The Chinese Nail Murders - Robert Van Gulik, Penguin Books Ltd

A superb murder mystery set in the snowy wastes of ancient northern China Judge Dee is again in relentless pursuit of evil in one of van Gulik's most strange, atmospheric and ingenious murder mysteries. Set in a remote, freezing part of China, the novel twists together a girl's disappearance, the theft of some jewels and a horrifying beheading. And, just to make things worse, there seems to be some link with these events and a 'Seven Board', a popular game in the region.There are so many pleasures in the Judge Dee stories. Van Gulik was a great connoisseur of Tang Dynasty China and he brings this expertise to bear brilliantly in The Chinese Nail Murders.