A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 3rd January 2024

5 out of 5 stars

The Shanghai Circle by Tony Henderson is a book set in Shanghai during the 1900s. The novel is a saga about the clash between two prominent factions fighting each other for honor and revenge. Joseph is part of the Sung Society, a triad gang led by his father, Chung. Davina is the heir apparent to a conglomerate called Guest, run by Charles and his comprador S.L. Thomas and James are new employees at Guest. While the Japanese plan to invade China, the mistakes of parents catch up to the children. Old wounds reopen as shocking truths come out regarding the deaths of family members. With gang initiations, shocking crimes, betrayals, and natural disasters, the book as a whole tells the story of people trying very hard to protect what they love.

The storyline is very addictive. The author incorporated real-life events into the novel, such as the Japanese invasion and the opium war. Such realistic touches which are added to the storytelling, make the book satisfying to read. The author managed to capture the beauty and essence of Shanghai in the book.

The character’s conversations in the book are deep and thoughtful. The romance between characters, in particular, was unhurried and gradual to develop. The reader will hence find it easier to empathize with the characters in the story.

There is nothing I disliked about this book. It was entertaining to the very end, with every chapter moving the storyline excitingly forward.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The book was well-edited, and I found no grammatical errors. A thrilling read, I suggest this book to readers who enjoy themes such as gangs, war, and crime. Readers who enjoy romance will find this book surprisingly satisfying. The book is more suitable for adults due to adult themes and explicit language.