“Midnight in Peking” in the US

Last October I wrote about a great murder mystery that I had read called “Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China,” by Paul French.

At the time it was not yet available in the US. But that has changed with the release last week of the book in the US.

Here is the product description from Amazon:

Peking in 1937 is a heady mix of privilege and scandal, opulence and opium dens, rumors and superstition. The Japanese are encircling the city, and the discovery of Pamela Werner’s body sends a shiver through already nervous Peking. Is it the work of a madman? One of the ruthless Japanese soldiers now surrounding the city? Or perhaps the dreaded fox spirits? With the suspect list growing and clues sparse, two detectives—one British and one Chinese—race against the clock to solve the crime before the Japanese invade and Peking as they know it is gone forever. Can they find the killer in time, before the Japanese invade?

Historian and China expert Paul French at last uncovers the truth behind this notorious murder, and offers a rare glimpse of the last days of colonial Peking.

It’s available in hardcover or a Kindle Edition.

There’s also a great website for the book with a video introduction by the author and lots of background information.

If you like historical fiction, you’ll love this book…..except that it is NOT fiction!