A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 14th of February 2024
4 out of 5 stars
“The Shanghai Circle” by Tony Henderson is an engaging read about Shanghai in the 1930s. The book is a deep dive into the seedy underbelly of Shanghai, where poverty and decadence flourish side by side.
The author weaves a fascinating and rich tapestry of the relations between the various triads of Shanghai and the multitudes of expatriates in the city. The influx of stateless Russian immigrants, the advent of Mao Zedong and communism in China, the impending invasion of Shanghai by the Japanese, and the turbulent situation in Europe just before the events of World War II all create a powerful and engaging setting for the story to unfold.
A key aspect the author touches upon in the book is the relationship between the native Shanghainese and the European expatriates. The dichotomy of East and West and the disdain both harbour for the other is a prominent theme in the story. The three main characters in the book are Davina Guest, Joseph, and Irina Donsky. The events that cause their lives to be interconnected form the plot of the book.
Davina is the daughter of a British taipan, a powerful businessman residing in Shanghai. Her determination to be a worthy heir to her father’s empire and her love for the bustling streets of Shanghai she calls home are the driving forces behind every decision she makes. Joseph is an heir in his own right. Son of the leader of Shanghai’s second-largest criminal gang, his greatest desire is to succeed his father as leader and take the gang to greater heights. Finally, Irina Donsky, a member of the fallen Russian nobility on the run from the new regime in her homeland, tries to make a new life for herself among the myriad refugees in Shanghai.
The author has done a tremendous job of setting up an intriguing and authentic backdrop for the events of the story. The majority of the characters are very well fleshed out, with all of them possessing compelling backstories. The story itself is a compelling read, with every development enriching the story and characters while keeping the reader on their toes.
There are only two negatives to this book. Firstly, the writing and dialogue are stilted at times, making the flow of the story awkward. Secondly, the female characters aren’t as well developed as the male characters. Their stories and perspectives have far less time spent on them as well.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. The negative points previously mentioned do not hamper one’s enjoyment of the book to such a great extent separately, but I also do not feel that this book is perfect. “The Shanghai Circle” by Tony Henderson is an enthralling read that I would recommend to readers of the genres of historical fiction and crime.