Don't Cry, Tai Lake: An Inspector Chen Novel [Hardcover]

Qiu Xiaolong (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 8, 2012 | Series: Inspector Chen (Book 7)

“Dark, gorgeous…feels authentically Chinese and it works like a charm.” --Washington Post Book World on A Case of Two Cities

Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department is offered a bit of luxury by friends and supporters within the Party – a week’s vacation at a luxurious resort near Lake Tai, a week where he can relax, and recover, undisturbed by outside demands or disruptions. Unfortunately, the once beautiful Lake Tai, renowned for its clear waters, is now covered by fetid algae, its waters polluted by toxic runoff from local manufacturing plants. Then the director of one of the manufacturing plants responsible for the pollution is murdered and the leader of the local ecological group is the primary suspect of the local police. Now Inspector Chen must tread carefully if he is to uncover the truth behind the brutal murder and find a measure of justice for both the victim and the accused.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* This environmental mystery is also an example of hard-hitting investigative reporting. Qiu, a poet, novelist, and former native of Shanghai, presents a compelling portrait of the far-ranging effects of chemical dumping into bodies of water, which officials in China have ignored for decades, by focusing on one lake and many tragedies. Tai Lake, an actual lake in the Yangtze Delta Plain, famous for its succulent fish and clear waters, is now covered by toxic, blue-green algae. Qiu, like Upton Sinclair in The Jungle, brings this abuse to life by framing it in a novel. The mystery format is especially conducive to giving readers a growing sense of something very wrong. Chief Inspector Chen Cao, of the Special Case Squad in the Shanghai Police Department, is given a reward. A party dignitary who can’t take his scheduled vacation at the resort bordering Tai Lake insists that Chen go in his place. Chen is disturbed by the fetid condition of the lake and concerned by what a young woman, an environmental protection engineer he meets at a local fish stand, tells him about the effects of toxic dumping. Further, he is within miles of a director of one of the lakeside factories when the director is murdered. Chen’s friend, the environmental protection engineer, is the prime suspect because of her criticism of the dumping, and Chen must solve the mystery without incurring wrath from party higher-ups. Despite the grim subject matter, the novel is filled with beautiful descriptions and poetry (Chen is poet as well as detective) that reinforce the beauty that is being polluted and lost. Magnificent. --Connie Fletcher

Review

“Thought-provoking, poetic and suspenseful.” –The Wall Street Journal 

“A meticulously crafted whodunit.” –The Japan Times 

“Enjoyable!” –Publishers Weekly 

“This environmental mystery is also an example of hard-hitting investigative reporting…. Despite the grim subject matter, the novel is filled with beautiful descriptions and poetry (Chen is poet as well as detective) that reinforce the beauty that is being polluted and lost. Magnificent.” –Booklist (starred)

"Peppered with poetry and told with clarity and elegance."–Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (May 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312550642
• ISBN-13: 978-0312550646
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A murky murder by a dying lake May 14, 2012

By Patto TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

There's absolutely nothing like a Chief Inspector Chen novel. He quotes ancient Chinese poetry to subordinates and even to suspects. In the midst of passion, his mind turns to the classical euphemism for lovemaking: clouds and rain. And in the throes of an investigation he finds himself writing fragments of an epic poem.

The murder in this book is not actually his concern. Chen is vacationing at a gated resort for high-level Party members in the tourist town of Wuxi on legendary Tai Lake. He learns about the crime while flirting with a young woman named Shanshan, an environmental engineer at a big chemical company. The CEO has just been murdered, and Shanshan herself, being a troublesome environmentalist, is considered a suspicious person.

Captivated by Shanshan's youthful idealism, Chen works behind the scenes to protect her - and ultimately to investigate the murder. The various characters give us a picture of life inside the new materialistic China: the victim Liu, driven by greed to increase profits at any cost to the environment; his mahjong-playing wife who puts "face" above all else; the "little secretary" who works under Liu in every sense; the political activist Jiang, who may also be a blackmailer...

Chen feels sure all these people are connected and interconnected "in a long chain of yin/yang causality" - but how? Chen ponders the mystery over cups of Cloud and Mist tea and bowls of noodles and stinky tofu. He acquires an admiring and somewhat amusing Watson to help him secretly with his inquiries - a young Wuxi police sergeant whose head is full of Sherlock Holmes stories.

