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The Balance of Heaven and Earth

(Magistrate Zhu Mysteries #1)

Laurence Westwood (Goodreads Author)

4.06 · Rating details · 17 ratings · 19 reviews

I have been unable to write a judgement that does not seem to offend my conscience, or indeed Heaven, in some manner. Because I do not wish to influence your thinking unduly, I have destroyed all my personal papers and notes in regard to this dispute, preferring you to start afresh. Forgive me for this. All I ask is that you consider and examine Jade Moon most carefully be ...more

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Kindle Edition, 436 pages

Published September 30th 2018 by Shikra Press

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Mar 11, 2019 Fizah(Books tales by me) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019-read

Actual Rating 3.25
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book is not the genre which I usually read, but as this year I am trying to read the diverse book so I decided to give it a chance. I got this book in January and finally, after two months of delaying it, I found myself in the right mood to read it.

It is a Chinese mystery of a village, where after the arrival of new magistrate things started to change. If I talk about writing, when I started this book I ...more

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Sep 06, 2019 Nargis Kalani rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, fiction, reviews-for-authors

Finally, I found the time to review this book.

This book amazed me, literally. At, first I was so scared that I will be disappointed by it because I found it so boring in the beginning when I started reading it. I kept reading as I cannot leave a book unread. The book proved me so wrong. I have never read a story based in china and this book is a historical fiction/mystery containing depiction of Chinese culture, law and justice system. Mr. Laurence amalgamated all of this within the story in suc ...more

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Feb 15, 2019 ❤ Bibi ❤ rated it liked it

Shelves: author-copy

Usually I only read about ancient times, when its mythology related. But when Laurence Westwood contacted me and offered to send me a physical copy of his book, I thought why not give his ancient history crime fighting book a go. After all I did get really into CSI a few years ago - and I do enjoy a game of Cluedo, so who's to say I wouldn't get into crime fighting in ancient China? And the blurb, oh the seductive minx, lured me right in, and brought me to Tranquil Mountain - a town in China, in ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Noriko rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I haven’t read many books set in Asian countries let alone stories set in ancient China despite being an Asian myself; I didn’t know what to expect from this book to be honest.
Much to my delight, I quite enjoyed this atmospheric, somewhat mystic story - the first book in the Magistrate Zhu Mystery, which centered on a young, competent Magistrate and an equally mysterious young girl, Jade Moon.

The story begins with a new Magistrate arriving in a small town called Tranquil Mountain followed by a I haven’t read many books set in Asian countries let alone stories set in ancient China despite being an Asian myself; I didn’t know what to expect from this book to be honest.
Much to my delight, I quite enjoyed this atmospheric, somewhat mystic story - the first book in the Magistrate Zhu Mystery, which centered on a young, competent Magistrate and an equally mysterious young girl, Jade Moon.

The story begins with a new Magistrate arriving in a small town called Tranquil Mountain followed by a ghoulish murder of Mister Gong supposedly by someone called Scary Fu.
Magistrate Zhu, therefore, is straightway thrown in the midst of confusion to solve this brutal murder as well as make a judgment on the long-sitting contractual dispute between the second son of Patriarch Zhou and Jade Moon - a girl who is said to possess a supernatural quality.

Intertwined and embellished with multiple strands of side-stories and vividly depicted characters, The Balance of Heaven and Earth tells a story of a guilt-ridden young Magistrate’ redemption and his emotional conflicts, as well as the spiritual and transcending bond he forged with Jade Moon.

I have read his other book, The Willow Woman previously thus I had no misgivings whatsoever on his writing; as expected, his gorgeous prose created an awe-inspiring atmosphere which sometimes stole my breath away. In particular, his depiction on Jade Moon’s ethereal quality is worth to note; its powerful without being over-dramatic nor sentimental and that is exactly the quality what I look for in an author.

The pacing, indeed is a bit slow -perhaps a bit too slow for some readers - but I enjoyed the process of the story developing on itself. The detail and the backgrounds of the contention are nicely established and argued, I was convinced on most of the things that were dealt with in this book.

