Historical fiction mystery. Robert van Gulik was a Dutchman who loved his Chinese history. In China, in the 1700’s there were three stories anonymously written about a character named Judge Dee. Judge Dee was a real person. The Chinese “Judge” at the time seemed to be a Judge Dredd meets Sherlock Holmes type character with all manner of personal conviction power. He was the law. The story’s author is uncredited. Our author here, van Gulik got a hold of these stories, translated them and published them into modern book form in 1949. From that point on van Gulik took on the Judge Dee character and wrote 17 more books in the series.
Judge Dee, his three wives and his posse are traveling back home through the mountains. A heavy rainstorm hits and they must stop or risk sliding off the mountain. Luckily there is a Taoist monastery nearby.
Judge Dee is well known throughout China and not only that, he's a powerful part of the government so they bend over backwards to make him feel welcome. The monastery is huge. They often have guests so it’s no big deal to house/feed the entire crew. There is a Taoist celebration going on wherein a traveling actor troop acts out a play of Taoist parables for the monks. So, the place is full of oddball actor types.
When settling into his room Judge Dee looks out his window into the window in the next building and sees a man in a mask choking out a woman. Judge Dee and his Watson man head over to check it out but when they get there the room that is across the way doesn’t even have a window. Whaaat? They say the monastery is haunted but Judge Dee aint having none of that shit. Something fishy is going on. He remembers that this monastery was the site of three strange deaths last year of young Taoist monk ladies. Not too mention the previous Abbot’s premonished natural death.
There is a new Abbot who frustratingly deals with the problems of the monastery and the insolent actors. He tells Judge Dee that he probably just saw the actors rehearsing. And sure enough when they get a second to sit down and watch the play one of the actors is dressed exactly like the man he saw. Or thought he saw because how could he see someone through a window that doesn’t exist.
Nothing is sitting right with this place and Judge Dee can’t lie down for the night until this is all figured out. The story literally happens over the course of one night. Which is crazy to think after you finish it. So much happens. There is lots of back history. Lots of red herrings. Shade thrown everywhere. The actors party it up while the monks scurry about doing monk things. There is an old renown poet who resides in one of the towers. There are mysterious corridors shut off to the public. A pet bear. Sultry ladies. Salty ladies. Rainstorms. Dudes with amazing swordcraft. Mysteries upon mysteries.
This was a beautiful classic mystery with setting ambiance out the yin yang. (Sorry, it was too easy.) The fact that this took place over one night makes the story cruise along. The monastery is huge with lots of room to move around and interesting characters to fill it. The mystery was on the tip of your tongue solvable. Like it didn’t come out of left field with some knowledge you couldn’t have possibly known. You can put it together with the clues given just like Judge Dee, you just have to pay attention. Wether it’s hardboiled or not I do love a murder mystery. Throw in that historical aspect, put it 300 + years back in the Far East and I’m all in.
Warner edition 1974
Originally published 1969
Cover art by Tom Hall
Review by Nick Anderson
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