***ARC received from Minatour Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

I will admit, police procedural mysteries are not a book I would normally reach for but I do love reading books set in Asian setting and this does have an interesting premise and for the most part, it works.

We are introduced to Inspector Lu in a bar because all good leads in a detective (inspector) story has to have a vice. I really liked Lu he’s not a disgruntle disillusioned inspector, he’s a good guy that just wants to see justice for the victims. He’s not 100% by the books though but he isn’t about underhanded tactics or holding innocent people. Its an interesting comparison to others that he works with, many who are all about climbing the ladder so when a murder happens in his small town he is out to see justice done for the murder victim.

The first half of the book is easily the slowest, it has a good start and then slowly begins to drag. I felt at times like the author was more interested in giving backstory and trying to tell more than show. Its clear that the author has knowledge and respect for the Chinese culture but at times I felt like I was getting more of a history lesson than reading a story. Its very jarring to get dragged out of the story for a few paragraphs so you can get an explanation about how the government system works. Lu also quotes lots of sayings and it sometimes feels like an excuse to show the whole poem. This does settle down in the second half and feels more like a character trait. Its about at the half way point that the mystery really gets going and the book settles in with a little less telling and letting the story just flow more freely.

When we do get more explanations in the second half they feel more like a natural part of the story and I didn’t find myself getting pulled out as I did in the first half. Its really fun to learn many of the interesting histories regarding China and Lu’s view of them both positive and negative. One of the strongest points of the story is the dialogue and that was really what kept me interesting when the book began to drag for me. The characters each have a unique voice and the descriptions of the cramped setting of Raven Valley make the city come alive. I am looking forward to reading more on Inspector Lu.

Inspector Lu Fei's quiet evening at the local bar is interrupted when he gets called to a brutal murder of a young woman. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This book starts out a little slow, but I was soon caught up in the mystery. When the CID is called in to help investigate, they soon realize that Inspector Lu is more than a rural police officer. Even though the mystery was intriguing, I was equally caught up in learning more about Lu. He is a well-developed character with many layers. I was intrigued as much with how Inspector Lu was going to catch the killer as who the killer was. I also loved how the start of each chapter started with quotes of Chairman Mao or Master Kung and the Chinese poetry that was interspersed throughout the book. It's also interesting to get a glimpse of a different culture in a modern Chinese mystery. All of these factors help make a terrific read.

Thief of Souls: An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery by Brian Klingborg Amazon.com order for
Thief of Souls
by Brian Klingborg
Order: USA Can
Minotaur, 2021 (2021)
Hardcover, e-Book
* * * Reviewed by Barbara Lingens

A very brutal murder has been committed in a small town, and the person who has been apprehended cannot possibly have been responsible. Brian Klingborg does an admirable job of helping us understand the environment that Inspector Lu works in. We are in a small town in China, close to the larger city of Harbin. The time is the present, and we learn how the Communist Party has precedence in every aspect of people's lives.

Inspector Lu's methods of investigation are not agreeable to his superiors, but he gets results, and that means his boss will have no trouble from the Party. The problem is there is so very little to go on, and all the promising leads turn into dead ends. As the story unfolds we meet many people, important government people as well as simple villagers. Each has a story. But which one is lying?

Customs from the past, religious practices kept up even though no one really seems to believe, quotes from Mao and Confucius, all these are part of an investigation undertaken by a very likable but determined investigator, which provides us with a very satisfying reading experience.

First I must comment on the download. I am using a new iPod mini: this book downloaded strangely. To read a chapter you run run your finger up and down but when a new chapter starts you must run your finger sideways. If you go sideways too fast your on to a different page altogether. Also the chapters are not numbered just days of the week and when you want to go back to check which chapter you are on it rings you back to your shelf and it brings you to chapter one. Never had I had a download like this.

One other thing before I review: the book: I am an American—each chapter starts with a long Mao quote and has sections that appear anti American. These items were disturbing.

