A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 4th of April 2024
5 out of 5 stars
Tony Henderson’s book, “The Shanghai Circle,” is set in Shanghai in 1936, during Japan’s attempted takeover of China. The “Sung Triad Society” is the second-biggest triad in Shanghai. Cheung Pak-ho is the triad leader, and his son Joseph is destined to become the leader when his father dies. Guest is a large company in Shanghai, and Charles Guest is the taipan, as the head of a large company is called in Chinese. His daughter, Davina, is his successor, and her first challenge is to overcome the prejudice against women in the business world. They are the main protagonists, but we meet other characters who play a significant role.
Shanghai has no passport or visa requirements, and many people from all walks of life seek out the city to work, play and live there. Irina’s family was very wealthy and influential in Russia but had to flee from the Bolsheviks and eventually ended up impoverished in Shanghai. Both Irina’s parents died, and she got stuck with a lot of debt. She ended up making decisions leading to involvement with Cheung Pak-ho.
Thomas came to Shanghai from humble beginnings in Yorkshire. He secured a position at the Guest company and was determined to succeed in his career. His empathy, positive attitude, and strength to carry on even in adverse circumstances made him one of my favorite characters in the book.
Tony Henderson tells a story of intrigue, corruption, murder and debauchery against the background of historical facts. His research is immaculate, and the reader is immersed in the culture, environment and experiences of the people in Shanghai. The lives of the Cheung and Guest families are inextricably entwined, which adds another layer of intrigue to the book.
The description of the triads, their operations, and the rules imposed by them was fascinating but also scary. Doing business in China is subject to practices specific to the country. Westerners will only succeed if they adhere to these practices.
The book contains very explicit descriptions of killing, dead bodies and cruelty, as well as explicit sex scenes. It also contains profanity. Although these descriptions were not my favorite parts of the book, they contributed to a better understanding of certain characters and events, and as such, I can’t say I disliked them. There was, in fact, nothing in the book that I disliked.
I discovered some errors in the book, but they did not detract from my reading enjoyment.
Sensitive readers may want to avoid this book because of the violence, sex and profanity. Readers who enjoy history and suspense will enjoy this book.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is well-written, historically accurate and very interesting.