I've been wanting to read something about Shanghai's treaty port era for a while – it just seems such a perfect juxtaposition of pulp tropes with the ruthless realities of colonialism, both western and eastern. Now, granted the focus here is on two men, Jack Riley and 'Dapper' Joe Farren, and on the end of that era, but that's not necessarily a problem; who doesn't first learn about Republican Rome via one or another account of Julius Caesar? The issue is more the style; this is the sort of history which wants to read like a novel, meaning constant accounts of what people are thinking and feeling, the sort of thing the historical record can't possibly support. And there are times and styles where that works, but here it's all deployed in the service of the sort of macho non-fiction which used to sometimes get given away on the cover of lad mags (remember Rat Pack Confidential?), and which one would once have said desperately wanted to be picked up for a film, but which now clearly has its eye on a streaming deal.

(Netgalley ARC, which I feel like I requested from the UK site, got refused, then requested again from US and ended up with, but by that stage was out of the mood and hence didn't get around to for ages? Maybe the other way around? Anyway, by the time I started it I was excited for it again, it just really didn't agree with me. I'm not sure I've ever abandoned two books in one week before)

It is often commented by readers that they wish to be able to read a true crime story as easily as they can a crime fiction one, Paul French has accomplished that in my eyes. This was an endlessly compelling tale and proves that it's true what they say - the truth certainly is stranger than fiction! I haven't come across French before despite being a lover of true crime but I am already looking to acquire his other books.

This is a meticulously researched narrative and it shows throughout the book. I imagine that a massive amount of time went into compiling this for us readers to enjoy - thank you to the author for that. I love Asian history and have a thirst to know more, couple that with it being true crime and you have a title that is pretty close to perfection for me! French has found a niche and that is a rarity these days when generally everything has been done to death.

All in all, this is a wonderful read. I enjoyed learning about everything that was going on back in the 1930's and hearing about the criminals that flocked to Shanghai to escape their pasts. If you're looking for a nuanced true crime title, you cannot go far wrong with this! I was so pleased to learn French has written about North Korea, that is right up street and i'm off to purchase it right now.

Many thanks to riverrun for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.