First published 2009
Master Li, China's finest detective, witnesses an extraordinary disruption during an execution. A ghoul appears in broad daylight, carrying the half-devoured corpse of a mandarin who was secretly buried against court protocol. Li enters Beijing's Forbidden City with his assistant Number Ten Ox, a pure-hearted peasant, to investigate this bizarre discovery. The only witness to the mandarin's death is China's greatest living saint, who now faces murder accusations. Li uncovers a conspiracy involving mandarins who guard ancient artifacts connected to the Eight Skilled Gentlemen, high priests of China's aboriginal culture. The detective must navigate court intrigue and supernatural forces to solve the case. Hughart creates a China that never existed but feels authentic, blending mystery with fantasy in a world where the impossible becomes plausible.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy, supernatural
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Beijing, Forbidden City
Period: Ancient China
224 pages · Paperback · Bibliópolis Fantástica