Category Archives: Reading Game

07.21.14
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Staff Review: “The Water Rat of Wanchai” by Ian Hamilton

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The idea of following the adventures of a Chinese-Canadian forensic account seems like a bit of a chore.  And the fact that this novel was written by a white former journalist, who is a grandfather of seven made me even more skeptical.  My misgivings were quickly dismissed as I dove into the intriguing world of Ava Lee, a poised, powerful, intelligent young woman, who specializes in hunting down and recovering massive debts.  She works for an elderly “Uncle”, who may or may not have ties to the Chinese Triads.  Again, the premise of the first book seems odd–$5 million dollars was stolen from a seafood company.  There is a portion of an early chapter devoted to describing the ways the shrimp importing industry can cheat suppliers…it was amazingly compelling.  And as Ava starts her search in affluent Hong Kong, I eagerly joined the journey.  Everything seems like it just going to be a series of globe-trotting meetings until Ava eventually close to the end of the line in Guyana.  Here she is without her usual resources and meets her match in the powerful and corrupt Captain Robbins.  The last few chapters are tension-filled page turners as the seemingly unbeatable heroine gets into real danger.

To quote the Montreal Gazette: “When the central character looks like Lucy Liu, kicks like Jackie Chan, and has a travel budget like Donald Trump, the story is anything but boring…”

I’m looking forward to meeting Ava again in The Disciple of Las Vegas and also looking forward to meeting Ian Hamilton at St. Albert Public Library on October 20, 2014 for STARFest Readers Festival (www.starfest.ca)!

–Michelle