Select one of the keywords
The Wild Beasts of Wuhan: An Ava Lee Novel    by Ian Hamilton Amazon.com order for
Wild Beasts of Wuhan
by Ian Hamilton
Order:  USA  Can
Picador, 2013 (2013)
Softcover
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Wong Changxing is very, very angry. He has just discovered that most of his prized art collection are fakes! His wife hires Ava Lee to find the man who dared defraud her husband. Ava Lee is a forensic accountant who has been able to track down untraceable funds. This should be right up her alley.

She has a mentor who is Triad connected and she calls Uncle. Ana is able to trace the provenance of the forged paintings. It is not unknown for painters to forge valuable paintings until their own careers take off. Her work takes her to Denmark, the Faroe Islands, New York and London. Her travel agent should be able to live off the proceeds of this one very valuable client. The agent not only books flights but also hires cars and books hotel rooms. Ava only travels first class.

The plot is intriguing and, apart from the forgeries, which are pretty interesting, it takes us briefly into the world of multiple marriages. As Ava skips from country to country, we are treated to her view of first class travel. She is more than competent for her task. She is always alert and conscious that she may be being followed by someone who wishes her harm. The characters who inhabit her world are pretty cool and provide action that carries the story briskly along. The Wild Beasts of Wuhan is a fun read.

Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons.

Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews