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Fleeing the Dragon
Shanghai, China. 1945. What if you are ordered to solve a complicated crime, under almost impossible conditions, and will face unthinkable repercussions if you fail to promptly deliver the solution?
That is what happens to Shanghai-based private investigator Sun-jin when the exiled president of China orders him to find out who tried to assassinate his wife when she was on a secret diplomatic mission for him in Japanese-occupied Shanghai.
With the clock ticking, Sun-jin quickly learns that solving a crime in an enemy-occupied city — even a city you know like the back of your hand — is neither easy nor safe. There are curfews to deal with, informants everywhere, patrolling enemy soldiers to avoid, and restrihistoory of china, history of shanghai,ctions on visiting parts of the city.
Will Sun-jin be able to ask his questions, visit prohibited places, fend off informants, and poke his nose where it doesn’t belong, and still avoid being accused by the Japanese of spying for China?
Will he solve the mystery in time to avoid punishment by China’s president?
FLEEING THE DRAGON is a fast-paced historical mystery, full of twists and turns, that dishes out the exotic flavors of Shanghai in the final year of World War II.
That is what happens to Shanghai-based private investigator Sun-jin when the exiled president of China orders him to find out who tried to assassinate his wife when she was on a secret diplomatic mission for him in Japanese-occupied Shanghai.
With the clock ticking, Sun-jin quickly learns that solving a crime in an enemy-occupied city — even a city you know like the back of your hand — is neither easy nor safe. There are curfews to deal with, informants everywhere, patrolling enemy soldiers to avoid, and restrihistoory of china, history of shanghai,ctions on visiting parts of the city.
Will Sun-jin be able to ask his questions, visit prohibited places, fend off informants, and poke his nose where it doesn’t belong, and still avoid being accused by the Japanese of spying for China?
Will he solve the mystery in time to avoid punishment by China’s president?
FLEEING THE DRAGON is a fast-paced historical mystery, full of twists and turns, that dishes out the exotic flavors of Shanghai in the final year of World War II.
266 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2022
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April 17, 2022
‘There’s no time to waste’ – weaving history into entertaining fiction
Washington DC author Steven M. Roth earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and history from Pennsylvania State University and a law degree from Duke Law School. He is retired from private law practice. Steve has published ten novels to date – the Socrates Cheng mysteries, the Trace Austin suspense thrillers, the entertaining THE DOG WHO PLAYED CENTERFIELD: A Baseball Story, THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING DONUT, and The 1930s-1940s Shanghai mysteries: DEATH IN THE FLOWERY KINGDOM, DEATH OF A YELLOW SWAN, SLEEPING WITH THE TIGER, and now Book 4 of that series – FLEEING THE DRAGON. His presence in Washington, DC and his experience as a lawyer serve him well in sculpting tense, beautifully nuanced novels that blend international politics, the military, and crime!
The primary figure in this series is the plainclothes inspector detective Sun-jin, and we meet him again in the opening lines – ‘I was sitting in my office at Blue Dragon Detective Agency in Shanghai’s former International Settlement when suddenly the door flew open, slamming against the wall. I leaped up and, as I did so, opened the top drawer of my desk and grabbed my revolver. I took aim at the doorway. Three soldiers rushed in. “Ayeeyah! Damn!” I shouted, taking aim at the closest man…These soldiers, like me, were Chinese – were Celestials – not Kwangtung Dwarf Bandits as I instinctively expected them to be under the Occupation. Yet thee Celestials wore the uniform of the enemy army.’ For first timers, welcome to the further dealings of Sun-jin!
Steve offers a synopsis that outlines the area the novel covers – ‘Shanghai, China. 1945. What if you are ordered to solve a complicated crime, under almost impossible conditions, and will face unthinkable repercussions if you fail to promptly deliver the solution? That is what happens to Shanghai-based private investigator Sun-jin when the exiled president of China orders him to find out who tried to assassinate his wife when she was on a secret diplomatic mission for him in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. With the clock ticking, Sun-jin quickly learns that solving a crime in an enemy-occupied city — even a city you know like the back of your hand — is neither easy nor safe. There are curfews to deal with, informants everywhere, patrolling enemy soldiers to avoid, and retro history of China, history of Shanghai, reactions on visiting parts of the city. Will Sun-jin be able to ask his questions, visit prohibited places, fend off informants, and poke his nose where it doesn’t belong, and still avoid being accused by the Japanese of spying for China? Will he solve the mystery in time to avoid punishment by China’s president?’
Having read all installments of Steve’s 1930s Shanghai murder mysteries, it is a pleasure to encourage all readers who love mysteries to come on board. Steven M. Roth is an important author – and his books suggest cinematic transcriptions! Highly recommended.
Washington DC author Steven M. Roth earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and history from Pennsylvania State University and a law degree from Duke Law School. He is retired from private law practice. Steve has published ten novels to date – the Socrates Cheng mysteries, the Trace Austin suspense thrillers, the entertaining THE DOG WHO PLAYED CENTERFIELD: A Baseball Story, THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING DONUT, and The 1930s-1940s Shanghai mysteries: DEATH IN THE FLOWERY KINGDOM, DEATH OF A YELLOW SWAN, SLEEPING WITH THE TIGER, and now Book 4 of that series – FLEEING THE DRAGON. His presence in Washington, DC and his experience as a lawyer serve him well in sculpting tense, beautifully nuanced novels that blend international politics, the military, and crime!
The primary figure in this series is the plainclothes inspector detective Sun-jin, and we meet him again in the opening lines – ‘I was sitting in my office at Blue Dragon Detective Agency in Shanghai’s former International Settlement when suddenly the door flew open, slamming against the wall. I leaped up and, as I did so, opened the top drawer of my desk and grabbed my revolver. I took aim at the doorway. Three soldiers rushed in. “Ayeeyah! Damn!” I shouted, taking aim at the closest man…These soldiers, like me, were Chinese – were Celestials – not Kwangtung Dwarf Bandits as I instinctively expected them to be under the Occupation. Yet thee Celestials wore the uniform of the enemy army.’ For first timers, welcome to the further dealings of Sun-jin!
Steve offers a synopsis that outlines the area the novel covers – ‘Shanghai, China. 1945. What if you are ordered to solve a complicated crime, under almost impossible conditions, and will face unthinkable repercussions if you fail to promptly deliver the solution? That is what happens to Shanghai-based private investigator Sun-jin when the exiled president of China orders him to find out who tried to assassinate his wife when she was on a secret diplomatic mission for him in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. With the clock ticking, Sun-jin quickly learns that solving a crime in an enemy-occupied city — even a city you know like the back of your hand — is neither easy nor safe. There are curfews to deal with, informants everywhere, patrolling enemy soldiers to avoid, and retro history of China, history of Shanghai, reactions on visiting parts of the city. Will Sun-jin be able to ask his questions, visit prohibited places, fend off informants, and poke his nose where it doesn’t belong, and still avoid being accused by the Japanese of spying for China? Will he solve the mystery in time to avoid punishment by China’s president?’
Having read all installments of Steve’s 1930s Shanghai murder mysteries, it is a pleasure to encourage all readers who love mysteries to come on board. Steven M. Roth is an important author – and his books suggest cinematic transcriptions! Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 of 1 review