics were introduced that did not seem to quite fit in with where the story was going, seeming to appear as mundane conversation, leaving you more than prepared for when they appeared within the deeper story.
Despite this, it was still enjoyable. Even though it is not set in the western world, it is all you would expect from a good crime thriller. Add in the fact that it is set in the east, along with the fact it is written by Peter May, and you suddenly have an extremely rich world coming to live before you. As always, Peter May is more than capable of bringing the setting and characters to life.
As much as I enjoyed the characters and their interaction, I couldn’t help but think the romance aspect was a bit forced. This, however, is partly because the whole ‘adrenaline of the hunt’ induced romance doesn’t really appeal to me. When I care for romances, I prefer them to be slow burners. It was great fun to watch their interaction, to see the way they battled over their different views, but the romance didn’t appeal to me. I’m positive I will come to enjoy it with the rest of the series, yet it seemed like too much for a first book.
Oh, didn’t I mention that? I’m more than happy to carry on. In fact, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.
All in all, it is safe to say this is another Peter May series that I’m going to find myself addicted to. In regards to where it sits on my favourite lists, it’s up there just behind Entry Island (my fifth favourite of his books, that I have read to date, in other words).
As a final note, I would like to say the biggest thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this one.
December 12, 2024
As a huge fan of Peter May’s Lewis Trilogy, I finally decided to dive into this earlier, “China Thrillers” series. Sadly I was quite disappointed in this first installment. Although the setting of this mystery in Beijing China and the premise of murder and corruption at the highest levels of government was fascinating and eye-opening, the story, handled as a budding romance between two ill-developed and not very likable characters fails to captivate. A discouraging outing from an author I’ve admired.
July 1, 2019
What a great action-filled tale this is from Peter May, published in 1999 no less. I can't imagine why I had not tried this before now as I like his writing. Little "guy" against the giant corporation in cahoots with top government officials equals a very entertaining read. In this case the "little guy" is more like a duo, a Chinese Inspector working with a brilliant American pathologist who walk into more than big trouble by investigating a burning death.
Site of Action: mostly Beijing, 1990's
Site of Action: mostly Beijing, 1990's
August 25, 2007
THE FIREMAKER (Police Procedural-China-Cont) – VG
May, Peter – Standalone
Thomas Dunne Books, 2005- Hardcover
Margaret Campbell is a Chicago forensic pathologist in China for six weeks to lecture at the Beijing police university. Senior Detective Li Yan is newly promoted to Deputy Section Chief. This first case is of a man burned to death in a public place. Margaret, a specialist in burned victims, performs the autopsy and declares it murder. Two other murders follow and at all three is found the stub of a Marlboro cigarette. Margaret and Li Yan join forces and discover much more than murder, but something that could impact millions.
*** This book works. The descriptions of China put me there. I cared about the characters and the relationship that builds between them. Margaret blunders while learning how things work in China were honest. The mystery was intriguing with building suspense, and the plot is plausible, which makes it all the more terrifying. I also learned, which I enjoy, about the Social Revolution and genetic engineering. I don't often compare authors, but fans of Tess Gerritsen will definitely enjoy this, but so will anyone else who likes an extremely well done mystery.
May, Peter – Standalone
Thomas Dunne Books, 2005- Hardcover
Margaret Campbell is a Chicago forensic pathologist in China for six weeks to lecture at the Beijing police university. Senior Detective Li Yan is newly promoted to Deputy Section Chief. This first case is of a man burned to death in a public place. Margaret, a specialist in burned victims, performs the autopsy and declares it murder. Two other murders follow and at all three is found the stub of a Marlboro cigarette. Margaret and Li Yan join forces and discover much more than murder, but something that could impact millions.
*** This book works. The descriptions of China put me there. I cared about the characters and the relationship that builds between them. Margaret blunders while learning how things work in China were honest. The mystery was intriguing with building suspense, and the plot is plausible, which makes it all the more terrifying. I also learned, which I enjoy, about the Social Revolution and genetic engineering. I don't often compare authors, but fans of Tess Gerritsen will definitely enjoy this, but so will anyone else who likes an extremely well done mystery.
