The Murder That Haunted the Last Days of Old China

Set in China during the Japanese occupation, a young woman is murder leaving her father alone and wanting answers. Attempts were made to solve the mystery but to no avail until as a last attempt her father digs further into the evidence.

The story was compelling and the detailed research by the author definitely set the atmosphere for this unsolved crime. I enjoyed this book very much for its historical background as much as the mystery.

No idea how anyone who has never lived in Beijing as an expatiate would view this story, but speaking from a 10+ year resident of the city, this is nothing short of required reading.

The combination of the brisk pacing of the story, the vivid depiction of the mishmash of oddballs that made up the international community at the time, and the historical notes on one of Beijing's most tumultuous times makes for a compelling read that was genuinely hard to put down.

Fascinating account of the investigation by Chinese and British police into the murder of a young British girl in China in the period just prior to WWII when Japan was flexing its muscle, and foreign delegations were attempting to remain neutral. Relates the decadence that existed within the expatriate community of the time.

If you enjoy reading about history as it impacted on individuals who lived through it, this is a wonderful read. Paul French made the personalities of the people involved so believable, even though built from his research, that it was easy to see how events could have unfolded. I read this just before a visit to Beijing and found myself trying to find all the locations mentioned when I was there. It was a hard to imagine that I was in the same city. A sad story but respectfully told.

I enjoyed this amazing story, and I think anyone who wants to learn about Chinese history would find it intriguing. The mystery woven through the story keeps the reader engaged. Characters are colorful and believable. And, this really happened.

The author paints a sordid picture of life in the pre-WWII Peking. Its a sad tale about depravity, murder, and the insensitivity of a corrupt and stressed government bureaucracy that fails Pamela and her father.

Not giving any secrets away on this one. Well written, tense, packed full of history, facts and mystery. Takes you to a time that was NOT exactly romantic, even though some people probably think it was!

Well written, thorough, engaging! French does a good job of reconstructing details and story of the death of a young lady and the ensuing criminal investigation in early 20th Century China. The story takes you to a different place and time. A good read!

Absolutely enthralling depicting the life style of foreigners in Peking/Tientsin
& solving the mystery behind the murder. An array of colourful characters emerge
adding spice. The book is espcially appealing to Old China Hands as a reminder
of days past. Many will recall familiar names & places. Kudos to author Paul French for his many years of research shedding light to such a grisly murder & his unique way to relating the facts.

Paul French writes, "Helen Foster Snow dressed smartly-high heels, long skirts, fur stoles. Her style was radical politics and chic couture." You can see more period photos of China, the political players surrounding Pamela Werner, including a shot of three young boys as members of Chiang Kai-shek's Blue Shirt Youth Corps, and Helen Snow herself in front of her house down the alley from the Werner's in BRIDGING: A PHOTO ESSAY ON THE LIFE OF HELEN FOSTER SNOW, available in paperback from Brigham Young University Book Store. Even more scary than the photos, the caption under a hand drawn map of her house in relation to the landmarks that French cites as well, "...map of the Snow's house near the Fox Tower, their residence from the fall of 1935 to November, 1937....a house haunted by werefoxes, lost and desperate students, and refugees from Manchuria."

this was good, fairly interesting but i found that i never really got pulled in to any character. in a great book there is some character who seems very compelling, in this one it seemed at first that the investigator was the main character, then all of a sudden he is out of the picture. then the father becomes the main character but he is not that interesting. overall, this is just ok.

Loved this book, couldn't put it down. I learned so much about the history and culture of urban China at that time, and the story of the girl and her father, among the other players, is most intriguing. Well written.

Historically interesting backdrop for this murder. Provides a long over due mouthpiece for the farther and victim in helping account for why and who committed the crime. Great research by the author.

This book was just amazing the amount of research that went into it us incredible. It is a fascinating and ultimately sad story of love, dedication and betrayal. I'm sure it will stay with me for a very long time.

Well worth the time to read.

This book not only tells a compelling story but presents Beijing as it was during the last days of Colonial strengths just months before the Japanese invasion. As a history it is dead on, as a mystery it is wonderful. I totally recommend this book.

Starts off really strange, one keeps waiting for the characters to begin to relate, but they never do and nor are they supposed to. This book is almost like reading a case-study with its curiously dispassionate observations and in doing so allows the reader to get completely absorbed in a story of hope despite the most hopeless loss of all.

A terrible crime receives a weak, tangled investigation, interfered with or ignored by higher authority, that produces no results. Without wishing to give spoilers, suffice it to say that the investigation continues -- on and on and on. There is no justice in the end. All this does not produce a good book. I am pleased the the author was affected by this true tale and the bad end visited on the victim and her father sufficiently to write this, but we do not learn very much from it. There are no insights or surprises here. The emotions this story weakly evokes are not worth the trip, IMHO.

I really enjoyed this tale of China before WW2 began with the Japanese ready to take over and the colonials in their last days. I like factual books and this is one that will keep you interested until the last page.