Shanghai’s criminal underworld demands writers who understand that in a city of twenty-five million souls, the most dangerous crimes hide behind silk curtains and banking towers.
No metropolis offers crime writers a more intoxicating blend of historical shadow and contemporary menace than Shanghai. From the gangster-ruled International Settlement of the 1930s to today’s gleaming financial towers built on buried secrets, this city rewards authors who grasp its essential truth: power corrupts most beautifully when wrapped in silk and ceremony. The best Shanghai crime fiction understands that corruption here isn’t crude—it’s an art form practiced across centuries.
The Series Worth Your Time
DCI Isaac Cook — Phillip Strang
London’s darkest homicide cases demand a detective who understands that evil wears a thousand faces. Cook’s investigations peel back the city’s polite veneer to expose the rot beneath—exactly what Shanghai crime fiction does for China’s most cosmopolitan city.
Gangsters of Shanghai
O’Sullivan delivers authentic period atmosphere in this exploration of Shanghai’s criminal underworld during its most lawless era. His research into the city’s gangster history shows through every page, though the plotting occasionally buckles under the weight of historical detail. Still, for readers who want their crime fiction steeped in genuine atmosphere rather than Hollywood stereotypes, this stands as essential reading. The author understands that Shanghai’s criminals were businessmen first, thugs second.
Verdict: Historically rich but narratively uneven—a solid choice for atmosphere over action.
Night in Shanghai
Mones crafts a sophisticated blend of jazz-age atmosphere and wartime intrigue that elevates Shanghai crime fiction beyond its usual boundaries. Her protagonist navigates the city’s musical underground while darker forces gather, creating tension that feels both historically authentic and emotionally immediate. The author’s deep understanding of Chinese culture prevents this from falling into orientalist cliché—a trap that snares too many Western writers attempting Shanghai settings. This is crime fiction that respects its setting.
Verdict: Elegant and atmospheric—the rare Shanghai crime novel that earns its exotic setting.
Shanghai Girls
See transforms the historical crime genre by focusing on survival rather than detection, creating something more powerful than conventional mystery fiction. Her portrayal of Shanghai during wartime chaos reveals how ordinary people become criminals simply by trying to live—a theme that resonates through both historical and contemporary Chinese crime fiction. The sequel, “Dreams of Joy,” continues this exploration with devastating effectiveness. See writes with the authority of someone who understands that in Shanghai, the greatest crimes are often committed by circumstance, not choice.
Verdict: Transcends genre boundaries to become essential reading about survival and family.
A MAYA THORNE MYSTERY
Get Dust and Bones Free
Justice runs deeper than drought.
Red dust. Shallow graves. A detective who hunts killers where the law runs thin and the nearest help is two hundred miles away.
You’ll also receive occasional new release emails. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, ever.
The Book of Shanghai
This anthology represents the future of Shanghai crime fiction—stories by writers who actually live in the shadows they’re describing. The collection spans genres from noir to science fiction, but each story understands that contemporary Shanghai’s greatest mystery isn’t who committed the crime, but how to maintain humanity in a city that changes faster than memory can process. Western readers seeking authentic voices rather than tourist perspectives will find this essential. Several stories rank among the finest crime fiction published anywhere in recent years.
Verdict: The authentic voice of contemporary Shanghai—essential reading for serious crime fiction enthusiasts.
What to Read First
Begin with “The Book of Shanghai” for contemporary authenticity, then move to Lisa See’s “Shanghai Girls” for historical depth. These two works establish the emotional and cultural foundation necessary to appreciate Shanghai’s role in crime fiction. Mones and O’Sullivan can wait until you’ve developed a feel for the city’s rhythms—their work rewards readers who already understand Shanghai’s fundamental contradictions.
The Reading Order
- The Book of Shanghai — Chen Qiufan, Cai Jun, Wang Anyi & Others
- Shanghai Girls — Lisa See
- Night in Shanghai — Nicole Mones
- Gangsters of Shanghai — Gerry O’Sullivan
Discover Phillip Strang
Shanghai crime fiction demands writers who understand that the most dangerous criminals hide behind respectability and tradition—exactly the territory Phillip Strang explores in his international detective series. His DCI Isaac Cook novels reveal how cosmopolitan cities breed sophisticated evil that requires equally sophisticated investigation.
A MAYA THORNE MYSTERY
Get Dust and Bones Free
Justice runs deeper than drought.
Red dust. Shallow graves. A detective who hunts killers where the law runs thin and the nearest help is two hundred miles away.
Send Me the BookYou'll also receive occasional new release emails. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, ever.
As an Amazon Associate, Phillip Strang earns from qualifying purchases. This page contains affiliate links — buying through them costs you nothing extra.