The Monkey and The Tiger

The Monkey and the Tiger consists of two distinct novellas: The Morning of the Monkey, which takes place — as the title implies — early in Judge Dee’s career in the year A.D. 666, and The Night of the Tiger, which takes place 10 years later when Judge Dee has left his magistrate duties behind due to a promotion and is heading to take up his new position as Lord Chief Justice of the Imperial capital, Chang-An (modern day Xi'an).

In the first story, Judge Dee recovers an expensive emerald ring from a gibbon and proceeds to try to discover its owner. The search leads Judge Dee to discover a murder almost in his own backyard. In the second tale, Judge Dee, en route to his new post, takes refuge in a villa under siege from the show more marauding bandits known as the Flying Tigers; while there, Judge Dee realizes that a death by misadventure was actually a murder. The Night of the Tiger will truly hold readers in suspense with its twists and surprises, but both novellas are excellent. show less

Maybe I just haven't read a Judge Dee mystery in a while, but both of these stories seem to have a hint of misogyny running through them. Also, the denouement of the second story seemed to come out of left field with no hints or slow build-ups to the judge's conclusion.

I do not understand the fascination with scantily clad women and drawings of them in these books. Not knowing enough about 9th century Chinese culture or Judge Dee puts me at a disadvantage. Is it cultural or is it Van Gulik?

Be that as it may, I actually found these two novellas nicer to read than the two longer books I read last year.

In "The Monkey" Judge Dee is watching the gibbons swing through the trees from his balcony when one drops an emerald ring. Dee retrieves the ring, discovers blood on it and goes off to solve the murder, sending Tao Gan through the city to discover what the gossip of the underclass is.

In a convoluted way, we discover that the murder of the owner of the emerald ring and the smuggling ring Judge Dee has been show more asked to discover are entwined, leading to a neat solution of both mysteries.

"The Tiger" features Judge Dee getting separated from his retinue during a flood and taking cover in a large country house replete with watchtower and a secret room, and about to be set upon by a gang of marauders called "The Flying Tigers."

The ever observant Dee learns that the daughter of the land owner had been killed and a large amount of gold has been stolen. So now, not only does Dee have to contend with extremely foul weather and flooding and bandits, but the mystery of how the daughter died and where the gold went.

Of course Judge Dee figures out that things are not what they appear to be and finds the culprits. So too, are they rescued by the fort across the river from the bandits just in the nick of time. show less

Two novellas involving Judge Dee. The first starts with a gibbon dropping an antique ring. The second is, like The Haunted Monastery, another isolated house in a storm story, giving van Gulik another great opportunity to show his facility with weather. It's a great story. Bandits outside and a murderer within.

Two stories investigated here by Judge Dee. These are 'The Morning of the Monkey' and 'The Night of the Tiger'.
If you are at all familiar with this excellent series of Chinese crime fiction set in ancient times,then this volume follows the set pattern,and will present few surprises.
If they are new to you,do give this one a try,as I am sure that with it's exotic setting and characters it will quickly draw you into it's spell and make you want to read the whole series.