Set in a fictional suburb of Hong Kong, Chief Inspector Harry Feiffer and his motley crew of detectives are part of the night shift at Yellowthread Street Police Station. What begins as a routine night soon devolves into a comedy of errors, conversations lost in translation as the team investigate a bloody murder, a lost husband, a crime spree that coincides with the arrival of a US naval ship, a rampaging Mongolian, and local gangsters.

Loved every page ! Could not stop reading. It's hard to believe that this was first published in the mid-1970s, and is the first of many; and that it was a UK TV series in the 1990s (thank you youtube).

As I was reading this, it put me in mind of William Wyler's 1951 movie, "Detective Story", starring Kirk Douglas (that tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad). Yellowthread Street seems to have been written in the same style.

Definitely a series to follow up on!

A curious book, but worth finishing, at time I was not sure about where it was going, but kept on until the end

This novel is the first in a police procedural series set in colonial Hong Kong. It was published in the 70s but its pared-down style and dry humour make it feel very fresh. I loved the characters, the fast pace and the sense of chaos and energy, held together by skilful narration.

Not what I expected but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In a way it reminded me of Night Court and all the zany ( but some gruesome) things that happen during one shift. Thanks to Farrago and NetGalley for providing me a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Yellowthread Street" is one of the older cop stories that Farrago press is reissuing. It is the first in a series of 16 books set in Hong Kong around 1975, well before the handover. The book reads more, though, like Keystone Cops or Laurel and Hardy and could really be any time after 1912.

There are 8 cops plus a cleaner on the night shift at the Yellowthread Street Police Station in the fictitious Hong Bay, a part of Hong Kong where outsiders should not wander. The neighborhood teems with brothels, strip joints, gold dealers, pawn shops, noodle shops, and criminals of all sorts.

Each of the 8 cops plus a cleaner has a story, an ambition, a hobby, a vice. They, and we, rush around crowded Hong Bay chasing their dreams plus the gangsters, drunks, and the occasional lost tourist.

If you are looking for a plot, go elsewhere. On Yellowthread Street what you find are gritty, funny, tangled stories of Hong Kong law enforcement.

I received a review copy of "Yellowthread Street" by William Marshall (Farrago) through NetGalley.com. It was originally published by William Marshall in 1975 and has been reissued in 1984 and 2005.

I don't know what this was but I didn't like it - stilted writing, characters that just roll around in unpleasantness but not in a way that the reader can enjoy, and an definite 70's funk that, to me, just stank up the place. I won't be revisiting but maybe a fan of Barney Miller would enjoy?

This book gives a view of Hong Kong while it was under British rule - a fictional area, but, from what I've been told by someone who was there, quite realistic in the attitudes and the wide variety of people from a mixed pot of nations. It made me smile, while all the time dealing with the speedier side of the human zoo.

A good, well written book

If you're not paying attention the story will be over in a minute. Fast-paced with plenty of stories and cases mixing in between, Marshall gives us a book that, at the end, makes you want to go watch the age-old TV series with the same name. Wit, cunning, and sarcasm are but one of the ingredients that made this book an instant hit.

I picked up this book because it was billed as being hilarious and scary. I found it to be neither. To be fair it was entertaining and funny in a weird comedy-of-errors type of way. I can see how some people would love it; however, it just didn’t live up to the billing, I felt.
There’s an interesting writing style. Horrific things would be stated in a matter of fact manner. “Four streets away…a man named Chen went back to his room in Cuttlefish Lane near the fish markets with an axe and used it to halve his wife and quarter her boyfriend” (location 29).
In a descriptive section there’s a note to the reader (“you are not expected to remember any of this”).
I don’t really know how to describe the odd humor other than to give a couple examples. “Auden lounged against the wall of the police station looking like a cop lounging against the wall of a police station pretending he was just lounging” (location 1276). Or when a bad guy says, “My goodness! It’s an arsenal that man in the third black car that coincidentally looks like ours whom we do not know and have never seen before has” (location 1335).
There are a lot of characters in this relatively short book. However, it’s pretty easy telling the cops from the gangsters because of their names: Crushed Toes, The Chopper Man, The Mongolian versus O’Yee, Auden, Feiffer, etc.
There’s a lot of action but nothing goes very deep. There’s some swearing which to me detracts rather than adds to the humor. Overall, it was an interesting, odd book. Will I read another one by this author? Probably not but who knows…
Thank you to Farrago and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A very interesting and enjoyable story. I was truly amazed how the author was able to write such a multi-faceted story with such humor. I am only sorry that I discovered this author so late. I look forward to reading all of his work.

