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Judge Dee at Work: Eight Chinese Detective Stories (Judge Dee Mysteries) Paperback – April 15, 2007

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 403 ratings

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The eight short stories in
Judge Dee at Work cover a decade during which the judge served in four different provinces of the T’ang Empire. From the suspected treason of a general in the Chinese army to the murder of a lonely poet in his garden pavilion, the cases here are among the most memorable in the Judge Dee series.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Judge Dee belongs in that select group of fictional detectives headed by the renowned Sherlock Holmes. I assure you it is a compliment not given frivolously.” -- Robert Kirsch ― Los Angeles Times

About the Author


Robert van Gulik (1910–67) was a Dutch diplomat and an authority on Chinese history and culture. His many works include sixteen Judge Dee mysteries, a study of the gibbon in China, and two books on the Chinese lute.


Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press (April 15, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0226848663
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226848662
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.03 x 5.22 x 0.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 403 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
403 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the detective stories with the wise Judge Dee. They find the stories interesting and educational. The stories are described as charming, well-written, and a good commuter read. Readers appreciate the character development, portrayal of a human character, compassion for victims, and honest approach to justice. The book offers a modern appeal with an oriental backdrop, presenting a fascinating picture of the Tang justice system. Customers appreciate the author's intelligence, hands-on approach, and gentle writing style.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

24 customers mention "Story quality"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the detective stories with the wise Judge. They find the stories interesting, character-driven, and educational. The plausible plots and engaging characters make it fun to solve the murder mysteries. Readers consider the tales collected in this book as good mystery reading pleasure.

"...Dee; he is very, very smart, fair, compassionate to victims and stern with criminals. The cases are varied and interesting, and difficult to solve...." Read more

"...The ten tales collected here provide mystery reading pleasure equal to any of the Dee novels.. Robert Van Gulik disregards historical accuracy in..." Read more

"...Also it was fun trying to solve the murder (yes each story has a murder) but unfortunately sometimes you have to wait until the end of the story..." Read more

"These are delightful stories. Not just because Judge Dee is so clever at solving crimes...." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They describe it as a collection of well-written short stories that are suitable for any age group. The book is described as a delightful mix of English storytelling and Chinese history.

"...van Gulik has created a good detective in Dee; he is very, very smart, fair, compassionate to victims and stern with criminals...." Read more

"...This is light and pleasurable reading...." Read more

"...Each book has a series of short stories and they are a good commuter read." Read more

"All of the Judge Dee novels and short stories are really engaging...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers like the character development. They find Judge Dee human with strengths and weaknesses. They describe him as clever, honest, and compassionate to victims while being stern with criminals.

"...a good detective in Dee; he is very, very smart, fair, compassionate to victims and stern with criminals...." Read more

"...Well no but it does have some interesting characters and good stories...." Read more

"...The stories themselves are so interesting, and ultimately very greatly character driven...." Read more

"...Judge Dee is a very human fellow, with strengths and weaknesses and, though he is smart and observant, I never get the impression he's superior...." Read more

5 customers mention "Appeal"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the modern appeal of the books with an oriental backdrop. They find the stories fascinating and recommend them for mystery fans. The covers are praised as wonderful, and the book provides a glimpse into the Tang justice system and good lifestyle depictions.

"...We get a fascinating picture of the Tang justice system in these stories...." Read more

"...The stories take place in ancient China; but they have a modern appeal, at least to me...." Read more

"...really liked the presentation of each of the books in these wonderful covers designs." Read more

"...Engaging characters. A little history and some good lifestyle sketching. Recommended!" Read more

4 customers mention "Intelligence"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's ancient Chinese judge intelligent and observant. They describe him as clever and honest, like Sherlock Holmes.

"I really like this astute, down-to-business ancient Chinese judge...." Read more

"...a very human fellow, with strengths and weaknesses and, though he is smart and observant, I never get the impression he's superior...." Read more

"...a little old fashioned stylistically, but I think interesting and educational." Read more

"Clever as Sherlock. As honest as Miss Marple. A student of the human passions on par with Hercule... Meet Judge Dee." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of use"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the author's hands-on approach and well-crafted narrative.

"...However, Dee is also very hands-on, going to the crime scenes and sometimes even going about in disguise...." Read more

"...Van Gulik has a gentle hand, and presents a coherent imaginative universe filled with Chinese lore and customs...." Read more

"This novel was an easy yet charming read. It allows a fictional yet mostly accurate look into different parts of the Chinese Tang dynasty...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2005
    Dutch diplomat Robert van Gulik wrote the Judge Dee mysteries (in English!) to introduce the West to the Chinese version of the mystery story, which arose centuries before the English detective story. Judge Dee is an actual historical person, a magistrate of the seventh century during the T'ang dynasty, who was renown in China for his ability to solve crimes. In Judge Dee at Work, van Gulik presents us with eight short stories each of a single case (the novels, in the Chinese tradition, involve 3 intertwined cases) that take place throughout the judge's long career (magistrates were usually moved to a new post every three years). A table at the back of the book, places each case and all the novels within the timeline of Judge Dee's life.