I've read every Inspector Chen novel and recommend them all - with enthusiasm. Don't Cry, Lake Tai is a novel of dissent, focusing as it does on the deadly pollution of China's major rivers and lakes. But it's also true literature. Qiu Xiaolong is a poet and writes exquisitely. In his hands a murder mystery becomes an aesthetic pleasure, and social protest is as haunting as a boatman's age-old song.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I've enjoyed the entire series but feel this is one of Qui's best books. July 6, 2012

By L. J. Roberts TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

First Sentence: Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Bureau found himself standing in front of the gate to the Wuxi Cadre Recreation Center.

Chief Inspector Chen Cao is surprised, pleased and a bit suspicious when he is given an unexpected vacation at a resort reserved for only those of high cadre; influence and/or power. The exclusive resort is located on the once very beautiful and pristine Tai Lake but chemical dumping and greed for wealth are changing that. One of the executives is murdered and a young woman Chen has come to know is being blamed. It is up to Chen to find the truth before she, or her friend, are taken off to prison.

With a tranquil beginning, we are immediately brought into a different world where we learn the importance of rank. Qui excels establishing a strong sense of place. From him we see, hear, smell and taste China. There are wonderful descriptions of the food, which are enhanced by stories of the history behind some of the dishes reminding us just how old is the culture of China.

Chen is fascinating and wonderful character. He's a policeman who had no desire to be a policeman. He's a poet and translator of books, particularly mysteries, from English into Chinese. But he is also dedicated to do his job the best he can, realizing its importance. It's enjoyable to see the local policeman, Sergeant Haung, admiration of Chen and his comparisons of Chen to Sherlock Holmes. Chen is a man of integrity. Although he is attracted to a female character, he knows he must not violate his responsibility as a cop. Poetry and quotation have a significant place in the story. Even the love scene is lyrically described.

We learn details of its history and customs; from the "hair" salons to environmental issues of today. In particular, it is about the changing China, economics and what a company, if permitted, will do to increase its value to increase wealth for its executives. [Chen]"Why are people capable of doing anything just for the sake of money? A partial answer might be the collapse of the ethical system..." It's prophetic in we see the result of a non-regulated industry, yet it never becomes preach-y.

It is also interesting to see the way in which now having some freedom of religion impacts the people of today's China. We forget that religion was banned under strict communism so when two of the supporting characters attend a church service it is a new experience for them. However, there is still the strong importance of "saving face".

There is a redundancy in the constant reminder that the complex is only for those of high cadre of a certain rank and that Chen is only there because of his connection to such a person. However, this also supports Chen's personality that he would be very much aware of that fact.

"Don't Cry, Tai Lake" concludes with a wonderful, touching ending. The final revelation as to the solution of the case is summed up best by Officer Huang "The clues are all there, but it takes a master to connect them,". However, even with the murder solved, the story shows the insular nature of China against the West. I've enjoyed the entire series but feel this is one of Qui's best books.

DON'T CRY, TAI LAKE (Pol Proc-CI Chen Cao-Shanghai, China-Contemporary) - VG
Xiaolong, Qiu - 7th in series
Minotaur Books, 2012

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Qiu Xiaolong does it again September 29, 2012

By booknblueslady

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was excited to learn that Qiu Xiaolong had written another Inspector Chen book, so I rushed to purchase Don't Cry Tai Lake and it did not disappoint. I've read all the other of the series and appreciate the development of the characters stories through out. I love the story of Inspector Chen an up and coming cadre who has a degree in English, translates mystery stories for additional funds, writes poetry, is a gourmet, a policeman and cannot seem to get his love life together. Then there is his partner Yu who with his wife Peiqin has struggled to create a better life for themselves and their son.

In Don't Cry Tai Lake Inspector Chen is given a vacation at an exclusive resort by his mentor Comrade Secretary Zhao. It does,of course, have strings attached. Zhao wants him to prepare a report about the area of Tai Lake in Wuxi.

This book comes with the usual poetry, descriptions of food and its preparations and the description of what life is like in China. It gives the reader a real look at the problems facing modern China with its rapid expansion of industry and its push to commercialism and the costs involved with it. The beautiful Tai Lake has become polluted and Chen's new friend Shanshan and environmentalist is unpopular because her reports go against the "progress" of the area and are seen as a stumbling block to the regions' productivity and wealth.

This book does much to continue the story of Inspector Chen and we find him having a moral dilemma of the heart with his concern for Shanshan, the young environmentalist. He also struggles with what he will say to Comrade Secretary Zhao in his report as pollution is a very real problem which effects the health of both the citizens and the environment but it is not a popular problem to be addressed.

My one disappointment was that Detective Yu and his wife played only a small role in this, but perhaps I can hope that the next in the series will give him a broader focus.

If you haven't discovered this series, I encourage all to give it a try but start with the first, Death of a Red Heroine.