THE EMPEROR'S PEARL
By
Ever since the Chinese Bell Murders (to which this is chronologically nked) Judge Dee, a magistrate of old China, has been a favorite sleuth. Here, the very scrutable Judge, using common sense and a most uncommon skill at detection, uncovers the motivation behind some murders which had sacrificial overtones and through them finds a treasure trove missing from the Emperor's harem for over 100 years. An elegant predecessor to Charlie Chan moving with assurance through an older, even more mysterious Orient.