The Chinese Gold Murders, by Robert van Gulik

In 7th century imperial China, a magistrate is poisoned in mysterious circumstances.

​Robert van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat and China expert. He lived most of his professional life in China and married a Chinese woman. He started writing his Judge Dee mysteries in English, the character based on an 18th century Chinese fictional detective (who was in turn  based on the historical figure Di Renjie, a 7th century magistrate). The early books in the series were translated first into Japanese and then Chinese, not finding English publication until several years later. Later books would be published in their original English first. 

It’s 663, a port city in the Shantung Province. All is not well in the district of Peng-lai. Judge Dee has been appointed there after the previous magistrate was murdered by poisoning. With the help of his two rough and ready assistants, Chiao Tai and Ma Joong, the judge starts to unravel a series of murders and disappearances connected to the dead magistrate. There’s even the mystery of several ghostly apparitions that also needs explaining. 

Van Gulik writes in an elegant, lapidary prose, perfectly fitted to this tale set in 7th century imperial China. There’s an intriguing cast of characters - sex workers, faux intellectuals and vagabonds - that makes The Chinese Gold Murders both a juicy crime whodunnit and a fascinating portrait of life during the Tang dynasty. The reader learns much about law, commerce, cultural norms, social hierarchy and etiquette. Indeed, the China of this period seems surprisingly advanced and progressive. 

A crime book that doubles as a fascinating literary time machine to another time and place.

The Chinese Gold Murders, by Robert van Gulik. Published by Penguin. $22.99

SEP 24