Inspector Lu Fei is enjoying his drink at the Red Lotus bar when he is called to the brutal murder scene. A weary cop who has fled the city, Lu suddenly finds himself under the intense scrutiny of his superiors in Beijing.
Determined to identify her killer, Lu finds himself navigating a society where politics can be deadly, corruption is rife, and the powerful are untouchable. As evidence connects the case to a string of unsolved murders, Lu must decide what he will risk in search of justice.The young victim, Yang Fenfang, had just lost her mother and suspicion immediately fell on her boyfriend, Zhang Zhaoxing, who works as a butcher. Once he’s arrested, Lu’s bosses at the Public Security Bureau are content to end the investigation and incarcerate Zhang.
However, there is no forensic evidence to implicate Zhang in the case. Though Lu thinks the young man is innocent, he’s overruled by his superiors, who order that Zhang be kept in custody until more conclusive evidence against him can be found.Meanwhile, the discovery of two similar murders in nearby Harbin gives the investigation a new life.
Brian Klingborg works incredibly well at capturing the atmosphere as he has lived in China for many years himself. Each chapter opens with a quotation from Mao Zedong. These quotes add gravitas to the book, giving it a fresh perspective on the way the Chinese think about handling and fighting crime.Lu also often refers to Master Kong (Confucius) as his guiding light through challenging situations, allowing him time to breathe and think about his next action. The other compass in his life is YanYan, the owner of Red Lotus who he constantly sees in his time of thinking (and drinking).
Engrossing and captivating, City of Ice takes the readers through the dirty snow of a Chinese province in a hunt for a serial killer. It is written with humour and insight. As a mystery-thriller, it will appeal to fans of the genre.