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Judge Dee (Chronological order) #8
小泻械谢械褌 锌芯写 泻邪屑斜邪薪邪褌邪
小褗写懈褟褌邪 袛懈 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 芯褌泻褉懈械 胁懈薪芯胁薪懈泻邪 蟹邪 懈蟹薪邪褋懈谢胁邪薪械 懈 褍斜懈泄褋褌胁芯 薪邪 屑谢邪写芯 屑芯屑懈褔械, 写邪 褉邪蟹褉械褕懈 蟹邪谐邪写泻邪褌邪 芯泻芯谢芯 胁褉邪卸写邪褌邪 屑械卸写褍 写胁邪 褉芯写邪 懈 写邪 褍褋褌邪薪芯胁懈 泻邪泻胁芯 褋械 胁褗褉褕懈 胁 械写懈薪 屑邪薪邪褋褌懈褉. 袦邪泻邪褉 褔械 褋械 褋斜谢褗褋泻胁邪 褋褗褋 褋懈谢薪懈 锌褉芯褌懈胁薪懈褑懈 懈 锌芯谢懈褌懈褔械褋泻懈 懈薪褌褉懈谐懈, 褌芯泄 褖械 褋械 褋锌褉邪胁懈 斜谢械褋褌褟褖芯.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
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814 people want to read
About the author
Robert van Gulik
157听books288听followersRobert Hans van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat best known for his Judge Dee stories. His first published book, The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, was a translation of an eighteenth-century Chinese murder mystery by an unknown author; he went on to write new mysteries for Judge Dee, a character based on a historical figure from the seventh century. He also wrote academic books, mostly on Chinese history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
February 20, 2023
All looks calm in the apparently little, peaceful, beautiful walled northern town of Poo-yang, by the Great Canal as the new magistrate Judge Dee his three wives, numerous children, four cunning lieutenants Hoong Liang, Ma Joong, Chiago Tai , Tao Gan and loyal servants arrive there. After the usual formal celebrations , meetings, a grand banquet held, seeing the leading citizens and taking over from his able predecessor Judge Feng, only one murder case active . Still that has been solved already, just the just decision, a death penalty punishment to be carried out ( cutting off his head). The Tang dynasty of China in the seventh century, demands lots of paperwork, ( the Chinese invented this useful material, in this ancient land hundreds of years before) everything in its proper procedural way, the Empire and Emperor demands it, Dee has many documents to read and write. The new magistrate spends the first night studying them, two big candles illuminating the crowded desk, in his private tribunal office, drinking many cups of hot tea, eating cake, hour after hour alone until past midnight. Nevertheless the careful judge feels somewhat uncomfortable, Wang Hsien-djoong an unwise student the imprisoned, suspected killer of his lover Pure Jade, the daughter of a poor butcher, on shabby Half Moon Street claims he's innocent, but they all say that ... A curious, vastly wealthy Buddhist Temple of Boundless Mercy has attractive many rumors, something doesn't seem proper, they the monks say that a statue of a goddess on the premise, will bring children to infertile married women visitors, the grateful couple sends an appropriate gift of value when a miracle occurs. The abbot Spiritual Virtue, tries to bribe the honest judge with six heavy bars of gold and silver when Dee begins investigating the nervous monks, his lieutenants feel uneasy. Another temple, this time a deserted Taoist religious structure with a demonic reputation, needs to be looked at thoroughly, Transcendental Wisdom. Some weird sounds at night are heard often, chilling screams, unnatural, inhuman voices, apparitions seen, ghostly, moving lights appearing ....the towns citizens are quite reasonably scared to enter the haunted building, even criminals. A rich merchant from Canton, Lin Fan, with a dubious background has been living in this provincial city for five years, why? An old woman gives the tired Judge Dee, aged manuscripts, written by her Mrs. Liang, of the brutal crimes committed by Lin but are they genuine... a blood feud between the Liang and Lin families, has continued for decades. The bright judge with the help of his friends, have much work to do cleaning up this "quiet city"... The never dull but always very interesting Judge Dee detective books, by Robert van Gulik a Dutch diplomat and scholar, has written a superb story, it is no surprise...
January 16, 2012
Excellent period mystery that draws on the Chinese detective story legacy and diplomat van Gulik's extensive scholarship. Reading this book was like stepping into a time machine and travelling back in time to imperial China, so well realised is van Gulik's portrayal of the era. Judge Dee, a magistrate, is given a new posting and proceeds to clean up the town. Cerebral and often downright inscrutable, he is aided by a cohort of close associates who range from a stalwart sergeant to a former con man and is not above a bit of roughhouse himself in a pinch. Imagine a less vain Hercule Poirot with Holmes' brawling skills and you have a good idea of the character of Dee. Each mystery is brought to a satisfactory conclusion and much time is spent exploring the seedier sides of like in 7th century China. I loved this book and look forward to reading more, although it's going to be a long quest as this whole series is out of print.
March 25, 2020
A sort of far east version of UK Sherlock Holmes, as allot to offer the reader, a well detailed detective theme novel, that takes place within a very interesting period in time, I was surprised how quickly I began to enjoy this book, I could tell after the 1st 20 pages that I had made the right choice to read it, really well written, detective Dee (China), Sherlock Holmes (UK), Inspector K (Korea) all roles into one, the outcome of the story is not disclosed until the end (usually half way through a book, the reader knows the direction in which a story will finish, but not this story). No editorial issues, excellent book cover, very good book. really liked it.
July 8, 2017
Yes, I missed these completely. All of these Judge Dee books written 70 years ago or more. But I won't refrain from reading any I can presently find.
This is Northern China in the 6th and 7th centuries and the Magistrate of the District is Judge Dee. The characterizations are spectacular and the nuance for the period and the context of the Chinese under the Confucian structures just phenomenal. THE DETAIL! And yet every personality differs and has dozens of surfaces to moment and placement.
Fairness! Justice! Fighting the foul, evil deeded and more than both of those- the corrupt payments toward fraud and slimy allegiance. Judge Dee with his trusted mentor/assistant and his three main "lieutenants". Very good and highly entertaining reads. Translated from the Dutch, and if you find them? Do enjoy!
Be warned. The punishments are quite apace to those of Renaissance Europe. Both creative and horrifically torturous.
This is Northern China in the 6th and 7th centuries and the Magistrate of the District is Judge Dee. The characterizations are spectacular and the nuance for the period and the context of the Chinese under the Confucian structures just phenomenal. THE DETAIL! And yet every personality differs and has dozens of surfaces to moment and placement.
Fairness! Justice! Fighting the foul, evil deeded and more than both of those- the corrupt payments toward fraud and slimy allegiance. Judge Dee with his trusted mentor/assistant and his three main "lieutenants". Very good and highly entertaining reads. Translated from the Dutch, and if you find them? Do enjoy!
Be warned. The punishments are quite apace to those of Renaissance Europe. Both creative and horrifically torturous.
April 11, 2022
The Chinese Bell Murders became the second of the Judge Dee series of novels that Van Gulik published, although in terms of the chronology of the series, it stands in eighth place. And it shows, for Bell Murders is quite different from the later Judge Dee books. It most resembles the original work, Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, which Van Gulik translated from the Chinese original. Like that novel, Bell Murders is a longer, more complex work. So too is its syntax, word usage, and level of overall language. To create a sense of historical distance, for example, Van Gulik eschews contractions for the most part. He also forgoes modern and contemporary idioms. The later Judge Dee books went away from this writing strategy. They were much shorter novels, with an almost hard-boiled air about them, with the language often lapsing into slang. To be frank, I enjoyed this older format more than the later ones. It created a better sense of time and place.
