This is just to take a break from thinking –  it’s a historical mystery,  first of a series,  and rather fun.   It takes place in western China,  on the eastern edge of Tibet,  in 1708.   An exiled traveler who got in trouble in Bejing is traveling through the area and happens to arrive in a certain place at the time when the Emperor is to arrive and announce an eclipse –  a special talent of his.    Just then a knowledgeable astrologer dies.  Oops.

*******
Jade Dragon Mountain
by Elsa Hart
2015/ 370 pages
read by David Shih 11h 55m
rating:    A / crime
*******

The book is comparatively low key but full of historical detail and interesting, vital characters.  The first six chapters (about 75 pages) lead up to the real tension following the murder of an astrologer (by poison)  when our hero, who is in exile, goes against orders and  sticks around town to see what he can figure out.   So proceeds the mystery of who killed the astrologer.  It was better than I expected, well researched (I had to Google some to check my knowledge on Jesuits,  18th century China,  astrology).  There are plenty of twists and turns,  some action, and the ending was a bit of a surprise.

Enjoy.