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Precious Dragon: The Detective Inspector Chen Novels, Book Three Hardcover – June 1, 2007

by Liz Williams (Author)
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In this, the third Detective Inspector Chen novel, Chen and Zhu are given a major assignment to escort an emissary from heaven on a diplomatic mission to hell. Zhu tries to dodge his demonic family's overtures, but ends up embroiled in hell's political intrigues. At the same time, a young boy born to ghostly parents in Hell is sent to live with his grandmother in Singapore Three. The boy, Precious Dragon, is being chased by Hell's most dangerous creatures and ends up being the key to unlock the mystery that is quickly spiraling out of control. Chen and Zhu find themselves in the middle of a struggle much bigger then they can fully comprehend, and when the dust finally settles, neither heaven nor hell will be the same.

Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
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  1. Book 3 of 5
    The Detective Inspector Chen Novels
  2. Print length
    256 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Night Shade
  5. Publication date
    June 1, 2007
  6. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1597800821
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1597800822
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The pleasantly suspenseful third fantastical mystery (after The Demon and the City) in Williams's Det. Insp. Chen series throws Chen and his demon partner, Zhu Irzh, into the heart of a deadly political storm. While investigating a chorus girl's disappearance, the duo are called on to escort a diplomatic envoy from Heaven, the Celestial Miss Mi Li Qi, on a fact-finding mission to Hell. Neither detective is happy about this task, particularly Zhu Irzh, as the trip coincides with his mother's birthday and he dreads seeing his family. Meanwhile, the strange birth of a boy to newlywed ghosts sets off a scramble between the forces of Hell and Heaven. Someone tries to assassinate Zhu Irzh's mum, and Miss Qi goes missing as cosmic forces collide with cataclysmic results. Though Chen and Zhu Irzh are mostly along for the ride, the other colorful characters and imaginative settings extrapolated from ancient Chinese mythology make for a unique story that fans and new readers will enjoy. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The third Inspector Chen caper finds the spell-weaving detective and his demonic sidekick, Zhu Irzh, embroiled in a new intrigue pitting the forces of Hell against those of Heaven. With recent exposure to both realms, Chen and Irzh are the perfect candidates to escort angelic emissary Miss Qi on an unlikely diplomatic mission to Hell's ministry of war. No sooner have the threesome settled into their subterranean hotels than Miss Qi is abducted by a shadowy figure whose footprints lead straight to Irzh's dysfunctional family. A few spells and gumshoe excursions later, Chen and Irzh find themselves hazardously struggling to free Miss Qi from Hell's chaotic ministry of lust. Williams enhances the suspense with separate story lines involving an aging celestial dragon disguised as a small boy and a disembodied Chinese opera understudy whose fates ultimately intertwine with those of Chen and Irzh. A final, climactic battle between Hell's bristling military and Heaven's menagerie of mythical beasts wraps up one of the most colorfully imaginative packages in recent fantasy. Hays, Carl

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Night Shade; First Edition (June 1, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1597800821
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1597800822
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

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Liz Williams

Liz Williams

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
101 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the content very interesting and fun. They also praise the writing style as compelling and imaginative. Readers also mention the characters and settings are interesting and imaginative, making the book a great read.

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ContentWriting styleSetting
10 customers mention "Content"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the content interesting, imaginative, and fun. They also say the book is well written and has a sense of sweep and grandeur.

"...books in this marvelously inventive series are, well, marvelous and inventive, but I think this is my favorite...." Read more

"The author does present an interesting storyline...." Read more

"...and the various Hells and Heavens - are very interesting and great fun also...." Read more

"This is the second book I've read about n this series and it's so very entertaining. The world and the characters are so vividly imagined." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style compelling, and describe the book as a real page turner. They also say it's a good read.

"...Williams is a smooth, elegant writer, and her plots, though they might seem outlandish, are really well thought-out and logical in their own..." Read more

"...Her writing is compelling and her characters and settings - Singapore Three for instance!..." Read more

"...Well written, unusually imaginative with a sense of sweep and grandeur.It should be read after the two preceding novels...." Read more

"This series is a good read. Interesting and exotic settings and characters, action, intrigue and intricate plotting...." Read more

4 customers mention "Setting"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters and settings in the book interesting and imaginative.

