The Chinese Gold Murders

The Chinese Gold Murders: A Judge Dee Detective Story by Robert van Gulik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Judge Dee is fashioned after the historical figure of a real Judge Dee, famous in ancient Chinese panels as a scholar and magistrate. Robert van Gulik who was born in the Netherlands and served in the diplomat Service in China and Japan for many years wrote these wonderful books. His interest in Asian languages led him to the discovery of Chinese detective novels and to this historical character. This book details how Judge Dee began his career and how he met up with his constant companions who appear in all the subsequent books.

At the beginning of Judge Dee's career when he was 33 years old he obtained his first appointment to a post in the provinces. Dee went to a port city on the north east coast. He was sent to replace a magistrate who had been murdered. The previous investigation of this murder had been cut short for reasons unknown to the Judge. When Judge Dee finally got settled in his new lodgings several cases came to hand. The first was the case of a wife, the second was the case of a missing member of the magistrates court and finally it was the case of the murdered magistrate.

The judge uses his powers of deduction and insight to solve all these puzzles in a very interesting and informative way. I really enjoy the Judge Dee books.