Judge Dee and Lao She must use all their powers of deduction—and kung fu skills—to take down a sinister
conspiracy between Imperial Russia, Japan, and China in 1920s London.
The follow-up to The Murder of Mr. Ma, this historical adventure-mystery is perfect for fans of Laurie R. King
and the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes films.
London, 1924. Following several months abroad, Judge Dee Ren Jie has returned to the city to intercept
a transaction between a Russian diplomat and a Japanese mercenary. Aided by Lao She—the Watson to
his Holmes—along with several other colorful characters, Dee stops the illicit sale of an extremely valuable
“dragon-taming” mace.
The mace’s owner is a lovely Chinese businesswoman who thanks Dee for its retrieval by throwing a lavish
dinner party. In attendance is British banking official A. G. Stephen, who argues with the group about the tenuous
state of Chinese nationalism—and is then poisoned two days later. Dee knows this cannot be a coincidence, and
suspects Stephen won’t be the only victim. Sure enough, a young Chinese communist of Lao’s acquaintance
is killed not long after—and a note with a strange symbol is found by his body.
What could connect all these disparate, bizarre events? It is once again up to Dee’s brilliant investigative skills
and Lao’s well-meaning but often bumbling assistance to get to the bottom of the Railway Conspiracy before
anyone else ends up on the chopping block.
Story Locale:London, 1920s
Series Overview: Judge Dee and his faithful sidekick Lao She swashbuckle their way through London in the
1920s, solving murders, kung fu fighting, and drinking tea.