A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 31st of December 2023
4 out of 5 stars
In The Shanghai Circle, Tony Henderson immerses the reader into the tumultuous lives of four individuals as they withstand the unprecedented changes brought onto the vibrant city of Shanghai by the arrival of the Imperial Japanese Army in the late 1930s. Davina, the heiress to an immense business, prepares to train recruits while dealing with current discoveries of her mother’s death. The new recruit, Thomas, immerses himself into the affluent society while yearning to help the less fortunate which begins to engross Shanghai. Meanwhile, Joseph, the son of a powerful triad leader, enters into the illicit underground society and yearns for ways to prove his competence to his father. Intertwined in all of these lives is Irina, the daughter of a Russian aristocrat, whose family came to Shanghai after losing everything.
Henderson’s narrative leads us to the various districts of Shanghai society. From the brothels to the sophisticated clubs, these characters must face moral dilemmas while attempting to mould themselves into their perspective communities. The storyline shows us the struggles that both upper-class and lower-class civilians underwent as refugees flocked into Shanghai seeking a place to start anew.
Throughout the novel, Henderson uses the themes of power, family legacy, and revenge to show us how culture holds a person steadfast through challenges. Whether it be due to money or family, all four characters share their own experiences of having power and losing power. Henderson illustrates to the reader the importance of family legacy and how “keeping face” can contribute to revenge.
The novel features strong female characters who break from their traditional gender roles and work towards growing their business. The male characters also learn how to use the power set before them to help others or to regain power and influence.
The novel was professionally edited as no mistakes could be found. One minor flaw in the novel was that the flow of events, towards the middle of the novel, felt a bit forced and unnatural. Aside from this small flaw, the novel was an enjoyable read that takes the reader through a tumultuous time period in Shanghai’s history. The Shanghai Circle earns 4 out of 5 stars for its captivating plot and enjoyable characters. I deducted one star for the reason mentioned above.
I would recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction, especially to those who enjoy learning about new cultures.