The story itself contains both enough mischief in it to surprise as well as shock when it leads into more gruesome aspects of criminality. Again, the pleasure in the novel is watching Dee operate and see the story, much of which the reader will anticipate before Dee does, play out so that it surprises him--even to the point of only having Dee put all the pieces together after he has executed the criminals. As such, there is always tension between the law and justice in Dee's world, which his emperor will even commend him for, because Dee figures out a way to come to terms with that tension.
The story itself contains both enough mischief in it to surprise as well as shock when it leads into more gruesome aspects of criminality. Again, the pleasure in the novel is watching Dee operate and see the story, much of which the reader will anticipate before Dee does, play out so that it surprises him--even to the point of only having Dee put all the pieces together after he has executed the criminals. As such, there is always tension between the law and justice in Dee's world, which his emperor will even commend him for, because Dee figures out a way to come to terms with that tension.
April 28, 2015
I loved van Gulik's elegant prose & the simple illustrations that were with this book. I found the construction of the book's plot a bit hard (there are actually 3 different crimes) but will be prepared for that if I read another book in this series.
One criticism is that it would be very hard for the reader to solve the crime.
One criticism is that it would be very hard for the reader to solve the crime.
August 27, 2021
Este libro une de forma plausible dos de mis grandes pasiones: la ley y el lejano Oriente, por eso, anticipo que mi buena calificaci贸n est谩 un poco sesgada por criterios subjetivos. Este era el tipo de lectura que estaba buscando, intima, divertida, ligera y con una dosis reflexiva. Ahora, que nadie se confunda creyendo que son historias tranquilas, por el contrario, el Juez Di, resuelve casos brutales, sangrientos y depravados; pero lo hace con abundante sabidur铆a, deducci贸n y genialidad. Seguro terminar茅 por leerme todo lo que encuentre de este autor relacionado con el Juez Di. Por 煤ltimo, recomiendo esta lectura a los que gusten del misterio, la detectivesca y lo que mencion茅 atr谩s.
August 11, 2019
I did no research before I got this book, absolutely none. I picked it off the shelf and thought it sounded so interesting that I was willing to risk wasting my money on a terrible book for the chance to read it. Who wouldn鈥檛 be intrigued by a book of traditional Chinese detective stories?
Then I read the introduction by Donald F. Lach. Mostly that introduction was about the author, Robert van Gulik. I wish I hadn鈥檛 learned so much about his other literary efforts. He chose to republish, for a select audience, ancient smut. And then my book flopped open to a very immodest picture. So I was starting to regret my hasty decision but warily forged ahead.
The stories, as it鈥檚 really three mysteries all tangled together, were really very well done. They all handled to some degree tales of rape, murder, pillage, fraud or treachery, but it was all handled so delicately that I really began to enjoy them as cozy mysteries. The setting was so very unlike anything I had read before that I didn鈥檛 mind the rather stock characters. It was a fun glimpse into ancient Chinese customs.
So after fixing the pictures and realizing that the stories would be relatively clean, I really enjoyed reading it.
I really appreciated the author鈥檚 postscript. He shares with us the traditional Chinese sources and practices that he used to build the characters and stories. That was most informative and explained some points of procedure that confused me throughout the story.
Then I read the introduction by Donald F. Lach. Mostly that introduction was about the author, Robert van Gulik. I wish I hadn鈥檛 learned so much about his other literary efforts. He chose to republish, for a select audience, ancient smut. And then my book flopped open to a very immodest picture. So I was starting to regret my hasty decision but warily forged ahead.
The stories, as it鈥檚 really three mysteries all tangled together, were really very well done. They all handled to some degree tales of rape, murder, pillage, fraud or treachery, but it was all handled so delicately that I really began to enjoy them as cozy mysteries. The setting was so very unlike anything I had read before that I didn鈥檛 mind the rather stock characters. It was a fun glimpse into ancient Chinese customs.
So after fixing the pictures and realizing that the stories would be relatively clean, I really enjoyed reading it.
I really appreciated the author鈥檚 postscript. He shares with us the traditional Chinese sources and practices that he used to build the characters and stories. That was most informative and explained some points of procedure that confused me throughout the story.
April 13, 2019
袠 褌褍泻 胁邪薪 啸褞谢懈泻 写褗褉卸懈 褔懈褌邪褌械谢褟 薪邪 褌褉褗薪懈 写芯 锌芯褋谢械写薪懈褟 屑芯屑械薪褌, 懈 谐芯 褉邪蟹胁械卸写邪 懈蟹 袣懈褌邪泄 芯褌 械锌芯褏邪褌邪 薪邪 孝邪薪.
袟邪 褉械谢懈谐懈褟褌邪 薪邪褍褔邪胁邪屑械 写芯褋褌邪 芯褌 锌芯写芯蟹褉懈褌械谢械薪 斜褍写懈褋褌泻懈 褏褉邪屑. 袧邪泄-褌褗屑薪懈褌械 泻褗褌褔械褌邪 薪邪 褔芯胁械褕泻邪褌邪 写褍褕邪 褋邪 芯褋胁械褌械薪懈 芯褌 写胁邪泄褋械褌谐芯写懈褕薪邪 胁褉邪卸写邪 薪邪 写胁械 胁谢懈褟褌械谢薪懈 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁邪 懈 械写薪芯 褋褌邪褉芯 褍斜懈泄褋褌胁芯.
小褗写懈褟褌邪 袛懈 懈 械薪械褉谐懈褔薪懈褌械 屑褍 懈 泻芯谢芯褉懈褌薪懈 锌芯屑芯褖薪懈褑懈 薪械 芯褋褌邪胁褟褌 薪懈褌芯 械写薪邪 蟹邪谐邪写泻邪 薪械褉邪蟹泻褉懈褌邪 懈 薪械 锌褉懈械屑邪褌 薪懈褖芯 蟹邪 褔懈褋褌邪 屑芯薪械褌邪.
袟邪 褉械谢懈谐懈褟褌邪 薪邪褍褔邪胁邪屑械 写芯褋褌邪 芯褌 锌芯写芯蟹褉懈褌械谢械薪 斜褍写懈褋褌泻懈 褏褉邪屑. 袧邪泄-褌褗屑薪懈褌械 泻褗褌褔械褌邪 薪邪 褔芯胁械褕泻邪褌邪 写褍褕邪 褋邪 芯褋胁械褌械薪懈 芯褌 写胁邪泄褋械褌谐芯写懈褕薪邪 胁褉邪卸写邪 薪邪 写胁械 胁谢懈褟褌械谢薪懈 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁邪 懈 械写薪芯 褋褌邪褉芯 褍斜懈泄褋褌胁芯.
小褗写懈褟褌邪 袛懈 懈 械薪械褉谐懈褔薪懈褌械 屑褍 懈 泻芯谢芯褉懈褌薪懈 锌芯屑芯褖薪懈褑懈 薪械 芯褋褌邪胁褟褌 薪懈褌芯 械写薪邪 蟹邪谐邪写泻邪 薪械褉邪蟹泻褉懈褌邪 懈 薪械 锌褉懈械屑邪褌 薪懈褖芯 蟹邪 褔懈褋褌邪 屑芯薪械褌邪.
