Number 3 in the series which includes Jade Dragon Mountain and The White Mirror and featuring intrepid 18th century imperial librarian Li Du and his frequent sidekick, the storyteller Hamza.
Ah...how I love a good series! For me, this one has it all: intriguing plots, likable characters, and an unusually strong sense of place. In this case, the place is 18th century Beijing. I'm in no position to know whether Hart's research and understanding are accurate, but if they are, then reading this series is the easiest time travel anywhere.
In his efforts to learn more about the imperial plot that saw the execution of his mentor Shu, Li Du has returned to the capital from exile and taken up a position as a lowly clerk. The job is beneath his super-librarian abilities, but it gives him surreptitious access to the documents he needs to do his research. He's taken away from his digging when the bodies of a man and woman are found stabbed to death in a factory that produces roof tiles. Were they lovers? Is it a case of a jealous husband? Does it have something to do with the elite book discussion club held a few evenings earlier at the factory?
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