Review: The Conspiracies of the Empire by Qiu Xiaolong

Synopsis: The legendary Judge Dee Renji returns, in this lyrical combination of mystery, history and ancient Chinese politics from the author of the renowned Inspector Chen mysteries.

In Tang dynasty China, Empress Wu - seductive, ambitious and vindictive - rules with an iron fist. Her premier minister, Judge Dee Renji, is honored to be trusted by her. But when she orders him to carry out an urgent investigation into the disappearance of disgraced poet Luo Binwang, he can't see why the matter is of such vital importance.

Luo Binwang joined a doomed uprising against Her Majesty, and vanished after the final, bloody battle. Is he missing - or dead? Either way, now that the rebellion has been mercilessly quashed, what harm could a poor, elderly poet do?

Traveling out of the great capital of Chang'an, accompanied by his loyal manservant Yang, Judge Dee launches a painstaking investigation, in the hopes of achieving what the empress' secret police could not. But the journey is marred by ill omens, and with death and disaster following his every step, Judge Dee soon begins to wonder if the empress trusts him as much as he thought . . .

This powerful mystery, set in ancient China, will appeal to fans of Robert Van Gulik's novels featuring the semi-fictional historical character Judge Dee, and includes an appendix of poems from some of China's finest Tang dynasty poets, newly translated by the author, who is an award-wining poet and critic in his own right.

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The second in the Judge Dee mystery series set in China during the reign of Empress Wu, the first being The Shadow of the Empire.  This is a period and a character I love !

Set during Tang Dynasty China, this narrative revolves around the search for missing poet Luo Binwang, author of some politically motivated, and motivating, poetry. Forget Western style concepts of the murder mystery if embarking on this tome.  The investigation is conducted in a leisurely pace, observing the courtly protocols and etiquette of the period, however, there is till plenty to occupy the reader - murder, scandal, cover-ups.

For me, I could take or leave the poetry at the end though this did not detract from me reading or enjoyment of any Judge Dee mystery.

Check out the "Young Judge Dee" movies on YouTube or various PayTV channels.