June 1, 2019
3,75 stars
I quite enjoyed reading about these various mysteries but I think the one about a feud between two families took too much space and got repetitive.
I quite enjoyed reading about these various mysteries but I think the one about a feud between two families took too much space and got repetitive.
April 7, 2022
螒纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓慰 渭慰蠀,未喂伪蠂蟻慰谓喂魏维,位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏蠈 蔚委未慰蟼 畏 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏萎 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪. 螛蔚蠅蟻蠋 -渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蔚委渭伪喂 蟽蠅蟽蟿萎,渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 魏伪委 位维胃慰蟼- 蟺蠅蟼 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委伪 蟺伪委蟻谓慰蠀渭蔚 渭委伪 纬蔚蟻萎 纬蔚蠉蟽畏 纬蠉蟻蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 纬委纬谓蔚蟽胃伪喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿喂蟼 魏慰喂谓蠅谓委蔚蟼. 螤慰位位苇蟼 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 蟽魏苇蠁蟿慰渭伪喂 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪蟼 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰蟼 纬喂伪 谓伪 伪谓蟿喂位畏蠁胃慰蠉渭蔚 蟿慰 蟺蠅蟼 蟽蠀渭蟺蔚蟻喂蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿伪喂 慰喂 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂,蟿慰 蟺蠅蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 蔚蟺畏蟻蔚维味蔚喂 蟿喂蟼 未喂伪蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏苇蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蠂苇蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪委 蟿慰谓 伪谓蟿委魏蟿蠀蟺慰 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蔚喂 蔚谓蟿苇位蔚喂 蟽蟿慰 蟽蠉谓慰位慰. 螆蠂慰谓蟿伪蟼 未喂伪尾维蟽蔚喂 4 苇蟻纬伪 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 巍蠈渭蟺蔚蟻 尾伪谓 螕魏慰蠉位喂魏,渭蔚 尾伪蟽喂魏蠈 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎 蟿慰谓 螖喂魏伪蟽蟿萎 韦喂,魏伪委 渭蔚委谓蔚喂 魏伪胃'蠈位伪 喂魏伪谓慰蟺慰喂畏渭苇谓畏 伪蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿维,伪谓蟿喂位伪渭尾维谓蔚蟽蟿蔚 渭蔚 蟺蠈蟽畏 蠂伪蟻维 魏伪委 伪未畏渭慰谓委伪 蟺蔚蟻委渭蔚谓伪 蟿畏谓 苇魏未慰蟽畏 魏伪委 蟿慰蠀 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 尾伪蟽喂味蠈蟿伪谓 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂蟺苇蟿蔚喂蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓慰蠀 渭慰蠀 萎蟻蠅伪. 危蔚喂蟻维,位慰喂蟺蠈谓,蟽萎渭蔚蟻伪 蔚委蠂蔚 蟿慰 谓苇慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 渭蔚 蟿委蟿位慰 ''韦慰 伪委谓喂纬渭伪 蟿畏蟼 魏喂谓苇味喂魏畏蟼 魏伪渭蟺维谓伪蟼" 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 蟺慰位蠉 魏伪喂蟻蠈 蟺慰蠀 魏蠀魏位慰蠁蠈蟻畏蟽蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蔚魏未蠈蟽蔚喂蟼 螠委谓蠅伪蟼.
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 ''韦慰 伪委谓喂纬渭伪 蟿畏蟼 魏喂谓苇味喂魏畏蟼 魏伪渭蟺维谓伪蟼" 蟺蟻蠅蟿慰未畏渭慰蟽喂蔚蠉蟿畏魏蔚 蟿慰 1958 魏伪委 蟺伪蟻维 蟿慰 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼 蟺蠅蟼 渭伪蟼 蠂蠅蟻委味慰蠀谓 伪蟻魏蔚蟿维 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿蠈蟿蔚,魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 魏伪委 蟺伪蟻伪渭苇谓蔚喂 蔚蠀魏慰位慰未喂维尾伪蟽蟿慰,蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓 魏伪委 蟽蠉纬蠂蟻慰谓慰. 螣 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蔚蟺喂位苇纬蔚喂 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 谓伪 渭喂位萎蟽蔚喂 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 蠁慰蟻维 纬喂伪 蟿慰 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏蠈 蟺蟻蠈蟽蠅蟺慰,螖喂魏伪蟽蟿萎 韦喂 魏伪委 蟿喂蟼 蠀蟺慰胃苇蟽蔚喂蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 蔚委蠂伪谓 伪谓伪蟿蔚胃蔚委 蟺蟻慰蟼 未喂伪位蔚蠉魏伪谓蟽畏. 危蠀纬魏蔚谓蟿蟻蠋谓蔚喂,位慰喂蟺蠈谓,蟿喂蟼 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻喂蟽蟿苇蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委蔚蟼 魏伪委 蟿喂蟼 蔚谓蠋谓蔚喂 渭蔚 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠈 魏伪委 慰渭伪位蠈 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 魏维蟿蠅 伪蟺蠈 苇谓伪 魏慰喂谓蠈 蟺位伪委蟽喂慰 渭蔚 蟽蠀谓未蔚蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 魏蟻委魏慰蠀蟼 蟿慰谓 螖喂魏伪蟽蟿萎 韦喂,渭伪 魏伪委 蟿伪 萎胃畏,苇胃喂渭伪 魏伪委 蟺蔚蟺慰喂胃萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚蟺喂魏蟻伪蟿慰蠉蟽伪谓 蔚魏蔚委谓畏 蟿畏谓 蔚蟺慰蠂萎 蟽蠀谓维渭伪 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蟻蠈位慰 蟺慰蠀 未喂谓蠈蟿伪谓 魏伪委 苇蟺蟻蔚蟺蔚 谓伪 蔚蟺喂蟿蔚位慰蠉谓 慰喂 伪蟻渭蠈未喂慰喂 纬喂伪 谓伪 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 渭委伪 喂蟽慰蟻蟻慰蟺委伪 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟺慰位蔚委蟼 蟿畏蟼 魏喂谓蔚味喂魏萎蟼 伪蠀蟿慰魏蟻伪蟿慰蟻委伪蟼.
