The Railway Conspiracy - (A Dee and Lao Mystery) by Sj Rozan & John Shen Yen Nee (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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. The follow-up to The Murder of Mr. Ma, this historical adventure-mystery is perfect for fans of Laurie R. King and the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes films. 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"--

Book Synopsis

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 a rollicking new mystery set in 1920s London.

The follow-up to The Murder of Mr. Ma, this historical adventure-mystery is perfect for fans of Laurie R. King and the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes films.

London, 1924. Following several months abroad, Judge Dee Ren Jie has returned to the city to foil 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 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 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 these murders? Could it be related to rumors of a conspiracy regarding the Chinese Eastern Railway? It is once again all on the unlikely crime-solving duo of Dee and Lao to solve the case before anyone else ends up tied to the rails.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Railway Conspiracy

"The theft of a dragon-taming mace leads Judge Dee Ren Jie and his colorful sidekicks to a multinational conspiracy rooted in 1924 London . . . It's fascinating to watch the conflict of ritual and revolution."
--Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Murder of Mr. Ma

"A glorious mash up of fan fiction, kung fu prowess and droll social commentary."
--The New York Times Book Review

"The vivid action scenes feel as visceral as a Chow Yun-fat circular kick with double forearm strike. A sparkling and thought-provoking debut of a fresh dynamic duo whose adventures I'll be eager to follow."
--Paula Woods, Los Angeles Times

"Co-authors Nee and Rozan offer an appealingly unusual, action-packed Sherlock Holmes pastiche with deep roots in both Chinese crime fiction and the history of early 20th-century England."
--The Washington Post

"Amid the whirl of crescent kicks, rooftop chases, and snappy dialogue, characters confront addiction, defy prejudice, and deliver justice. It's a cinematic ride."
--The Christian Science Monitor

"A clever homage to Holmes . . . [Rozan & Nee] have launched a highly entertaining new series with The Murder of Mr. Ma."
--Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun Sentinel

"The Murder of Mr. Ma is a refreshingly unique mystery featuring a Chinese detective and his somewhat unwitting partner in 1920s London, combining classic elements from both British and Chinese detective stories in a thrilling romp that doesn't shy away from the realities of life under colonial dynamics. Lao She and Dee Ren Jie are a hilarious and compelling duo to follow!"
--Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow

"The Murder of Mr. Ma is a joy, with this Chinese Sherlock Holmes and his Watson bringing a thrilling, complex, and thought-provoking new take on 1920s London."
--Laurie R. King, bestselling author of The Lantern's Dance

"Fans of Sherlock Holmes, devotees of intricate crime, and lovers of historical London will thrill over The Murder of Mr. Ma, the new gift to mystery readers bestowed by John Shen Yen Nee and SJ Rozan. With a plot as clever as Chinese veteran of WWI turned independent investigator Dee, and pacing as light-footed as the martial artists engaged in the frequent fisticuffs, this case has it all--even romance and authentic food, if you can stomach such things. I'm only miffed because I don't know when the next in the series will land on my doorstep."
--Lyndsay Faye, author of Dust and Shadow

"I was blown away by this exuberant, fun, cinematic tale of two Chinese immigrants--kung-fu fighting Judge Dee and his unlikely sidekick, academic Lao She--making like Holmes and Watson in the mean streets of 1920's London."
--Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editors' Pick

"The team-up of the great detective Judge Dee with Lao as his 'Watson' is ingenious."
--Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

About the Author

John Shen Yen Nee
is a half Chinese, half Scottish American media executive, producer and entrepreneur who was born in Knoxville, grew up in San Diego, and is now based in Los Angeles, with a penchant for very long run-on sentences. He has served as president of WildStorm Productions, senior vice president of DC Comics, publisher of Marvel Comics, CEO of Cryptozoic Entertainment; and cofounder of CCG Labs.

SJ Rozan
is the author of twenty novels and over eighty short stories, and editor of three anthologies. She has won multiple awards, including the Edgar, Shamus, Anthony, Nero, Macavity; Japanese Maltese Falcon; and the Private Eye Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. She's served on the national boards of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and as president of Private Eye Writers of America. SJ has taught at such diverse places as the Art Workshop International in Assisi, Italy; Singapore Management University in Singapore; the Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida; and the Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp in Wisconsin. She was born in the Bronx and lives in Manhattan.