Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder - Xiaolong Qiu

Chen Cao has been removed from his chief inspector role, but that doesn''t stop him investigating a ''private kitchen'' murder that has similarities to a Judge Dee story.No longer a chief inspector, Chen Cao finds himself as director of the Shanghai Judicial System Reform Office. To outsiders it''s a promotion, but Chen knows he''s being removed from the spotlight as he''s immediately placed on involuntary ''convalescence leave'' to stop him interfering with any cases. However, with various high-profile crimes making headlines and fears escalating over vigilante reprisals, Chen''s superiors know he must at least appear active. One case revolves around Min Lihau, a mingyuan, who runs a ''private kitchen'' for powerful figures in Shanghai. Min''s accused of murdering her assistant, yet Chen is struck by the similarities to a historic case involving the famous Judge Dee. When an acquaintance of his is murdered in connection with Min, Chen knows he can''t stand idly by . . . but he must act in secret, under the cover of writing a Judge Dee novel.