"螤慰蠀-螕喂伪谓纬魏, 668 渭.围. 螌蟿伪谓 慰 螖喂魏伪蟽蟿萎蟼 韦喂 蠁蟿维谓蔚喂 蟽蟿慰 螤慰蠀-螕喂伪谓纬魏, 渭喂伪 伪魏渭维味慰蠀蟽伪 蟺蠈位畏 蟽蟿畏谓 魏伪蟻未喂维 蟿畏蟼 魏喂谓蔚味喂魏萎蟼 螒蠀蟿慰魏蟻伪蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 螖蠀谓伪蟽蟿蔚委伪蟼 蟿蠅谓 韦伪谓纬魏, 纬喂伪 谓伪 伪谓伪位维尾蔚喂 蟿伪 魏伪胃萎魏慰谓蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻喂蠁蔚蟻蔚喂伪魏慰蠉 蔚蟺喂蟿蟻蠈蟺慰蠀, 慰喂 蟺慰位委蟿蔚蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂渭苇谓慰蠀谓 纬蔚渭维蟿慰喂 伪纬蠅谓委伪 谓伪 蟿慰谓 未慰蠀谓 谓伪 魏位蔚委谓蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蠀蟺蠈胃蔚蟽畏 尾喂伪蟽渭慰蠉 魏伪喂 未慰位慰蠁慰谓委伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 魏蠈蟻畏蟼 蟿慰蠀 魏蟻蔚慰蟺蠋位畏 渭蔚 蟿慰 蠈谓慰渭伪 螒蟿蠈蠁喂慰蟼 螡蔚蠁蟻委蟿畏蟼. 螘谓蟿蠅渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉, 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺蠈位畏 魏蠀魏位慰蠁慰蟻慰蠉谓 蟺伪蟻维尉蔚谓蔚蟼 蠁萎渭蔚蟼 蠈蟿喂 慰 蟺位慰蠉蟿慰蟼 蟿蠅谓 尾慰蠀未喂蟽蟿蠋谓 渭慰谓伪蠂蠋谓 蟿慰蠀 谓伪慰蠉 蟿慰蠀 螒蟺苇蟻伪谓蟿慰蠀 螘位苇慰蠀蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺慰蟿苇位蔚蟽渭伪 魏维蟺慰喂伪蟼 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎蟼 渭畏蠂伪谓慰蟻蟻伪蠁委伪蟼. 螘蟺委蟽畏蟼, 慰 未喂魏伪蟽蟿萎蟼 魏伪位蔚委蟿伪喂 谓伪 蔚蟺喂位蠉蟽蔚喂 渭喂伪 蟺伪位喂维 慰喂魏慰纬蔚谓蔚喂伪魏萎 苇蟻喂未伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蟿喂纬渭伪蟿委味蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 伪未委蟽蟿伪魏蟿伪 蔚纬魏位萎渭伪蟿伪. 韦伪 蟿蟻委伪 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂伪 蟺蔚蟻喂蟺位苇魏慰谓蟿伪喂 蟿蠈蟽慰, 蟺慰蠀 未蔚委蠂谓慰蠀谓 伪谓蔚蟺委位蠀蟿伪. 螠蔚 蟿畏 尾慰萎颅胃蔚喂伪 蠈渭蠅蟼 蟿蠅谓 蟺喂蟽蟿蠋谓 尾慰畏胃蠋谓 蟿慰蠀, 魏伪喂 蠂维蟻畏 蟽蟿慰谓 未伪喂渭蠈谓喂慰 谓慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 伪蟺委蟽蟿蔚蠀蟿蔚蟼 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿苇蟼 蟿慰蠀, 慰 谓蟿蔚蟿苇魏蟿喂尾 胃伪 尾蟻蔚喂 蟿畏谓 维魏蟻畏 蟿慰蠀 谓萎渭伪蟿慰蟼." (螤蔚蟻委位畏蠄畏 慰蟺喂蟽胃慰蠁蠉位位慰蠀)
韦委 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚 魏维谓蔚喂 谓伪 蟺蟻慰蟿喂渭蠋 蟿伪 尾喂尾位委伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚谓 位蠈纬蠅 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪; 螒蟻蠂喂魏维,蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈 蟻蠈位慰 蟺伪委味蔚喂 慰 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰蟼 纬蟻伪蠁萎蟼 蟿慰蠀. 螁位位慰蟿蔚 蟺喂慰 纬位伪蠁蠀蟻蠈蟼 魏喂 维位位慰蟿蔚 蟺喂慰 未蠅蟻喂魏蠈蟼 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 魏伪委 喂谓蟿蟻喂纬魏维蟻蔚喂 蟿畏 蟽魏苇蠄畏 渭慰蠀. 螠蔚 蔚蠀蠁蠀蔚委蟼 蔚位喂纬渭慰蠉蟼 渭伪蟼 伪谓伪蟿蟻苇蟺蔚喂 蟿伪 蠈蟽伪 胃蔚蠅蟻慰蠉渭蔚 蠅蟼 未蔚未慰渭苇谓伪 蟺蟻慰蟽魏慰渭委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 谓苇伪 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委伪 魏伪委 未委谓慰谓蟿伪蟼 渭委伪 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏萎 蔚魏未慰蠂萎 蟿蠅谓 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿蠅谓 渭蔚 伪蟺慰蟿苇位蔚蟽渭伪 蟿慰 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂慰 谓伪 魏蟻伪蟿蔚委 魏伪位维 魏伪委 谓伪 渭畏谓 尉苇蟻慰蠀渭蔚 蟿慰 蟿喂 渭伪蟼 蔚蟺喂蠁蠀位维蟽蟽蔚喂 畏 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓畏 蟽蔚位委未伪. 螆蟺蔚喂蟿伪,蟿伪 尾蟻委蟽魏蠅 蠅蟼 渭委伪 魏伪位萎 蟺畏纬萎 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 尉蔚蠂蠉谓慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏苇蟼 纬谓蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪委 蟺位畏蟻慰蠁慰蟻委蔚蟼 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟿喂 蟽蠀谓苇尾伪喂谓蔚 蔚魏蔚委谓伪 蟿伪 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟺蠈位蔚喂蟼 蟿畏蟼 伪蟻蠂伪委伪蟼 螝委谓伪蟼 魏伪委 蟿慰 蟺蠅蟼 位蔚喂蟿慰蠀蟻纬慰蠉蟽蔚 蟿慰 未喂魏伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈 蟽蠉蟽蟿畏渭伪. 螤伪蟻维位位畏位伪,未委谓蔚蟿伪喂 渭委伪 魏伪位萎 伪蠁慰蟻渭萎 纬喂伪 谓伪 纬谓蠅蟻委蟽慰蠀渭蔚 蟿畏谓 魏喂谓苇味喂魏畏 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏萎 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪. 韦苇位慰蟼,蟺维谓蟿伪 伪蟺慰位伪渭尾维谓蠅 蟿喂蟼 蔚喂魏蠈谓蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚蟽蠅魏位蔚委慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀,慰喂 慰蟺慰委蔚蟼 尾伪蟽委味慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 魏喂谓蔚味喂魏萎 蟿蔚蠂谓慰蟿蟻慰蟺委伪 魏伪委 蟽蠂蔚未喂维味慰谓蟿伪喂 蔚尉 慰位慰魏位萎蟻慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 委未喂慰 蟿慰谓 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿伪蟼 味蠅谓蟿维谓喂伪 魏伪委 蟺伪蟻伪蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟽蟿慰 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰.
螝位蔚委谓慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 魏伪委 蟿畏谓 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻维 渭慰蠀 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈,苇蠂蠅 谓伪 蟺蠅 蟺蠅蟼 纬喂伪 伪魏蠈渭畏 渭委伪 蠁慰蟻维 蟿慰 伪蟺萎位伪蠀蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪蟻蠂萎 苇蠅蟼 魏伪委 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼. 螡伪喂,蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪蟼 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻慰蟼 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟽蟿喂魏蠈蟼 蔚胃喂蟽渭蠈蟼 -纬喂伪 渭苇谓伪 蟿慰蠀位维蠂喂蟽蟿慰谓- 蟿伪 尾喂尾位委伪 渭蔚 蟿喂蟼 蠀蟺慰胃苇蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 螖喂魏伪蟽蟿萎 韦喂. 螆谓伪 蔚蟺喂蟺位苇慰谓 蠀蟺苇蟻 蟿蠅谓 尾喂尾位委蠅谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蠅蟼 未喂伪尾维味慰谓蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蠈蟺慰喂伪 蟽蔚喂蟻维 蔚蟺喂胃蠀渭蔚委蟿蔚 魏伪委 伪蠀蟿蠈谓慰渭伪 蟿慰 魏伪胃苇谓伪. 螕喂伪蟿委,位慰喂蟺蠈谓,谓伪 渭畏谓 蟿伪 伪谓伪味畏蟿萎蟽蔚蟿蔚 魏喂 蔚蟽蔚委蟼;
螝伪位维 蟽伪蟼 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽渭伪蟿伪!
