Ava Lee #1: “The Water Rat of Wanchai”
by Ian Hamilton. Ava Lee is assigned to track down five million dollars cheated
from a relative of Uncle’s friend in a fish scam. The trail is easy to follow,
but the people in power that Ava must deal with are worse than the crooks, and
are easily turned to murder. And their power stretches beyond their own locale.
However, they’ve never met someone like Ava Lee, and Uncle’s worldwide
connections might prove even more powerful than world dictators.
Although the numbering system appears
messed up, this is the first novel in the series. Ava has partnered with Uncle
now for over ten years, and their bond is totally Chinese. The author’s writing
style is smooth, and the story flows swiftly, even if the trail seems slow. 400
pages seem more like 200 pages, making for a fast read. The characters come
alive, though at times it appears Ava finds the culprits and money a bit too
easily; it’s the retrieval of the money that can cause problems for her.
Thankfully, there isn’t page after page of martial arts, but when the need
arises Ava employs bac mai with lethal force. Highly recommended for
fans of interesting female leads.