Review: Prepare for your time to be “Shanghai”ed!  (is that racist?) #badwordplay
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2014
I am a big fan of historical fiction. Albeit I lean further toward the “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter” side of the genre, I still enjoy a story that is very much grounded in reality as well.  I was not especially familiar with 1920’s era Shanghai, so I was even more interested in checking this book out.This is the story of Irish born Mike Gallagher, who joins the Shanghai Municipal Police, and the struggles he faces.  As with any good thriller, he gets in way over his head, way too fast, and has to struggle to make it out alive.I enjoyed the main  character in Gallagher in this story.  The author information mentions that a lot of this book is based on stories told to the author by his granduncle (I don’t think that’s an actual thing…), about his time as an officer in 1920’s Shanghai.  The fact that the character is based on an actual person really comes through in this book, you can tell the author actually cares about him, and his story.This book is much heavier on the thriller side of the mystery thriller genre it is placed in.  So be warned, if you’re looking for a good mystery, this might not be the best fit for you.  But I thought it was a fascinating and exciting look into the time period.  I highly recommend it.