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.