The Chinese bell murders ; with an introd. by Donald F. Lach.
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Published: 1977
Place of publication: Chicago
Language: eng
Number of pages: 287
First sentence: It is now six years since I withdrew from the prosperous tea firm inherited from my father, and settled down to peaceful retirement in our country villa outside the eastern city gate.
Description: <i>The Chinese Bell Murders</i> is one of a series of Judge Dee detective novels written in the 1950s by Robert van Gulik (1910-67), a Dutch diplomat and an authority on Chinese history and culture.  Van Gulik drew his plots from the whole body of Chinese literature, especially the popular detective novels that first appeared in the seventeenth century. (back cover copy)
Notes: Illustrations by the author.
Table of contents: title: Dramatis Personae
pagenum: vi; title: Map of Poo-yang
pagenum: viii-ix; title: Introduction by Donald F. Lach
pagenum: 1; title: First Chapter:  A Connoisseur has a strange experience in a curio shop; Judge Dee begins is duties as magistrate of Poo-Yang
pagenum: 15; title: Second Chapter: Judge Dee reviews the rape murder in Half Moon Street; He startles Sergeant Hoong by an unexpected statement
pagenum: 27; title: Third Chapter: Judge Dee opens the first session of the tribunal; Tao Gan relates the story of a Buddhist temple
pagenum: 40; title: Fourth Chapter: A candidate of literature is heard in the tribunal; Judge Dee goes to investigate the scene of a crime
pagenum: 48; title: Fifth Chapter:  Tao Gan says his prayers in a Buddhist temple; three monks are deceived by a clever swindler
pagenum: 60; title: Sixth Chapter: An old lady from Canton reports a terrible wrong; Judge Dee informs the sergeant of disturbing news
pagenum: 71; title: Seventh Chapter: Ma Joong discovers a deserted Taoist sanctuary; a violent fight takes place in the temple yard
pagenum: 79; title: Eighth Chapter: Judge Dee decides he will visit his colleagues; He explains the rame murder in Half Moon Street
pagenum: 87; title: Ninth Chapter: Two monks visit the judge with an important message; he recites a ballad at a dinner with Magistrate Lo
pagenum: 93; title: Tenth Chapter: Tao Gan consults with the warden on past affairs; he has an uncomfortable time among the dark ruins
pagenum: 106; title: Eleventh Chapter: A newcomer unexpectedly mixes himself in the fight; the lieutenants of Judge Dee take counsel together
pagenum: 115; title: Twelfth Chapter: Two Taoists discuss abstruse doctrines in a tea house; after a fierce fingt Ma Joong finally gets his man
pagenum: 121; title: Thirteenth Chapter:  Judge Dee solves the rape-murder on Half Moon Street; a candidate of literature moans over his cruel fate
pagenum: 132; title: Fourteenth Chapter:  Judge Dee relates the history of an ancient feud; he outlines his plans for trapping the murderer
pagenum: 143; title: Fifteenth Chapter:  The judge pays a visit to a gentleman from Canton; unexpectedly two young ladies arrive in his mansion
pagenum: 157; title: Sixteenth Chapter:  A wealthy merchant drinks tea in the reception hall; Judge Dee sets out in a fortune-teller's disguise
pagenum: 167; title: Seventeenth Chapter: Strange visitors repair to the temple at daybreak; in front of the Buddha Hall the tribunal is opened
pagenum: 181; title: Eighteenth Chapter:  A beautiful girl delivers startling testimony; Judge Dee explains the case to his lieutenants
pagenum: 191; title: Nineteenth Chapter: Judge Dee draws up a stern warning to all citizens; he goes to visit the Temple of Transcendental Wisdom
pagenum: 205; title: Twentieth Chapter: An empty Taoist temple poses many a vexing problem; a deserted courtyard delivers up its gruesome secret
pagenum: 215; title: Twenty-first Chapter: The judge and his four men fall into a weird trap; a dangerous criminal is arrested in his own mansion
pagenum: 226; title: Twenty-second Chapter: The head of the archives sets forth an old story; Judge Dee discourses on three criminal charges
pagenum: 234; title: Twenty-third Chapter: A thorough search is instituted in an library; a crab restaurant yields an important clue
pagenum: 245; title: Twenty-fourth Chapter: A wily criminal is caught by a clever stratagem; four statsman engage in after-dinner conversation
pagenum: 253; title: Twenty-fifth Chapter: Two criminals are executed outside the southern gate; Judge Dee keels down before an imperial inscription
pagenum: 265; title: Postscript
pagenum: 282