A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 3rd of May 2024
5 out of 5 stars
Tony Henderson’s “The Shanghai Circle” is quite different from an average historical novel. Step right up for a death-defying walk on the razor edge of the neon-drenched maze of 1930s Shanghai. Here the ambition and the corruption get entangled, and at the same time, the war drums slowly grumble in the background.
The storyline plays like a very well-crafted, beautiful tapestry. On the other hand, we have Jason Green, who is an impetuous American merchant who finds himself amid something that can set Sung Society’s people against them in a clash. But Mei Ling, from the wealthy and influential Guest family, whose relationships with the British government are an important matter, is involved in all kinds of political manipulations. As the difference between loyalties and treason gets murky, their journey coincides, forcing them to undergo this turbulent terrain that is formed by ruthlessness and trickery.
The switch between chapters, between Jack’s rough American style and Mei Ling’s complex view of the work as a whole, offers the reader an intriguing view of the mixed feelings in the city. Yet, some readers may experience the pace between points of view as jarring from time to time. The novel’s power lies in its deep description of pre-war Shanghai. However, Henderson is excellently able to describe the city as full of both opulence and poverty that fight each other. The characters, starting with the tough triad chieftain and moving on to the tormented socialite, are believably constructed and suffer from moral conflicts. The story goes into depth on the topics of loyalty, treachery, and the struggle to stay alive in a world moving precariously toward the precipice of fighting.
The book is worth 5 out of 5 stars, in my opinion. Even though the editing was excellent and there was nothing to dislike, on the other hand, I have a suggestion that the book could have gone even further by portraying the delicate situation between China and Japan. Besides, the characters that represent certain Chinese individuals could be shown, which will enhance the storyline.