Numbers four and five in the Inspector Kwong Mysteries series.
Published here for the first time, The Gift and The Shot are two shorter works somewhere between short stories and novellas. In The Gift, media frenzy hits Hong Kong when a murderer they call the New Year’s Avenger spoils the beloved Lunar New Year’s holiday. And The Shot has Kwong and Matson spending a day at the races, before traveling up to Guangzhou on the trail of a deadly assassin.
Professional Reviews
Five Stars from Sdan 12 for Amazon
I really enjoy Vic Warren’s creation, Inspector Wong and his sidekick Matson Tai. There is something strangely old-fashioned about Inspector Kwong. He always manages to keep his cool and seems very comfortable in his own body. He is not one of those angst-ridden detectives we so often read about, with personal problems getting in the way of his investigations. Matson Tai is a reformed character but still knows seedy characters from his past so he makes a useful assistant.
These two short stories did not disappoint me. In ‘The Gift’ we become involved in a series of killings with a Chinese New Year theme, and ‘The Shot’ involves a killing close to home, when Matson’s girlfriend’s quartet is targeted by a gunman. As always, there is great emphasis in bringing Chinese customs to life – including the tempting food!
Five Stars from Beautyful Word for Amazon
This is my first introduction into the world of Inspector Kwong and I was able to follow along with no problem due to good backdrop given. It is two well written tales. I feel that the author does a good job with the dialogue, catching the small idiosyncrasies that are heard in Chinese English. The characters are vibrant and likable. Inspector Kwong is confident, wise and without the inner turmoil. He is a man nearing the end of his career ready to pass the baton to his assistant Matson. Matson is a much younger man with a shady past who struggles with the decision to let go of the love of his life.
I also liked that even though Kwong is the main character, he doesn't solve the crimes all by himself. The pace of the stories is pretty fast but still allows for the reader to get acquainted with the characters. I have never been to Hong Kong and the author makes it sound like a great place to visit. It was an enjoyable read and look forward to reading other works from this author. Overall, great read for anyone who loves international mysteries filled with suspense.
