---
product_id: 20971961
title: "The Chinese Gold Murders: A Judge Dee Classic Mystery―Where Deduction Connects Murder, Terror, and Secrets in Ancient China (Judge Dee Mysteries)"
price: "13240 Ft"
currency: HUF
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.hu/products/20971961-the-chinese-gold-murders-a-judge-dee-classic-mystery-where
store_origin: HU
region: Hungary
---

# The Chinese Gold Murders: A Judge Dee Classic Mystery―Where Deduction Connects Murder, Terror, and Secrets in Ancient China (Judge Dee Mysteries)

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desertcart.com: The Chinese Gold Murders: A Judge Dee Classic Mystery―Where Deduction Connects Murder, Terror, and Secrets in Ancient China (Judge Dee Mysteries): 9780060728670: Van Gulik, Robert: Books

Review: Something a little different, But Familiar - In my student days, we were exhorted that lots of things were invented in China -- gunpowder, fireworks, pasta and several other foods, and paper money. However, having read this book I can add another element to the list: the detective novel. The author, a Dutch diplomat serving in China for most of his life, says in the afterword that he conflated a number of different detective novels dating to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to create his plot, but that the character of Judge Dee had already been known in the sources. The historic Judge Dee lived from AD 630-700, in the much earlier Tang Dynasty. For the modern, American reader, there are minor hurdles to get over because the setting is so unusual. For me the Chinese characters' names all seemed the same at first. And, of course, looked on as a mystery novel, we must get used to the fact that many of the investigative tools accessible to even Sherlock Holmes were unknown in the Tang Dynasty. On the other hand, although Judge Dee is only a municipal magistrate, a relatively minor official of the Chinese Empire, he has powers no modern detective can boast: in a comic element his underlings are continually suggesting he might want to torture witnesses to get confessions. He can summon extra manpower from any of the military garrisons located nearby. He can pronounce judgment on his own without calling for a jury. Also, no one is entirely sure there can't be ghosts and other supernatural happenings (this plays some havoc with the rules of evidence but of course our judge is a firm rationalist!) But, humans are humans the world over, and accordingly, a detective novel set in Tang Dynasty China has all the attributes that draw us to the genre in more familiar settings. At the beginning, 3 murders have been committed, including that of the Judge's predecessor as magistrate (we're pretty sure his death is part of a cover up for the others). Judge Dee and his faithful assistant, Sergeant Hoong, painstakingly investigate to find the culprits, and the story moves along briskly with clues showing up regularly enough to keep us guessing who did it. But, naturally, if we have motive and opportunity we have some idea who to suspect, and the evidence eventually leads them to the culprit. Our provincial seaport setting has restaurants, brothels, temples of both Confucius and Buddha, shipyards, and the like, brought to life in the author's description, although I did wonder a bit if the bustling little harbor described might have been anachronistically more like the Ming era than the Tang. Nonetheless, I felt this book was well worth my time, a quick, enjoyable read of something both different and familiar.
Review: Judge Dee's first post is one nobody wants - His friends beg him not to go to Peng-lai, a dismal place of mist and rain. The previous magistrate was murdered, and his ghost is said to walk in the tribunal. Who in his right mind would want to go there? But Dee is tired of studying criminal cases on paper. He's eager to untangle real-life puzzles and even face a bit of danger. He'll get his wish in Peng-lai. If you wish to follow Judge's Dee's brilliant career from its beginning, start with this novel, first published in 1959. Here he hires his two rough-and-ready lieutenants. How he meets them on the way to Peng-lai is an adventure story in itself. Here too is the first mention of Judge Dee's illustrious sword Rain Dragon. We also encounter Dee's future third wife Miss Tsao at the center of a mystery. The plot revolves around several crimes, reflecting the heavy workload of a regional magistrate. Judge Dee is an appealing character. It's a pleasure to watch him stroke his beard in reflection, knit his shaggy eyebrows in a deep frown, or relish a simple meal of noodles in a restaurant. It's amusing to see his surge of envy at the luxurious abundance of another man's beard. It's touching to observe his compassion for a rape victim. And it's thrilling to watch his dramatic flashes of insight into the solution of a crime. There's a fun scene at a performance of traveling actors, delightful escapades in a floating brothel with the two lustful lieutenants, and rousing fight scenes. This novel offers as much excitement and as many plot twists as a modern thriller, along with the authentic flavor of life in Imperial China. Robert Van Guilik was a distinguished linguist, historian and art connoisseur. He wrote the Judge Dee novels in English, not his native Dutch. And he wrote them rapidly in his spare time, while serving in demanding diplomatic posts in Asia and Europe. His genius is aptly conveyed by the excellent introduction in this University of Chicago edition.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN  | 0060728671 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #441,883 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #3,880 in Historical Mystery #5,329 in Police Procedurals (Books) #16,296 in Suspense Thrillers |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (193) |
| Dimensions  | 5.31 x 0.51 x 8 inches |
| Edition  | Reprint |
| ISBN-10  | 9780060728670 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0060728670 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Part of series  | Judge Dee Mystery |
| Print length  | 202 pages |
| Publication date  | August 3, 2004 |
| Publisher  | Harper Perennial |

