A standalone thriller co-written by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gamache series and an award-winning journalist.
A mother and a daughter race against time in this all-too-real thriller that reaches from Tiananmen Square all the way to the White House.
Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese American and former food blogger, has long lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li— a Tiananmen Square dissident turned world-renowned human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China.
When security and fire alarms go off simultaneously all around the world, setting off a panic, the signal is traced back to China. As world leaders scramble to respond, Vivien and Alice are called to the White House in hopes Madame Li can interpret the Chinese intentions. But why involve Alice?
If China isn’t behind the attack, Vivien warns, someone even more dangerous is pulling the strings. Mother and daughter must join together to overcome their estrangement if they have any hope of preventing global catastrophe. From DC to Ohio to Hong Kong, they work to prevent the next attack, along the way decoding an ancient legend and uncovering a secret language invented by women, for women.
The Last Mandarin is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down.
In a world ruled by power, even family can be a weapon.
Fast paced
"The Last Mandarin is a high stakes political thriller that is fast paced and will have you racing to the conculsion. The story itself is very plausible and starts out with a very terrifying premise that all fire and security alarms in the world go off simultaneously. It doesnt stop there. Panic follows with the global threat. Vivien Li is a well known human rights activist and has the trust of the President of the United States. Her and her daughter Alice are summoned to the White House. Let the chase begin to solve this world threat. Alice and her Mother are a formidable duo . Their relationship is complicated but together they are fierce. Louise Penny and Melissa Fung crank up the tension with every page and the action is non stop. The book is gripping from start to finish and a roller coaster of a ride so buckle up. I hope Louise and Melissa team up together soon and take us on another heart stopping adventure."
