Praise for Red Jade
“An action-packed plot and a carefully detailed mystery make this a feast for readers who crave insight into the cultural melting pot that is the United States.”
—Library Journal, Starred Review
“Chang depicts the intricacies of life in Chinatowns where ancient customs crash against the contemporary world. But Chang doesn’t just show these colorful neighborhoods. He delves into the reality of the Chinatowns, portraying long-time residents dismayed at the change going around them, gangsters trying to maintain their control and tight-knit neighbors united in their beliefs, customs and desire to keep crime from ebbing further. Chang captures the sights, sounds and smells of the various Chinatowns, showing the common threads and uniqueness of each as well as their histories. Chang also depicts how the cultures of various Asian countries make the Chinatowns diverse areas. Red Jade also delves into the racism that Asian cops often encounter both among their fellow officers and on the streets of Chinatown. But even cynical Jack can be surprised when a seemingly racist cop is anything but. Red Jade is a gripping police procedural full of surprising twists.”
—The Kansas City Star
“In his third entry in the Jack Yu series, Chang continues to provide insight into the Chinese American community and its culture. Series fans will also be pleased to see that the much-interrupted relationship of Jack and district attorney Alexandra Lee-Chow moves to a new level. A fast-moving police procedural with added sociological depth.”
—Booklist
“A sharp mix of action, post-Wire procedural and cultural commentary aimed squarely at readers who aren’t overly attached to happy, or even conclusive, endings.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for the Jack Yu series
“A vivid, street-level portrait . . . evokes the spirit, sights, smells and language of his setting in compelling and original fashion.”
—The New York Times
“Destiny could find no better assistant than the decent, determined Det. Jack Yu.”
—The Wall Street Journal
“[Chang] paints, in miniature, a harsh world of neon and shadows but doesn’t slight the Big Questions . . . [He takes] genre fiction to a deeper level, focusing on the mysteries of the human mind that a murder brings to light in those with some connection to the deceased. Mysteries, quirks, that might otherwise lie buried, but that subtly define who we are.”
—Ron Rosenbaum, Slate
“This is a dense, moody, and intelligent glimpse at Chinese life in New York as seen through the world-weary eyes of a young man with a foot firmly planted in two cultures.”
—Booklist
“Chinatown is the hero here. Better say antihero, because while the picture is vivid and often compelling, it’s anything but pretty.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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