Customer Reviews

Beautiful Ghosts

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The fourth Shan novel from Eliot Pattison is, in my opinion, his most polished and easiest for a first time reader. The formulaic corpse in the first few pages is duly introduced, allowing the author to get onto his primary theme of Buddhism. The protagonists and antagonists come across as complex, conflicted individuals and a little less, in this work, as political stereotypes (except for the real baddies of course). It's not too hard to figure out who did the deeds, but as before, all the joy is in the well-paced journey to discovery.

Mr. Pattison uses space...chortens, mountains, temples, geology, in very interesting ways in all of his books, with parallel outer and inner spaces. I think this is done very well in this work. Beautiful Ghosts can well stand alone, without requiring knowledge of the prior books. If one has read the previous novels, the characters seem like old friends and allow Mr. Pattison to use careful understatement in the context of our previous encounters, especially with the learned and kindly senior lamas.

The inner struggles of Shan are deep and wrenching, but at the same time not as disorganized, overwhelming, or at times as overwrought as in the earlier mysteries. One can almost sense him going sane or perhaps growing spiritually from book to book. He seems to be growing into himself despite the very personal hits he takes in this book. Suggestions for future themes abound for Himalaya devotees....Bon, cross-border trade with India, relationships with the Tibetan exile community, etc. I can't wait to see what is next.

At one time Inspector Shan Tao Yun felt his life in Beijing was excellent, but he made the error of following personal ethics and adhering to the law rather than the party line; he alienated a person very high in the Chinese governmental hierarchy. The "court" sentenced Shan to toil at a remote work camp where he would not see his wife or son ever again. However, he no longer works at the camp; instead, Shan lives in Tibet amidst outlawed Buddhist monks. Having become a non-person of no status, Shan can never go home.

Shan attends a ceremony rededicating an ancient ruined monastery. While there, he finds evidence that a murder recently occurred amidst the devastated monastery. Local officials want to investigate dangling the opportunity to go back to Beijing and see his son as a carrot. Others want him quietly to leave the area. Worse, the FBI and Beijing officials are involved too. Hoping to protect the secret group of Buddhist monks that have befriended him, Shan begins to make inquiries that will take him far away from the Himalayas across the Pacific.

This is an engaging Chinese mystery starring a delightful lead protagonist, but the real star is the vivid and deep look into Tibet and other Himalayan locations. Readers obtain a taste of Buddhism and the Chinese Communist government's efforts to eliminate the belief system. Shan is a wonderful sleuth finding himself pulled in several directions, but following his personal ethics regardless of the cost to his heart. BEAUTIFUL GHOST is a beautiful thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Eliot Pattison's details quickly transport the reader to a world that seems so distant in time and space and yet sadly is a part of the world we live in now. He teaches the reader so very much about the Tibetan culture and the Chinese Cultural Revolution through his books while weaving a tale of intrigue and surprise twists. Pattison's stories tell of man's weaknesses and also celebrate the power of compassion and spirituality.

Pattison reminds me of Mitchner's early books, with his tremendous empathy for the people and culture. This is one of those books that you don't want to come to an end.

A fascinating mystery set in Tibet after the Chinese takeover, featuring Pattison's lead character, Inspector Shan, a former Chinese prisoner in Tibet. The writing is beautiful, the plot clever and full of surprising twists, and the side benefits include an in-depth look at the current state of Tibet, an education in Buddhist philosophy and an excellent read.

What an incredible read. I feel as though I've missed out on so much by over-looking books involving the far east. I felt they would never appeal to me since I've never had an opportunity to explore the culture. Beautiful Ghosts took me on a trip that I did not wish to have terminated. I was enthralled. What a ride! Former detective Yun is a unique and intriguing character and I can't wait to read more.

The landscape and character descriptions are so vivid and real that the ability to imagine them comes so easily. By the end of the book I was tempted to contact my travel agent!

