Everything Under the Sky

Conocí a Matilde Asensi por "El último Catón", la cual me encantó. En "Todo bajo el cielo" la autora vuelve a combinar una magnífica investigación histórica con una agradable dosis de aventura: solución de acertijos, mapas por descifrar, lugares secretos que descubrir, trampas que sortear... en fin, como ya se ha hecho costumbre, es imposible no comparar sus tramas y personajes con una buena pelícua de Indiana Jones. La milenaria cultura china es protagonista de esta novela donde una vez más se disfruta de la historia en cada página. Fácil de leer, entretenida, agradable y sin duda un éxito más en la carrera de la autora. Siendo sinceros, en lo personal me gustó más "El último Catón", pero no puedo dejar de recomendar "Todo bajo el cielo" y ahora que la he terminado de leer no dejo de sentir nostalgia por el maestro Rojo, Biao, Elvira, Fernanda y todos esos entrañables personajes que ya comienzo a echar de menos. Enhorabuena, Matilde, y quedo a la espera de tu siguiente historia. Un saludo.

Elvira, and Fernanda, aunt and niece, drift lazily down the Yangtze River in the early 1920's. An odd place indeed for a free-spirited Spanish senorita and her ward, but peculiar and unusual circumstances conspire to have these ladies traveling to exotic Shanghai. Before the story begins, Fernanda, our dowdy young niece, is thrown into the life of her Bohemian aunt due to the recent death of her parents. Also before the first chapter reveals the nature of their adventure, strong-willed Elvira has been recently notified of the death of her estranged husband who has resided in China for many years. Soon after, Elvira, niece in tow, is immediately outbound onboard a cruise ship heading for the Orient. Her intensions are to quickly settle her husband's affairs so that she can do an about-face back to her bungalow in Paris where she happily paints to her hearts delight, living the carefree spinster life. Disembarking after a lengthy voyage, Elvira is brought to her husband Remy's oriental home, only to encounter more tragic news. It seems Remy was not only dead, but has been murdered by imperial assassins who believed he was in possession of a valuable lost Chinese artifact. Without time to catch her breath from this news, and to add insult to injury, Elvira is also informed that Remy's carefree attitude with gambling, women, and an opium addiction, has left her not only penniless but with major debts. It seems her late husband was a bit of a disreputable rogue, leaving Elvira nothing but shame. With regret, an attorney informs her she must sell her Paris home and the grand house in Shanghai in order to settle these monumental unpaid bills. Inquiring about this mysterious lost artifact that has now catapulted Elvira's once happy life into turmoil, she learns that this valued piece must still be hidden in the house, yet undiscovered. But she is being watched. Her every move, every breathe is observed by assassins called the Green Gang. They lurk nearby, knowing it's just a matter of time before Elvira locates the piece, so they can attack again, stopping at nothing to get what they're after. With this new information the two ladies lives are now in peril and they must race against time to locate the artifact that will then lead them to the secret of the largest treasure in the history of mankind, lost for thousands of years that has been spoken of in a Chinese legend for many generations. Everything Under the Sky by Matilde Asensi is a marvelous historical adventure, an old-fashioned treasure hunt on a grand scale destined for the big screen. What makes this novel shine so bright is the camaraderie and determination of two highly unlikely ladies eager to take on the challenge, and their new companions for the journey. Traveling by their sides are a wise old Chinese antiquarian, a jolly Irish journalist, and a young boy on the verge of manhood who acts as their traveling servant. Whether sailing on a Sampan down the Yangtze, diving under bridges t

Matilde Asensi is a new favorite author of mine. The story is compelling and for me, it was a learning experience to hear about a foreign author write about my ethnic story. Great story!

This book is easy reading and very informative about Chinese culture. The author, Matilde Asensi, has other books which are worth reading as well. Check them out!

Spanish artist Elvira De Poulain is notified that her husband Remy was murdered by the Green Gang assassins in China. Stunned but not shocked as her late debauched spouse seemed to get into trouble all the time, she leaves accompanied by her orphaned niece Fernanda from Paris for Shanghai to bring his body home for burial. In Shanghai, Elvira feels out of place and looks forward to returning to the comfort of Europe. However, she quickly realizes she has major issues to deal with as her self-indulgent husband ran up unbelievable debts due to his vices of gambling, hookers, and opium. She learns he was killed because he owned a priceless box that allegedly contains clues to the burial location of China's First Emperor and his treasure; others demanded he hand over his find, but he refused and died for his stubbornness. Elvira considers seeking the booty and soon finds allies: fiftyish pot bellied Irish journalist Patrick Tichborne, a white bearded Celestial local antiquarian Mr. Jiang and an orphaned young servant Biao. This is an entertaining 1920s saga that fans will enjoy as the no nonsense European and her niece slowly acclimate to China while seeking the tomb and dodging killers. The story line is driven the by the quintet who consists of the artist, two youths and two older men; whereas their adversaries are professional assassins. EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN is an entertaining tale as the audience wonders whether Elvira will survive her physical ordeal and solve the complex clues, get killed, or flee back to France. Harriet Klausner