I know very little about The Chinese Cultural Revolution. The changing political climate in China of the 90s is essentially a character here. It was fascinating. How does Inspector Chen navigate a murder case that has politics wrapped up in it as tightly as a dog with a bone?

I found "Comrade Chief Inspector Chen" (the way characters address one another is a mouthful!) to be a very sympathetic character. He struggles to maintain his integrity during the case when the government lackeys make that hard to do. The untouchable HCC, or High Cadre Children, bear a striking resemblance to the children of rich Americans. It's a fascinating dynamic. As China struggles to grow economically, the people who held power during the first years of Mao's reign, are treated with more respect than is there do. Again, like people with money in this country. I don't know how true to life this balance between Capitalism and Communism is in China but it made for a heck of a read.