A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club 22nd of December 2023
4 out of 5 stars
Shanghai, China, in 1936, is the setting of the book. The book clearly captures the atmosphere of Shanghai during this period, a city of decadence and terror. It is graphic in more ways than one but it remains accurate for the era. Triads operate clubs, trade drugs, and profit from prostitution. People who have lost everything due to war are fleeing to other nations. Crossing hazardous waterways by boat is the usual means of transportation. Rules should be respected in this ancient setting, and failure to adhere to them has severe consequences.
The author, Tony Henderson, expertly navigates this complex historical landscape, capturing the essence of an era on the verge of major change. The leader of the Sung Triad is Cheung Pak-ho. Joseph, his son, is slated to take his place. Joseph is treated more like a prized son by his father, who shows him frigid love. In addition, he should blend in seamlessly in the event of a smooth handover of power. A prosperous British businessman named Charles Guest resides in Shanghai with his daughter, Davina. His relationship with his daughter particularly impressed me. It was difficult to conduct business in a foreign country. The after-effects were also clearly painted by the author.
The work’s traditional setting appealed to me. To transport the wealthy, the most common mode of transportation was sailing across deep, dangerous waters. Child labour was prevalent, and Chinese ladies wore cheongsam. Furthermore, triads ruled the streets, and murder was common if you crossed the wrong people. Rather than using Google Maps, we used paper to find locations. Even the flights that were available were time-consuming and involved numerous stops between cities.
The book, however, has some graphic and sensitive information, such as rapes and murders. Foot binding was a common occurrence among Chinese women. Reading this book made me appreciate modern technology and how far we’ve come in abandoning some of the inhumane traditions depicted in the book.
The Shanghai Circle is more than a historical novel; it takes readers on a captivating journey through a perilous world in which the lives of the characters circle each other, culminating in a thrilling and dangerous climax. Due to the expert storytelling abilities exhibited in this book by Tony Henderson, I rate the book a 4 out of 5.