Short chapters also make it easier to pick it up and put it down, but I much preferred to read away uninterrupted because the book is pretty immersive once you get things organized in your head.

Both Magistrate Zhu and Jade Moon are fantastic characters - they are both complex and multi dimensional, and I particularly adored how initially aloof-looking, temperamental Magistrate starts to take a liking to his four young constables and establish a strong mutual trust with them.

The Epilogue is a perfect fit to this book filled to the brim with a tranquil ambience. It’s brief, yet definitely leaves an impression there’s more to come to this series.
I’m already curious to see what would become of Magistrate Zhu and Jade Moon - a force of nature - and how Magistrate changes the society through his wisdom and knowledge of law.

Solid 4 stars go to this book and I thank the author for giving me a great opportunity to read this well-conceived book. ...more

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Jan 14, 2019 Kat // Novels & Waffles rated it it was ok

Shelves: meh

✨I received an E-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. ✨

2.5 Stars. I am suffering from a serious case of “right book, wrong reader” syndrome right now, because in all honesty, this book was good, but just not for me.

Think of The Balance of Heaven and Earth as CSI: Ancient China. Magistrates and constables replace private detectives and policemen; the result is something similar to the tried-and-true formula of your standard TV crime show. There’s a seemingly unsolva ...more

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Jan 23, 2019 Jessie Stevens rated it liked it

One might classify this book as an Ancient Chinese murder mystery, complete with a mysterious love interest, and, technically, it is.

Because the story does take place in ancient China (as in the year 1085 ancient) set in a remote border town of China near where the "barbarians" are still causing trouble. And indeed the finding of a murderer is central to the plot line. And there is a handsome female of certain interest. However in reading it I would say it was much more about the new town's ma ...more

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Nov 24, 2019 Xerxes rated it it was amazing

This novel is the reason I want to see big publishers such as Harpercollins, Canelo, Angry Robot, Orbit do more settings in China, be it historical, or sci-fi, or alternate history. Or more historical fiction. Here I am, as a reader that wants to see more locations in historical fiction, thinking of a novel being written about maybe the Han Dynasty. And here comes this novel based on the Song Dynasty.

This novel has a simplistic plot and I prefer it that way. Most Traditional Chinese stories are This novel is the reason I want to see big publishers such as Harpercollins, Canelo, Angry Robot, Orbit do more settings in China, be it historical, or sci-fi, or alternate history. Or more historical fiction. Here I am, as a reader that wants to see more locations in historical fiction, thinking of a novel being written about maybe the Han Dynasty. And here comes this novel based on the Song Dynasty.

This novel has a simplistic plot and I prefer it that way. Most Traditional Chinese stories are complex to understand. And Laurence has done a fantastic job in simplifying the names. I can only imagine that they were difficult to translate into.

It is a historical mystery series similar to the celebrated cases of Judge Dee, who is similar to the Tang Dynasty figure, Di Renjie, who served as the chancellor of the Tang and Zhou Dynasties. It is the Chinese version of case crime novels so to say. Imagine Sherlock Holmes for a moment, and you get the idea.

The world-building, the characters, the setting, the description, the research, all of it has been done to a meticulous level. You feel as if it immerses you in Song China. You feel and see many character’s regrets, motivations, and the struggles of power conflict. I wished to see more of Jade Moon’s maturity and to understand more of her character. I felt that Magistrate Zhu is one of those incorruptible people that you cannot bribe with. People like him are very rare. One thing I liked about the novel was the plot’s setting. That a peaceful village has a disturbance. I felt its similar to China’s history. It builds an empire before downfall happens and is a constant repetitive motif in Chinese history. This happens a lot throughout the novel. So just watch out for any references made about empires and barbarians and the law. And civilization.

The novel’s approach doesn’t stifle you with complicated names or grand candour or anything of that sort. It’s short, it’s simple, it’s direct. You will get to know characters such as the infamous Deng Brothers (please do read their parts) and Horse. Horse is a character that if you’re familiar with watching Chinese/Korean historical dramas, resembles that a lot.