December 14, 2023
I liked this part of judge Di's adventures slightly less due to the way it was written. The cases themselves were interesting, however, at the beginning of the book the judge concluded that he resolved everything and I thought I must have missed something on the way. It turned out he explained that later. The cases were quite complex and there were three of them so I don't know how he could solve them at the beginning. However, later we learn the details during the further examination of the cases and that made more sense.
February 24, 2013
Admirers of 's always delightful Judge Dee mysteries have another treat in store with The Chinese Bell Murders. In this novel, Judge Dee is newly arrived in the city of Poo-Yang, and he begins by re-investigating a case that his predecessor, Judge Feng, could not complete since Feng had had to leave when he was reassigned to a new posting. In that case, an impoverished literary candidate named Wang was on the verge of being executed for the rape and murder of a butcher's daughter; however, Judge Dee cleverly and immediately realizes that the real culprit was someone else!
As in all Judge Dee novels, there are two more mysteries for Judge Dee to solve before the reader happily comes to the end: the case of a decades-long feud between two families who hail from Canton and some nefarious goings-on at a Buddhist temple. At the Temple of Boundless Mercy, barren women who spend the night, as often as not, later conceive. While the temple's abbot, who goes by the name of Spiritual Virtue, gives credit to the goddess Kwan Yin, Judge Dee suspects otherwise. Although in most Judge Dee novels the three mysteries are intertwined, in The Chinese Bell Murders, the mysteries stand alone and are solved consecutively.
In solving all three crimes, Judge Dee is ably assisted by his loyal and enterprising staff: a longtime family servant turned sergeant, Hoong; two former highwaymen, Ma Joong and Chiao Tai (whom Judge Dee first met in ) and the former conman, Tao Gan (who joined Judge Dee in ). What a pleasure to meet up with Judge Dee and his lieutenants again! While The Chinese Bell Murders was the third book that van Gulik wrote, the novel ranks eighth chronologically. None of that matters, however, as -- unlike with some mystery series, which must be read in order so as to make sense -- readers will enjoy Judge Dee novels in whatever order they read them.
Unlike most Judge Dee mysteries, The Chinese Bell Murders begins with an odd supernatural set-up. Readers new to Judge Dee should not let that put them off. The mysteries aren't the least bit twee, and all of the novels provide an illuminating glimpse into the 7th century China.
Judge Dee is based on a real-life Chinese magistrate during the T'ang Dynasty named Ti Jen-chieh, a name van Gulik simplified to Judge Dee Jen-djieh. Van Gulik first introduced Judge Dee to the West in , first published in 1949 (although not translated into English until 1976). As in the other novels, for the three cases in The Chinese Bell Murders, van Gulik took his inspiration from original ancient Chinese cases and 18th century Chinese detective stories, although van Gulik changes the case enough, removing much of the coincidence and supernatural elements so that he makes the stories his own.
As in all Judge Dee novels, there are two more mysteries for Judge Dee to solve before the reader happily comes to the end: the case of a decades-long feud between two families who hail from Canton and some nefarious goings-on at a Buddhist temple. At the Temple of Boundless Mercy, barren women who spend the night, as often as not, later conceive. While the temple's abbot, who goes by the name of Spiritual Virtue, gives credit to the goddess Kwan Yin, Judge Dee suspects otherwise. Although in most Judge Dee novels the three mysteries are intertwined, in The Chinese Bell Murders, the mysteries stand alone and are solved consecutively.
In solving all three crimes, Judge Dee is ably assisted by his loyal and enterprising staff: a longtime family servant turned sergeant, Hoong; two former highwaymen, Ma Joong and Chiao Tai (whom Judge Dee first met in ) and the former conman, Tao Gan (who joined Judge Dee in ). What a pleasure to meet up with Judge Dee and his lieutenants again! While The Chinese Bell Murders was the third book that van Gulik wrote, the novel ranks eighth chronologically. None of that matters, however, as -- unlike with some mystery series, which must be read in order so as to make sense -- readers will enjoy Judge Dee novels in whatever order they read them.
Unlike most Judge Dee mysteries, The Chinese Bell Murders begins with an odd supernatural set-up. Readers new to Judge Dee should not let that put them off. The mysteries aren't the least bit twee, and all of the novels provide an illuminating glimpse into the 7th century China.
Judge Dee is based on a real-life Chinese magistrate during the T'ang Dynasty named Ti Jen-chieh, a name van Gulik simplified to Judge Dee Jen-djieh. Van Gulik first introduced Judge Dee to the West in , first published in 1949 (although not translated into English until 1976). As in the other novels, for the three cases in The Chinese Bell Murders, van Gulik took his inspiration from original ancient Chinese cases and 18th century Chinese detective stories, although van Gulik changes the case enough, removing much of the coincidence and supernatural elements so that he makes the stories his own.
May 30, 2021
Outstanding and erudite entertainment, as expected from the Judge Dee series.
February 12, 2008
Second in a series featuring the Tang Magistrate Judge Dee, based on a real magistrate during that dynasty. Dee has a series of retainers who assist him in his work. It is the case throughout the series that when Dee comes to a new town, mysteries present themselves for him and his friends to solve. Generally there are several mysteries that seem to be linked together somehow, and I take the utmost in pleasure to watch the crimes unravel.
In his first case, Judge Dee finds himself in the Poo-yang district. Thinking himself lucky because there seems to be very little crime in this area, he is somewhat taken aback when he and his retainers have to deal with a rape/murder as well as several crimes all linked back to a feud between two of the district''s merchant families. But wait! There's more: it seems that there is some concern about certain Buddhist monks who are trying to swindle women who cannot get pregnant. If they give money to the temple, the women will supposedly conceive.
No strand of the story is left undone; Dee's detection skills, along with the help of his group of friends, ensures that there will be no crime left unsolved whenever the magistrate comes into a new area.
Highly recommended; do start with book 1 (the Haunted Maze) before you read the rest of the series.
In his first case, Judge Dee finds himself in the Poo-yang district. Thinking himself lucky because there seems to be very little crime in this area, he is somewhat taken aback when he and his retainers have to deal with a rape/murder as well as several crimes all linked back to a feud between two of the district''s merchant families. But wait! There's more: it seems that there is some concern about certain Buddhist monks who are trying to swindle women who cannot get pregnant. If they give money to the temple, the women will supposedly conceive.
No strand of the story is left undone; Dee's detection skills, along with the help of his group of friends, ensures that there will be no crime left unsolved whenever the magistrate comes into a new area.
Highly recommended; do start with book 1 (the Haunted Maze) before you read the rest of the series.
February 4, 2022
And I have now finished my once every decade re-read of the Judge Dee mysteries. Oh I know that individually none of them are exactly 5 star worthy but still I love them as much always. This one was the very first one that I read. It was recommended to me by the best college teacher I ever had (who wasn't teaching me something related to my music major, that is). She could see that I was enthusiastic about what I was learning in her class, Chinese History, and thought I might enjoy it. I devoured it in a day and was off tracking down all the other books in the series. I think I bragged to her before the end of the semester that I had read them all. The only mystery series that I had read before this was John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee novels. But van Gulik's entertaining yet still scholarly portrait of 7th century China was more interesting to me than the beaches of 60s Florida, geek that I am. And though I later for a decade or so became a true mystery genre fan, reading vast numbers of books by Elmore Leonard, Jim Thompson, Donald Westlake, Carl Hiaasen, and many more creators of cool cat crime solvers, I still think that Judge Dee and his faithful assistants are the way coolest of them all.
