Bitter Little Mooncake
Zhao Wen. The city's golden boy, hailed as a titan of industry and a beacon of charity. Scratch the surface, and you'll find a black market kingpin, his fortune built on kickbacks and a body count that could drown the harbour. He's my target. Taking him out should be a clean operation, but 'clean' isn't in my handler Jane's vocabulary. She prefers 'complicated' and 'life-threatening'.
Now, I'm navigating a labyrinth of vents, freezing in a designer dress, and wrestling the urge to use my overly confident contact as a human shield. This mission is a recipe for disaster, and I'm just trying to survive Jane's latest twisted test.
- Marin - Professional assassin
- Jane - Marin’s agent
- Zhao Wen - Marin’s target, corrupt businessman
- Jimmy Crane - Marin’s local contact
- Marin arrives in Shanghai and meets up with Jimmy.
- Zhao is hosting a rooftop party, and Jimmy and Marin plan to sneak in.
- Jimmy and Marin crawl through the building’s air ducts to reach the party.
- They exit the air ducts and join the party.
- Marin poisons Zhao’s mooncake, and he dies after taking a bite.
- Marin and Jimmy slip out of the party unnoticed.
- Marin boards a jet to her next destination.
Catching up with a familiar protagonist is always a treat, and Marin is as effortlessly witty as ever while tracking down her latest target, a corrupt businessman. The writing remains sharp, making it easy to slip right back into her world. Having Jimmy by her side was a welcome surprise, adding a solid dynamic to the story rather than just a passing cameo.
That said, this particular outing didn't capture the usual tension and flare I expect from her adventures. There is also a noticeable missed opportunity with the setting; despite the focus on a specific holiday, I walked away with hardly any sense of what the celebration actually entailed or why it mattered to the backdrop.
If you like witty protagonists, dynamic partnerships, and taking down corrupt businessmen, then you will enjoy this book.
- Murder
ASIN: B0FRFPS4DG
Publication Date: September 17, 2025
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
