THE CHINESE NAIL MURDERS: A JUDGE DEE DETECTIVE STORY PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Robert van Gulik | 256 pages | 01 Mar 2005 | HARPER PERENNIAL | 9780060751395 | English | New York, NY, United States The Chinese Nail Murders: A Judge Dee Detective Story PDF Book Eventually, he returned to Japan and China. View all 10 comments. Odd things going on at the deserted villa, an apparently cursed Imperial Treasure and a perverted madman. Showing Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Original Title. View 1 comment. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. From Japan, Van Gulik went to Chongqing, then the wartime capital of China, where he remained until In a style not unlike the Chinese. For example, Chinese readers of this time were extremely detail oriented, which often resulted in a book including so many annotations and footnotes that a story could be extended into a number of volumes. Nevertheless everything seems calm on the surface in the small town, just one important case of note for Dee to investigate, the disappearance of Liao Lien-fang the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Take no shit from those groveling peasants, Dee! But he then parenthetically added that it worked out well in that the four of them we This is the best of the series of four. Diminutive as this book may be, it contains surprising depths. But these films are not based on the books and are more suitable for fans of martial arts movies, while readers and fans of the Judge Dee books tend to give them low ratings. I suppose, therefore, that they can be seen as prototypes of police procedurals. This is the best of the series of four. Translated from Chinese originally, Dee Goong An ; not part of the later continuity. Mar 22, Bob Deysach rated it really liked it. The judge uses his discretion as he investigates the case. Judge Dee struggles to solve several grisly murders and also faces inner turmoil and threat of his own dismissal and demise. Thanksgiving week: I am in Michigan over break, where I discover a used bookstore called "Classic Books. Find it at HCL. Or the judge could visit the gravesite of the murdered man, attempt to commune in a sort of prayer, and ask the victim to give the judge a dream that could enable him to solve the case. The military always seem to need much elbow space! Judge Dee is a magistrate in the fictional Poo-yang district. I felt so much hopelessness when I read this book. However, in The Chinese Gold Murders , which describes Dee's initial appointment and first criminal cases, the judge encounters two highwaymen, euphemistically called "men of the greenwood", Ma Joong and Chiao Tai, who attempt to rob him but are so impressed with his character that they give up their criminal careers and join his retinue on the spot. Van Gulik discovered that China had full- fledged detective novels in the 17 th century. Hennepin County Privacy Contact Us. Murder in Ancient China. Robert van Gulik. Although modern forensic techniques and tools were unavailable to investigators at that time, Judge Dee demonstrates great skill and wisdom in his approach. However, the Sinophile puzzles - in this case, qiqiaoban tangrams - play a very major role in the investigation, and provide a vital clue in the murder of Lan Dakui which leads to Chen Baozhen as the culprit. Van Gulik subsequently began writing the Judge Dee series of novels that have so captivated mystery readers ever since. Robert Van Gulik. The Chinese Nail Murders: A Judge Dee Detective Story Writer Judge Dee Series. So, finally, Western culture is introduced to an authentic Chinese detective novel. Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. The Emperor's Pearl by Robert van Gulik. Book 6. If you don't read any other books in this series - read this one. About Robert van Gulik. Categories : Judge Dee Dutch novels Dutch crime novels Fictional detectives Fictional judges Gong'an fiction Novel series Law in fiction Detective fiction Novels adapted into television shows Novels adapted into comics Literary characters introduced in A renowned Chinese boxer Lan Tao-kuei is poisoned in a bathhouse by an unknown villain dressed in Tartar clothes, this man who had brought glory to the north and was one of the best athletes in the nation shocks the already anxious town. Perhaps, as a diplomat, Van Gulik was restrained from publicizing his personal views. It doesn't help that the insolent widow mostly naked, was viciously whipped in public on orders from Dee in court. Each novel has a short postscript explaining the sources used and some of the cultural background. Jul 03, Erik rated it really liked it. The underworld, martial-arts, 