The Chinese bell murders ; with an introd. by Donald F. Lach

The Chinese Bell Murders is one of a series of Judge Dee detective novels written in the 1950s by Robert van Gulik (1910-67), a Dutch diplomat and an authority on Chinese history and culture. Van Gulik drew his plots from the whole body of Chinese literature, especially the popular detective novels that first appeared in the seventeenth century. (back cover copy) Dramatis Personae Map of Poo-yang Introduction by Donald F. Lach First Chapter: A Connoisseur has a strange experience in a curio shop; Judge Dee begins is duties as magistrate of Poo-Yang Second Chapter: Judge Dee reviews the rape murder in Half Moon Street; He startles Sergeant Hoong by an unexpected statement Third Chapter: Judge Dee opens the first session of the tribunal; Tao Gan relates the story of a Buddhist temple Fourth Chapter: A candidate of literature is heard in the tribunal; Judge Dee goes to investigate the scene of a crime Fifth Chapter: Tao Gan says his prayers in a Buddhist temple; three monks are deceived by a clever swindler Sixth Chapter: An old lady from Canton reports a terrible wrong; Judge Dee informs the sergeant of disturbing news Seventh Chapter: Ma Joong discovers a deserted Taoist sanctuary; a violent fight takes place in the temple yard Eighth Chapter: Judge Dee decides he will visit his colleagues; He explains the rame murder in Half Moon Street Ninth Chapter: Two monks visit the judge with an important message; he recites a ballad at a dinner with Magistrate Lo Tenth Chapter: Tao Gan consults with the warden on past affairs; he has an uncomfortable time among the dark ruins Eleventh Chapter: A newcomer unexpectedly mixes himself in the fight; the lieutenants of Judge Dee take counsel together Twelfth Chapter: Two Taoists discuss abstruse doctrines in a tea house; after a fierce fingt Ma Joong finally gets his man Thirteenth Chapter: Judge Dee solves the rape-murder on Half Moon Street; a candidate of literature moans over his cruel fate Fourteenth Chapter: Judge Dee relates the history of an ancient feud; he outlines his plans for trapping the murderer Fifteenth Chapter: The judge pays a visit to a gentleman from Canton; unexpectedly two young ladies arrive in his mansion Sixteenth Chapter: A wealthy merchant drinks tea in the reception hall; Judge Dee sets out in a fortune-teller's disguise Seventeenth Chapter: Strange visitors repair to the temple at daybreak; in front of the Buddha Hall the tribunal is opened Eighteenth Chapter: A beautiful girl delivers startling testimony; Judge Dee explains the case to his lieutenants Nineteenth Chapter: Judge Dee draws up a stern warning to all citizens; he goes to visit the Temple of Transcendental Wisdom Twentieth Chapter: An empty Taoist temple poses many a vexing problem; a deserted courtyard delivers up its gruesome secret Twenty-first Chapter: The judge and his four men fall into a weird trap; a dangerous criminal is arrested in his own mansion Twenty-second Chapter: The head of the archives sets forth an old story; Judge Dee discourses on three criminal charges Twenty-third Chapter: A thorough search is instituted in an library; a crab restaurant yields an important clue Twenty-fourth Chapter: A wily criminal is caught by a clever stratagem; four statsman engage in after-dinner conversation Twenty-fifth Chapter: Two criminals are executed outside the southern gate; Judge Dee keels down before an imperial inscription Postscript It is now six years since I withdrew from the prosperous tea firm inherited from my father, and settled down to peaceful retirement in our country villa outside the eastern city gate. The great Chinese detective Judge Dee begins work on the most disquieting case of his career when he reviews the rape murder on Half Moon Street