Customer Reviews

Lord of Death: A Shan Tao Yun Investigation (Inspector Shan Tao Yun Novels)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the most recent of Pattison's Tibet series. He's a wonderful writer, creating and maintaining a rich, highly textured picture of contemporary Tibet. He obviously views things from the Tibetan side and the Chinese characters--with the exception of Shan, the protagonist, a detective who has been banished from China for being too honest in rooting out corruption in the political hierarchy of Beijing--are mostly bad guys. The Tibetans are portrayed in a much more multi-dimensional way. All his stories are well-plotted, and his political agenda doesn't get in the way. Not just a procedural, this is great writing. His novel of colonial America, Bone Rattler, is also worth a read.

I think that the first four books in this series are terrific. This one feels as though he phoned it in, in part because it's so sparse: The hardback edition is under 300 pages and the type and spacing are such that there's very little on each page.

Part of the enjoyment of this series is that the books are dense and complex, and with this insubstantial a book that just can't be done.

I hope that Pattison's not out of ideas, or has decided to coast.

In China former Beijing investigator Shan Tao Yun learned the hard way about being too diligent pursuing corruption in the highest levels of the government as he was not only fired he was exiled to a Tibetan gulag. An elderly wise-woman orders him to take a corpse across the state's highest peak Chomolungma because the Gods selected him. As he treks with a mule carrying the body, Shan comes across an overturned bus filled with outlawed Buddhist monks that was knocked over by an avalanche. Within moments, he hears gunfire. Two people in a car are killed; one is China's minister of tourism and the other blond American Megan Ross.

Shan is arrested, but convinces the investigator of his innocence. Soon afterward Colonel Tan is arrested. Shan was hoping Tan would intervene to rescue his enslaved son, Shan Ko from a "yeti factory" where workers die rather quickly that is if they remain sane long enough to die. Shan must find the killer to free his offspring, but the officials insist Ross is alive though she died in Shan's arms.

The latest Shan Chinese mystery (see PRAYER OF THE DRAGON and BONE MOUNTAIN) is a superb investigative thriller because the strong insistence by officials and witnesses hamper the lead protagonist's inquiry. Ironically he is the last witness to see the woman alive, but his testimony is ignored because he is in official exile and to insure that Beijing is pleased with the results. Fans will enjoy Shan's desperate probe as he knows his son's mind at a minimum and more likely his life is at stake as no one leaves the factory the same way they entered; this indirect condemnation of Chinese manufacturing using enslaved labor to punish as well as undercut global competition enhances a great investigative tale.

Harriet Klausner

Eliot Pattison is always good for a crackin' good tale of intrigue, at the same time educating us (painlessly) regarding the horrific treatment of Tibet at the hands of China. With The Lord of Death, he only proves that "practice makes perfect". A great read!

In this sixth appearance, Shan Tao Yun, once a top Beijing investigator, long exiled, pummeled and punished for his anti-corruption pursuits and his identification with Tibetan Buddhists, now lives as an outlaw (no papers) at the foot of Mt. Everest.

Shan is bringing a corpse down the mountain on a mule - a sacred trust - when a police security bus crashes on the mountain road below. The bus carries prisoners, Buddhist monks seized in a monastery raid. Sorting out the chaos and aiding the fleeing monks, Shan spies climbing equipment rigged to cause the avalanche that derailed the bus. Musing on that, he hears gunshots further up the road.

Two women have been shot - one a government minister, the other a famous Western climber. Shan, naturally, is arrested. But he's only charged with the minister's murder. No mention is made of a second body and everyone denies the climber is dead. Shan's execution will be swift; his organs harvested.

Then suddenly the torture stops, his wounds are bandaged and Shan is freed. The sadistic Colonel Tan is arrested instead and though the man is Shan's nemesis he is also the only hope for rescuing Shan's son, Ko. Ko is in a nearby medical facility where experiments are carried out on prisoners. Only the colonel can get him out.

Shan's investigation takes him into the camps and culture of Western Everest climbers, the inner recesses of mountain villages, the ruins of ancient Buddhist temples, and the horrifying corridors of the experimental medical facility. The slopes of Everest are wild and vivid and majestic and the Tibetan culture harmonizes with it.

The portrait Edgar-winner Pattison paints of the Chinese is brutal. They are corrupt; without empathy or soul. The Tibetans, while some are suspicious, soured by grief, or hardened by injustice, are an all-round better, wiser people. But the story's complexity rings true and there's nothing like the fun of oppression to bring out the sadistic bully in people.

Pattison has delivered another visceral, atmospheric, engaging chapter in the painful, dogged, principled life of talented investigator Shan.

I love Eliot Pattison's SHAN series. It has given me a profound feel for Buddhism, the current strife in Tibet, and the Tibeten people.

Is this book about climbing the Himalayas, Chinese, Tibetans, murder and torture or maybe it is about how each of us long to find peace and harmony in the midst of a stress filled life? Mr. Pattison writes beautiful books and I own all six of the Shan series. Each book tells a story set in a different part of Tibet and provides clues to the rich diversity of the Tibetan people. The Chinese are portrayed as the victims (surprise) and it is the Tibetan monks who are the heroes. This series turns everything on its head until the reader finds the new meaning. The lessons of truth in The Lord of Death are powerfully sprinkled throughout the story. When Shan is tortured he remembers a teaching about letting the storm rage outside himself. If your life could be kicked up a notch, try this book, and you will be guaranteed to see life through a different kaleidoscope.

I can hardly wait for each new installment of the Inspector Shan series. Eliot Pattison makes Tibet come alive for the reader.

Having DEVOURED all the books in this series, I was slightly reluctant to read this latest book in Inspector Shan's journey in Tibet, as I hadn't really enjoyed the 4th book in this series - Prayer of the Dragon. Much to my delight, The Lord of Death - in my humble opinion - is just as EXCELLENT as were the first 2 in the series - The Skull Mantra and Water Touching Stone! It's worth the 5+ stars - again!

When asked about these books - and I get asked a lot, as I tell one and all that this is my very favorite series of all time - I reply that I consider Inspector Shan to be "Everyman" through whose eyes we - the reader - and the other characters in the book - "see" Tibet under Chinese rule. Shan isn't critical - he reminds me of the true CSI - the facts and only the facts. BUT, during the journey of solving the outstanding mystery, the worldview of each book's primary "evil" protagonist is changed forever - their morality uncovered!

SPOILER

I'm not sure if this is the last book in this series; it very well could be, as I found Mr. Pattison bringing Colonel Tan and Inspector Shan full circle in their relationship. HOW this relationship evolves is central to this book.

Thank you, Mr. Pattison, for allowing us to view this special place in the world. Thank you for using the vehicle of solving a mystery on the physical plane to allow each of us to consider solving our own personal morality mysteries - if we choose to do so.

An excellent next chapter in the Inspector Shan series. One of the things I found most compelling about this series was the focus on the Tibetan people and their efforts to maintain their faith in the face of the Chinese efforts to stamp it out. I missed Lokesh and Gendun. Their constant faith in their Buddhist beliefs was inspiring and I didn't get that so much from this book. It was interesting to learn about the American presence in the resistance but I did miss the spiritual lessons that were present in the previous novels in this series.