A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 9th of April 2024

5 out of 5 stars

The Shanghai Circle is a historical fiction novel by Tony Henderson that follows multiple individuals from different backgrounds who are trying to navigate their ways in an unstable China where everything is uncertain. The author’s background is colourful and adventurous, as he has dabbled in many things and lived in many countries. The characters in the book are a reflection of that. Some are from foreign countries who came to China to try to find their way. This book is full of thrillers, sex, guns, war, and crime. It is poignant and reflective of its time.

Joseph is the son of a very powerful crime underworld boss. His father has led the triad since he was young, and he was cold towards him, showing as little affection as possible. He does not know how to react to this because he loves his father and wishes to prove himself to him but with no leeway. That Is until he shows interest in the family business and his father warms up to him. The initiation is gruesome, but he is willing to endure, and he does. Things he learns are disturbing, but he is willing to pull through. His father starts opening up to him and tells him things he has never told a soul, and Joseph is inspired.

Davina is in the corporal world and learns through Wong Shing-Lo, AKA S.L., that there is a war looming in China from Japan, and they have to take extreme steps to protect themselves and the people they love. Is this all true, or are these just unsubstantiated predictions? Then there is Irina, whose life story is as tragic as you can imagine. She has nothing, and where she starts is the place no woman should be. She endures beatings and assaults of every kind, and there seems to be no hope in the future. What all people in Shanghai fear the most comes, and it shakes everyone to the core. While dealing with this, a typhoon strikes and leaves everything upside-down. How will all those individuals survive? Will they even survive?

This book had everything I loved in books. I can say it was the highlight of the month for me. Tony Henderson wrote a very convincing tale that left me enchanted. This was the story about China before the outbreak of the Second World War, and it was as scary and pulsating as any city with people in it who loved it. The characters, the plot, the suspense, the action, the writing, the historical accuracy, the imagery, and the humour, are a few of the many things that impressed me.

The book was strongly based on the characters. The characters were as bubbly and colourful as any you could imagine. All of them were rich with history and backstory. Their personalities were alluring to me as a reader. Joseph’s insecurities gripped me and made me want to see where he would end up, especially since he was finding his place in the triad. The mistakes he made cost him things that were dearest to him, and this made him human and relatable because he had the same faults as the next man. Davina and Irina were nearly identical, with the former trying to assert herself in the man-dominated industry while the latter was trying to save her life and realise her dreams.

All of these aspects were brought to life by the lively writing of the author. The writing was done in such a way that I could follow the characters with eagerness. It was in such a way that I could not predict the ending. The inclusion of a typhoon was an unexpected feature that worked as a distraction from the bigger picture, and if I hadn’t paid attention, I would have missed out on many events that moved the book forward. The suspense was included satisfyingly. It wasn’t overdone to dilute the quality of the book. The historical accuracy was outstanding, and I could feel what it was like in Shanghai in the late 1930s. Japan was ready to attack, and Europe was gripped by the ever-growing Nazis.

I could not find anything to criticise about the book because, as I have said, it lived up to my expectations. The editing was perfect, and the sentences were flowing with ease. It worked well as the first instalment in the series, and I would read the sequel. So with all I have said, I rate this book five out of five stars. I recommend it to people who love historical fiction. It would be suitable for young adults, as it contains strong language and explicit scenes that would not be suitable for young teenagers. This book should be added to your shelf.