If you desire something different and want a unique mental trip away from the ordinary, I very highly recommend Mr Pattison.

This book, and the whole series is brilliant! Loved every moment of it and it is a good story, well told while describing the landscape and the people in detail. A must read in my own opinion.
However I was also shocked to read what the Han are doing to the rest of the population and specific to the Tibetans. I did not know it was this bad, and further research confirmed it is. I think the Han have taken genocide and Nazism to a new height. From this point to this book is a must read too, and has helped me to make a decision to avoid `made in china' goods.

Beautiful Ghosts

Author: Eliot Pattison
Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Inspector Shan Tao Yun although released from a work camp in Tibet is still nonetheless considered a persona non-grata in the eyes of many. Attending a ceremony to rededicate an ancient ruined monastery he finds evidence that a murder too place at this revered sites. While imprisoned he aligned himself with monks also sentence to hard labor. Throughout the novel the Skull Mantra we learn more about these monks, Buddhism and how Shan embraces them. Religion, which is punishable by law by the People's Republic, comes into play. In the Skull Mantra we meet Colonel tan and once again in Beautiful Ghosts he resurfaces. Tan is searching for lost antiquities.

As the story opens the hill people have been summoned to the ruins of Zhoka gompa for this celebration. It is the Dalai Lama's birthday. But, what sets off the chain of events is when a herder brings the body of Atso, also a herder stating that god killers committed the murder. As Surya sheds his ropes and is covered with bloods, leaving the area and not wanting to be a monk anymore, Shan delves into the murder, the investigation and will once again meet Tan. But, there is much more to come as things heat up once again and Gendon and Lokesh need his help and Shan will take many journeys before this is all played out.
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The author leads the reader and Shan down a stairway that opens into two separate chambers. Each of the chambers holds secrets, death, items dear to the monks and blood patterns alerting the reader that a murder took place here and bones were stored that were many years old. Just how this links to the present still remains to be seen. As Shan alights from the chamber he finds Lokesh on the ridge and what happens next will shake the core of the people as some flee, a helicopter arrives and takes Surya away and his end is definitely there. Shan and those left discuss the truth behind what Surya was doing, the painting he found in the chamber, the writing that he obliterated and the reasons behind his actions. How could they defend and protect Zhoka? What they misunderstood would hurt them and Liya and Shan realize that someone died within that chamber.

Five missives or letters that reveal what the Amban project is and what and who might be behind the thefts. Shan is offered a job working for the Minister Ming and his hopes to find the treasures, the killers and the antiquities. Added to that Shan is faced with another dilemma: His son Ko who is anything but the wonderful child that he remembers. Not wanting him on his team to hunt for these answers he demands his removal as they proceed to the next location and the next step in the investigation. What part does Elizabeth McDowell play? Next, of course is Ko his son who was saved by Tan and brought to meet his father. What part he plays and how he can be of help will surprise the reader and Shan as Ko describes to the reader his life in prison, how he feels about meeting Shan and the key to where the fortune was McDowell was working with Ming for other purposes. Just what was her true purpose and what part does Dolan play?

An ending that you won't expect as Shan, Yao, Corbett and Ko do their best to stop whatever Dolan and Ming have planned. The end result you will not see coming and a father and son whose fate has yet to be determined. Who winds up with the treasure and will Zhoka be saved? Find out when you read this outstanding novel by author Eliot Pattison. Loyalty, bravery, culture, history and one man that never gave up as Shan takes us on a journey into the mountains, chambers, hidden places and dark corners to find the emperor's treasure and it's rightful place.

Pattison is a new author to me. He seems to specialize in mysteries that are set in modern Tibet, or at least, he has written several. His writing is very knowledgeable. He knows a great deal about Tibetans. His presentation of the internecine battle between the Buddhists and Atheists is very thoroughly grounded in credibility. I was very absorbed by his work and intend to read more.

This is a well-crafted detective story set in Tibet. It is more about the people, the place, the deities than whodunit.