A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 5th of March 2024

5 out of 5 stars 

Tony Henderson’s series, The Shanghai Circle, captivates readers by delving into the intricate fabric of Shanghai during the 1930s and illuminating the lives of both the indigenous and foreign populace. The story centres on three unique personalities who are brought together by the city’s allure. First, we are introduced to Joseph Cheung, the heir to a wealthy triad family, who is battling his search for love and self-awareness as well as family conflicts. He faces enormous obstacles as mysteries surrounding his family’s background come to light.

This book is a monument to the craft of storytelling in the field of literary adventure, where words dance together to create an engaging story. The reader is kept on the edge of their seat, waiting impatiently to find out what secrets are hiding behind the next page as each chapter opens with a promise. Amid these masterfully written words, Thomas Matters—a constant favourite—found a home in my heart. From the depths of the story, he rises to become a figure of courage and intelligence, inspiring awe in the reader. He was depicted in the inked tapestry as a valiant man who overcame obstacles in his training and performed his tasks with unswerving accuracy, despite the fact that he was a foreigner in a foreign country.

This is a gripping story of prostitution, drug abuse, criminality, betrayal, revenge, money, war, and love. From start to finish, I had fun reading the book. Tony Henderson did a good job at character development. The most developed characters were Irina and Joseph. Thomas was my favourite character. I adore that he expressed a desire to learn the local tongue. I really like how polite and loving he was to everyone. Davina’s father was the one I liked most. He shaped his daughter into the leader of a huge corporation in a male-dominated environment. Giving his daughter the opportunity that no other woman in their neighbourhood had previously had was incredibly gutsy of him.

There are some parts of the story that I didn’t really like. The book really demonstrates a remarkable level of imagination and inventiveness, but it also has several shortcomings that didn’t exactly make me feel all that enthusiastic about it. Among these is the book’s long length, which got to be too much at points. The overabundance of information dragged the story down, and some of the justifications seemed superfluous, which made the overly intricate details unpleasant.

For those who enjoy complex, compelling narratives, I would suggest this book. It’s ideal for those who like books with a lot of world-building and intricate detail. The book had flawless editing and no errors, so I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.