April 2, 2018
When I read the sentence ;
...'get him into a freezer quick, before he cooks...' I thought yes, I'm going to love this book! sadly though, this was as far as the gore went. I admit, I did read no.3 in this series by mistake, and didn't know it was part if a series until mid-read. That was called Killing room and was sickeningly gory (a good thing)
so I think my expectations where high for the 1st in series. So I found it a difficult read In a way that I was just unable to connect with the story and the crime going on.
In relation to the language of the author, it was a spectacular read. He writes so well and ensures vivid images, and his descriptions of China was colourful and interesting and mostly educating. But when you go into something with a pre conseption of a horror/gory tale of murder and crime...the last thing you are ready for is a lecture in Chinese culture (and there's a huge feel of this through out)
As my mood lifted toward the last part of the book, and I came to realise I was not going to get my blood and guts...I relaxed and started to just enjoy the writing, and found myself becoming obsessed with the relationship between the chinese detective and The American pathologist. This is, I have come to learn...an introductory book, to a much more complex world and a complex series. I would not have known this if I had not read book no.3 so I believe it was meant to be for me.
I just wish I had read it with enjoyment for what it was..and that is a detailed, descriptive story of two people meeting under strange circumstances...and while cultures clash, its obvious that when bad things happen, we are all scared of the same ending that is death.
I have given this 3 stars because despite my growing fondness of it, there are some things that didn't quite sit right with me, and that was the constant comparing of China and the USA... I felt there was no need as it was all self explanitory really. Also, the concept of the crime...ended up being a big conspiracy thing, Im not sure this was done well. I can't put my finger on it, but maybe It was plainly too much out of my depth as a reader, because it was a very complex story with a lot of scientific elements to explain logic of it all.
I am however, wanting to read the next book...more than I thought. And I will risk my reputation here by saying it is purely for the romantic follow up of Detective Li Yan and Margaret Cambell.
BUT....Also
now that the introduction to the whole Asian backdrop has been done...Peter May just might get to grips with the juicy horrors he was so good at writing in The Killing room.
...'get him into a freezer quick, before he cooks...' I thought yes, I'm going to love this book! sadly though, this was as far as the gore went. I admit, I did read no.3 in this series by mistake, and didn't know it was part if a series until mid-read. That was called Killing room and was sickeningly gory (a good thing)
so I think my expectations where high for the 1st in series. So I found it a difficult read In a way that I was just unable to connect with the story and the crime going on.
In relation to the language of the author, it was a spectacular read. He writes so well and ensures vivid images, and his descriptions of China was colourful and interesting and mostly educating. But when you go into something with a pre conseption of a horror/gory tale of murder and crime...the last thing you are ready for is a lecture in Chinese culture (and there's a huge feel of this through out)
As my mood lifted toward the last part of the book, and I came to realise I was not going to get my blood and guts...I relaxed and started to just enjoy the writing, and found myself becoming obsessed with the relationship between the chinese detective and The American pathologist. This is, I have come to learn...an introductory book, to a much more complex world and a complex series. I would not have known this if I had not read book no.3 so I believe it was meant to be for me.
I just wish I had read it with enjoyment for what it was..and that is a detailed, descriptive story of two people meeting under strange circumstances...and while cultures clash, its obvious that when bad things happen, we are all scared of the same ending that is death.
I have given this 3 stars because despite my growing fondness of it, there are some things that didn't quite sit right with me, and that was the constant comparing of China and the USA... I felt there was no need as it was all self explanitory really. Also, the concept of the crime...ended up being a big conspiracy thing, Im not sure this was done well. I can't put my finger on it, but maybe It was plainly too much out of my depth as a reader, because it was a very complex story with a lot of scientific elements to explain logic of it all.
I am however, wanting to read the next book...more than I thought. And I will risk my reputation here by saying it is purely for the romantic follow up of Detective Li Yan and Margaret Cambell.
BUT....Also
now that the introduction to the whole Asian backdrop has been done...Peter May just might get to grips with the juicy horrors he was so good at writing in The Killing room.
May 28, 2017
The story in itself wasn't that bad - a good thriller to keep you occupied for an afternoon or so, even though I guessed all the details of the climax about 100 pages before any of the main characters.
But MY GOD why is the author so obsessed with us knowing that his main female character isn't EVER wearing a bra ?? First of all, it's unrealistic and unprofessional as FUCK, second of all, has he ever met an actual woman? I'm seriously starting to doubt it.
But MY GOD why is the author so obsessed with us knowing that his main female character isn't EVER wearing a bra ?? First of all, it's unrealistic and unprofessional as FUCK, second of all, has he ever met an actual woman? I'm seriously starting to doubt it.
January 31, 2018
What do I say about The Fire Maker? What can I say? (My reviews are currently a little rough, but with a little practice hopefully I'll be able to convey all the thing I need to.)
Let's start with the setting: post-Mao China of the 1990's, a period of history that Westerners know so very little about. I wanted to drown in the descriptions of this new Beijing in the era after the Cultural Revolution. Business booming practically overnight, wealth flooding into the county as it modernized yet still kept to its roots. I could almost smell the food cooking in the marketplace, hear the very life itself of the city rise off the page--had Peter May chosen to write this solely as a nonfiction exploration of dichotomy of western business meets eastern ideals, of the growth of one of the world's biggest economies, I would have devoured it.
And yet . . .
Let's be frank, I love thrillers (even if I might be considered hard to please) both on the page and the screen. Blood and guts and murder? Gimme! Criminal Minds, Law and Order, Dexter? Yes, yes, and yes! All the police procedurals, the crime dramas, I want them all.
So when The Fire Maker began with a body burned alive in a Beijing park, I was all, "Heck yeah!" And then there was Detective Li Yan, who I wanted to adore--yet he fell into a trope. The (mostly) solitary policeman, single, few friends and close family, married to his work, any of this sounding familiar? (There was also the trope of him "trying to regain his family's honor/reputation/respect/ 'mianzi' (face)" rings slightly more true when set in China or other cultures where there is a great deal of importance is placed on the past, traditions, honor, etc.) So, I ended up feeling pretty 'meh' about our intrepid hero, though his internal dialogue had its funny moments and gave him a more interesting voice during sections with his POV. (And all the Uncle Yifu, I wanted so much more of their interactions!)
Then there was Doctor Margaret Campbell.
. . .
. . .
I spent most of the book wanting to strangle her. Her cultural insensitivity and naiveté and otherwise all around stupidity and unprofessionalism annoyed me to no end. There would be these brief moments where it seemed like she was learning or being more tolerant, and then she'd dash it down the drain by doing the exact thing that someone just minutes previously had told her not to do. (Cue the not impressed face, a raised eyebrow, and some (make that a lot of side-eye.)
Even her sad past (yes it is actually sad . . . ish) that sent her running to China in the first place, elicited minimal sympathy from me because I was too stuck on the whole "why didn't you read your basic introduction packet before (or even after) you got to China" added to the whole "somebody is telling you things that might be helpful (and even if the person telling you the thing is a blowhard) maybe you should actually listen or at least try to comply the cultural norms of the place you're in" and the "how stupid are you comparing another country to the US and expecting things to be the same" things. (Please excuse my run-on sentence, I obviously had a lot of feelings on this subject.)
(And a side note of an observation I made about Margaret Campbell: perhaps the whole culturally insensitive Westerner thing was meant to be read as an allegory(?), parallel to the time period and the attitude of westerners, specifically Americans, of the time? Perhaps she was written purposely this way? But even if that's the case, it does not make her a sympathetic character, especially to me, a mixed race, multicultural woman in the 21st century (I shudder to think about the past and the real people who acted like this (and the ones that still do it to this day)).)
Something that I did enjoy: the fact that Li Yan and Margaret Campbell had easily one of the best "meet ugly" I've read in a long time. I thought it gave them a lot of room to grow and change perceptions and to become more enjoyable well rounded characters . . . or so I had hoped.
Something that pissed me off: the shortened timeline of the book, which in it of itself I wouldn't have minded, it is supposed to be a thriller after all, but this led to an "insta-love" trope that didn't feel organic. Actually it felt forced considering when the who characters start acknowledging that "there's something there" even if only to themselves, they'd had maybe two authentic conversations amidst quite a few arguments and purposely needling comments and more than a few cultural misunderstandings (if not outright prejudice and unwillingness to stop judging each other's "foreign" natures by the standards of their own culture).