This could easily be a Netflix series. I can imagine a great TV show being made of this. I can’t wait to see what other mysteries come up. Though I would like to see Magistrate Zhu dealing with Japanese Pirates or travelling to Josean at the request of the Empire. This is a solid novel. If you want more diverse settings, if you want a Chinese historical fiction novel, then READ THIS AND BUY IT NOW

My rating: A solid 5/5. ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Jess Combs rated it it was amazing

Where do I begin???

I had no idea what to expect when I began reading this book. I know little about the time period in China during which The Balance of Heaven and Earth takes place, but part of what I LOVE about historical fiction is getting to learn about different places and times through fictionalized accounts of the past.

There was so much that I loved about this book, but the characters are what really pulled me in and had me both laughing and crying! Even the names of people and places mad ...more

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Jul 27, 2019 Ronnie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-from-the-author, historical-fiction, read-in-2019

This review was originally posted on my blog, Paradise Found.

This book became an innocent victim of my reading slump I'm afraid; it took me ages to read it, but let me tell you, it wasn't the book's fault at all *points at herself*. The Balance of Heaven and Earth is a historical small town mystery/crime novel well worthy of praise, so let me do just that.

This novel is unlike anything I've read before, mainly because I'm not very familiar with Chinese history, but I'm always happy to learn somet This review was originally posted on my blog, Paradise Found.

This book became an innocent victim of my reading slump I'm afraid; it took me ages to read it, but let me tell you, it wasn't the book's fault at all *points at herself*. The Balance of Heaven and Earth is a historical small town mystery/crime novel well worthy of praise, so let me do just that.

This novel is unlike anything I've read before, mainly because I'm not very familiar with Chinese history, but I'm always happy to learn something new, and for this reason 'visiting' a 11th century small Chinese town was a real treat for me. The characters are so well introduced and developed that you can't help but welcome them as friends after a while.

Jade Moon is considered a hero in Tranquil Mountain, and still, her fate is quite uncertain when Magistrate Zhu arrives to town to fill in his new position and administer the law. They both have a troubled past and their future oddly lies in the hand of one another.

Not surprisingly women had quite a vulnerable position in Chinese society too a thousand years ago and it could easily happen that a female child was sold to a rich family to entertain the sons of the household. Jade Moon if facing the bonds of concubinage unless Magistrate Zhu is willing and capable of finding a hole in the law that would allow her to gain her freedom back.

Jade Moon is a fighter, the daughter of a 'barbarian' and a Chinese mother, a curiosity for the Chinese people for her fierce and passionate nature. It was quite eye opening to read about what was considered Chinese-ness at the time. To be Chinese was to follow the traditions, that you were born on the same piece of land didn't instantly mean you were Chinese. The cultural distinction was quite emphasized between these two set of people, the Chinese and the barbarians.

Another interesting topic in the book was the law and Magistrate Zhu's approach to certain questions related to it. Is the law always right? What if it makes people suffer unnecessarily? Who should make the law? Can it be overlooked if it is morally unacceptable for the individual? Such interesting musings to read about!

The secondary characters were very entertaining too: the constables; Horse, the bright young man who matures a lot during the story, the good-for-nothing Deng brothers, Little Ox with his strength and bravery, Leaf, the little kid who they always want to send off to bed, but is always ready to fight... Senior Scribe Xu, the kind old man who was always on Jade Moon's side was also one of my favourites.

The writing style is very steady, it's flowing well and is easy to read. The story is a bit slow burn, but I like this kind, if you do too, I'm sure it will satisfy you.

If you're on the lookout for something different at the moment, give The Balance of Heaven and Earth a try. ...more

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Sep 15, 2019 Michelle Whitham (curled_up_with_a_good_book) rated it it was amazing

In 11th Century China, Tranquil Mountain has recently experienced the death of their Magistrate and have been waiting sometime for a new one to arrive. Magistrate Zhu arrives but within days there is a murder; an unsolved local dispute and then a kidnapping! As well as all of this, Magistrate Zhu has to get used to his band of constables…..questionably recruited by his predecessor and the unusual practices that happen in the town. As well as the towns very strange obsession with tea!

