Reading order · 12 books · 2000 to 2023 · Set in Shanghai
Inspector Chen Books in Order
Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai police is a poet and translator, who loves classical poetry and good food, and whose investigations keep running into the politics of the Communist Party as China changes around him.
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Series facts
- Books
- 12
- Published
- 2000 to 2023
- First book
- Death of a Red Heroine
- Latest
- Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder (2023)
- Setting
- Set in Shanghai
The reading order
Every Inspector Chen book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
12 books · Set in Shanghai
- 1Death of a Red Heroine2000With Chen CaoIn 1990 Shanghai, the body of a young woman, a famous National Model Worker, is found in a canal, and Chief Inspector Chen Cao’s investigation leads towards the son of a powerful party official.Buy on Amazon
- 2A Loyal Character Dancer2002With Chen CaoChen is assigned to escort an American marshal who has come to Shanghai to find the missing wife of a Chinese witness.Buy on Amazon
- 3When Red Is Black2004With Chen CaoA dissident writer is found dead in her crowded Shanghai house, and Chen’s partner Yu investigates while Chen takes on a translation job.Buy on Amazon
- 4A Case of Two Cities2006With Chen CaoChen is put in charge of a corruption investigation that takes him to the United States.Buy on Amazon
- 5Red Mandarin Dress2007With Chen CaoA killer is leaving the bodies of young women in Shanghai dressed in red mandarin dresses.Buy on Amazon
- 6The Mao Case2009With Chen CaoChen is asked to investigate whether the granddaughter of a famous film star holds secrets about Chairman Mao.Buy on Amazon
- 7Don't Cry, Tai Lake2012With Chen CaoOn holiday at Lake Tai, Chen finds a lake poisoned by industry and a factory director murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 8Enigma of China2013With Chen CaoAn official under investigation for corruption is found hanged in his hotel room, and Chen is sent to confirm it was suicide.Buy on Amazon
- 9Shanghai Redemption2015With Chen CaoChen is removed from his post and finds himself the target of powerful enemies.Buy on Amazon
- 10Becoming Inspector Chen2020With Chen CaoThe story of how Chen became an inspector, told through his early life.Buy on Amazon
- 11Hold Your Breath, China2020With Chen CaoChen, sidelined, tracks a serial killer through a Shanghai choked with pollution.Buy on Amazon
- 12Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder2023With Chen CaoChen investigates a murder connected to an exclusive private restaurant.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with Death of a Red Heroine.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Chen Cao | Yu Guangming | Peiqin | Party Secretary Li |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Death of a Red Heroine | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 2 A Loyal Character Dancer | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 3 When Red Is Black | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 4 A Case of Two Cities | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 5 Red Mandarin Dress | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 6 The Mao Case | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 7 Don't Cry, Tai Lake | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 8 Enigma of China | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 9 Shanghai Redemption | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 10 Becoming Inspector Chen | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 11 Hold Your Breath, China | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 12 Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Inspector Chen books
4 characters from Qiu Xiaolong’s chart, with the number of Inspector Chen books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Chen CaoChief inspector, poet and translator | 12 | Death of a Red Heroine 2000 |
| Yu GuangmingDetective, Chen's partner | 12 | Death of a Red Heroine 2000 |
| PeiqinYu's wife | 12 | Death of a Red Heroine 2000 |
| Party Secretary LiChen's political boss | 9 | Death of a Red Heroine 2000 |