"...to move from one 'book' to the other due to the unique characters and unusual setting. I don't consider the writing at all exceptional...." Read more

"...The world and the characters are so vividly imagined." Read more

"The book’s characters and settings are so interesting and imaginative...." Read more

"This series is a good read. Interesting and exotic settings and characters, action, intrigue and intricate plotting...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Honora McDonald
5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2014
Verified Purchase
All the books in this marvelously inventive series are, well, marvelous and inventive, but I think this is my favorite. Zhu Irzh is certainly my favorite demon police inspector from Hell, and the badger-teakettle is quite, quite wonderful. Williams is a smooth, elegant writer, and her plots, though they might seem outlandish, are really well thought-out and logical in their own wondrous sphere. This is a mythology the fantasy reader does not often encounter, and she handles it brilliantly, with wit and panache. I heartily recommend any of the books in this series.
2 people found this helpful
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Beavo63
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting enough
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2017
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The author does present an interesting storyline. I found myself anxious to move from one 'book' to the other due to the unique characters and unusual setting. I don't consider the writing at all exceptional. Occasionally the author will use a simile or metaphor that's creative and shows that she has a talent. But there are way too many characters, no real depth to any of them and a formulaic feel to the series. Most annoying of all is the telling and not showing along with POV hopping. Still, I probably will read the two that are remaining in the series.
2 people found this helpful
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Arequipa
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellet book in the Inspector Chen series
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2013
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You don't have to read the Inspector Chen books in order, though as with any series, the characters develop from one book to another. Liz Williams is one of the most imaginative authors around today. Her writing is compelling and her characters and settings - Singapore Three for instance! and the various Hells and Heavens - are very interesting and great fun also. After reading these books you wonder if you could take your next (adventure!) vacation there, and then you remember they are products of her vivid imagination.
3 people found this helpful
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KatDee
5.0 out of 5 stars Very vivid world
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2020
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This is the second book I've read about n this series and it's so very entertaining. The world and the characters are so vividly imagined.
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Leslie S.
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2018
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I really like this series. Fun to read and hard to put down. This moved fast and the ongoing story has another layer. And there were dragons! I was instantly sucked in! I did notice that there were quite a few editing errors, mostly wrong words or proper names not capitalized. That’s why a 4 Star. Looking forward to the next book.
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M A Schultz
5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing look into an alternate universe where the supernatural is commonplace
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2017
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The book’s characters and settings are so interesting and imaginative. It is also amusing that the otherworldly beings at times seem to have mundane difficulties like ours, for example, dysfunctional families, awkward social situations and jealous girlfriends.
One person found this helpful
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Kulamata
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Detective Inspector Chen So Far
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2009
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I just finished Precious Dragon. It's one of the very few books in recent years to evoke a sense of wonder; the gathering and return home of some unusual characters was an exceptional vignette. Well written, unusually imaginative with a sense of sweep and grandeur.

It should be read after the two preceding novels.

The publisher, Night Shade Books, is putting out some very interesting books these days.
5 people found this helpful
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NadMan
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of fun
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2015
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This series is a good read. Interesting and exotic settings and characters, action, intrigue and intricate plotting. I wish she had written more than five tales in the universe, I'll be sorry to read the last one
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Bookwyrm
5.0 out of 5 stars More Eastern Intrigue
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2007
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Desipte the similarity Precious Dragon has to Bill Watterson's Calvin on the cover, this book is all about Eastern beliefs and the politics between Heaven and Hell. You learn more about the life of those who work in Hell and how similar it seems to those in the mortal realm. Zhu Irzh again steals the show - he is my favourite character by far! Fast paced and gripping right to the end, it's difficult to say much more about the book without giving away the plot. I loved it!
One person found this helpful
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Mrs Rumi
5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated Author
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 13, 2020
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I have really enjoyed the Inspector Chen books and this is no exception. I ordered Snake Agent by accident but have found I want to read all of them now! If you enjoy intelligent sci fantasy with a detective story line then this is for you.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Return to Singapore 3
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is another of Liz Williams' Singapore 3 novels, part police procedural, part supernatural sci-fi. Precious Dragon is a little boy with a big secret and Singapore 3 is in for some heavy times as events in the Chinese Hells (and Heaven) spill over into the mundane world.
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