A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 8th of April 2024

5 out of 5 stars

Shanghai, 1936. Triad rule reigns supreme, fueled by drugs and brothel businesses. The city simmers under the threat of a brewing war, forcing many to seek refuge wherever they can. The three protagonists navigate this treacherous landscape, clinging to their own codes of survival. The story revolves around the lives of Joseph, Davina, and Irina.
The Sung Triad, led by Cheung Pak-ho, faces internal conflict as Joseph, Cheung’s son and heir, makes a reckless decision that unleashes a storm of violence. Joseph finds himself in deep remorse when someone else pays for his mistakes. Charles Guest, a successful businessman, is haunted by his wife’s death at the hands of the triad and strives to keep his daughter Davina safe and successful. Irina, once from a wealthy Russian family, is now trapped in a loveless life with Cheung, and fights for survival with unwavering determination.
As the Japanese invasion tightens its grip and Shanghai is under attack, Joseph, Davina and her friend Thomas find themselves entangled in a struggle for escape and the protection of loved ones. Can they navigate the treacherous city and forge their own paths amidst the brutal war?

The Shanghai Circle by Tony Henderson caught my immediate attention in the first chapter. The various events that take place throughout the story are supported by a good background. There are many characters, and each one has a unique relationship with the other. Their relationship was pretty confusing in the beginning. But as the story progresses, you cannot help but dive into the immense plot.

I loved the traditional set-up used to describe the nature of the events taking place. Such as ships and boats used to travel long distances. Rickshaws and taxis were used rather than posh cars. This added a retro feel to the story and made it realistic to imagine.

I also observed how society’s standards affected people of different classes. The typhoon destroyed everything on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon streets. The livelihoods of the people were destroyed, animals were dying, and their crops and fish farms were wrecked. While the poor mourned their losses and could do nothing for themselves, the rich in high-rise apartments just watched the wreckage.

This part speaks in depth about how money plays a role in life. The rich were worried about their business losses, while the poor were counting their dead.

The Shanghai Circle by Tony Henderson delivers a unique and wonderful reading experience. Even though it’s set up in historical times, the story doesn’t fail to convey some of the greatest life lessons. The book has some gory, sensitive content, including sexual assault, and profanity, and is not recommended to sensitive readers.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars for its exceptional writing and engaging reading experience. I found a grammatical error or two, but that did not affect my reading experience in any way. This book is well-edited. I did not find any negative aspects either.

This book is highly recommended to historical fiction lovers.