Now the review:

I found this book well written but had some difficulty with the character’s names. I bonded with each character and could see them in my mind. The description of each location put you right there with the characters. The plot was quite a surprise and the ending could be left for a sequel. The main character developed beautifully you want to like him are cheer him on with each new clue. I really never put this book down Any person who likes to learn about other cultures along with an entertaining murder mystery must read this.

This is a really solid start to a new series, one that reminded me of Stuart Kaminsky’s classic Inspector Rostnikov series. This new series is set in China, rather than Russia, but many of the societal and economic restrictions are similar. Klingborg’s Inspector Lu Fei is as bemused and practical a thinker as Rostnikov. Lu Fei lives near Harbin, in northern China, but not in Harbin itself - he basically lives out in the sticks. He prefers the steadiness of country policing and doesn’t have a huge desire to move up the ranks.

Each chapter is bracketed by quotes from Mao Zedong, framing the basics of the way Communist China has been set up, and the reasons behind it. Of course Mao is gone, but some of the precepts and tenants seem embedded in the culture. As the book opens, a young woman has been discovered dead by the neighbors. They had been alerted by the non-stop barking of her dog.

As the Inspector arrives at the scene with his team – his second is Sgt. Bing, and then there’s “Fatty Wang” and “Big Wang” as well as an efficient female officer, Sun, and the skinny, quiet “Li the Mute.” There is probably plenty moving forward that Klingborg can do with all of these characters – in this first novel, they aren’t that fleshed out, but they do set the scene for the investigation nicely.

As Lu examines the scene and it appears they’ll need more forensics help than their back water can provide, they send for the experts. (I think in the US it’s probably the equivalent of calling in the FBI.) The experts quickly discover the woman’s body has been cut open, and on further examination, that several of her organs have been removed.

Lu works with the higher up officer, Song, to investigate the case. While they arrest a neighbor for the murder fairly quickly, Lu is sure that he’s not guilty. While Song disagrees, Lu keeps doggedly working the case to prove the man’s innocence, and eventually finds two other very similar deaths to the one they are investigating.
Klingborg’s real strength here is in portraying Chinese culture and life as it’s lived by ordinary people. Lu’s small town life is enlivened by visits to a local dive bar – snacks are served but people are there to drink and admire the young widow who owns it, including Lu. A portrait of his life - work, drinking, investigation, is incised on the reader’s mind as though you’re living it yourself. To a western eye, it might seem a spare life, but Inpector Lu seems both satisfied and to expect nothing more – except to marry for love at some point.

The investigations both in the City of Harbin (where the dead girl had worked and kept an apartment before her mother became ill) illuminates different aspects of Chinese society and attitudes. A gay bar. A man who is a politically radical outlier. The families of the dead women. None of this is provided to the reader as a kind of tourist-y look at China – it’s organic. Events and characters fold into one another naturally as the investigation unfolds.

I love the character of Inspector Lu. I think he is both sturdy enough and interesting enough to provide a strong backbone for a long series. I liked the story, the character interaction, and even some of the parts of the story where Inspector Lu gets into a few fights. He’s trained in the martial arts and he mostly gets the better of larger opponents (and it sets the reader’s expectations, leaving Klingborg room for surprises). The author writes these kind of scenes well, not an easy feat to pull off.

While the eventual murderer in an interesting yet inevitable choice, I didn’t care for the end of the book as it devolved into a more routine serial killer wrap up. While I was delighted when the killer was caught, I felt it almost violated the tone of the rest of this well written, thoughtful book. And it certainly wouldn’t prevent me from reading other books in this series. As I said, I loved Inspector Lu, and would be delighted to spend more time with him.

Corruption isn't anything new to The People's Republic and even the Public Security Bureau isn't immune. Which makes it even harder for those members of the PSB who are straight and trying to do their jobs the best they can. Inspector Lu Fei isn't deterred, however, and is determined to see this through to the end - and refuses to let an innocent man go down for something he didn't do.  But can he convince his superiors that he's innocent?

