Eight Chinese Detective Mysteries

It’s been over a year since I finished reading my most recent Judge Dee book, The Haunted Monastery by Robert Van Gulik, and I found myself missing both the enthralling tales themselves and how van Gulik makes ancient China come alive so well. I promise you, the draw for me wasn’t van Gulik’s infernal and poorly drawn naked torsos of women that he seems to force into every one of his books!

I had hoped to read this book of short stories in piecemeal, catching each one as it cropped up in Judge Dee’s personal chronology, but I realized it wouldn’t have been worth the effort to try reading the books this way. Each story (and each novel) stands well enough on its own, and the differing districts Judge Dee oversees or the of number of wives he has at any given moment don’t affect the stories enough to distract the reader if he’s reading the books out of order.

As I’m wont to do when I review short story collections, I like to jot down the notes I took when reading each one. This helps me to recall at least a bit of the plot and its overall feel.

01 “Five Auspicious Clouds” – This story involves murder with a twist, where Judge Dee investigates two obvious suspects and then accuses the third! Judge Dee proves himself unable to be outwitted, solving this case after the requisite, thorough and personal investigation. What makes Van Gulik and this series most unique when contrasted to other mystery writers are the punishments Judge Dee metes out both to the guilty and to the not-as-guilty parties.

02 “The Red Tape Murder” – This slightly convoluted tale is a play on words and gives a bit of insight into the early record-keeping habits of Ancient China. “Remember now, once and for all,” Dee lectures his lieutenants: “You must be able to rely unreservedly on your files, and you can do so only when you are sure they are complete. An incomplete file has no place in a well-run office. An incomplete file is worthless.” (21) Apart from this bit of clerical wisdom, I was also struck by this humorous line from Ma Joong that really sets the tone for Dee’s former-highway-robbing lieutenants:

Colonel Meng is an upright, straightforward fellow! We have boxed with him, got drunk with him, and gone wenching with him. Let me tell you, Magistrate, that that’s the way to get to know a man inside and out. (22)

03 “He Came with the Rain” –  This sordid story in which we learn a bit more of Judge Dee’s home life and personality is homey and yet clouded by a disgusting murder.

I have learned from this case how important it is to study carefully our ancient book of detection, Hoong. There it is stated again and again that the first step of a murder investigation is to ascertain the character, daily life, and habits of the victim. (72)

04 “The Murder on the Lotus Pond” – I’m never one to try and figure out mysteries while I read, and that’s a good thing. I would likely spend too much time guessing and not enough time enjoying! This story, however, might have been easy enough to figure out, despite the convoluted motive. And that’s something I like about Judge Dee, for while the cases are always motivated by either greed or love, rarely are even those vices so clear for the reader to perceive. The criminals are often multi-layered, just like characters in real life, giving even these ancient tales that extra layer of believability. I especially liked the award of “blood money” given to the widow of the murdered husband in this case. It lends a stronger air of justice.

05 “The Two Beggars” – Dee occasionally catches criminals by lying to them and getting them to admit something damning, and that occurs in this case. Dishonest? Perhaps. Effective? Absolutely. And there doesn’t seem to be a single plot-line in van Gulik’s mind that lacks either courtesans or prostitutes. They’re everywhere! Dee closes this case with another bit of wisdom for the ages:

If we measure our knowledge not by what we know by what we don’t, we are just ignorant fools, Hoong, all of us! (114)

06 “The Wrong Sword” – This is perhaps the saddest Judge Dee case of all. It’s a family affair (quite literally) and it makes me so grateful for my happy marriage and children! Judge Dee eventually comforts those affected by the murder:

Though everything will seem dark to you now, remember that even behind the darkest clouds of night there shines the moon of dawn. (139)

97 “The Coffins of the Emperor” – I could feel this particular tale: the cold, the coughs, the dust in the streets and the fervor in the ranks. This is one of those great short mysteries that grab the reader entirely, and I dare say it’s the best in the book.

08 “Murder on New Year’s Eve” – After reading through so much sadness and tragedy, it was refreshing to read this O.Henry-style mystery from van Gulik. It’s a great ending to an excellent collection of short stories.

©2017 E.T.

Read More from Robert Van Gulik:

• The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert Van Gulik (1957)
• The Chinese Bell Murders by Robert Van Gulik (1958)
• The Haunted Monastery by Robert Van Gulik (1961)
• Judge Dee at Work by Robert van Gulik (1967)
• The Chinese Gold Murders by Robert Van Gulik (1979)