I chose to read Yellowthread Street based upon the reviews and ratings. I wish I had read some of the dialog before making choosing it. The book is not at all what I expected. I didn’t find it humorous, I couldn’t find a plot, I couldn’t identify with the characters, and when I got almost 20% of the way into the book the foul language that seemed way out of place was all I could take. Maybe a plot emerged later on, maybe the characters would have become endearing, but it was so boring I just couldn’t read any more.

Yellow Thread Street, from the late William Marshall, is the first in a series of novels set in a Hong Kong police precinct being re-released through Farrago Publishing. The fans of zany plotting, good cops and smooth criminals, swift action and fast-paced dialogue should rejoice. The wayward tourists, Mongolian thugs and box-office robberies coalesce into what feels like just another night for the detectives of Hong Bay. For lovers of Ed McBain and classic screwball. Of course, those who dislike blood and a body count should stay away, keeping the aisles clear for those of us who missed this when it was first published.

Oh my goodness, this is an extremely funny crime novel, short but packed with intense action.

Growing up in Hong Kong, and in fact I used to live around the area, this novel brings me the nostalgic sentiment to a place I love so much. Granted, by the time I was born, the precinct was not as dangerous anymore. In fact I lived in an upscale part of Wanchai growing up, but I doubt the crime level was THAT bad even before my time.

The novel consists of two parts, during the day and at night, with few unusual, humorous cases the officers encounter throughout that day. Few minor incidents with a major crime, the novel is excellently plotted with clever wittiness. The dialogues between the characters lightens a brutal crime which predominates the second half of the book.

Unlike other crime novels, "Yellowthread Street" is not about a single inspector/officer but with a few of them working in the same sub-branch of a district. Each officer has their own case(s) to follow and the novel "seems" fragmented from time to time. It's like watching a TV series with few cases that happen simultaneously; I had to adjust my expectation to synchronize with the pace and the writing style throughout at the beginning. But nothing is difficult, and in fact "Yellowthread Street" is a rare page turner that is highly entertaining.

I am so glad to have stumbled upon this rare vintage gem via Netgallery. Thank you Farrago for the opportunity for me to review the egallery. I will sure want to read more from such an interesting series.

The truth is, I didn't expect that this novel is a page-turner and would make readers anticipate what will happen next. Gruesome and comedic at the same time, this novel is a must-read for fans of mystery, action and detective stories. While reading this, it reminds me of Jackie Chan's movies, in particular is the Rush Hour movie series.

The first in a series of police procedurals; originally published in 1975 and set in a Hong Kong still under British rule.
It is striking to find a whole new series and an author previously unknown to you and a bonus to find on set in such an interesting location. The group of police officers are varied and it is a large team to get your head around in this opening novel.
It reminds me of the first time I read the 87th precinct novels in my teens as it takes policing into a new level. A male dominated department; with varying egos and a very present threat on the streets where tourists are advised never to set foot in and areas in the grip of gangs and related violence.
The story is set over one nightshift in the Yellowthread Street police station.
With clever dialogue and crisp interactions between the characters the story is full of dark humour and a degree of humanity often missed in contemporary thrillers. The author also writes in an engaging manner full of wit and observed humour almost enfolding the reader fully into the story.
From a few short passages, you start to care for these set of cops and identify with their thankless job.
Who would have thought so much could happen in one night? So many crimes solved in this crazy neighbourhood and a body count too many to count. Nothing is straightforward, no-one is too trigger happy, but the realities of their job does impact upon them and they carry a weapon with a sense of necessity not to blow people away. Others are not so slow to use violence and soon the streets are running with blood in cases of robbery, jealousy and revenge.
A short book but a wonderful vehicle into a series I now will look out for and read for fun. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and urge you to seek it out for yourself.

I enjoyed this book with its humour and digressions.

This was a fun/quirky police procedural set in the backdrop of Hong Kong. The writing was fast paced and fun. I got a bit lost with all of the action, but enjoyed the book. I will look for more in this series as the publisher republishes them.

Thank you.
Enjoyed it.
Will purchase copies for family and friends.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, the estate of William Marshall, and Farrango Books in exchange for an honest review. This book was originally published by Hamish Hamilton in 1975.

This was an excellent police procedural, a very fast read and a laugh a minute, despite it's serious storyline. Taking place in Hong Kong in the early 1970's, this author takes you there. I will look for more reprints of his work by Farrango Books. Thank you, for bringing him back to a new generation of readers.