About Time I Read It: Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart

Over the last several years I’ve been reading more historical fiction, but almost all of it set in Europe or the United States. Back in February I decided to buck that trend with Lily King’s 2014 historical novel Euphoria set on the island of New Guinea in the 1930s. Recently, I decided to do it again with Elsa Hart’s 2015 debut mystery novel Jade Dragon Mountain. After finishing it early this morning I found her debut piece of fiction well-crafted, entertaining and left me wanting to read the other two books in this series.

It’s 1708 and representatives from across China and beyond have converged upon Dayan, a remote mountain town near China’s border with Tibet. From the bustling markets to the crowded inns the town is abuzz with excitement. In less than a week the area will experience a total eclipse and to mark the momentous occasion the Emperor himself will be visiting Dayan from the capital Beijing.

Indifferent to the upcoming festivities is Li Du, passing through town en route to Tibet. Once an imperial librarian  serving in the capital he’s now a political exile, unjustly banished by the Emperor in the wake of an unsuccessful assassination plot. Soon after Li arrives a visiting Jesuit scholar is poisoned to death in the mansion of the local magistrate, who also happens to be the former librarian’s cousin. At first Li refuses to get involved and continues on his way to Tibet. But fearful the Jesuit’s murder will be pinned on innocent parties Li agrees to return to Dayan and find the real killer. To keep things interesting there’s no shortage of suspects, with the bulk of them politically powerful or significantly influential, and all possessing secrets to safeguard.

In her debut novel Hart has managed to put together an intelligent whodunnit that’s well-written, and without revealing too much leaves no loose ends. Definitely one of 2023’s pleasant surprises.