Search - The Skull Mantra (Inspector Shan, Bk 1)

The blurbs on the book call this a thriller. It's more than that. Shan, investigator from Beijing who's now a political prisoner in Tibet, is called upon to help solve the beheading of the Prosecutor of the district. The book is long and involved, but fascinating every step of the way. A vivid picture of Tibet and political China adds to the mix. I really liked this book and heartily reccommend it.

The author provides much interesting information about Tibet and its culture and the way it has been destroyed by the Chinese invasion. The mystery was a bit garbled and convoluted and I kept losing track of who the characters were. Pattison writes beautifully and compellingly when speaking of Tibet, its people, and Buddhism. I will read his other novels only because of this and not for the mysteries.

Excellent read! First in a series. Lot of research went into this book and it shows. You always feel badly for everyone in the book but they all carry on in spite of a horrific life, showing the depth of human spirit.

This is a well crafted book. It moves logically. The subplots are well integrated and this promises to be a good series. If you are a fan of Colin Cotterall, you will love this book.

I read this book a few years ago, and just found it again. I don't remember much of the story, but I loved it - it was an excellent read!