Jade Moon is In 11th Century China, Tranquil Mountain has recently experienced the death of their Magistrate and have been waiting sometime for a new one to arrive. Magistrate Zhu arrives but within days there is a murder; an unsolved local dispute and then a kidnapping! As well as all of this, Magistrate Zhu has to get used to his band of constables…..questionably recruited by his predecessor and the unusual practices that happen in the town. As well as the towns very strange obsession with tea!

Jade Moon is a girl who has lived in the town since she was 12, and has recently become a local heroine. However there is an outstanding case involving her that Magistrate Zhu must complete. But when he meets her he realises that there is something about her – she is as mysterious as the townsfolk say….

But will he do the right thing and make the right decision? Will he solve the murder? And will the townsfolk, who are wary of him, come to love him as much as Magistate Qian? You’ll have to read this to find out!

This was a brilliantly, different mystery. I loved the fact that it was set in 11th Century China (history geek that I am!!) and that I got to learn lots about Chinese law and practices. I absolutely love the characters and that we get to learn about each of them and their pasts. Magistate Zhu is amazing and Jade Moon is a strong and independent amazing woman! The Constables are hilarious, they’re so unique and mostly have no idea what they’re doing in the beginning!! I’s fantastic watching their characters grow from strength to strength, and it’s so nice to learn about each of them and their pasts so you can really get to know them. I’m hoping I’ll catch up with them all again in a book 2!

On that note, we’re left on a little bit of cliffhanger…..there’s something developing and I really want to know where it goes!!

I would say in the beginning it was a bit of a challenge to get used to who was who as the characters have long or strange names, but you do get used to it and then I honestly couldn’t put it down! I couldn’t wait to get home from work to finish it! The story is fantastic! It’s really well written, thoroughly enjoyable and has some great humour in it. Another one definitely recommended by me. If you love a mystery, and fancy something a little different, then give this a go – you won’t regret it!
...more

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Mar 10, 2019 KarenJo Custodio rated it liked it · review of another edition

I’ve been trying to be more open-minded about reading more books outside my comfort zone, so when the author contacted me and offered a copy of this book, I decided that this could be a fun and interesting story. I’ve actually been liking many mystery books in the past year and I love reading diverse books. And, being ¼ Chinese, I was curious to see what this book would be about. Oh and the cover looked amazing too! Well, I can’t say I loved The Balance of Heaven and Earth: A Magistrate Zhu Myst ...more

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Apr 11, 2020 Laurie Dennis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-about-china

A page-turner set in China's Song Dynasty (960-1279), this book is written in the traditional style of Chinese mysteries. That means the local magistrate is the all-powerful detective and judge, and he gets to juggle more than one crime at once. What is different here is that the constables are not dashing heroes (as is the case in, for example, the Judge Dee series)- instead they are badly dressed and inexperienced. But this just adds an enjoyable element of comedy.
The book begins with Magistr ...more

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Jan 12, 2019 Helen Ward rated it it was amazing

I’ve always loved historical mysteries, and am so happy to add this fantastic book to my list of favourites! The author has created a very special world here; Tranquil Mountain is a place that is wonderfully brought to life, and the people are full of both poignancy and humour. The style of writing is gentle and charming and perfect for re-creating a time that may seem lost in the mists...You will really feel the author’s love for China and its – to many of us ‒ mostly unknown history. But this ...more

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Jan 08, 2020 Jocelyn Chatterton rated it it was amazing

This was a most enjoyable read with a superb cast of supporting characters - for example - The Fast and Slow Dengs, Handsome Chen, Peach and Pearl, Tea Merchant Wen and Scary Face Fu and that is without mentioning our heroine Jade Moon and our male protagonist Magistrate Zhu. After years of reading academic scripts and serious literature on China this was a most refreshing read. I really enjoyed it. It is not often that I read a book and smile almost all the way through. I couldn't help it, ther ...more

