‘Don’t Cry, Tai Lake’ by Qiu Xiaolong

Chief Inspector Chen Cao is an unusual cop. He studied English Literature in college and writes poetry. The Chinese government assigned him to the Shanghai Police Bureau. He heads the special crimes section, which handles politically sensitive cases.

A good detective and Communist Party member, he rose steadily as China embraced Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms in the 1990s and the country surged toward a market-driven economy. Chen’s cases touched on “Big Bucks” businessmen who made fortunes under the new system, former model workers and Mao supporters who face new realities and lifestyle excesses of party leaders’ children.