Ava Lee Back in Borneo
Review of the House of Anansi Spiderline paperback edition (January 2022)

There is a French* saying that applies to my situation: 'Be careful of that animal - it is very vicious. When you attack it, it defends itself.’ - Ava Lee (in The Water Rat of Wanchai)

Ava Lee's Three Sisters' lumber business in Sarawak, Borneo is destroyed by a bomb explosion. Although the incident is initially credited to a terrorist attack, the corrupt authorities blame Three Sisters own local manager. It soon becomes clear that it is all due to the local government potentate, nicknamed the "Sultan", whose powerful family controls the police, the courts, and the press of Sarawak. The purpose of the attack was to destroy their competitor who had also opposed their illegal destruction of the rainforest and habitat of the local indigenous peoples. Ava Lee and her colleagues are also personally attacked and only Ava's bak mai martial arts saves the day. They escape the country before she herself is subject to arrest by trumped up charges of assault.

Back in Hong Kong, Ava plans her campaign to seek restitution and clear the name of her employee. She finds the real estate weak spot of the corrupt family and proceeds with a campaign of financial and property attack. This is where the book takes off as Ava enlists her network of support in bodyguard/driver Sonny, her family in-law connections, her triad, banking and lawyer contacts and even Derek, her hacking partner back in Toronto. The book then zooms along to a final boardroom confrontation in typical Ava Lee fashion.

The book felt a bit slow to start, with Ava and her Three Sisters business colleagues initially under attack and seemingly powerless. There was also the impression that the story might be a recycle of The Two Sisters of Borneo (Ava Lee #6 from 2014). Both of those views changed quickly once Ava Lee went on the offensive back in Hong Kong.

Ava Lee will return in The General of Tiananmen Square (January 2023?) after the 4th Uncle Chow Tung prequel book Finale (expected July 5, 2022). The Tiananmen title hints the book will centre on the related film subplot that has been ongoing in the past several books where Ava's actress lover Fai will star in the movie which is certain to bring everyone associated in conflict with the repressive Communist Chinese authorities.

Trivia and Links
*"Cet animal est si féroce qu’il se défend quand il est attaqué." (original French saying).

The Poisoned Pen Bookstore hosted a book release interview with author Ian Hamilton for the release of The Sultan of Sarawak which you can watch on YouTube here. Ian Hamilton shares a great deal of trivia about the books and his writing process. ( )