Rabbit in the Moon

By Deborah Shlian and Joel Shlian

San Francisco, 1989: Forty years after Mao and his People's Liberation Army set poised to change China forever, Dr. Lili Quan prepares for a journey that will change her life forever. To honor her mother's dying wish that Lili return home, Lili reluctantly sets out for China. For Lili, a passionate idealist, this will be an extraordinary trip filled with remarkable discoveries - from meeting and falling in love with Chi-Wen Zhou, a victim of the Cutural Revolution and zealous Taoist, to finding Dr. Ni-Fu Cheng, the grandfather Lili believed had died years ago. But Dr. Cheng has made the most remarkable discovery of all: he's discovered the secret to long life. As Dr. Cheng's only relative, Lili's life is in jeopardy. As greedy and unscrupulous men vie for control of the most earth-shattering discovery of the century, Lili Quan could become a pawn in a deadly and dangerous international game. Before Lili can hold the key to the future, she must unlock the deadly secrets of the past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
• Release date: Jun 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9781933515397

Deborah Shlian

Physician, medical consultant, and author of medical mystery thrillers: Double Illusion, Wednesday's Child, Rabbit in the Moon (winner of Gold Medal, Florida Book Award; First prize Royal Palm Literary Award (Florida Writers Association),;Silver Medal, Mystery Book of the Year (ForeWord Magazine); Indie Excellence Award and National Best Books Award Finalist (USA Book News); Dead Air by Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid (winner 2010 Royal Palm Literary Award and Silver Medalist, Florida Publisher's Association's President Award) and Devil Wind by Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid (winner of best Audiobook Hollywood Book Festival, Next Generation Indie Next Award; First Place, 2011 Royal Palm Literary award

Reviews for Rabbit in the Moon

[elpaca · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Wasn't crazy bad, having some insight into the student revolutions in the late '80's, but overall not very engaging. I was often wondering if San Francisco was so racist and ugly toward the Chinese community (where all of Lili's angst came from).

[vikkilaw · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm not a fan of thrillers and this book reminded me why. That said, it did mix the political landscape of China in 1989 with the plot in a way that didn't seem forced or false.

[nberg_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My book group spent two hours discussing this book and we could have spent more. Like Michael Chrichton, the physician authors pose a what if question: in this case, what if someone had found the key to extending life. The backdrop of the story is the short-lived student democracy movement in 1989 which ended at Tiananmen Square. The authors pose this as a generational conflict between the very old leaders who want to hold onto power and the young who want reform. Told in the context of a thriller, one can just enjoy the fast-paced story. But underneath is a wealth of information about China and a lot to think about for our own society as people are living beyond age 100- even without this elixir of life. Highly recommend if you liked The Kite Runner

[lknea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just a great read. Fun, adventurous, suspense-filled novel. The reader gets the added bonus of an extremely well-researched novel set in China. One really gets a feel for China and its customs. Would have been a terrific book club read.

[suematch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Met the authors at a book signing- although this is a fast-aced thriller, I found the historical aspects of the student uprising in China in 1989 the most interesting aspect. Definitely recommend for those who like learning a little history while reading a good story. Perfect ending

[nbmars · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story takes place in 1989, during the time of the student movement in China and massacre in Tiananmen Square. Lili Quan is Senior Resident at L.A. Medical Center. Unbeknownst to Lili, her grandfather, Dr. Ni-Fu Cheng, is alive back in China and has discovered a formula to prolong life. Various nefarious actors conspire to get Lili back to China in order to pry the formula from her grandfather.In China, Lili meets Chi-Wen, her grandfather’s assistant, and falls in love with him. She is “conscious of the ripple of his muscular shoulders.” He, in turn, puts “his arms tight around her slim waist.”Meanwhile, the bad guys laugh maniacally, rub their hands together in greed, “hawk” spit, and make confessions like “”In the big picture, the end justifies the means. And screw the rest.”At the climactic scene, every single character and then some literally pop out of the bushes.So, the writing and characterization can be a bit sophomoric. But the details about life in China are very good. Obviously the authors love China and want to share this love with the reader. I think they should have skipped the plot and written a non-fiction narrative on the country, its history, and its people. When they stuck to that kind of writing, the book was lovely.