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Mar 23, 2019 Jenny Hutton rated it it was amazing

I loved this book from start to finish and really didn't want it to end, which is good as it makes me eager for the next book. The Author has managed to capture such a variety of emotions...feeling upset and protective for some of the characters and at the same feeling that justice is not served to others. The historic content is amazing...leaving you feeling amazed at what actually took place all those years ago in ancient China and the painful experiences some of the people suffered. I loved a ...more

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Jun 21, 2019 Stephanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Balance of Heaven and Earth introduces us to Magistrate Zhu who is newly arrived at a remote border town named Tranquil Mountain to take over from the previous Magistrate.

As soon as Zhu arrives, he barely has time to adjust to his new surrounding when there is a mysterious murder, bandits, a kidnapping and even rumours of ghostly hauntings. On top of all that, he has to deal with Jade Moon, the local heroine.

One thing that really caught my attention as I started to get into this story is the The Balance of Heaven and Earth introduces us to Magistrate Zhu who is newly arrived at a remote border town named Tranquil Mountain to take over from the previous Magistrate.

As soon as Zhu arrives, he barely has time to adjust to his new surrounding when there is a mysterious murder, bandits, a kidnapping and even rumours of ghostly hauntings. On top of all that, he has to deal with Jade Moon, the local heroine.

One thing that really caught my attention as I started to get into this story is the incredibly detailed environment that Westwood has created. The atmosphere, locations and characters are very-well fleshed out and the author makes ancient China come alive. It’s not just about good research, you can really tell that the Westwood loves this history and his passion is obvious in his writing.

I was a bit intimidated when the first thing I saw upon opening the book was a cast of characters – nearly two pages worth! I was worried that I would never be able to keep track of them all. But honestly, once I started reading, I didn’t even notice that there were that many characters – they all fit seamlessly into the story and I was never at a loss to who was who.

The Balance of Heaven and Earth isn’t an epic historical fiction with well-known historical figures – it’s quite the opposite – it deals with a small town that is quite isolated and a place full of superstition and long-held traditional beliefs. But instead of being boring, this setting is charming and shows how every place, even a small village like this, needs justice.

While this historical fiction has a lot of mystery elements to it, it wasn’t serious enough to be a typical ‘dark mystery’ and while it was heavy on the charm, it wasn’t a ‘cozy mystery’ either. I settled on ‘historical mystery’, a sub-genre I quite enjoy. And when I say charming, I mean it. Alongside the beautiful storyworld that Westwood has created, the characters themselves are a joy to read and get to know. You can see their growth and development throughout the story.

I must admit that I first agreed to read this book because it was set in ancient China and I thought it was about time I read a historical fiction set in my parents’ homeland. I wasn’t sure what to expect but ended up loving Westwood’s writing style, the setting and the characters. If you’re a fan of historical fiction that is a little more than curious about trying a story set in ancient China, I definitely recommend that you give this one a try!

*** Thank you to the author, Laurence Westwood, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

You can read my full, spoiler-free review on my blog: https://www.bookfrolic.com/book-revie... ...more

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Jan 30, 2019 Zoe rated it really liked it

I am not sure where to begin. This book is beautifully written, I could tell instantly that the author was passionate about Chinese culture, and had done hours upon hours of research.

Sadly for me this wasn’t really a topic I was interested in, I think I agree with a reviewer who said “great book, wrong reviewer.” If you are after a mystery set in the heart of China, with detailed character development. Then I highly recommend this book!

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Jun 02, 2019 Hina Tabassum Khatri marked it as dnf

This book is just not for me.

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Dec 30, 2018 Jéssica added it

[Review to come in 2019.]

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About Laurence Westwood

Laurence Westwood

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After a (probably ill-advised) degree in Theoretical Physics, Laurence commenced upon a varied career in law enforcement and information security consultancy.

He regularly lectures at the University of Warwick on computer law and IP enforcement.

He has had a long-standing fascination with the political, military, social and legal history of China.

He lives just outside of Stratford-upon-Avon, Englan ...more