The White Mirror, Elsa Hart
The White Mirror, Elsa Hart
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The White Mirror
A Mystery

Author: Elsa Hart

Narrator: David Shih

Unabridged: 11 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/22/2017


Synopsis

"Narrator David Shih...keeps his enunciation even and crisp, teasing out the clues as this tale, intricate as a tapestry, begins to unravel its secrets." — AudioFile Magazine

In The White Mirror, the follow-up to Elsa Hart’s critically acclaimed debut, Jade Dragon Mountain, Li Du, an imperial librarian and former exile in 18th century China, is now an independent traveler. He is journeying with a trade caravan bound for Lhasa when a detour brings them to a valley hidden between mountain passes. On the icy planks of a wooden bridge, a monk sits in contemplation. Closer inspection reveals that the monk is dead, apparently of a self-inflicted wound. His robes are rent, revealing a strange symbol painted on his chest.

When the rain turns to snow, the caravan is forced to seek hospitality from the local lord while they wait for the storm to pass. The dead monk, Li Du soon learns, was a reclusive painter. According to the family, his bizarre suicide is not surprising, given his obsession with the demon world. But Li Du is convinced that all is not as it seems. Why did the caravan leader detour to this particular valley? Why does the lord’s heir sleep in the barn like a servant? And who is the mysterious woman traveling through the mountain wilds?

Trapped in the snow, surrounded by secrets and an unexplained grief that haunts the manor, Li Du cannot distract himself from memories he’s tried to leave behind. As he discovers irrefutable evidence of the painter’s murder and pieces together the dark circumstances of his death, Li Du must face the reason he will not go home and, ultimately, the reason why he must.

About Elsa Hart

Elsa Hart is the author of several acclaimed mystery novels set in eighteenth-century China, including City of Ink, one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2018. She was born in Rome, but her earliest memories are of Moscow, where her family lived until 1991. Since then she has lived in the Czech Republic, the U.S.A., and China. She earned a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Patricia on September 19, 2016

The White Mirror is Book #2 in the Li Du series. Li Du was a librarian in the Emperor's court but was exiled due to rumors of his betrayal against the emperor. That mystery has never been solved but Li Du performed a valuable service to the Emperor when his life was threatened (Book #1). Li Du has b......more

Goodreads review by Eilonwy on July 27, 2020

An early-season snowstorm traps Li Du, banished librarian to the Emperor in 18th-century China, and his merchant caravan companions at an estate in the foothills of the Himalayas, a region tugged politically between China and Tibet. Their arrival is ominous: their first sight upon reaching the ma......more

Goodreads review by Skip on June 30, 2018

Former royal librarian Li Du has joined a trading caravan on the roads between China and Tibet. Waiting for a snowstorm to pass, they come across a bridge with a monk (Dharmo), who appears to be praying; instead, he is dead holding a knife in his abdomen, with a white circle painted on his chest --......more

Goodreads review by Marta on March 03, 2023

I have fallen in love with Li Du and Hamza, the Sherlock amd Watson of 18th century China that Elsa Hart created. Their adventures take them to a small village on the border of China and Tibet, at the foot of the majestic Himalayas. While their caravan is stranded in the snow storm, our intrepid det......more

Goodreads review by Shomeret on June 08, 2018

The copy I read came from the F2F mystery group that I attend. The facilitator of that group receives many more review copies from publishers than she has the time to review. So members get the opportunity to claim review copies for themselves. Before starting this book, I knew relatively little abou......more


Quotes

Praise for Jade Dragon Mountain:

“[A] measured, intelligent, first-class debut…The book augurs a brilliant career for Hart: the careful characterization, the beautifully detailed research (minced yak tongue, anyone?), and an innate feel for the enigmatic meanings of murder.”—USA Today

“First-time novelist Elsa Hart recreates the world of 18th-century China with assurance and skill.”—The Wall Street Journal

“This debut historical mystery deftly combines ingenious plotting and suspense with a subtle understanding of China, its culture, and its people. The protagonist, Li Du, a librarian and intellectual, is well worth keeping an eye on.”—Donna Leon

Jade Dragon Mountain delivers a compelling look at Chinese politics, culture and religion, delivering the complexities of each with a character-rich story…One of the year's most engrossing debuts.”—Associated Press

“Part mystery, part exploration of a culture fading into history's shadows, Hart's novel is a fascinating, intelligent debut…Think Agatha Christie writing Shogun…Captivating.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Elsa Hart's debut novel demands attention. Elegantly written, tightly controlled, and sweeping, Jade Dragon Mountain will leave its readers thinking as much about the nature of storytelling and memory as the vivid recreation of a poignant period in the history of China.”—Matthew Pearl

“Political and religious intrigue drives Hart’s compelling debut set in 18th-century China…Hart’s sure command of historical complexities, conflicts between cultures, and plot twists leads to a satisfying conclusion.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)