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There are currently 21 member reviews
for Jade Dragon Mountain
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Mary Anne R. (Towson, MD)
Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart
Jade Dragon Mountain is a novel to be savored. At times I forgot to follow the complex and simply enjoyed the sights, the sounds, tastes and smells of 18th century Yunnan China. She has a gift for description-I felt I was present in this place.
Through the story I received an understanding of the history of early 18th century China and her relationship with the world. I find myself studying about his time in history.
The protagonist,Li Du, is memorable. He is the exiled librarian charged with finding the murderer of a Jesuit priest. When she first introduced I was hoping he wasn't the murder victim even though I surmised he was from reading the back cover--this character was well developed. The third character I loved was the storyteller, Hamza. All her characters are carefully developed.
The author's plot is many tiered Yet it all weaves together into a connected whole. The plot is complex and kept me thinking to the end. The mystery aspect of the book has many twists and turns.
I loved the book. What reader of mysteries wouldn't love an 18th century librarian sleuth.
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Peggy A. (Morton Grove, IL)
Jade Dragon Mountain
I would kowtow to Elsa Hunt if I knew exactly how. She has written a great "who done it " novel cast in a magical and insulated China in the 1700's. The suspense regarding the poisoning of a Jesuit priest/ astronomer lasted until the closing chapters. It was a quick read but held my interest throughout. One realizes that greed and politics have always been a part of every place and period in time. Elsa Hart has written an interesting tale of intrigue set in a China 300 years ago. I recommend this novel!
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Barbara R. (Fort Myers, FL)
Jade Dragon Mountain
I really enjoyed this book. The mystery kept you guessing. I enjoyed the history of 18th century china with all its intrigue. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a mystery and learning the cultures of other countries.
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Ann W. (New York, NY)
Jade Dragon Mountain
This is a very enjoyable and satisfying historical detective novel. Li Du was delightful. Chinese literature has a long history, both in Chinese and other cultures. Ms. Hart paints a picture of northern China during the Qing (Manchu) dynasty. There are storytellers from Arabia, Jesuits and the East Indian company competing for favors from the Emperor.
There are enough clues along the way as well. China has many groups as well. Northern China was far from Beijing and communications slow. There was political intrigue. The unknown attracted numerous people. Life was brutal. Ms.Hart's novel was filled with many clever characters like Lady Chen and Martin Walpole.
There were several mysteries within the overall murder that was the core of Li Du's investigation.
This is a great novel for fans of historical fiction as well as detective fiction.
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Lesley F. (San Diego, CA)
WOW...Jade Dragon Mountain Fascinates
What a debut! Full disclosure: hot spot in heart for historical fiction. Elsa Hart has not only captured the essence of old China in her descriptions but has also a brilliant way of expressing Chinese philosophy throughout the story. "...you are beginning to feel the sand empty from the top of the glass...", "...the morning is wiser than the evening..", "...he is such a frog in a well (no idea what he is doing)...".
Throughout my reading of this story, I was reminded of Robert van Gulik's translations in the 1950s of the Judge Dee mysteries set in Tang dynasty China - The Chinese Bell Murders, The Chinese Maze Murders, and so on.
The reason for the title does not appear until well into the story and by that time my mind was already planning how to get out and buy the next several titles in the Ji Du mystery series when I had to remind myself that there is only ONE so far! Donna Leon's Commisario Brunetti and Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache are about to be joined by yet another great foreign detective.
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Julia E. (Atlanta, GA)
Jade Dragon Mountain a Gem
Writing successful historical mysteries is not for the faint-hearted: the author must plot skillfully, while effectively presenting the historical characters and setting without bogging down amongst arcane information which does not propel the story.
Daughter of a U.S. foreign correspondent, Else Hart has spent much of her life abroad, including three years in China. In this debut mystery novel, Hart deftly plunges into the intriguingly unfamiliar world of late 18th century Yunnan province, a remote corner of SE China. Her chief character is learned, charming and recently disgraced Li Du, former librarian at the Royal Court in Beijing.
Hart shares her historical facts effectively, draws her characters deftly, and leaves the reader eager to accompany Li Du on his next adventure.
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Santa Fe Cowgirl
A Good Mystery
Having just been to China this spring and loving mysteries, this was a most excellent book for me and I hope you will like it, too. I am also a history buff and this is full of that! This story takes place in a very distant province of China, probably southwest China. After a year of travel to other provinces, the Emperor of China is coming to this far off province and the Governor of the province is throwing a big festival for the Emperor. However, several days before the Emperor arrives, a Jesuit priest is murdered with poison. The Governor wants to cover this up, but his Cousin is visiting the province (and who has also been exiled by this Emperor) will not let him do that and insists that he can find the person who murdered the priest before the Emperor arrives. The story is about how the Cousin proceeds to do this successfully and how he saves the Emperor's life. The characters of this book are well set up and it is a question right up to the end who is the murderer. I loved the descriptions of the city, the lands outside of the city, and building the festival for the Emperor and the political problems that all of this involves for the Governor and the Cousin. There was one other character that I liked because "she" was a very smart and wily woman----Lady Chen, the consort of the Governor. All in all, a well-told story and a glimpse at ancient China.
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