Macau is a
small (about 13 square miles) region on the southern coast of China, about 40
miles away from Hong Kong. In this small space is a major tourist destination, the
largest gambling industry in the world, generating seven times the amount of
annual betting revenue as Las Vegas. (Statistics from Wikipedia.) Where money
like that changes hands, can organized crime be far away? Enter Jake Needham’s
Jack Shepherd, an expatriate U.S. lawyer now quietly living in Hong Kong. His
clients have deep pockets and they come to him to make their problems disappear.
In The
King of Macau (Half Penny, 2016) Shepherd’s fourth appearance, he’s asked
to examine the unusual spike in gambling revenue at the MGM Macau resort. The
head of security thinks the casino is being used to launder money; he fears
organized crime is easing its way in. Any association with gangs would cause
MGM to pull out of its investment immediately, so locating the source quickly is
essential to the economic survival of everyone associated with the hotel
complex. In addition Shepherd is approached by a friend who persuades him to
help a would-be defector from North Korea who doesn’t offer his name or why the
U.S. should take him in, giving Shepherd two cases he doesn’t really want but
can’t easily walk away from.
An engaging
thriller with a few extras thrown in, such as the primer on analyzing cash flow
to identify potential money laundering. Needham’s investigations take him all
over Macau, giving him a chance to describe the region in some detail. Macau
was a Portuguese colony at one time and the running commentary on the blended
styles of architecture and historical landmarks that serve as backdrop to the
action are a highlight of the story. Occasional references to earlier books
fill in some of Shepherd’s background such that reading the series in order
isn’t necessary to follow the story here. Well written with wry unexpected
humor. Recommended!
·
Publisher: Half Penny Ltd
(November 10, 2016)
·
Language: English
·
Paperback: 346 pages
·
ISBN-10: 6167611378
·
ISBN-13: 978-6167611372
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2021
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
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