China
Wind Readers’ Comments
May
10th, 2009
China Wind – a great book!
I enjoyed China Wind and looked forward to reading
it each day. I have never visited Hong Kong but I certainly found the
background and culture interesting.
The
story contained tension and mystery along with intriguing characters and a
great conclusion and (it) deserves many readers.
So –
Congratulations!
(Maureen W, Brisbane, Australia)
April
23, 2009
China
Wind … well worth a read
China Wind is a novel reminiscent of
Clavell’s writing, and, to me, that is a compliment. I have read several
of Anne’s published novels, and have seen the development of a competent
wordsmith at work. As with her songs, Anne doesn’t let the work see the
light of day until she is satisfied with it (or so it seems to me).
I
note one reviewer (Linda
Schoales, www.webfictionguide.com)
has expressed concern that not much has happened early in
the novel. I found the same, but setting the locations and developing characters
and character relationships can take time, and I thought this was approached in
entertaining detail. Once past the earlier sections, the action
starts. As in her hard copy novels, Anne has again managed to pose the
usual mystery story how/why/what/where issues in her usual intriguing fashion.
I would urge readers to read well
into the novel (perhaps wait until the end) before forming opinions. Not
all mystery books are littered with corpses in the first ten
pages . . . or, indeed, the first ten chapters.
(Ian Clarke, Brisbane, Australia)
April 23, 2009
China Wind is a dramatic mystery where the
investigators must unravel the intrigue and rumour surrounding gun-running,
corporate crime, disappearances and, of course, murder.
The
author paints a remarkable picture of pre-handover Hong Kong - from the
criminal underbelly right down to the gossip-network of household staff.
The accurate and
detailed descriptions bring locations to life, such as the ‘the army of elderly
women employed to clean the city’s public rubbish bins’ in Hong Kong that the
policemen tap as sources.
It keeps you
guessing to the end. Who are the real villains?
Each chapter is
self-contained and beautifully illustrated with a picture alongside the title
so it’s very easy to pick up wherever I left off.
I’d highly
recommend it.
(Angela Poole, London, UK)
April 21, 2009
I feel that the editorial review of China Wind by Linda Schoales (www.webfictionguide.com) is unfair; it would appear that this review was written after reading only ten chapters, surely a lot more reading is needed to give a fair comment.
Her example of extraneous description is actually of one particular character Wanda, who requires to be fully described as she disappears early on in the story but still features greatly in the plot, and as Linda Schoales herself states Wanda is a memorable character.
As in a good Agatha Christie mystery there are many subplots and characters to keep the reader intrigued and captivated until the end when all will be revealed.
The book is currently up to chapter 47 and I am thoroughly enjoying it and would highly recommend it to anyone.
(June G, Brisbane, Australia)
15th
April, 2009
China
Wind - highly recommended
Reading Anne Infante’s China Wind is like opening a well-wrapped gift – most relevant considering its Christmas setting. As you open each layer, Anne gently builds her characters and context, leading to the discovery of the mystery at its heart. There is also a hint of romance for Carol Monk which is like the sparkly bow on top – but who will be the successful suitor?
Anne unfolds the map of pre-handover Hong Kong with vivid descriptions of the city and its surrounding territories and sets the plot in a realistic political, business and social milieu. The easy pace allows the reader to develop their own theories about what’s happened to Wanda, where is Pat, is Guy really a bad guy and just what is going on at Langford Price? She deftly handles her large cast, ruthlessly bumping them off where necessary and adding intrigue upon intrigue as the plot advances.
I’m enjoying my daily dose of China Wind – although I do get a bit frustrated by not being able to read further each day to the end.
(Julie Dendle, Brisbane, Australia)
13th
April, 2009
I am reading and enjoying
"China Wind". The thing is, one can read it at their own
pace. I read the story once a week so that I have more than one
episode. I like the fact that although it is a murder mystery, it is not
graphic as to every detail of how the murder was done. I enjoy reading a
book that I do not have to skip a third of the book because of the sex scenes
in "moaning" detail. Other than doing research on the computer
and reading specific parts of books, I have not read a novel online and
find the fact that I have to be at the computer and sitting up a bit
strange. I have not been to Hong Kong and so do find the descriptions
helpful and the plot goes from place to place in the city and the pictures are
great. I do use the list of characters as at times I have to refresh my
mind from week to week. I also usually do a short review of the last
chapter I read from the previous week before I start the present week’s
reading.
The
descriptions let me get a picture of the street, person, city. Some of us
need to actually see the subject in our mind as the story flows through our
brain. That’s why when I read a book and then see the movie, I am
disappointed as the directors do not interpret the book in the same way I do and
thus the thrust of the story gets waylaid at times.
(Dora Wode, USA)
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