Pin Ho

Two Chinese journalists have chronicled the rise and fall of Bo Xiliai, a high level official in the Communist party. His maneuvering to gain power and ruthless use of people around him and greed led to his downfall partially by the betrayal of his police chief and the murder of an Englishman Heywood at the Lucky Holiday Hotel allegedly by Bo Xilai’s wife. Is is truly a suspenseful thriller and displays the ugly underbelly of the Communists Party in its palace intrigues and power plays. A brief outcome of the final judgment of Bo Xilai and his wife would be helpful for those not familiar with the ebb and flow of Chinese politics.… (meer)

It's rare to read a book about such recent events that aren't even resolved yet (in fact, the week I finished this, there was talk about Bo Xilai's pending trial). While the title and subtitle seem to imply that this is more true crime than political, that is not the case. Pin He and Wenguang Huang's book is, of course, an in depth look at the events leading up to Neil Heywood's murder. But it is also a glimpse into the secretive world of Chinese politics and a study of how corrupt the government truly is. There's not a single sympathetic person in the book, and the moment you start thinking that someone might deserve your sympathy, they do something to change your mind immediately. If you're the slightest bit interested in the Bo Xilai saga, definitely check this book out. And even if you're just interested in the inner workings of the CCP, this book will go a long way to keep you interested. Throughout the book, the authors give us the stories of all the major players (including the current leaders of the CCP) and then tie everything back to the Neil Heywood murder. It's an engaging and super interesting look at the world of Chinese politics.… (meer)