A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 24th of October 2023
5 out of 5 stars
As war looms over Shanghai, Joseph, Davina, Irina, and Thomas find themselves on different paths of the same intertwined journey. Joseph, being the son of a triad leader, is being groomed to take up the family business and head up operations in Hong Kong. Being an ambitious young man eager to please his father, he looks forward to opening this chapter of his life. Is he up to the task?
Davina, on the other hand, is the daughter of a powerful businessman, the owner of Guest Company, who wishes for her daughter to continue their family legacy by taking over the company despite the societal expectation of a man-run business.
During a war in Russia, a wealthy couple flees with nothing from their previous lives but a daughter, Irina. Orphaned at a young age in the unforgiving streets of Shanghai, Irina is forced to find her way in the world.
A Brit with admiration for Asian culture, backed by passion, Thomas finds himself working for a guest company in Shanghai, with not the slightest clue of what awaits him. How does this unlikeliest cast find their journeys connected?
Being a tale of different worlds webbing together in an unseen fashion, The Shanghai Circle must be applauded for its originality. Tony Henderson creates a story filled with culture, drama, and thrill, blended in with the ugliness and reality of life. He addresses societal vices such as drug abuse, crime, and sexual abuse. Through the well-developed characters, we are taken into an immersive and captivating story with a flawless plot and impeccable editing.
In some instances, in the book, some immoral stances were upheld and, to some extent, praised. This is one of the two aspects that didn’t quite resonate with me. Graphic descriptions of gruesome events also didn’t sit well.
Inasmuch as the two negatives ought to affect the score, the articulation style, originality, flawless flow, and even the editing warrant that this book be given 5 out of 5 stars. Anyone who is interested in crime, drama, thrillers, and action should definitely pick this up.