February 1, 2014
Oh, this book was great fun. I am unfamiliar with the history of Chinese detective novels (Actually, I was completely unaware China had a history of detective stories at all - Though come to think of it, why not? Every society has crime, and sometimes there are mysteries that need solving.)
I liked that there were 3 crimes solved in the book and that the timelines kind of overlapped. It felt much more realistic. In the real world, crimes don't happen one at a time, waiting for a magistrate to solve one before the next one occurs. I also really enjoyed Judge Dee's entourage - a little unsavory, but their motives are good.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes police procedurals, but is feeling a little bored with novels about contemporary police detectives. It's a nice change of pace.
I liked that there were 3 crimes solved in the book and that the timelines kind of overlapped. It felt much more realistic. In the real world, crimes don't happen one at a time, waiting for a magistrate to solve one before the next one occurs. I also really enjoyed Judge Dee's entourage - a little unsavory, but their motives are good.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes police procedurals, but is feeling a little bored with novels about contemporary police detectives. It's a nice change of pace.
October 20, 2018
This is one of at least 4 books about Judge Dee, a magistrate in ancient China who moonlights as a detective when cases brought to him in the tribunal, or court, puzzle him and he can鈥檛 rule in good conscience. The great distance in time and place make for interesting reading in this century.
There was a real Judge Dee, Judge Dee-Jen Dijeh, who lived from 630 鈥� 700 AD. He was a Confucian scholar whose wisdom was widely known. His cleverly solved cases and appropriate judgments became stories that entered Chinese folklore. A Dutch diplomat to the Orient, Robert Van Gulick, was so taken with the Judge Dee folklore that he researched the actual cases of the Judge. His 1950鈥檚 books are the result of his translations and although they are labeled 鈥渇iction,鈥� they are based on Van Gulick's research.
In this volume, Judge Dee looks into 3 cases. As the overall theme is social justice in Imperial China, the victims or criminals are from the poor classes as well as the wealthy. Using investigative techniques of the time, he employs help from members of the Beggar鈥檚 Guild, some dancing girls, and upstanding citizens. He trusts his mostly reformed 鈥渓ieutenants鈥� Ma Joong and Tao Gan. Dee applies Confucian wisdom when working out a problem. Dee, who had no patience with Buddhism or Taoism, exposed mysterious clerics who were schemers, and libidinous monks who guaranteed a pregnancy to wives who stayed overnight at their temple.
Judge Dee is a great hero for his time. He lived in Poo Yang with 3 wives and was a faithful husband. In solving his legal mysteries, he is clever, brave, and circumspect. Although he believed that justice outweighs human life, he was compassionate. The reader will admire him, and the author, and the amazing culture of ancient China, which was 鈥渃ivilized鈥� so long before Europe.
I recommend it! I've read it twice.
There was a real Judge Dee, Judge Dee-Jen Dijeh, who lived from 630 鈥� 700 AD. He was a Confucian scholar whose wisdom was widely known. His cleverly solved cases and appropriate judgments became stories that entered Chinese folklore. A Dutch diplomat to the Orient, Robert Van Gulick, was so taken with the Judge Dee folklore that he researched the actual cases of the Judge. His 1950鈥檚 books are the result of his translations and although they are labeled 鈥渇iction,鈥� they are based on Van Gulick's research.
In this volume, Judge Dee looks into 3 cases. As the overall theme is social justice in Imperial China, the victims or criminals are from the poor classes as well as the wealthy. Using investigative techniques of the time, he employs help from members of the Beggar鈥檚 Guild, some dancing girls, and upstanding citizens. He trusts his mostly reformed 鈥渓ieutenants鈥� Ma Joong and Tao Gan. Dee applies Confucian wisdom when working out a problem. Dee, who had no patience with Buddhism or Taoism, exposed mysterious clerics who were schemers, and libidinous monks who guaranteed a pregnancy to wives who stayed overnight at their temple.
Judge Dee is a great hero for his time. He lived in Poo Yang with 3 wives and was a faithful husband. In solving his legal mysteries, he is clever, brave, and circumspect. Although he believed that justice outweighs human life, he was compassionate. The reader will admire him, and the author, and the amazing culture of ancient China, which was 鈥渃ivilized鈥� so long before Europe.
I recommend it! I've read it twice.
January 10, 2019
Vaatamata m玫rvadele ja muudele v盲givallategudele, mida kohtunik Dee kogu aeg lahendama peab, on tema vana-Hiina tegelikult 眉sna 玫dus paik. Selline, kus vitsutatakse t盲idetud krabisid, r眉眉batakse veini ja teed ja minnakse koju oma kolme naise juurde harmoonilist pere-elu elama. Seet玫ttu olid selle osa metsikused, karm v盲givald ja elust suurem k盲ttemaks rohkem nagu kodumaise Hargla Melchiori-sarja m玫nest osast maha viksitud (muidugi on Melchior detektiivina palju hilisem tegelane ja autor Hargla polnud sel ajal kui van Gulik selle seikluse paberile pani veel s眉ndinudki). L玫puosa pikad 眉ksikasjalikud kurjategijate hukkamisprotsessi kirjeldused annavad niigi s眉ngele atmosf盲盲rile veel m玫juva punkti.
Muidu on nagu ikka, kolm m玫istatust, mis selles osas olidki kolm eraldi m玫istatust, saladused ei p玫imunudki omavahel. Mahaj盲etud kloostrid, salakaubavedu, avalikud ja salajased v盲gistamised ja muidugi see elust suurem tagakiusamine ja hilisem k盲ttemaks. Seda et kella alt luukere leiti on muidugi juba pealkaanelt n盲ha, mu meelest oleks v玫inud m玫ne teise illustratsiooni pealkaaneks valida, see luukere leidmine oli siiski v盲ikese eelpu盲ndina ja ootamatusena m玫eldud.
脺ks kohtunik Dee sarja parimaid aga ka s眉ngemaid osi.
Muidu on nagu ikka, kolm m玫istatust, mis selles osas olidki kolm eraldi m玫istatust, saladused ei p玫imunudki omavahel. Mahaj盲etud kloostrid, salakaubavedu, avalikud ja salajased v盲gistamised ja muidugi see elust suurem tagakiusamine ja hilisem k盲ttemaks. Seda et kella alt luukere leiti on muidugi juba pealkaanelt n盲ha, mu meelest oleks v玫inud m玫ne teise illustratsiooni pealkaaneks valida, see luukere leidmine oli siiski v盲ikese eelpu盲ndina ja ootamatusena m玫eldud.
脺ks kohtunik Dee sarja parimaid aga ka s眉ngemaid osi.
April 15, 2021
Une belle r茅ussite d'analyse litt茅raire, tout autant pour son intrigue que pour son 茅sprit de l'茅poque. Van Gulik s'est inspir茅 des 3 romans, ou, plut么t nouvelles classiques sur le crime et le chatiment, exp茅di茅 par des magistrats c茅l猫bres, autres que Ti Jieng-tie, et datant des p茅riodes diff茅rentes, qui exposent n茅anmoins de mani猫re fid猫le la fa莽on de proc茅der dans les enqu锚tes criminelles dans la Chine Classique.
