After his grandfather dies, avid scholar and budding forensic investigator Cí Song begrudgingly gives up his studies to help his family. But when another tragedy strikes, he’s forced to run and also deemed a fugitive. Dishonored, he has no choice but to accept work as a lowly gravedigger, a position that allows him to sharpen his corpse-reading skills. Soon, he can deduce whether a person killed … killed himself—or was murdered.
His prowess earns him notoriety, and Cí receives orders to unearth the perpetrator of a horrific series of mutilations and deaths at the Imperial Court. Cí’s gruesome investigation quickly grows complicated thanks to old loyalties and the presence of an alluring, enigmatic woman. But he remains driven by his passion for truth—especially once the killings threaten to take down the Emperor himself.
Inspired by Song Cí, considered to be the founding father of CSI-style forensic science, this harrowing novel set during the thirteenth-century Tsong Dynasty draws readers into a multilayered, ingenious plot as disturbing as it is fascinating.
In 2012, The Corpse Reader received the Zaragoza International Prize for best historical novel published in Spain (Premio Internacional de Novela Histórica Ciudad de Zaragoza).
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This book was OK, but I couldn’t get into it.
This was an enjoyable read! Highly informative….
A wonderful journey back in time to China and the solving of
A crime only due to the corpse reader.
Different, full of ups and downs that one wouldn’t expect, and a cracking good mystery
a window on an exotic land with a smart engaging sleuth.
Interesting, sweeping saga of early forensics -moved a little too fast for me, but enjoyable.
While well written this was a wade through type rather than a fun read. Some people will love this book, but not for everyone.
A delicious sojourn in the world of Francis Bacon, thought by many to be the son of Elizabeth1.
Interesting setting, some part of it is mystery but mostly it is a novel about the main character.
Fun to read. Good historical mystery.
It was good up to a point and then just got too long and complicated.
Great historical detail – really transports you to ancient China
Interesting novel based on forensic history of early China. Fast pace but unrealistic in parts, especially the mental and physical ability of the protagonist. Nevertheless, despite that flaw, the story flows like a detective story that keeps you guessing. Would recommend.
As a fan of crime scene forensics and all that I thought this would be right up my alley. It’s okay. Most notable shortcoming is that it’s in modern day language which really takes away from the realism. A little too much bad luck for the protagonist is detracting as well.
I enjoyed just plain reading it. It was different, but a good different.
Plodding
very well written and the villain isn’t revealed until the end, very well done!