Jade Woman Hardcover – January 1, 1989 by Jonathan Gash
Book 12 of 23: Lovejoy
 
Loveable rogue Lovejoy finds himself in Hong Kong keeping company with a glittering gallery of characters, including the beautiful Jade Woman and the sinister Sim and Dr. Chao
 
From Publishers Weekly
Lovejoy's latest and best-yet caper is set in the teeming, steaming diversity of Hong Kong where Gash plumbs the passions of his famous antique "divvy" and scamsman sleuth. Forced to flee England after the police destroy his latest forgery, Lovejoy ends up in the Hong Kong airport where he is relieved of his worldly possessions and forced to fend for himself. His first benefactor, an antiques dealer, is shot shortly after their meeting; he is saved next by an expatriate gigolo who needs a partner to accommodate excess business. Though successful at his newest trade, Lovejoy's divvying talenthe can spot a real antique in a warehouseful of fakesmust out. Soon he is also working for a powerful Triad with tentacles reaching deep into international government, commerce and the antique trade. As Lovejoy moves toward the Triad's inner circle, he is drawn to the "jade woman" of the title, a combination of brains and beauty and fame, trained for her role since infancy. Realizing he knows too much Triad business ever to leave Hong Kong alive, the rogue-artist must save his skin with the forgery scheme of a lifetime. Along with comic sex scenes and the latest in British slang, Gash gives his readers enough details about the manufacture of fake masterpieces to spawn a new generation of forgers. Ever appealing, ever the con, Lovejoy delivers the real thing. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo/ Mystery Guild selection; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Lovejoy's mock-heroic escapades continue in rare form when he travels to Hong Kong to escape a crook/creditor. At first pressed into service as a gigolo (not altogether grudgingly), he soon schemes (at the insistence of the notorious Triad) to take over an international antiques firm. Needless to say, Lovejoy survives numerous close calls, amorous women, and more. Crammed with flavorful detail and history, educational bits on antiques, Lovejoy's picturesque and witty language, and an improbable but well-focused plot, this stands as best in the series so far.-- REK
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
 
4.5