'barbarian' and supernatural elements are still present in this novel, but they are downplayed considerably in favour of the central drama of the investigation and its consequences. Therefore, he had to find something that would be palatable to Western readers. Control code Dimensions 21 cm. To a Western reader, the story is over and we have no further interest. View Product. That oral tradition eventually lay the foundations for the Chinese detective novel and its hero, the local magistrate. I was wrapped up in the whole story and completely devastated when the book ended. There are plenty more novels that follow! At the successful conclusion of a case, the judge sentences the criminal. Odd things going on at the deserted villa, an apparently cursed Imperial Treasure and a perverted madman. The book is set in AD China like the others and written by a scholar who pieced some extent stories with his knowledge of the culture to produce an engaging trip back 13 centuries. Admin Admin Admin, collapsed. These turn out, in fact, to be two separate murder cases rather than one, but they pit Judge Dee and his opponents against one of the single cleverest, most skilful, most determined and most ruthless villains van Gulik has yet written. Take no shit from those groveling peasants, Dee! Last Judge Dee novel published during van Gulik's lifetime. With so many subplots crissing and crossing, The Chinese Nail Murders gets quite suspenseful — especially the last 50 pages! Shelve The Haunted Monastery. In his first few weeks in the fictional town of Beizhou, Di Renjie is, as usual, confronted with three cases: the disappearance of the betrothed Miss Liao Lianfang; the grisly murder of Mrs Pan, the wife of an elderly antiques dealer; and the poisoning of the famous martial artist Lan Dakui. For Dee, this is the case that knocks him flat. Mar 22, Bob Deysach rated it really liked it. The novel really focuses more on the process of evidence discovery, as such, character development is not a primary factor, although it does get a bit more "feely" towards the second half. View 2 comments. This item is available to borrow from all library branches. A short story from Judge Dee at Work. Book Lach Introduction. The newspaper story was real but Sax Rohmer created a villainous Chinese fictional character —Dr. The Chinese Nail Murders: A Judge Dee Detective Story Reviews Here Dee solves the mysteries of a headless corpse, a murdered martial-arts expert, and gets into a tough spot with a cold case that puts him on the chopping block. Mar 31, Sarah added it. Help Help, opens a new window. Sarah is called to a wealthy home when the pregnant wife goes into labor after finding her murdered husband. Shelve The Chinese Lake Murders. From a bright new talent, a witty, moving, and inspirational coming-of-age debut novel set in Book I felt so much hopelessness when I read this book. Main navigation. Retrieved Rating details. The Phantom of the Temple by Robert van Gulik. However, the Sinophile puzzles - in this case, qiqiaoban tangrams - play a very major role in the investigation, and provide a vital clue in the murder of Lan Dakui which leads to Chen Baozhen as the culprit. Therefore, he had to find something that would be palatable to Western readers. All the more so because, thanks to her intimate knowledge of the law, near-sociopathic daring and her ability to manipulate people, the widow Chen Baozhen comes very, very close to beating Di Renjie at his own game. I only finished reading the book so I wouldn't have to put it in the 'come back to and read' pile. Poets and Murder by Robert van Gulik. English author Sax Rohmer, for example, had read a newspaper account of a Chinese criminal organization being rounded up and arrested in London. This may be my new favourite Judge Dee book. Judge Dee ends his career in Murder in Canton being promoted to the position of senior Metropolitan Judge in the capital, and his assistants obtain official ranks in the Army and civil service. The novels are illustrated with plates drawn by the author in the Chinese style. One wishes it was available on DVD or mp4. Van Gulik published his novels from to , offering to many readers their first glimpse into a country hermetically sealed by the Communists. The Chinese Nail Murders: A Judge Dee Detective Story Read Online Les aventures du juge Ti. Van Gulik has found a reason to include at least one top-heavy, nude woman in each mystery. Van Gulik also wrote a series of newspaper comics about Judge Dee in , which totalled 19 adventures. Although Judge Dee does this in Dee Goon An , the supernatural element is toned down compared to some other Chinese detective novels of the period.