Another thing, how do you write a story with so many vivid side characters who could have contributed so much more to the story, yet you leave them hanging on the peripherals? Because you've purposely chosen to center the story on the two main characters and their interactions with each other, which in my opinion, means you literally, perhaps even deliberately, maimed you story. Where it should run, you've left it wallowing in the mud. Where it could fly and soar, you've blinded it, unable to see sky.
And then the mystery itself that brought these two characters together in the first place--how did it take a backseat and only really feel like it was a part of the story after the first 100 pages, then its there for a bit, and then only seemingly have any relevance in the last 70 pages or so?
Short timeline, slow beginning, and then a huge rush at the end that felt like it came out of nowhere, and then that somewhat unsatisfying ending which dovetailed into the opening for the next book in the series.
Over all my rating is 1.5 stars, rounded up because Goodreads doesn't do half star reviews.
I will acknowledge that I am somewhat nit-picky by nature and am horrendously difficult to please, so another individual may find that my gripes are inaccurate. (So maybe take only one grain of salt from the salty sea that is me and my review. :D)
I received a review copy from Quercus in exchange for my honest review and that in no way shapes, changes, or otherwise impacts how I viewed this book . . . with the possibly exception that I endeavored to finish it in order to review the work in its entirety.
Let's start with the setting: post-Mao China of the 1990's, a period of history that Westerners know so very little about. I wanted to drown in the descriptions of this new Beijing in the era after the Cultural Revolution. Business booming practically overnight, wealth flooding into the county as it modernized yet still kept to its roots. I could almost smell the food cooking in the marketplace, hear the very life itself of the city rise off the page--had Peter May chosen to write this solely as a nonfiction exploration of dichotomy of western business meets eastern ideals, of the growth of one of the world's biggest economies, I would have devoured it.
And yet . . .
Let's be frank, I love thrillers (even if I might be considered hard to please) both on the page and the screen. Blood and guts and murder? Gimme! Criminal Minds, Law and Order, Dexter? Yes, yes, and yes! All the police procedurals, the crime dramas, I want them all.
So when The Fire Maker began with a body burned alive in a Beijing park, I was all, "Heck yeah!" And then there was Detective Li Yan, who I wanted to adore--yet he fell into a trope. The (mostly) solitary policeman, single, few friends and close family, married to his work, any of this sounding familiar? (There was also the trope of him "trying to regain his family's honor/reputation/respect/ 'mianzi' (face)" rings slightly more true when set in China or other cultures where there is a great deal of importance is placed on the past, traditions, honor, etc.) So, I ended up feeling pretty 'meh' about our intrepid hero, though his internal dialogue had its funny moments and gave him a more interesting voice during sections with his POV. (And all the Uncle Yifu, I wanted so much more of their interactions!)
Then there was Doctor Margaret Campbell.
. . .
. . .
I spent most of the book wanting to strangle her. Her cultural insensitivity and naiveté and otherwise all around stupidity and unprofessionalism annoyed me to no end. There would be these brief moments where it seemed like she was learning or being more tolerant, and then she'd dash it down the drain by doing the exact thing that someone just minutes previously had told her not to do. (Cue the not impressed face, a raised eyebrow, and some (make that a lot of side-eye.)
Even her sad past (yes it is actually sad . . . ish) that sent her running to China in the first place, elicited minimal sympathy from me because I was too stuck on the whole "why didn't you read your basic introduction packet before (or even after) you got to China" added to the whole "somebody is telling you things that might be helpful (and even if the person telling you the thing is a blowhard) maybe you should actually listen or at least try to comply the cultural norms of the place you're in" and the "how stupid are you comparing another country to the US and expecting things to be the same" things. (Please excuse my run-on sentence, I obviously had a lot of feelings on this subject.)
(And a side note of an observation I made about Margaret Campbell: perhaps the whole culturally insensitive Westerner thing was meant to be read as an allegory(?), parallel to the time period and the attitude of westerners, specifically Americans, of the time? Perhaps she was written purposely this way? But even if that's the case, it does not make her a sympathetic character, especially to me, a mixed race, multicultural woman in the 21st century (I shudder to think about the past and the real people who acted like this (and the ones that still do it to this day)).)
Something that I did enjoy: the fact that Li Yan and Margaret Campbell had easily one of the best "meet ugly" I've read in a long time. I thought it gave them a lot of room to grow and change perceptions and to become more enjoyable well rounded characters . . . or so I had hoped.