-1 茅toile 脿 cause de l'usage du musclesman ex machina trop fr茅quent sur une certaine partie de l'intrigue.
-1 茅toile 脿 cause de l'usage du musclesman ex machina trop fr茅quent sur une certaine partie de l'intrigue.
November 26, 2018
Back in the 1980s, my mother read all Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee books and loved them. I knew that, sooner or later, I would have to read at least one of them myself. Much, much later, I have finally done so, and I can see why Mom enjoyed them so much.
Three of Judge Dee's cases are covered in The Chinese Bell Murders: "Rape Murder in Half Moon Street," "The Secret Door of the Buddhist Temple," and "The Case of the Skeleton Under the Bell."
Judge Dee is often called the Sherlock Holmes of ancient China, and it's easy to see why. These cases are all about their ingenious mysteries, all about solving the puzzles. Judge Dee thinks nothing of donning disguises to get at the truth, and he is scrupulous at upholding the law, although not all of his able assistants are. I also appreciated the glimpse into the life and culture of 7th-century China.
This is a series that I feel I can come back to once in a while when I'm in the mood for a "Just the facts, ma'am" mystery. Even though I am a bone-deep character-driven reader, there is something to be said for occasionally solving a concise puzzle or two.
Three of Judge Dee's cases are covered in The Chinese Bell Murders: "Rape Murder in Half Moon Street," "The Secret Door of the Buddhist Temple," and "The Case of the Skeleton Under the Bell."
Judge Dee is often called the Sherlock Holmes of ancient China, and it's easy to see why. These cases are all about their ingenious mysteries, all about solving the puzzles. Judge Dee thinks nothing of donning disguises to get at the truth, and he is scrupulous at upholding the law, although not all of his able assistants are. I also appreciated the glimpse into the life and culture of 7th-century China.
This is a series that I feel I can come back to once in a while when I'm in the mood for a "Just the facts, ma'am" mystery. Even though I am a bone-deep character-driven reader, there is something to be said for occasionally solving a concise puzzle or two.
April 28, 2025
Magistrate Judge Dee was playing chess in this one. Punishment in these times were absolutely nuts. Shoutout to Nanette for this rec
November 8, 2023
Bien qu鈥檌nt茅ressant, l鈥檌ntrigue est assez plate et les personnages principaux assez d茅testables.
March 3, 2020
膼峄峜 m岷 v峄� 谩n trong cu峄憂 n脿y b峄ヽ x煤c gh锚, 膽峄峜 m脿 mu峄憂 ch峄璱 th峄�. Nh瓢ng v峄� n脿o v峄� n岷 c农ng 膽瓢峄 膼峄媍h c么ng x峄� l铆 v脿 tr峄玭g tr峄� th铆ch 膽谩ng n锚n 膽峄峜 xong th岷 th峄廰 m茫n th岷璽. C貌n c谩i twist th矛 kh么ng bi岷縯 d霉ng t峄� g矛 膽峄� n贸i v峄� n贸 ngo岷 tr峄� hai ch峄� m脿 膼峄媍h c么ng d霉ng:"qu谩i 膽岷".
May 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, the first Judge Dee mystery I have read. The setting of Tang era China and the range of characters are all beautifully drawn and show the extent of van Gulik's scholarship and depth of his knowledge. There is none of the artificially historical in the place of the characters, the mystery is paramount and the setting, both time and place, just add to the enjoyment. Each of these interlinked mysteries is well plotted and enjoyable, everything is not what it seems at first and Judge Dee's intelligence and skill as he solves them makes them fun to read. He is a great character, thoughtful and intelligent, and his companions and family are also beautiful drawn.
April 22, 2018
In 1974, I saw a movie on TV about an 18th century Chinese detective. What with the exciting mix of costumes, mystery, and history, the plot didn't stick with me, but the concept did. So I was thrilled to discover, in my stack of pending mysteries, that I had a book starring 18th century Chinese Judge (and as a result, detective) Dee.
Van Gulik, according to the preface in my book, began writing the Judge Dee stories, based on Tang dynasty historical figure/magistrate and statesman Di Renjie, to present Chinese-style detective novels that show the Chinese as they describe themselves in their own crime literature. This is in contrast (as he himself noted) to the stereotypical opium-addicted Mandarins with pigtails that appear in nineteenth-century literature.
With the Chinese Bell Murders, we have not just the titular murder - one that has to do with a generations-long family feud encompassing multiple victims. There is also the rape and murder of a young unmarried girl that greets Judge Dee upon his arrival in Poo-yang; a murder seemingly solved to the satisfaction of all but the Judge, who must delay until he can find a perpetrator more to his liking. And there is an interesting local Buddhist Temple that is guaranteeing the birth of a child to any wife who spends the night on their grounds... which seems suspicious, to say the least.
I could figure out the temple story, but the judge's solutions to these challenges were ingenious. Most enjoyable.
Van Gulik, according to the preface in my book, began writing the Judge Dee stories, based on Tang dynasty historical figure/magistrate and statesman Di Renjie, to present Chinese-style detective novels that show the Chinese as they describe themselves in their own crime literature. This is in contrast (as he himself noted) to the stereotypical opium-addicted Mandarins with pigtails that appear in nineteenth-century literature.
With the Chinese Bell Murders, we have not just the titular murder - one that has to do with a generations-long family feud encompassing multiple victims. There is also the rape and murder of a young unmarried girl that greets Judge Dee upon his arrival in Poo-yang; a murder seemingly solved to the satisfaction of all but the Judge, who must delay until he can find a perpetrator more to his liking. And there is an interesting local Buddhist Temple that is guaranteeing the birth of a child to any wife who spends the night on their grounds... which seems suspicious, to say the least.
I could figure out the temple story, but the judge's solutions to these challenges were ingenious. Most enjoyable.
July 5, 2019
"B铆 m岷璽 qu岷� chu么ng" l脿 cu峄憂 bi th岷 nh岷 trong c谩c t岷璸 膼峄媍h C么ng k峄� 谩n m脿 m矛nh 膽茫 膽峄峜. R岷 nhi峄乽 ng瓢峄漣 ch岷縯, c岷� k岷� c贸 t峄檌 l岷玭 ng瓢峄漣 v么 t峄檌, 膽岷縨 s啤 s啤 c农ng 膽瓢峄 30 m岷g. C贸 c谩i ch岷縯 khi岷縩 ta h岷� h锚, c贸 c谩i ch岷縯 khi岷縩 ta day d峄﹖ kh么n ngu么i. C岷� ba v峄� 谩n 膽峄乽 xu岷 ph谩t t峄� l貌ng tham v脿 d峄 v峄峮g nh瓢 v么 v脿n c谩c v峄� 谩n 膼峄媍h C么ng t峄玭g x茅t x峄�. Nh瓢ng 峄� t峄檌 谩c kh峄g khi岷縫 nh岷, l貌ng tham 膽瓢峄 hun 膽煤c tr峄� th脿nh s峄� 膽峄� k峄� v脿 l貌ng c膬m th霉 man r峄�.
