Crime Fighter Returns In Her Third Caper
Book Review: "Dragon Bones" by Lisa See

By Bobby Okinaka

The Three Gorges Dam is the most ambitious construction project in China since the building of the Great Wall. On the one hand, the dam will control flooding, generate energy, and for the Chinese government, be a symbol of power and modernity in the international scene. On the other hand, the dam has displaced millions of peasants, has the potential to be an ecological disaster, and will cover significant archeological areas under a man-made lake with no telling what links to China's past will be lost forever.

It is this exotic setting in which a mysterious death takes place in Lisa See's latest novel, "Dragon Bones." The victim is an American archeologist who was working a site at the Three Gorges. Liu Hulan, an agent of the Ministry of Public Security, is sent in to track down the killer. Her husband, attorney David Stark, joins her on a mission of his own - TO find out why artifacts discovered at the archeological site are missing and who is taking them. Was the American killed because of the missing artifacts? It's up to Hulan and David to solve the mystery.

Hulan and David look for clues among the international group of scientists and relic hunters. On their search, they must deal with a rich industrialist, local corruption and the mysterious leader of a cult. They discover that the keys to solving both of their missions lay in understanding where the line between Chinese myth and scientific evidence blur. The couple is also forced to examine their own relationship and their trust faces the ultimate test when their own lives come face to face with danger.

"Dragon Bones" is the third novel by See featuring the crime-busting heroine, Liu Hulan, following "The Flower Net" and "The Interior." Hulan is a Red Princess, meaning that because of her family's ties to the Communist Party elite, she was able to live a life of privilege. But growing up during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution gave her a guilt complex that continues to affect her adult life. As a teen, Hulan was sent out of China for an education in the United States and later as a young attorney met her future husband, David. She returned to China to become a loyal agent of the state, a faithful daughter, and a loving wife and mother. But even a strong character like Hulan must struggle to balance her professional and private lives. Her multi-faceted character provides the emotional heart of the novel.

Lisa See does a superb job of guiding mystery readers through a complex maze of Chinese history and customs, emotions and family relationships, while still exposing them to the modern issues facing China. Like a cruise down the Yangzi River, "Dragon Bones" will take you on a trip into the heart of China.

"Dragon Bones" is in bookstores now. You can find out more information at www.lisasee.com.

June 30, 2003