CHINA TRADE (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith Book 1)

I wanted to get back into reading and wanted a fun mystery novel to start off with. This did not disappoint.As other reviewers mentioned, it is very hard to find minorities taking on larger or main roles in mainstream genre novels, so this was very refreshing. I am of Asian descent, though I am not Chinese, and I can easily relate to Lydia's family life, again a rarity in many of the books I grew up with (unless they were non-fiction books or the like, think The Joy Luck Club). A lot of the mystery-suspense books I've read featured caucasian heroes and generally feature minorities only as the bad guy. Again, refreshing to see a change in that (though I still love reading the more readily available popular fiction). Rozan does an excellent job of detailing the awkwardness of being Americanized in a very traditional family.Though this was originally written about two decades ago, it does not feel dated. Not the greatest of novels, but it is good, and is a very quick and light read. I can't wait to read more

Very enjoyable. A few quirks, Lydia can seem very young at times. I like Bill, very humorous, and I like to think much like Ranger from Stephanie Plum books. As I said enjoyable and i read much to late in the night.On to book two.

Not my usual mystery, but I enjoyed it! Very interesting characters in Chinatown NYC, lots of cultural info and mannerisms. More brutal than I like, including an almost rape scene. I won’t be continuing the series.

This is a really good story. It has the decided feeling of being written by someone with an insiders view.It was very busy and there was a lot of material dealing with the chinatown gangs and the dynamics with the whole chinese culture, which I found very interesting. It is hard to imagine paying off gangs to keep them from robbing you on a daily basis, but that is apparently a way of life.There was such an element of subtrafuge within the community and the need not to loose face amoung the population in general. Everyone was very conscious of how they appeared to one another. Many very close and intricate relationships amound the characters.It kept me really interested and invested in the story and I recommend it highly.

This was the first time I'd read a P.I. yarn that had a pair of private eyes instead of a solo act, and I had some doubts about whether I'd like that arrangement. Boy, am I glad I tried something different. It was wonderfully satisfying -- a woman P.I. who's both smart and tough, and a male partner who respects her as an equal. I hated to put it down every time real-world responsibilities demanded attention.Besides a finely crafted mystery, the novel treats reader to the atmosphere of Chinatown and a peek inside Chinese-American culture. I'm glad there are a bunch more books in the series.

I got this book because I thought it would be a good read. Turns out it was. But,also, it just happens to be the first book in a series of eight about a private investigator partnership between Bill Smith & Lydia Chin. This first adventure reeled me IN! I read the book in a day & ordered the others from Amazon! She's kind of hard-boiled,little chip on her shoulder & tries to show her disapproving family that she "can do it"! Bill is older, wiser, & very much in love with Lydia-but she wants her independence! This case takes place in Chinatown in New York City-& could rightfully be called the main character. The writing's great,very descriptive-if you've ever been to New York,or,even if you haven't, THIS is a GREAT READ!

I thoroughly enjoyed this Private Eye novel with Lydia Chin as the narrator, adding the NY Chinese cultural angle - as the title strongly suggests - as well as the female take on a tough world. All-in-all, it didn't disappoint one bit, delivering a page-turning plot with unpredictable twists and turns - a very satisfying read which I heartily recommend to all mystery fans but especially those with a slightly jaded palette. I've already got the next one in the series on my wishlist...

I really enjoyed this book. I like mysteries, but not fond of the gory stuff. That’s why this book is perfect. The book is a good mystery with humorous moments. Lydia Chin is an up and coming private investigator who feels she needs to “prove herself” to her family. I really got to give her credit, she doesn't back down. Only problem…I stayed up way to late reading the darn thing. I will definitely read more by this author.

I must have missed earlier an earlier book(s) which introduced this young Chinese (in origins) lady as it took me a long time to form a picture of her and get to like her. Short, one line repartee with her business associate (is he/will he be her life partner?) I like very much. The story line is good. You are taken into the world of traditional Chinese manners and traditions as well as gangs functioning in America. Everyone seems related to the next person; all have to maintain ‘face’ in their community. This is a detective story with both violence and intrigue. It also has a touch of romance but you have to want to believe in romance to see it. I want to try some of the teas and remedies used in this story! You will not be disappointed with this read.

China Trade (Lydia Chin, Bill Smith Mystery)  Lydia Chin and Bill Smith are two private investigators working a case in China Town, New York. Written in the first person through the eyes of Lydia we get some good descriptions of scenes and characters with clues which suggest several suspects. I have to admit I missed some salient points, possibly because I was reading too quickly to get to the finale!!S.J. Rozan is a very good author and kept my interest through to the end, in fact I have now started on the second book,  CONCOURSE (Bill Smith/Lydia Chin)  and expect to just as enthralled following the story through Bill Smith's eyes. China Trade (Lydia Chin, Bill Smith Mystery)CONCOURSE (Bill Smith/Lydia Chin)

This is the first book I have read in the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series and I loved it. The pair of them are private investigators who partner up on some of their cases. This particular case is Lydia's and the story is told from her point of view. Lydia is a young Chinese woman living in New York and I found her to be a fascinating character. I enjoyed all the cultural background story as well as the primary story which sees Lydia and Bill investigating the theft of some rare porcelain. The best part of the novel for me though is the partnership of Lydia and Bill. They are both very different but complement each other perfectly. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

I really enjoyed this book and have just read another 2 of her books as they fascinate me with their mystery thriller stories and the lovely insight into chinese customs and traditions - tea of many different sorts and the kindness of Lydia to her mother and old people and her humour - I still don't get the relationship between Lydia and Bill, do they though? I don't know.

I like this series and this is the first which I read a little out of sequence. Good plot which was unravelled well and left nothing really unanswered. Enjoyed it a lot.