M峄檛 k岷� v矛 膽峄� k峄� m脿 tr峄� n锚n t脿n 膽峄檆 kh么ng t峄� th峄� 膽o岷, s岷祅 s脿ng ra tay h茫m h岷 kh么ng ch峄玜 m峄檛 ai. Ngay c岷� 膼峄媍h C么ng c农ng ph岷 th峄憈 l锚n: 鈥溎惷 l脿 c芒u chuy峄噉 d脿i thu岷璽 l岷 nh峄痭g v峄� s谩t nh芒n t脿n 谩c. Ch岷痗 c谩c ng瓢啤i s岷� ph岷 t峄� h峄廼 t岷 sao Ng峄峜 Ho脿ng l岷 c贸 th峄� cho ph茅p nh峄痭g chuy峄噉 膽峄檆 谩c, b岷 c么ng v脿 t脿n b岷 nh瓢 v岷瓂 x岷 ra. B岷 th芒n ta c农ng 铆t khi th岷 m峄檛 v峄� 谩n n脿o 膽au l貌ng nh瓢 th岷�.鈥� Th岷� m脿 trong tim k岷� 谩c 膽峄檆 c农ng c贸 t矛nh y锚u, nh瓢ng ch峄� t矛nh y锚u th么i l脿 kh么ng 膽峄� 膽峄� c峄﹗ r峄梚
M峄檛 ng瓢峄漣 th矛 nu么i c膬m h岷璶 trong l貌ng, l岷 膽贸 l脿m m峄 膽铆ch s峄憂g qua ng脿y v脿 膽峄� ng峄峮 l峄璦 c峄 n贸 thi锚u r峄 c岷� nh芒n t铆nh. 膼岷縩 cu峄慽 c霉ng, khi n峄� m谩u 膽茫 tr岷� b岷眓g m谩u, ng瓢峄漣 膽贸 th岷 l貌ng tr峄憂g r峄梟g, ng啤 ng谩c nh岷璶 m矛nh kh么ng c貌n m峄檛 l岷� s峄憂g n脿o.
T脿i t矛nh thay, d峄媍h gi岷� 膽茫 kh茅o thu v茅n c岷� b岷 kh么ng kh铆 瓢u t瓢 cu峄慽 truy峄噉 trong hai c芒u th啤 d峄媍h: 鈥淐on ng瓢峄漣 ch峄� l脿 v岷璽 m峄峮 / C么ng l媒 m峄沬 l脿 tr锚n h岷縯.鈥� 鈥淣gh末a tr峄峮g vu sinh鈥�, 膽峄漣 ng瓢峄漣 ch峄� nh瓢 m峄檛 ki岷縫 ph霉 du.
M峄檛 k岷� v矛 膽峄� k峄� m脿 tr峄� n锚n t脿n 膽峄檆 kh么ng t峄� th峄� 膽o岷, s岷祅 s脿ng ra tay h茫m h岷 kh么ng ch峄玜 m峄檛 ai. Ngay c岷� 膼峄媍h C么ng c农ng ph岷 th峄憈 l锚n: 鈥溎惷 l脿 c芒u chuy峄噉 d脿i thu岷璽 l岷 nh峄痭g v峄� s谩t nh芒n t脿n 谩c. Ch岷痗 c谩c ng瓢啤i s岷� ph岷 t峄� h峄廼 t岷 sao Ng峄峜 Ho脿ng l岷 c贸 th峄� cho ph茅p nh峄痭g chuy峄噉 膽峄檆 谩c, b岷 c么ng v脿 t脿n b岷 nh瓢 v岷瓂 x岷 ra. B岷 th芒n ta c农ng 铆t khi th岷 m峄檛 v峄� 谩n n脿o 膽au l貌ng nh瓢 th岷�.鈥� Th岷� m脿 trong tim k岷� 谩c 膽峄檆 c农ng c贸 t矛nh y锚u, nh瓢ng ch峄� t矛nh y锚u th么i l脿 kh么ng 膽峄� 膽峄� c峄﹗ r峄梚
M峄檛 ng瓢峄漣 th矛 nu么i c膬m h岷璶 trong l貌ng, l岷 膽贸 l脿m m峄 膽铆ch s峄憂g qua ng脿y v脿 膽峄� ng峄峮 l峄璦 c峄 n贸 thi锚u r峄 c岷� nh芒n t铆nh. 膼岷縩 cu峄慽 c霉ng, khi n峄� m谩u 膽茫 tr岷� b岷眓g m谩u, ng瓢峄漣 膽贸 th岷 l貌ng tr峄憂g r峄梟g, ng啤 ng谩c nh岷璶 m矛nh kh么ng c貌n m峄檛 l岷� s峄憂g n脿o.
T脿i t矛nh thay, d峄媍h gi岷� 膽茫 kh茅o thu v茅n c岷� b岷 kh么ng kh铆 瓢u t瓢 cu峄慽 truy峄噉 trong hai c芒u th啤 d峄媍h: 鈥淐on ng瓢峄漣 ch峄� l脿 v岷璽 m峄峮 / C么ng l媒 m峄沬 l脿 tr锚n h岷縯.鈥� 鈥淣gh末a tr峄峮g vu sinh鈥�, 膽峄漣 ng瓢峄漣 ch峄� nh瓢 m峄檛 ki岷縫 ph霉 du.
August 3, 2011
One of the best in the series. Judge Dee and his four assistants, Sergeant Hoong, Chiao Tao, Ma Joong, and Tao Gan, investigate three cases: a 20-year-old feud between two Cantonese families, a suspiciously wealthy Buddhist temple, and the murder of a young girl. Science fiction writers could learn a thing or two from how van Gulik subtly conveys to the reader how the world of ancient China works.
September 6, 2017
This volume is my first exposure to the Judge Dee saga. Van Gulik's interpretation is a fast paced, slightly sordid mystery. Indeed, women seem to fare poorly in the world of Judge Dee, primarily portrayed for their sexuality. Criminals are mercilessly tortured and executed. However, the interplay between the Judge and his assistants, alongside the cultural richness of the ancient Chinese tribunal are interesting.
July 12, 2018
Cu峄憂 n脿y 膽峄峜 h岷 d岷玭 h啤n Ho脿ng kim 谩n hay T峄� b矛nh phong. Chi ti岷縯 th煤 v峄� nh岷 l脿 膼峄媍h c么ng 膽茫 kh么n kh茅o l霉a 20 t锚n s瓢 h峄� mang ra cho nh芒n d芒n x峄� "h峄檌 膽峄搉g" khi bi岷縯 m矛nh s岷� kh么ng x峄� 膽瓢峄 ch煤ng t峄檌 ch岷縯. V峄� L芒m Phi锚n c农ng c贸 k岷縯 c峄 kh谩 b岷 ng峄�.
Tuy nhi锚n m么 t铆p v岷玭 nh瓢 c谩c cu峄憂 kh谩c trong series n脿y, m峄檛 s峄� chi ti岷縯 膽峄� ph谩 谩n b峄� 岷﹏ gi岷. T峄� v峄眓g H谩n Vi峄噒 铆t l岷 d峄g h啤n Ho脿ng kim 谩n nh瓢ng v岷玭 c貌n.
Tuy nhi锚n m么 t铆p v岷玭 nh瓢 c谩c cu峄憂 kh谩c trong series n脿y, m峄檛 s峄� chi ti岷縯 膽峄� ph谩 谩n b峄� 岷﹏ gi岷. T峄� v峄眓g H谩n Vi峄噒 铆t l岷 d峄g h啤n Ho脿ng kim 谩n nh瓢ng v岷玭 c貌n.
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