A great read for fans of what I call "non-mysteries:" I'm talking about books like Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series ... no big who-dunnit or lurking evil butler, rather just everyday questions and unusual problems that need answers.
Much to the dismay of her family, Mei Wang left an honorable ministry job and started her own business. Since it's illegal in Beijing to be a private investigator, she's listed herself as an information consultant. When she's called on by an old family friend to research the existence of a relic believed to have been destroyed in the cultural revolution, she also begins to learn there's more to her mother that she'd ever suspected.
The tale unfolds slowly, with beautiful pacing. Gradually, we get Mei's personal story in pieces: a lost love, her missing father, her curious resignation from the ministry. Additionally, the reader gains insight about Beijing in the late 1990's and how the past still influences modern life.
I listened to this book on CD, and I thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Cindy Cheung. Hearing the unfamiliar sounds of Chinese pronunciation really added an extra flair to the story.
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