A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 4th of March  2024

5 out of 5 stars

Tony Henderson’s book, The Shanghai Circle, takes you back to old Shanghai, a city getting ready for big changes. It happened in 1936, when things were tense in Shanghai. We follow two families: the Guests and the Cheungs. Davina Guest is a strong young woman getting ready to run her family’s business. Joseph Cheung has had sad things happen in his past and is being trained to lead a powerful group called the Sung Society, a kind of gang.

As you read this book, you’ll feel like you’re right there in the city, feeling its energy and seeing its diverse people. The book talks about big themes like power, survival, and the complicated parts of love and family. One thing that makes The Shanghai Circle special and lovely to read is its characters. Each person feels real and has their own struggles and goals. Davina is ambitious, Joseph is torn between his past and his future, and Irina Donsky brings mystery to the story. Their lives cross paths in unexpected ways, keeping the story exciting.

The book moves quickly, with lots of interesting things that are not predictable. You’ll be hooked throughout the time you spend reading this book, wondering what will play out. Davina and Joseph’s stories, along with Irina’s, bring perfection to the book. And the way the author, Tony Henderson, describes old Shanghai is fantastic. I recommend this book to people who love history or just want a good story. The Shanghai Circle is a good book that gives one a peek into a fascinating time in China’s past, full of adventure and the spirit of its people.

There was nothing that I disliked about this book or found in need of improvement, so I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. There are no errors in this book, so it was exceptionally edited. I recommend this book to people who read about history and suspense.