Lu Fei is one of the best detectives/inspectors I've read in a long time.  Ninety-nine percent of the time, he's cool as a cucumber.  But that one percent when he loses it?  He loses it in a most spectacular fashion.  And it is glorious to behold.  His determination and dedication to the case was interesting to see in contrast to those around him.  It's even said to him that once an arrest is made, it's rarely overturned, so once you're nabbed, you're off to prison, guilty or not.  Which makes Lu's drive to solve the case even more admirable.  

Since a small place like Raven Valley Township isn't equipped to solve a murder on their own, so they're forced to call in the big guns - the CIB.  Sent to help Lu is Deputy Director Song.  Although things are rocky at first between Lu and Song, they eventually find an uneasy peace allowing them to work together.  And despite Song's tendency to be snappish with Lu, I loved the two of them together.  They created a nice balance of big city and country.  

One of the best parts of this novel was the author's knowledge of Chinese society and culture.  Words and phrases are dropped here and there, but always immediately explained so that you aren't left wondering what's meant.  The author has an easy way of working the explanations into the narrative as well, so it doesn't generally feel like they're stopping to explain something to you either.  It's interesting to me to learn about other places and cultures, and to see how law enforcement operates under Communism was fascinating.  

Thief of Souls is an engaging and entreating trek through Chinese law enforcement.  I hope that there's another in this series soon and that the author brings Deputy Director Song back.  By the end, he and Lu were on a more level playing field and I loved how they parted.  Also, I need to know if Lu managed to confess his feelings to Yangyang because they're great together.  Even if they stay friends, she's a great influence on him.  Overall, I'd highly recommend this to anyone who loves an unconventional police procedural.

In "Thief of Souls", young Inspector Lu investigates a very brutal murder in a small town in modern China.

Though the murder mystery is puzzling and intriguing, what drew me in to the story was its portrayal of what it is like to live and work today in Communist China.

Lu's determination often puts him at cross purposes with his superiors - fortunately he has supporters as well, so that he is able to solve his case.

This was a good police procedural mystery! I think it’s the first book I’ve read that takes place in China.
It started a bit slow but picked up speed after several chapters. It was a good mystery and kept me guessing.
I enjoyed it!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

"Don't be afraid if the road is long. Only be afraid that you are not aiming high enough."

My thoughts: I love a police procedural story and was really excited to read this first book of the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series. Set in modern China, it was about the investigation of the brutal murder of woman where her organs were removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth.

Let me start by saying that I love the setting. The author did an incredible job in describing the beautiful village and sceneries. I really enjoyed it. I also liked learning about the political and society structure of China. The usage of Chinese words made me miss speaking Mandarin so much!

However, I was rather frustrated that I did not enjoy this book as much I would like. Seeing all the glowing reviews on this book, I guess I am the outlier here.

I just wasn't able to connect with any of the characters here. Everyone seems so angry all the time, swearing (in Mandarin) in almost every conversation. It was difficult to read. Inspector Lu Fei is not a likeable character at all, and so were the other police officers. I am not sure if this was the intention of the author to represent the behaviour of authorities in this way? But it was just agonizing that almost all the characters are like this - loud and brash.

The plot started off really great as the crime was a brutal one. It was a mystery indeed that the killer chose to stage the victim this way. I was really curios and had to know the reason. Unfortunately, the plot meanders a lot, with a lot of irrelevant details that were overly descriptive. I completely lose interest but I did finish the book.

In the end, this book wasn't for me.


Pub. date: May 4th 2021

***Thank you St. Martin's Press, author Brian Klingborg and NetGalley for this review copy to read and review.***

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/04/23/thief-of-souls-by-brian-klingborg/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I'm a fan of police procedurals and investigations and settings in countries other than the United States. <strong>Thief of Souls</strong> was unexpected, being set in China. I enjoyed the unfamiliar country, culture and politics. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if things are accurate, but they didn't seem unbelievable.

Inspector Lu Fei is our main character, and his point of view is our storyteller. He is an upstanding guy with integrity and little interest in power and politics, other than wanting to do his job and solve cases.  He cares about people and treats them with respect.  He's the number 2 in the hierarchy in his remote village town. His disinterest in using his position of power makes him unusual.