Something that pissed me off: the shortened timeline of the book, which in it of itself I wouldn't have minded, it is supposed to be a thriller after all, but this led to an "insta-love" trope that didn't feel organic. Actually it felt forced considering when the who characters start acknowledging that "there's something there" even if only to themselves, they'd had maybe two authentic conversations amidst quite a few arguments and purposely needling comments and more than a few cultural misunderstandings (if not outright prejudice and unwillingness to stop judging each other's "foreign" natures by the standards of their own culture).
Another thing, how do you write a story with so many vivid side characters who could have contributed so much more to the story, yet you leave them hanging on the peripherals? Because you've purposely chosen to center the story on the two main characters and their interactions with each other, which in my opinion, means you literally, perhaps even deliberately, maimed you story. Where it should run, you've left it wallowing in the mud. Where it could fly and soar, you've blinded it, unable to see sky.
And then the mystery itself that brought these two characters together in the first place--how did it take a backseat and only really feel like it was a part of the story after the first 100 pages, then its there for a bit, and then only seemingly have any relevance in the last 70 pages or so?
Short timeline, slow beginning, and then a huge rush at the end that felt like it came out of nowhere, and then that somewhat unsatisfying ending which dovetailed into the opening for the next book in the series.
Over all my rating is 1.5 stars, rounded up because Goodreads doesn't do half star reviews.
I will acknowledge that I am somewhat nit-picky by nature and am horrendously difficult to please, so another individual may find that my gripes are inaccurate. (So maybe take only one grain of salt from the salty sea that is me and my review. :D)
I received a review copy from Quercus in exchange for my honest review and that in no way shapes, changes, or otherwise impacts how I viewed this book . . . with the possibly exception that I endeavored to finish it in order to review the work in its entirety.
August 8, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up (extra half point for audio version).
This is a detective / thriller / romance set in China featuring American pathologist Margaret Campbell & Chinese detective Li Yan.
I liked the story and the characters - Peter May is not afraid to break boundaries and head in to territory from which there is no return! And the setting gives it an interesting edge over other books in this genre.
I will certainly be reading the next in the series - highly recommended.
This is a detective / thriller / romance set in China featuring American pathologist Margaret Campbell & Chinese detective Li Yan.
I liked the story and the characters - Peter May is not afraid to break boundaries and head in to territory from which there is no return! And the setting gives it an interesting edge over other books in this genre.
I will certainly be reading the next in the series - highly recommended.
August 31, 2016
A burned corpse in a park in Beijing is the beginning of a strange mystery for Beijing detective Li Yan and forensic pathologist Margaret Campbell. Together they must work out who the man is if it was suicide or murder. And if it was murder, who would want to kill him? Since they got on the wrong foot with each other at the first meeting must they also find a way to work together without frictions with is easier said than done.
Peter May's Lewis trilogy is one that I truly enjoyed reading so I was quite eager to read The Firemaker when I got the chance to it. It was very interesting to read about Beijing. This is I'm quite sure the first crime book I have read that takes place in Beijing and the difference in the way of life there to ours in the west is fascinating. Peter May begin the book with telling the reader about his journey to China and his great interest in the country. And, I can tell that in the book with the details and how well he was written about the cultural difference between China and the west.
Margaret Campbell has left America to get away from some personal problems and she is absolutely not ready for the cultural shock that she is in for in Beijing. She should have read up more about what to do and what not to do before she sat foot in Beijing, but she didn't and that means that right from the start is she upsetting pretty much everyone. You know when you tell someone what not to do and the person instead go ahead and do it? Yup, that's Margaret Campbell in this book. For instance, the first time Margaret met Li Yan she makes him lose face. And, it just goes downhill from that one...
Still they and up working together and, despite their first annoyance with each other is there a spark between them and the more they work together, well let's say that they find each other quite acceptable towards the end.
The case with the burned body was an interesting one, unfortunately, I came to feel that it took forever to get somewhere with it. The book is pretty thick and the investigation was a bit slow and sometimes during the middle and towards the end that I feel almost a bit of desperation for the story to get somewhere. And, then finally, the investigation started to take off and then it took a horrible turn for Li Yan and Margaret.