## Images

![The Chinese Gold Murders: A Judge Dee Classic Mystery―Where Deduction Connects Murder, Terror, and Secrets in Ancient China (Judge Dee Mysteries) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81MImUYAzLL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Something a little different, But Familiar
*by A***Y on March 6, 2017*

In my student days, we were exhorted that lots of things were invented in China -- gunpowder, fireworks, pasta and several other foods, and paper money. However, having read this book I can add another element to the list: the detective novel. The author, a Dutch diplomat serving in China for most of his life, says in the afterword that he conflated a number of different detective novels dating to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to create his plot, but that the character of Judge Dee had already been known in the sources. The historic Judge Dee lived from AD 630-700, in the much earlier Tang Dynasty. For the modern, American reader, there are minor hurdles to get over because the setting is so unusual. For me the Chinese characters' names all seemed the same at first. And, of course, looked on as a mystery novel, we must get used to the fact that many of the investigative tools accessible to even Sherlock Holmes were unknown in the Tang Dynasty. On the other hand, although Judge Dee is only a municipal magistrate, a relatively minor official of the Chinese Empire, he has powers no modern detective can boast: in a comic element his underlings are continually suggesting he might want to torture witnesses to get confessions. He can summon extra manpower from any of the military garrisons located nearby. He can pronounce judgment on his own without calling for a jury. Also, no one is entirely sure there can't be ghosts and other supernatural happenings (this plays some havoc with the rules of evidence but of course our judge is a firm rationalist!) But, humans are humans the world over, and accordingly, a detective novel set in Tang Dynasty China has all the attributes that draw us to the genre in more familiar settings. At the beginning, 3 murders have been committed, including that of the Judge's predecessor as magistrate (we're pretty sure his death is part of a cover up for the others). Judge Dee and his faithful assistant, Sergeant Hoong, painstakingly investigate to find the culprits, and the story moves along briskly with clues showing up regularly enough to keep us guessing who did it. But, naturally, if we have motive and opportunity we have some idea who to suspect, and the evidence eventually leads them to the culprit. Our provincial seaport setting has restaurants, brothels, temples of both Confucius and Buddha, shipyards, and the like, brought to life in the author's description, although I did wonder a bit if the bustling little harbor described might have been anachronistically more like the Ming era than the Tang. Nonetheless, I felt this book was well worth my time, a quick, enjoyable read of something both different and familiar.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Judge Dee's first post is one nobody wants
*by P***O on August 13, 2013*

His friends beg him not to go to Peng-lai, a dismal place of mist and rain. The previous magistrate was murdered, and his ghost is said to walk in the tribunal. Who in his right mind would want to go there? But Dee is tired of studying criminal cases on paper. He's eager to untangle real-life puzzles and even face a bit of danger. He'll get his wish in Peng-lai. If you wish to follow Judge's Dee's brilliant career from its beginning, start with this novel, first published in 1959. Here he hires his two rough-and-ready lieutenants. How he meets them on the way to Peng-lai is an adventure story in itself. Here too is the first mention of Judge Dee's illustrious sword Rain Dragon. We also encounter Dee's future third wife Miss Tsao at the center of a mystery. The plot revolves around several crimes, reflecting the heavy workload of a regional magistrate. Judge Dee is an appealing character. It's a pleasure to watch him stroke his beard in reflection, knit his shaggy eyebrows in a deep frown, or relish a simple meal of noodles in a restaurant. It's amusing to see his surge of envy at the luxurious abundance of another man's beard. It's touching to observe his compassion for a rape victim. And it's thrilling to watch his dramatic flashes of insight into the solution of a crime. There's a fun scene at a performance of traveling actors, delightful escapades in a floating brothel with the two lustful lieutenants, and rousing fight scenes. This novel offers as much excitement and as many plot twists as a modern thriller, along with the authentic flavor of life in Imperial China. Robert Van Guilik was a distinguished linguist, historian and art connoisseur. He wrote the Judge Dee novels in English, not his native Dutch. And he wrote them rapidly in his spare time, while serving in demanding diplomatic posts in Asia and Europe. His genius is aptly conveyed by the excellent introduction in this University of Chicago edition.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Judge Dee on the Move
*by I***Y on July 17, 2014*

Judge Dee is among my favorite "classical" detectives. I know some reviewers have criticized van Gulik's presentation of Chinese justice as inaccurate, but if it's total accuracy one desires -- read a history book..

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*Last updated: 2026-01-23*