Of course, there is a sensational murder and while some want to convict the first easy suspect, Lu wants to find the real criminal. To the displeasure of some in power, he investigates with meticulous efforts, slowly progressing to the truth.  Truth can be a dangerous thing, but he perseveres. More than one person tries to disable him to stop him from finding the murderer and uncover unsavory truths. He links it to old cases and continues to progress, upsetting old enemies and making new ones.

I really liked Lu and rooted for him. His moral compass is solid gold and luckily his skills are too.  Thankfully, he does have a few friends.  I enjoyed a new world and culture with some diversity. I look forward to more in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/312394-inspector-lu-fei-mysteries" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Inspector Lu</strong></em></a> series.

I liked this story as I thought I learned a little more about China and the Chinese police. Like many Americans, I'm a cultural desert when it comes to China. I worried whether there were any cultural aspects of the story that were stereotypes, rather than truth given that the author has an English name. What I did feel disjointed with was the narrator. It bounced between third-person and first-person narration and at times the English was so stiff, I wondered if it had been translated into English. Still, it was a good mystery story and I'll give it 4 stars.

Thief of Souls is a story by Brian Klingborg about a serial killer in China. Mr Klingborg has told a good story and makes it more interesting by telling the reader various ways police departments operate in China. The reader follows the bread crumbs along the way with Lu Fei, the main character. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to review.

Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police college but he’s been assigned to a sleepy backwater town in northern China, where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth. The CID in Beijing—headed by a rising political star—is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own.

As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger.





My Thoughts:

As Lu pursues the clues and the potential serial killer in Thief of Souls, we are caught up in his processes and his ability to find the connections.

Early on, Lu is especially drawn to a young woman who runs a local bar, and while he is learning more about her, he begins to realize that she might also be in danger.

While he finds answers to one mystery after the other, he draws closer to the solution.

Like the trail of clues Lu follows, the reader begins to zero in on the guilty party, even as the danger intensifies. I was fascinated by the spiritual elements of the story. 4.5 stars.

My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley

3.5 stars

I read a lot of mysteries and the setting of China was the motivating factor in me choosing this one. The cultural aspects of this story held my interest the most and the mystery itself is decent but I wouldn't say it knocked my socks off. It's an average mystery but the historical facts the author incorporates into the story enhances the book for sure.

Inspector Lu Fei works for the police force in a small Northern China town. A young woman is found dead and her organs have been removed. It's fair to say this case will present some challenges for Lu Fei as he attempts to figure everything out.

There is a great deal of background info about the country that is provided by the author. I've always loved police detective mysteries and the fact this one took place in China did bring something unique to the table. Things like the political atmosphere both past and present just added these complex layers to the story.

With that being said, my knowledge of the history of China is probably similar to the average American. So the book presented the opportunity to learn a thing or two and made it a worthwhile read. However, if you already know a lot about China going in, perhaps the mystery just won't be enough to sustain your interest. This book is the first in the series and while you get little bits about the main character's personal life, I do hope there is more development with him in future books.

This was a bit of a challenging read for me, but through no fault of the author. It takes place in China - a country about which I know very little - at least before I finished this book. It was hard to keep the characters straight (China, it appears, has several common names like Smith and Jones are in the United States). But the star of the show, Inspector Lu Fei (this is the first book in a series about him), was easy to remember and like as he grapples with life and work in a sort of backwoods town despite being a highly trained police officer. And the exposition - plus little snippets of wisdom from Chairman Nao Zedong - bolstered the story and helped me learn more about the country.

Most crimes in Lu's little town are minor, until a young woman is found with three major organs removed and sutures similar to an autopsy. Because those three organs - lungs, heart and liver - have been associated with spiritual or mental attributes, one theory is that the killer was trying to "steal the soul" of the victim. Other clues, though, such as a pair of expensive Loubutin high heels that appear to have gone missing, lead Fu in other directions, no matter where or to whom they lead. But while Fu would be happy to handle the case by himself and his department, higher-ups insist on getting involved because of "weiwen" - in today's China, stability always takes precedence over public safety.

