Chinatown Beat

Henry Chang's Chinatown Beat is an Asian-themed crime novel, a worthy debut that introduces Chinese-American Detective Jack Yu. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of him in the future. Yu works Chinatown for the NYPD, protecting and policing the people he's known all his life. Although he was born and raised in Chinatown, he's an outsider now; isolated to the fringes of the community by the gun and badge he carries. Chang writes with stark power and authority, covering the territory as only an insider can. He evokes the spirit, sights, smells and language of his setting in compelling and original fashion. Although there is little action or suspense in Chinatown Beat, there is still much that thrills.

The author is the Dashiell Hammett of Chinatown. An intense reading experience, shedding light on aspects of New York one does not usually think about. Great characters, especially Mona, and I can't wait for the sequel.

New York Chinatown native Chang introduces NYPD Detective Jack Yu. Also born and raised in Chinatown, Jack has just buried his immigrant father. Their differences - among them Jack's career - were unresolved, and Jack's grief is tangled up with the conflict between his Chinatown roots and his chosen Americanization. The plot is a bit confused - involving a serial rapist of schoolgirls and growing turf tension between the established Tongs and the rising street gangs. But the plot takes a backseat to Chang's fascinating evocation of Chinatown culture, dynamics, and tension. Prejudice and racism run rampant through the community and the mostly white officers who police it. Chang delves deep and fast, requiring a bit of effort from the reader to follow him into hidden byways and unaccustomed thought patterns. This is a promising debut from a knowledgeable, unflinching writer.

Generally you get all these stereotypical Asian novels that don't actually show you anything about the way modern Asians live, but Chinatown Beat changes all that. You get an inside look into the underground of New York's Chinatown, and dear god it's FASCINATING. You find yourself plunged into this pool of suspense and culture that you never want to escape from. If you want to become better exposed to the myriad of cultures around you, just open this book. Good job Henry Chang!