As fascinating as THE MURDER OF MR. MA is, the afterword and acknowledgments are almost as intriguing as the actual mystery itself. Written by John Shen Yen Nee and S. J. Rozan, this series opener introduces two Chinese men who are actual figures from China's past. Lao She and Judge Dee Ren Jie collaborate to investigate the homicide of a Chinese man. Subsequently, more Chinese men, all of whom knew each other, are found murdered by the same weapon --- an unusual butterfly sword.

The setting is 1920s London, and we can feel the damp, the crowds, and the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets as Lao and Dee navigate different neighborhoods in search of the killer. The novel is told in the first person from She's point of view, and the beautifully written but rather stilted period language reminds us that it's not modern-day UK. We clearly understand the prejudice that the Chinese endured as pejorative terms are used regarding them, and they are all viewed as long-nailed, opium-addicted, rat-eating monsters.

"The plot is extremely clever, and for much of it, we are led astray by cunningly placed red herrings. But the clues are there, and the final unveiling of the villain is perfectly planned and executed."

Our protagonists, though, are far from the stereotypical Chinese of that time. They dress in tweed suits --- as do the most uptight, well-to-do Londoners --- and speak proper King's English. Lao is a professor of Chinese language at the university, and Dee is a judge in China, although he was living in France at the opening of the story. Through the narrative, we learn a lot about the role of the Chinese in World War I. While they ostensibly did not engage in actual fighting, they were hired by the British to dig trenches and build necessary shelters at the front of the battle. And while their work contracts specifically stipulated that they were not to be directly exposed to the fighting, that was ignored.

In fact, as we see from the attitude of many British at that time, Chinese lives were expendable. The only lives that really mattered were British lives, so if the Chinese were harmed in their work at the front, the British felt that it was no great loss. Through the eyes of those men in the story, we see the thousands of years of culture and art that the Chinese created, which is their history. Their brilliance is clearly depicted in the character of Dee, whose dedication to solving the murders and trying to protect those men he knows is admirable.

Dee knew the victims when they were working as Chinese laborers at the front in France. He was hired to deal with conflicts, make certain that the terms of the contracts were adhered to, and protect the working men from abuse. Too often, though, he was the one who suffered abuse in his heroic efforts to ensure their safety. So when these same individuals are being killed, Dee feels a burning need to bring the perpetrator to justice.

The plot is extremely clever, and for much of it, we are led astray by cunningly placed red herrings. But the clues are there, and the final unveiling of the villain is perfectly planned and executed. With a very unexpected addition. Perhaps the best part is that we know there will be more mysteries to solve with these two intriguing characters. I look forward to seeing how their relationship grows and how their teamwork develops.