Susan G. (SusanG) -
As in the the first book about exiled Beijing investigator Shan Tao Yun, The Skull Mantra, this is a mystery / thriller that brings us to "the scarred beauty of contemporary Tibet". It is a complex story set in the borderlands and shows the terrible Chinese repression of the Tibetan people, their rich culture, and includes the clans and tribes in the Uighur and Kazakh areas. It is an engrossing story and well worth the effort to sort out all the complicated characters. It is an up close and personal look at the beauty of this area and its people and the horrible pain and tragedy that can be inflicted for political and financial reasons.
This is a re-read for me which should tell you that I love the Eliot Pattison series. The complexity of plot, the chance to learn about another culture, the insights into today's news: all made WATER TOUCHING STONE a pleasure to read.
.
.
not as good as book 1. I had to push thru it.
