by Duncan Jepson
Review by Adam Dean
this causes in the West, and the dire results that
threaten to follow from cultural misunderstandings.
The clash of Eastern and Western values is a major
theme of the book.
These conflicts are embodied in the character of
Alex Soong. He has received a Western education, and
his personal interests (in music, for example) reflect
this. He is also very much a man who understands the
The setting of this intriguing novel is a Hong
Kong of the near future, in the year 2017. The plot is
set in motion by the killing of two Methodist ministers
– a crime that appears at first to be merely random. It
falls to Detective Alex Soong to investigate. As more
deaths follow, Soong unravels a conspiracy that
involves vast economic and political forces, tied to
momentous events in China’s past.
enduring importance of China’s historical legacy. And
he must straddle the fault line between the divergent
values of Honk Kong, with its individualist outlook,
and the well-ordered world of the Chinese mainland.
Soong struggles to deal with his personal conflicts
while coming to grips with the cultural clashes that
have broken out with deadly results around him. The
perpetrator of the crimes seeks to draw him in and
make Soong a part of the conspiracy.
The background to the crimes is a global
economic crisis – China has bailed out a debt-ridden
Europe, which has failed to honour its obligations. For
some Chinese, this is seen as another in the list of
Soong is used effectively as a character to bring to
life the cultural conflicts and historical arguments, in a
historical injustices they have suffered at the hands of
the West. Brooding nationalist resentment becomes a
driving force to put a deadly plot into effect.
Emperors Once More is not only a fast-paced
The author relies on his intimate knowledge of the
city, where he lives and works, to give a richlydescribed portrayal of the Hong Kong setting. A
diverse cast of minor characters adds to the depth of
crime thriller with an exotic setting. The author
skilfully interweaves the historical elements, as well as
urgent questions of geopolitical evolution, with the
well-constructed plot. The wider issues that it
the portrait, and shows the effects of the conspiracy on
all levels of society. The action unfolds with cinematic
flair.
Emperors Once More is an intelligent as well as
considers are certainly timely and relevant to today’s
world – issues such as the rise of China as a preeminent economic and global power, the anxieties that
enjoyable book. It will leave readers with more to
think about than a murder mystery.
way that engages the reader – and without stalling the
relentless hunt-for-a-killer plot.