Whispering Shadows: A Novel

Written by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Narrated by George Newbern

In this first book of the Rising Dragon series, “explore a side of Hong Kong tourists rarely experience” (Kirkus Reviews) as an expat journalist tries to crack a murder case in the “darkly beautiful, heart-wrenching” (Booklist, starred review) thriller set in China from the internationally bestselling author of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats.

Once an ambitious American expat and a dedicated family man, Paul Leibovitz is living as a recluse on an outlying island of Hong Kong. When he makes a fleeting connection with Elizabeth, a distressed American woman on the verge of collapse, his life is thrown into turmoil. Less than twenty-four hours later, Elizabeth’s son is found dead in Shenzhen, and Paul, invigorated by a newfound purpose, sets out to investigate the murder on his own.

As Paul, Elizabeth, and a detective friend descend deeper into a politically corrupt China and the Shenzhen underworld—against the wishes of a woman with whom Paul has a growing flirtation—they discover dark secrets and vestiges of the Cultural Revolution that people will go to any lengths to keep hidden. Part love story, part crime thriller, Whispering Shadows is the captivating tale of one man’s desperate search for redemption within the grip of a world superpower, a place where secrets from the past threaten to upend the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781442382718

Jan-Philipp Sendker

Jan-Philipp Sendker, born in Hamburg in 1960, was the American correspondent for Stern from 1990 to 1995, and its Asian correspondent from 1995 to 1999. In 2000 he published Cracks in the Wall, a nonfiction book about China. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, his first novel, was an international bestseller. He lives in Berlin with his family.

Reviews for Whispering Shadows

[lizstevens · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

WBN book. Loved it.

[shazjhb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I always enjoy his books forgetting he is not an Asian man or woman. Always a message maybe a bit too much in your face but good book. Buying stuff from China does not feel "good".

[brangwinn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gripping novel about a murdered American businessman in China makes an excellent connection with the Cultural Revolution. When the mother of the missing American comes to Paul Leibovitz for help in finding her son, the recluse finds himself more involved than he planned to be. His friend, Zhang,a policeman on mainland China, is convinced there is more to the murder than the Chinese police will admit. Zhang, a survivor of the Cultural Revolution, suffers from constant pain a reminder of his years forced to work in rural agriculture. As he and Liebovitz investigate the murder they also find capitalist greed in the new free market atmosphere of China, a place where profit and winning at any cost, plays a part in the gruesome facts.

[judithdcollins · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A special thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. WHISPERING SHADOWS by Jan-Philipp Sendker, is a multi-layered extraordinary story of universal human emotions of loss, love, betrayal, and trust. A gripping suspense story of a retired journalist in contemporary China attempting to crack a murder case, as he battles his own demons and loss of his son. A mix of a love story and crime mystery thriller, a captivating tale of a man’s desperation and search for redemption, in a land where secrets from the past threaten to destroy the future.From Hong Kong and China, to exotic Lamma Island -- to the homeless. A unique character, Paul Leibovitz has lived in Hong Kong for thirty years until personal tragedy hit, and his life began to unravel and fall part piece by piece.After the death of Paul and Meredith son, Justin dies of leukemia, Paul withdraws and buys a house on Lamma, an island- a ferry ride from Hong Kong. Living in isolation on an exotic island he meets an American woman whose son has gone missing and she wants him to help her solve the mystery behind the disappearance and into the underworld. Since Justin's death, he has not associated with hardly anyone except Christine, a Hong Kong–based single mother, and Zhang, a homicide detective in Shenzhen.Under the bricks, cement, high rises, real estate development, airports, and all the new exploding development, there is evil, power, greed, and corruption. From misappropriation of official funds, tax evasion and murder---“Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.” Could you leave your shadow behind if you only walked fast enough? He wonders about the people who lived here thirty years ago. In the last thirty years, despite all the advances in medical science, children die. People are consumed by feelings of guilt or sink into self-pity, unable to bear the emptiness or refused to let their children die. Life must go on.The under story is the police detective recalling his life during the Cultural Revolution and how his life intersects with the powerful Chinese businessman deeply involved in the murder investigation. The face of this country had changed with complexities beyond comprehension. An absorbing mystery of the old versus the new -- A chilling account taking you to the darkest places, the fears, the anxieties and the struggles, to the most exotic and riches, for an almost mesmerizing adventure, keeping you glued to the pages. Rich in vivid exquisite settings, nature, culture, emotion, and well developed compelling characters, we learn about each character's complex past and their shared need to find redemption, as they search for the son.Sendker does an outstanding job in creating the backdrop, as you imagine yourself there; he is in tune with the Eastern philosophies, and cultures, bringing passion, vibrancy, and authenticity to this well-written novel. An engrossing book, and a heart-wrenching portrayal of the Cultural Revolution’s devastating effects —strongly recommend to lovers of history, literature, politics, cultural, romance, and mystery. An ideal choice for book clubs and group discussions. Can’t wait to read “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats", as have heard nothing but rave reviews. Looking forward to the next in Sendker's intriguing trilogy!

[eachurch-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An intriguing novel set in modern day China which touches on the lingering aftereffects of the Cultural Revolution as well as the social and political problems facing China today. Sendker does a great job of describing how grief, shame, and love can influence our experience of the world. The love story part of the book was more convincing and interesting than the crime thriller part. Unfortunately, the exploration of issues of trust were problematic.