The Recurring Cast
Character · Shanghai Police Bureau · 12 books

Chen Cao

Chief inspector, poet and translator · Qiu Xiaolong

Chen Cao is a chief inspector, poet and translator.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
Death of a Red Heroine (2000)
Latest appearance
Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder (2023)
Books
12 (12 as lead)
Series
Inspector Chen
Author
Qiu Xiaolong
Circle
Shanghai Police Bureau

Where to meet Chen Cao

Chen Cao first appears in Death of a Red Heroine (2000), as the lead, book 1 of the Inspector Chen series.

Buy Death of a Red Heroine

Every book with Chen Cao

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 2000LDeath of a Red Heroinelead · Inspector ChenBuy
  2. 2002LA Loyal Character Dancerlead · Inspector ChenBuy
  3. 2004LWhen Red Is Blacklead · Inspector ChenBuy
  4. 2006LA Case of Two Citieslead · Inspector ChenBuy
  5. 2007LRed Mandarin Dresslead · Inspector ChenBuy
  6. 2009LThe Mao Caselead · Inspector ChenBuy
  7. 2012LDon't Cry, Tai Lakelead · Inspector ChenBuy
  8. 2013LEnigma of Chinalead · Inspector ChenBuy
  9. 2015LShanghai Redemptionlead · Inspector ChenBuy
  10. 2020LBecoming Inspector Chenlead · Inspector ChenStories of his early lifeBuy
  11. 2020LHold Your Breath, Chinalead · Inspector ChenBuy
  12. 2023LInspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murderlead · Inspector ChenBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
PeiqinYu's wife12
Yu GuangmingDetective, Chen's partner12
Party Secretary LiChen's political boss9