So, in the end, the case was interesting, but the book felt a bit slow now and then. I did, however, like Li Yan and Margaret quite well. Sure Margaret's overbearing attitude was a bit annoying, but she started to respect the Chinese culture more and more towards the end of the book.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
Peter May's Lewis trilogy is one that I truly enjoyed reading so I was quite eager to read The Firemaker when I got the chance to it. It was very interesting to read about Beijing. This is I'm quite sure the first crime book I have read that takes place in Beijing and the difference in the way of life there to ours in the west is fascinating. Peter May begin the book with telling the reader about his journey to China and his great interest in the country. And, I can tell that in the book with the details and how well he was written about the cultural difference between China and the west.
Margaret Campbell has left America to get away from some personal problems and she is absolutely not ready for the cultural shock that she is in for in Beijing. She should have read up more about what to do and what not to do before she sat foot in Beijing, but she didn't and that means that right from the start is she upsetting pretty much everyone. You know when you tell someone what not to do and the person instead go ahead and do it? Yup, that's Margaret Campbell in this book. For instance, the first time Margaret met Li Yan she makes him lose face. And, it just goes downhill from that one...
Still they and up working together and, despite their first annoyance with each other is there a spark between them and the more they work together, well let's say that they find each other quite acceptable towards the end.
The case with the burned body was an interesting one, unfortunately, I came to feel that it took forever to get somewhere with it. The book is pretty thick and the investigation was a bit slow and sometimes during the middle and towards the end that I feel almost a bit of desperation for the story to get somewhere. And, then finally, the investigation started to take off and then it took a horrible turn for Li Yan and Margaret.
So, in the end, the case was interesting, but the book felt a bit slow now and then. I did, however, like Li Yan and Margaret quite well. Sure Margaret's overbearing attitude was a bit annoying, but she started to respect the Chinese culture more and more towards the end of the book.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
January 20, 2018
I like Peter May's Lewis Island books and was really looking forward to this one. This is set in China when American forensic pathologist, Margaret Campbell, accepts a short teaching stint at the People's University of Public Security in Beijing. She is recovering from a personal tragedy and is cranky, out of sorts and not the least bit interested in China's customs and way of life. She just wanted a change of pace and is quite convinced of her American superiority. She is a pain to be around. Assigned a former Red Guard escort, both helper and spy, she makes everyone's life miserable.
A man found burned to death in a public park brings newly promoted Deputy Section Chief Li to his first investigation in the new job. As Campbell is an expert in burn victims she is brought into the investigation and the two clash bitterly. She is convinced of her American superiority and he of his Chinese knowledge.
The investigation takes lots of twists and turns and many personality clashes. There is a component of genetic altering of a food supply that is both very scary and realistic. It is an issue that will present itself in our near future and I am not sure we are prepared for it. The ending was spine chilling.
This was an interesting novel with some unusual ideas. It made some entertaining reading.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
A man found burned to death in a public park brings newly promoted Deputy Section Chief Li to his first investigation in the new job. As Campbell is an expert in burn victims she is brought into the investigation and the two clash bitterly. She is convinced of her American superiority and he of his Chinese knowledge.
The investigation takes lots of twists and turns and many personality clashes. There is a component of genetic altering of a food supply that is both very scary and realistic. It is an issue that will present itself in our near future and I am not sure we are prepared for it. The ending was spine chilling.
This was an interesting novel with some unusual ideas. It made some entertaining reading.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
November 11, 2021
Yazildiktan yirmi yil sonra cevrilse bile Çin konusunda bir cok noktanin guncelligini korudugu bir kitap.
Peter May'in okudugum diger kitaplarindan oldukca farkli bir tarzda yazilmis. Ama digerlerine gore polisiye yonu cok daha fazla.
Ben kesinlikle cok begendim. Umarim ikinci ve sonraki kitaplar cok yakinda cikar!
Peter May'in okudugum diger kitaplarindan oldukca farkli bir tarzda yazilmis. Ama digerlerine gore polisiye yonu cok daha fazla.
Ben kesinlikle cok begendim. Umarim ikinci ve sonraki kitaplar cok yakinda cikar!
January 4, 2018
“The Firemaker” is part of Peter May’s series set in China. I have read and loved his books set in Scotland, but somehow had not read any of the China series. May tells a great story, and I loved this one, as well. I enjoyed reading a mystery in the midst of the complex and diverse life in Beijing.
