No longer a chief inspector, Chen Cao finds himself as director of the Shanghai Judicial System Reform Office. To outsiders it's a promotion, but Chen knows he's being removed from the spotlight as he's immediately placed on involuntary 'convalescence leave' to stop him interfering with any cases. However, with various high-profile crimes making headlines and fears escalating over vigilante reprisals, Chen's superiors know he must at least appear active.One case revolves around Min Lihau, a mingyuan, who runs a 'private kitchen' for powerful figures in Shanghai. Min's accused of murdering her assistant, yet Chen is struck by the similarities to a historic case involving the famous Judge Dee. When an acquaintance of his is murdered in connection to Min, Chen knows he can't stand idly by . but he must act in secret, under the cover of writing a Judge Dee novel. "An exhilarating blend of recent history, mystery, and the writer's craft" Kirkus Reviews"While series fans will be delighted at the background Qiu provides, this is an accessible starting point for newcomers .

Qiu deepens his Dalgliesh-like series lead in his superior 11th novel"Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Becoming Inspector Chen "Qiu's stylish hybrid is half fictional literary memoir and half crisp whodunit"Kirkus Reviews on Becoming Inspector Chen.