The Haunted Monastery: A Judge Dee Mystery [Paperback]

Robert van Gulik (Author)

Book Description

Series: Judge Dee Mystery | Publication Date: June 1, 1997

Judge Dee and his entourage, seeking refuge from a mountain storm, become trapped in a Taoist monastery, where the Abbott Jade mysteriously dies after delivering an ecstatic sermon. The monks call it a supernatural experience, but the judge calls it murder. Recalling the allegedly accidental deaths of three young women in the same monastery, Judge Dee seeks clues in the eyes of a cat to solve cases of impersonation and murder. A painting by one of the victims reveals the truth about the killings, propelling the judge on a quest for justice and revenge.

"Entertaining, instructive, and impressive."—Times Literary Supplement

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This Judge Dee mystery finds the Chinese investigator trying to solve a murder of a Taoist monastery's abbot.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"If you have not yet discovered Judge Dee, I envy you that initial pleasure." - Robert Kirsch, Los Angeles Times "The China of old, in Mr. van Gulik's skilled hands, comes vividly alive again." - Allen J. Hubin, New York Times Book Review"

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226848795
• ISBN-13: 978-0226848792
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #713,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Night Of Terror And Mystery, June 25, 2001

By 

Queen Cobra, Goddess of Truth and Justice (Altamont Springs, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haunted Monastery: A Judge Dee Mystery (Paperback)

An unexpected storm forces Judge Dee and his three, (yes three!) wives to seek shelter at a Taoist monastery. The wives go straight to bed but the Judge must pay his respects to the abbot before joining them. Thus begins a frantic night of murder and mayhem during which Judge Dee, suffering from a bad head cold, must solve a series of murders, rescue a maiden in distress and arrange for the villain to meet his just deserts, bringing together two sets of star-crossed lovers along the way. "I should give up being a magistrate and become a match-maker!" he grumbles. One of the best of the series.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Judge Dee's Best, February 11, 2005

By 

Ty Treadwell, author of The Devil Did Grin (GA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Haunted Monastery: A Judge Dee Mystery (Paperback)

Let's face it; Robert Van Gulik may be an expert on 7th century China, but he isn't exactly a Pultizer-Prize winning author. His writing style is somewhat plain and simple and you'll never be knocked out by his glowing literary descriptions. What he does manage to do, though, is bring this long-lost era to life with his interesting characters and his cultural and historical know-how while telling an enjoyable tale along the way. While some of his longer books are bogged down by too many characters and too much detail, The Haunted Monastery is virtually perfect. Judge Dee and one of his assistants are stuck in a gloomy monastery on a stormy night. The place is rumored to be haunted, and while the threat of harmful spirits lingers in the background, the judge must solve three seemingly unrelated mysteries which all tie together in the end. Dripping with atmosphere and good, interesting characters, this is a fast and enjoyable read which is perfect for a rainy night or a cold winter's day.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dee in excellent form, May 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Alexandria, Va.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haunted Monastery: A Judge Dee Mystery (Paperback)

The Haunted Monastery is possibly the best of the Judge Dee novels. As the Judge would say, all the elements are here: an immensely appealing and exotic locale, eroticism without pornography, characters we come to care about, a duel between confucianism and taoism, romance, a monstrous murderer, a damsel in distress, a dauntless hero and more atmosphere than you can shake a chopstick at. Van Gulik makes ancient China come alive, and makes us believe that the people who lived in it, no matter how alien on the surface, are more like us than not. A good read anytime...but a great read on a dark and stormy night.