A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 25th of May 2024

5 out of 5 stars

I have always been a fan of Asian movies; it does not matter if they were Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Taiwanese, I’d watch them, so when I read the book title, The Shanghai Circle, I was immediately drawn. I wanted to know if the book would carry the same aura of excellence as the movies, and I was not disappointed. The book cover raised my expectations to the highest level. I was anxious, not knowing what to expect. Will there be gangs? Will there be drug dealers? Will there be gang wars? Will there be that one extremely devoted cop? Find out by reading this book.

There was a society called the Sung Triad that had Cheung Pak-ho as the leader. They had rules that governed them that, when broken, are punishable by law, and that law also includes death. On the starting pages of the book, we are introduced to Pak-ho’s son, Joseph, who is to be his successor. China was on the verge of an impending Japanese invasion. On the other hand, we have Charles Guest, an excelling businessman with a daughter, Davina Guest.

It is said not to buy other people’s resentment or emotions toward another person, but in this case, Cheung Pak-ho harbors resentment toward Charles Guest-taipan and transfers his hatred to Joseph. Charles arrived with his daughter Davina, who is to succeed him in Hong Kong while trying to relocate his business; however, it is uncommon for a woman to be in a position of authority in traditional China; thus, Davina’s succession plan is still up in the air.

The way Joseph was portrayed caught my attention the most. Being the son of a formidable triad’s boss, he is thrown into a world where cruelty, devotion, and power collide. I was drawn to his character when he had to call the shots, as regarding Leung’s case. He had to ignore the pleas of mercy in order to uphold their laws. Not everyone born into power has it easy. While outsiders only see the benefits of this power, the power holders feel the burnt of having this power through the pressure and everything it takes to live up to the standard. I loved the action in this book. I was not let down in the slightest bit. While people may think it is too descriptive, I loved every aspect of it as these are scenes I am familiar with in these kinds of themes. The way Davina and her father are portrayed was appealing to me. Charles grants her authority and responsibility and allows her use that authority despite it being in a world vastly dominated by men. I loved how the author could express raw emotions just with words. The cursing when a person was extremely angry stood out to me.

I gave this book, The Shanghai Circle, by Tony Henderson, a rating of five out of five stars because I found nothing unappealing. It was carefully edited, and I found no mistakes when reading it. Fans of Asian historical fiction should read this novel, especially if they have an interest in Shanghai’s past, crime, or intricate power relationships. Adult readers who value in-depth examinations of societal inequalities and individual difficulties within historical circumstances will also find it appropriate.