A lightning-paced, kung fu-filled historical mystery in which two amateur Chinese sleuths take down a sinister conspiracy between Imperial Russia, Japan, and China in 1920s London. Perfect for fans of Laura Shepherd-Robinson and Laurie R. King.

Judge Dee and Lao She must use all their powers of deduction—and kung fu skills—to take down a sinister conspiracy between Imperial Russia, Japan, and China in 1920s London.

London, 1924. Following several months abroad, Judge Dee Ren Jie has returned to the city to intercept a transaction between a Russian diplomat and a Japanese mercenary. Aided by Lao She—the Watson to his Holmes—along with several other colorful characters, Dee stops the illicit sale of an extremely valuable “dragon-taming” mace.

The mace’s owner is a lovely Chinese businesswoman who thanks Dee for its retrieval by throwing a lavish dinner party. In attendance is British banking official A. G. Stephen, who argues with the group about the tenuous state of Chinese nationalism—and is then poisoned two days later. Dee knows this cannot be a coincidence, and suspects Stephen won’t be the only victim. Sure enough, a young Chinese communist of Lao’s acquaintance is killed not long after—and a note with a strange symbol is found by his body.

What could connect all these disparate, bizarre events? It is once again up to Dee’s brilliant investigative skills and Lao’s well-meaning but often bumbling assistance to get to the bottom of the Railway Conspiracy before anyone else ends up on the chopping block.