Still, he remains intent on finding the killer - especially when he turns up links to previous unsolved murders. But going where needs to go puts himself squarely between Communist Party leaders for whom corruption is the order of the day, resistence from bosses whose only goal is to solve the crime quickly and sweep the whole thing under the rug. There's a fair amount of action - some of which puts Fu's life on the line - before the story ends.

An enjoyable read overall, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Quite interesting murder mystery. This would be a typical well-done police procedural but the setting sets it apart. The story takes place in China and the author does a good job of mixing in some of the history and culture without slowing down the story. The characters were well-developed and I found myself rooting for Inspector Lu in his professional as well as his personal life.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

This is a police procedural within the small villages of China. It's a peek into a very different world of corruption and crime through the eyes of a banished lieutenant doing the right thing for his victims. A serial killer is on the loose and not only does he have to navigate the darkness of the killer, it the thick and prevalent corruption of his own department, old department and Chinese government. The author explores tradition and communistic roadblocks while dealing with his banishment from a corrupt chief and circumventing the political ladder that his peers and superiors concern themselves with more than the crimes.

Fast paced while diving deep into cultural differences. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to future installments.

4 solid stars for an engrossing mystery set in rural Northern China. Raven Valley is 70 Kilometers from Harbin and Lu Fei is the Deputy Chief of the township PSB(Public Security Bureau) station. PSB is analogous to a Western Police Department. Winters in this area are very cold, and houses are poorly heated. Lu Fei gets a call on his night off, because the duty constable cannot find the chief. There has been a murder. Yang Fenfang has been found dead. She is from this small village but moved to Harbin several years ago. She returned to Raven Valley to care for her sick mom, who died just 1 week ago..
While the initial suspect is an ex boy friend of Yang Fenfang, there are many twists and turns in the plot. I was not sure who the killer was until near the end. I liked the characters, especially Lu Fei, a lonely, but dedicated policemen. Lu Fei calls this in to the Beijing PSB headquarters and Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau decides to bring his team to investigate. Song and Lu form an unlikely partnership. The PSB is riven with corruption and interfering politicians. How Lu manages to find the killer makes for a very good read. There is some side story about his non existent love life.
The author is an American who has studied Chinese literature at Harvard. He has done much research and portrays life in rural China authentically to this reader. I have only been to China once, as a tourist, but I have read other mysteries by Chinese authors. His description of Chines customs and beliefs, particularly ancestor worship, ring true to me. The book is divided into days, as the investigation progresses.
Two quotes:
PSB entering a house: "Lu doesn't bother to knock. In the People's Republic, private property remains a loosely interpreted concept. He opens the door and yells, 'Public Security Bureau!"
Interrogation: "In the people's Republic, there is no legal 'right to remain silent" and no law that requires a lawyer to be present during initial police questioning, so Song launches right in."
I will read more of this author's books if he publishes more. I read this book in 3 days.
Thanks to St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#ThiefofSouls #NetGalley

An Inspector Lu Fei Mystery #1
“On the night the young woman’s corpse is discovered, hollowed out like a birchbark canoe, Inspector Lu Fei sits alone in the Red Louts bar, determined to get gloriously drunk.”

Lu Fei has all the credentials of a top-notch Inspector and yet he is living in a small town in the north of China, where life isn’t very exciting. At least until the day a young woman is found dead, organs are gone and something stuck in her mouth.

Such a high-profile murder is big news even in Beijing where the CID is taking over the case. The head of the CID has aspirations to be more than a cop and in China where there is so much political and economic instability, a murder of a girl isn’t a top priority.

With little help from the CID, Fei will be digging into this bizarre case alone it looks like. There was so much going on here. Communist Party bigwigs, Corrupt politicians, and business owners. China is very corrupt it seems.

But digging too far may leave the inspector in a lot of danger.

I liked the idea of this story more than the story.

NetGalley/ Pub Date: 04 May 2021 St. Martin’s/Minotaur

I found this book to be only an okay read. It was interesting but I found it lacking in suspense. For me all the asides on Chinese history and culture took away from the storyline rather than adding to it. If there is a follow up to this book, I don’t believe I will be reading it.