The main character, Margaret Campbell leaves America to get away from some personal problems, but she is not prepared for the cultural differences she finds in Beijing. She is stereotypically uninformed, and her relationship with Li Yan is fraught with social missteps. This relationship gives May the opportunity to scatter interesting Chinese culture throughout the book and to develop an appealing sense of place. Along the way, the characters learn to accept each other’s decorum and work together.
The pace is slow, but steady. May’s writing style creates a story that is both compelling and educational. He gives readers a unique insight into the culture and the people of China through the eyes of his characters. Of course, it ends with a cliffhanger that pulls readers right into the five books that follow in the series.
I received a copy of “The Firemaker” from Peter May, Quercus, and NetGalley. I loved this book almost as much as May’s Enzo Files (set in France) and Lewis Trilogy, and stand-alone books (set in Scotland). Now, on to reading the rest of the China series.
The main character, Margaret Campbell leaves America to get away from some personal problems, but she is not prepared for the cultural differences she finds in Beijing. She is stereotypically uninformed, and her relationship with Li Yan is fraught with social missteps. This relationship gives May the opportunity to scatter interesting Chinese culture throughout the book and to develop an appealing sense of place. Along the way, the characters learn to accept each other’s decorum and work together.
The pace is slow, but steady. May’s writing style creates a story that is both compelling and educational. He gives readers a unique insight into the culture and the people of China through the eyes of his characters. Of course, it ends with a cliffhanger that pulls readers right into the five books that follow in the series.
I received a copy of “The Firemaker” from Peter May, Quercus, and NetGalley. I loved this book almost as much as May’s Enzo Files (set in France) and Lewis Trilogy, and stand-alone books (set in Scotland). Now, on to reading the rest of the China series.
May 15, 2010
Peter May's China mysteries have been reissued by Poisoned Pen Press. This is good news, because since he first wrote them I have become interested in Chinese culture and life (lived in Taiwan, been to China, have a Chinese daughter-in-law, and a son who speaks Mandarin fluently and spends some summers there as part of his job). So this first book in a series of six I found quite exciting, even allowing for the explanations of Chinese culture sprinkled in at some length (because the American protagonist is an ignoramus about China, frankly, and this is the hook used to explain the cultural differences). She is a forensic pathologist fleeing tragedy back home, lecturing in Beijing for six weeks. She becomes involved in doing an autopsy for a Beijing police detective who has 3 murders to solve. They begin as antagonistic toward each other, and guess how they end up? The book ends in a cliff-hanger, tho, and I'm eager to begin book #2. Terrific sense of place with cultural differences thrown in, some romance, and lots of excitement.
February 16, 2015
I found this book a very interesting read. I loved the interplay between Margaret Campbell and LI Yan. Learned a lot of 'how not to act in China' through Margaret's mistakes. I have read Peter May's The Lewis Trilogy and didn't know what to expect for the Beijing series but May does not disappoint. He has well-developed characters and many surprises at the end. If you are interested in finding out about China's laws and history, then you will be sure to enjoy this book. I can't wait to read the 2nd in the series in order to find out what's next for Margaret and Li Yan.
March 13, 2015
Tři hvězdičky a ta třetí je dost protekční. Asijské lokace nemám v knihách a filmech ráda. Kupodivu to ale v této knize není to, co by mi vadilo, naopak. Jenže: Detektivka je to špatná (až na konci si uvědomíte, že to asi má být i thriller). Červená knihovna je to tak klišovitá, že jsem se místy styděla. Ovšem už v této staré knize se ukazuje, že Peter May má talent vtáhnout čtenáře na jakékoliv místo a zabydlet ho tam. Tuto formálně špatnou knížku jsem přečetla jedním dechem, nešlo to jinak.
June 2, 2016
Book #1 in the China thrillers introducing Li Yan and Dr. Margaret Campbell. Dr. Campbell arrives in Beijing for a 6 week guest lecture at the Centre of Material Evidence Determination. Her first autopsy is on a burn victim found in one of the city's parks and introduces her to Li Yan, a new up-and-coming Beijing detective. A series of suspicious deaths entangled the two in a major crime investigation.
A very good beginning to a series by Peter May. I look forward to reading more.
A very good beginning to a series by Peter May. I look forward to reading more.
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