This may look as if it's a collection of short stories. It isn't. It may look like a series of cases for the Hong Kong police. That's a bit more plausible. But it's only when the last page has been turned that the structure of the book's chapters and sections starts to fall together. Heaven forbid I should reveal anything: I can say that this is not your usual crime fiction; that it's set in a place at several times; and that the characters are generously created, and repay close attention. A surprise, an unexpected treat, and may there be another book soon. Ho-Kei Chan is to be congratulated, both for what he wrote and in his choice of translator.