Name: Hold Your Breath, China
ISBN: 9781780291819

Qiu Xiaolong

Chief Inspector Chen is assigned to investigate a group of environmental activists trying to tackle the pollution issues in China. The case is supposed to be simple, but it is complicated by Chen having history with the leader of the group. Meanwhile Detective Yu is on the trail of a serial murderer.

Hold Your Breath, China

"Fascinating... Xiaolong writes with both urgency and grace about modern China is another well-crafted mystery" - Booklist Starred Review Inspector Chen is on the case of a serial murderer when he is called away to report on environmentalists trying to tackle the pollution issues in China. Chief Inspector Chen and Detective Yu Guangming are brought into a serial murder case when the Homicide squad proves incapable of solving it. But before Chen can make a start, he is called away by a high-ranking Party member for a special assignment: to infiltrate a group of environmental activists meeting to discuss the pollution levels in the country and how to prompt the government into action. Chen knows it will be a far from simple task, especially when he discovers the leader of the group is a woman from his past. Meanwhile, Yu is left to investigate a serial murder case on his own. Both Chen and Yu face pressure from those above to resolve the cases in a satisfactory way . . . even if that means innocents face the punishment.

Francine Corry

I began my review for the last book, Shanghai Redemption which I read in the Inspector Chen series in December 2015 :
" 	When I find out that a new Inspector Chen is coming out I immediately pre-order it. Qiu Xiaolong never lets me down. This is an intelligent well written series. I suggest that the reader start with the first one Death of a Red Heroine, any mystery lover will be hooked and the series continues to get better."

I could very well start my review for Hold Your Breath, China, the same way, but I won't be redundant. It has been a long time, between books in the series and I have missed the suave, Inspector Chen and his more down to earth partner, Detective Yu and I wonder how much further Xiaolong will carry this series.

Briefly, this begins with Yu and Chen becoming involved in a case involving a serial killer, but Chen is called away and strongly encouraged to investigate a woman who is an activist , and environmentalist and is about to release a documentary about air pollution.

As always it is a satisfying read. I think this series isn't for everyone, but I love them. The latest is the 10th in the series.

Hold Your Breath, China

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