Author Qiu Xiaolong

The St. Louis Public Library is proud to present a book discussion and signing with Qiu Xiaolong, author of Red Mandarin Dress. The event takes place at the Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Avenue, on Thursday, December 6 at 7 p.m. The program is FREE and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Left Bank Books.

Qiu Xiaolong will discuss his latest novel, Red Mandarin Dress. The novel’s protagonist, Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department, is often put in charge of politically sensitive cases. Having recently ruffled more than a few official feathers when asked to look into a sensitive corruption case, he takes immediate action and goes on leave from work. While on vacation, the body of a murdered young woman is found in a highly trafficked area, and the only notable aspect is that the victim has been re-dressed in a red mandarin dress. When a second body in the same type of dress appears in the People’s Park, newspapers declare that Shanghai is being stalked by its first sexual serial killer. With the Party eager to resolve the murders quickly, Chen finds himself in the midst of his most sensitive and potentially dangerous case to date.

Qiu Xiaolong was born in Shanghai, China, but has lived in St. Louis since 1988. A poet and translator, he has an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Washington University. He is the author of several previous novels featuring Inspector Chen, including the award-winning Death of a Red Heroine and A Case of Two Cities.

            For more information, call 314-206-6779.

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11/28/2007