The Third Messiah

Rating:
Summary: Eastern mystery that give insight into culture of country
Review: Since the western invasion led by Colonel Sanders and his frying KFCs, the natural order of things in Beijing seems off kilter. To police detective Anzhuang Wang, the change in morals, not always good, turns personal when his sister-in-law Xianhua goes American, even adopting the name of Julie. However, to make matters worse for Wang, Julie vanishes after a shameless public brawl with some man just outside the western style bars.

Knowing his career as a cop may be in jeopardy due to his being related to Julie, plus his wife worrying about her, Wang begins searching for his missing relative. He soon connects her disappearance to the dangerous Church of the Heavenly Kingdom, but to Wang and her family's chagrin Julie seems to have voluntarily join the sect. A desperate Wang penetrates the deadly Christian cult in order to try to rescue Julie even though his life could be forfeited by doing this.

THE THIRD MESSIAH is an exciting modern day China police procedural that will excite sub-genre fans because Christopher West, ignoring his name, provides a deep look inside the country. The story line is fast-paced, Wang is a great character, and the support cast adds depth to the plot. Still this novel fully belongs to the Chinese people, customs, bureaucracy, and the western influence on tradition.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Eastern mystery that give insight into culture of country
Review: Since the western invasion led by Colonel Sanders and his frying KFCs, the natural order of things in Beijing seems off kilter. To police detective Anzhuang Wang, the change in morals, not always good, turns personal when his sister-in-law Xianhua goes American, even adopting the name of Julie. However, to make matters worse for Wang, Julie vanishes after a shameless public brawl with some man just outside the western style bars.

Knowing his career as a cop may be in jeopardy due to his being related to Julie, plus his wife worrying about her, Wang begins searching for his missing relative. He soon connects her disappearance to the dangerous Church of the Heavenly Kingdom, but to Wang and her family's chagrin Julie seems to have voluntarily join the sect. A desperate Wang penetrates the deadly Christian cult in order to try to rescue Julie even though his life could be forfeited by doing this.

THE THIRD MESSIAH is an exciting modern day China police procedural that will excite sub-genre fans because Christopher West, ignoring his name, provides a deep look inside the country. The story line is fast-paced, Wang is a great character, and the support cast adds depth to the plot. Still this novel fully belongs to the Chinese people, customs, bureaucracy, and the western influence on tradition.

Harriet Klausner