A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 31st of January 2024
4 out of 5 stars
“The Shanghai Circle” by Tony Henderson paints a vivid picture of 1936 Shanghai, as Japanese invasion and Communism loom over the bustling-with-life city, and how fate intertwines the lives of a conglomerate, a triad leader, and a Russian prostitute.
The story centres primarily around four main characters. Charles and Davina Guest are a father and daughter duo who fight against all odds to save their family trading company from the threatening socio-political situation while also battling their personal demons, somehow connected to the Sung triad.
Joseph Sung is the son of the leader of the Sung Triad Society, Cheung Pak Ho. He constantly seeks validation from his father to prove his worth as the heir of the triad. He must adopt his father’s ruthless and callous manner to show both his father and the other triad members that he has the potential to lead the triad to greater heights.
Irina Donsky is a former Russian heiress who succumbs to her family’s debts and, owing to a sad play of fate becomes a high-profile prostitute. She unwittingly becomes entangled with the triad and is forced to endure various adversities to free herself from this dangerous association.
The author has done a commendable job in his research of 1930s Shanghai. Brilliant descriptions of the scene, particularly of the Bund and other local areas, bring the book to life and help enhance the reading experience. The pacing is fast, and Tony Henderson has skillfully tied together each person’s stories in a way that leaves the reader wanting more.
The book is not devoid of plot-holes, but they do not affect the overall logic or enjoyment. A point of concern, however, is the portrayal of the female characters. The author has attempted to portray them as strong and progressive but ends up stereotyping them as mere eye candy. Davina’s character arc is comparatively less stereotypical but could still easily fall into the pigeonhole of women written by men. There are quite a few usages of profanities, most of them targeting the female characters. However, these are excusable to an extent, considering the period and social context in which the events occur.
Overall, “The Shanghai Circle” is gripping, with a strong story carefully blended into the glorious history of 1930s Shanghai. While the depiction of the women could have been better, it is an impactful start to an intriguing series. “The Shanghai Circle” is a terrific addition to your shelf if you are one for history and personal vendetta, with an Oriental touch. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.