The Shadow of the Empire

Written by Qiu Xiaolong

Narrated by David Shih

The legendary Judge Dee Renjie investigates a high-profile murder case in this intriguing companion novel to Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder set in seventh-century China.

Judge Dee Renjie, Empress Wu’s newly appointed Imperial Circuit Supervisor for the Tang Empire, is visiting provinces surrounding the grand capital of Chang’an. One night a knife is thrown through his window with a cryptic note attached: ‘A high-flying dragon will have something to regret!’

Minutes after the ominous warning appears, Judge Dee is approached by an emissary of Internal Minister Wu, Empress Wu’s nephew. Minister Wu wants Judge Dee to investigate a high-profile murder supposedly committed by the wellknown poetess and courtesan, Xuanji, who locals believe is possessed by the spirit
of a black fox.

Why is Minister Wu interested in Xuanji? Despite Xuanji confessing to the murder, is there more to the case than first appears? With the mysterious warning and a fierce power struggle playing out at the imperial court, Judge Dee knows he must tread carefully …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705048993

Qiu Xiaolong

Anthony Award winning author Qiu Xiaolong was born in Shanghai and moved to Washington University in St Louis, US, to complete a PhD degree in comparative literature. After the Tiananmen tragedy in 1989 he stayed on in St Louis where he still lives with his wife. Qiu's sold over two million copies of his Inspector Chen mysteries worldwide and been published in twenty languages. On top of his fiction, he is a prize-winning writer of poetry. All the titles in the Inspector Chen series, including Hold Your Breath, China, have been dramatized in BBC Radio 4 productions. www.qiuxiaolong.com

Reviews for The Shadow of the Empire

[eyes92c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tang period Murder mystery!Judge Dee is called upon by Emperoress Wu to unofficially investigate the incarceration and upcoming execution of renowned poetess Xuanji.This is indeed a time when the phrase, “Off with her head!” Is no mean threat. Talk about down the rabbit hole for Dee!A lively return to one of my favorite historical Chinese detectives, the Honorable Judge Dee, “Dee Renjie, the newly appointed Imperial Circuit Supervisor of the Tang Empire.”Of course things are not simple. Powerful people are paying close attention to this case and it looks like Dee is being sandwiched in the middle.A fan of Robert van Gulik‘s Judge Dee tales, I found Qiu Xiaolon’s contribution (author of Inspector Chen works) well worth the read.…And Xuanji’s poetry! Brilliant!A Severn House ARC via NetGalley Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change