    I have read about half the novels and this book of short stories, and I have enjoyed them all. Early on, Judge Dee employs three different men to be his lieutenants, and they do much of the legwork for him. However, Dee is also very hands-on, going to the crime scenes and sometimes even going about in disguise. In some of the short stories here, he solves the mystery on his own. van Gulik has created a good detective in Dee; he is very, very smart, fair, compassionate to victims and stern with criminals. The cases are varied and interesting, and difficult to solve. I especially like the setting of ancient China. van Gulik really seems to know the era he is writing about, and he brings it alive through the actions and dialog of the story. There is no exposition here. If we need to know the differences of Taoism to Buddhism, we find out through a conversation of Dee with a monk or other character. That really makes the stories glide along. Sometimes a choice of phrase seems a little odd or modern for the setting, and I assume that arises from the fact that van Gulik was Dutch writing about China in English. In any event, these quirks become rather fun and don't detract at all from the stories. van Gulik also made illustrations in the traditional Chinese style of the time, and they add to the stories. I am very glad I have found the Judge Dee mysteries, and Judge Dee at Work is an excellent way to meet the judge and his world. You will be glad you did.
    34 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2012
    This collection of short detective stories featuring Judge Dee solving crimes in ancient China is delightful,. The ten tales collected here provide mystery reading pleasure equal to any of the Dee novels.. Robert Van Gulik disregards historical accuracy in order to give the reader a vivid sense of entering a new world.

    This is the only collection of Dee stories written by Van Gulik. A Chinese scholar has more recently written a Dee collection of short mysteries, and is also narrating new Dee novels. In introductions to these works, the author explains how he is correcting mistakes Van Gulik made about Chinese history, and also errors in the translation of the original Chinese manuscripts which feature Dee, one of China's historical and mythologica detectives. Van Gulik quickly abandoned his original intention to recreate the mysteries provided in the ancient texts. Insttead he has made up his own puzzles for Dee to solve.

    I prefer the Van Gulik works over the more recent Dee creations. Van Gulik has a gentle hand, and presents a coherent imaginative universe filled with Chinese lore and customs. HIs gentleness is reflected in his ilustrations to the Dee novels which he published, and which the Kindle versions pleasantly preserve. And Van Gulik is a careful Sinologis who informs the reader in afterwords about liberties he has taken with history.

    For many years, this unique series of Dee mystieries has been difficult to collect, available in a variety of editions, under a multitude of different publishers. Many the novels have been out of print for some time. Amazon has done mystery readers a fine service by assembling all the Van Gulik/Judge Dee fiction in inexpensive Kindle format.

    I give this story collection, and the entire Van Gulik/Judge Dee line of mysteries, my highest recommendation.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2015
    Judge Dee of this series is based off of an actual person, magistrate Dee Jen-djieh, from the Tang Dynasty of China. The author, Robert Van Gulik, based these cases off of actual events from the period. I have been fascinated with the Tang Dynasty since I first read two of China's most famous poets, Li Po and Tu Fu. I was actually looking for historical books on the Tang Dynasty when this book was recommended and I thought why not?

    Is it the best crime fiction I have ever read? Well no but it does have some interesting characters and good stories. Plus for me I get a little insight into the Tang Dynasty and how people lived. But if you like historical mysteries then these 8 short stories are just the ticket. Also it was fun trying to solve the murder (yes each story has a murder) but unfortunately sometimes you have to wait until the end of the story have Judge Dee explain it to you as there are not enough clues given throughout the story to solve the case - but again it was fun to try.

    The stories follow a similar pattern, a crime is committed and the reader then follows Judge Dee and his assistants as they discover how it was done and by whom. This is light and pleasurable reading. You will not be held in breathtaking suspense, but you will find yourself listening in on intriguing conversations.

    This was my first read of a Judge Dee book but I plan on reading others.
    13 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • René Lefebvre
    5.0 out of 5 stars l'histoire de la Chine antique
    Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2023
    Je suis content d'avoir pu trouver ces livres racontant des cas policiers de la Chine ancienne
  • St Clair
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sound detective stories
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2024
    Never the obvious culprits and great, traditional twists of detection.
    Eminently readable with excellent reference to the Chinese culture of the period. (As far as a non-scholar of Chinese history can tell anyway.)
  • Albert David Ditchfield
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really happy to discover the judge Dee stories!
    Reviewed in Brazil on November 14, 2014
    Whomsoever enjoys detective stories will absolutely love to read the judge Dee Stories. The historical setting and the detail is exotic and captivating, the stories flow well and the resolution is often pleasing and surprising. Top marks all around.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on February 20, 2016
    history and intrique
  • Dr. Raymond L. Kahn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2013
    Purchased as a gift for my wife - I have nothing more to say about it so why should I?