The Railway Conspiracy

Judge Dee and Lao She must use all their powers of deduction--and kung fu skills--to take down a sinister conspiracy between Imperial Russia, Japan, and China in a rollicking new mystery set in 1920s London. The follow-up to The Murder of Mr. Ma, this historical adventure-mystery is perfect for fans of Laurie R. King and the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes films. London, 1924. Following several months abroad, Judge Dee Ren Jie has returned to the city to foil a transaction between a Russian diplomat and a Japanese mercenary. Aided by Lao She--the Watson to his Holmes--along with several other colorful characters, Dee stops the illicit sale of an extremely valuable "dragon-taming" mace. The mace's owner is a Chinese businesswoman who thanks Dee for its retrieval by throwing a lavish dinner party. In attendance is British banking official A. G. Stephen, who argues with the group about the tenuous state of Chinese nationalism--and is poisoned two days later. Dee knows this cannot be a coincid