MURDER IN CHINA RED-PB [Paperback]

Dean Barrett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Liu Chiang-shin, whose name means "a mind as sharp as a sword," was raised in Maoist China, where he saw his father murdered by the Red Guards; 30 years later he's a private detective in New York City investigating the brutal killing of the woman he loved. Dean Barrett's (Kingdom of Make-Believe) Murder in China Red follows the man everyone calls Chinaman as he grapples with cops, bad guys and his own inner demons in a classically toned and sometimes cliched whodunit.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Two professional killings in a posh Manhattan hotel arouse the interest of Chief of Detectives Joe Abrams and Liu Chiang-hsin, a private investigator known as "Chinaman." Abrams, formerly Chinaman's father-in-law, warns him away from the case because one of the victims, a high-priced call girl named Judy, caused the breakup of Chinaman's marriage. However, Chinaman vows to find out who killed his first love, Judy who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He soon runs after assorted hit men, thugs, and two-faced German "businessmen." A highly focused plot, classy prose, and a complicated protagonist merit wide readership.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 259 pages
• Publisher: Village East Books (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966189949
• ISBN-13: 978-0966189940
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,985,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dean Barrett first came to Asia as a Chinese linguist with the American Army Security Agency specializing in Intelligence Operations. He later did graduate work in Asian Studies at San Francisco State College and received his M.A. from the University of Hawaii.

Originally from Groton, Connecticut, Dean was a playwright in New York City for 14 years and a librettist/lyricist at BMI and a member of Dramatist Guild. Almost all of his books - fiction and nonfiction - are set in Asia or have a close connection with China or Thailand.

His detective series set in Bangkok includes Skytrain to Murder and Permanent Damage. His erotic novel set in China - A Love Story: The China Memoirs of Thomas Rowley - is available on Kindle.

His websites are: www.deanbarrettmystery.com and www.deanbarrettthailand.com.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=548784102

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How easy it is to slip over the line into crime, October 4, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MURDER IN CHINA RED-PB (Paperback)

Dean Barrett began his considerable Asian experiences as a Chinese linguist in the Army during the Vietnam War. He returned to the United States after the war and finished a Masters Degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii. He has written four novels with an Asian theme. Several of his plays have been performed in New York, including Fragrant Harbour. Mr. Barrett is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Dramatists Guild.

Liu Chiang-hsin is commonly known as the "Chinaman." He is a displaced victim of the Red Guard's attack, which killed his parents and have left him with severe emotional scars. One woman has managed to gain entry into his heart, and she has just been killed in what looks like a professional hit. Chinaman employs his considerable talents as a private detective, as well as calling in a few favors to exact vengeance for the murder of possibly the only woman he has ever loved. Unfortunately, two of the people he needs help from are his ex-wife and her cop father:

"Chinaman waited for the ominous silence to end while in the background ringing phones went unanswered at Manhattan Properties. When she spoke again, something new had crept into Mary Anne's voice. Something toxic. 'Let me get this straight. You put your other cases on hold to solve the death of the woman who destroyed our marriage and now you have the unmitigated nerve to call ME and ask for money? You want ME to loan you money?"

In spite of his propensity to innocently infuriate everyone around him, Chinaman is a lovable and tragic figure. He has much to teach us about East/West differences, and there is much about him that is honorable and noteworthy. Barrett writes a finely crafted mystery/suspense novel, with enough spy stuff to keep the reader rifling through the pages to see what is just around the corner. His denouement is excellent; set in Brooklyn's Red Hook area. What is most noteworthy about this tale, though, is the fact that ordinary, intelligent people are caught up in nefarious activities simply to make a living, and how easy it is to slip over the line into crime.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Fine Detective Novel, July 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: MURDER IN CHINA RED-PB (Paperback)

This book really is refreshing in that besides being well written and well plotted, it really concentrates on the detective himself and the atmosphere in which he works. That is what Raymond Chandler did and even when his plots went just a bit weird or got away from him, Chandler's books are still great. Barrett also seems to have a natural gift of talent to create a detective we want to see involved in more cases. This Chinese detective from Beijing scraping by in Manhattan is a winner.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great detective!, July 1, 2002

By 

Ernie Howell (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MURDER IN CHINA RED-PB (Paperback)

The story of this book is well plotted but it is the characterization that I like best, esp. of the main character. "Chinaman" as his friends call him is tough, sensitive, funny but never politically correct. He came from Beijing and doesn't quite fit in with American pop culture anymore than he buys into the complaints of American Chinese he meets (or has an affair with). The author obviously knows New York City like the back of his hand. This is supposed to be a series with Murder in Dominatrix Black next. That should be a corker! Chinaman is no Charlie Chan but he has some of the best traits of Charlie: integrity, honesty, brains.