The Mountain Master of Sha Tin by Ian Hamilton

(26. - 1269.) The Mountain Master of Sha Tin by Ian Hamilton - A triad war is looming in Hong Kong. Ava Lee is drawn because Xu, head of the Shanghai triads and Chairman of the Triad Society in Asia, has bacterial meningitis. He had taken over the Wanchai triads in Hong Kong forcing Sammy Wing into a largely ceremonial position. Lop, Xu’s designated leader for Wanchai, has been badly wounded in an attempted assassination. There is reliable information that Carter Wing, the Mountain Master of the Sha Tin triads, is behind the attack in an effort to restore his uncle to power. The information is proven accurate when 7 of Lop’s men are kidnapped by the Sha Tin. Carter Wing demands Xu and his triads leave Wanchai.

Tension rises with an accelerated threat from Carter who thinks Xu is avoiding him. Ava and Xu’s executives want to keep Xu’s condition a secret.

It is the type of situation in which Uncle, Ava’s mentor, excelled. While not afraid of violence he could defuse dangerous situations with actions that showed strength and determination but kept violence in reserve.

Pang Fai, Ava’s lover, is worried about Ava’s safety. Ava acknowledges the risk but her loyalty to Xu, Uncle’s godson, and his triads means she will always be resolute in doing what is necessary for them.

Too ill to negotiate, Xu designates Ava to speak for him.

Ava talks with the Wings. She is used to dealing with men who would like to dismiss her. Can she negotiate a solution that saves face for each side?

Ava negotiates in good faith but she cannot find a weak point in the Wings position to press. They are highly confident they have the advantage.

To her dismay Ava finds the Wings are skilled plotters. She is very uncomfortable that the Wings are a step ahead and she is scrambling to react to them.

The Wings leave an unmistakeable message they are coming for Ava. She refuses to leave Hong Kong. The violence is spiralling. Ava learned from Uncle there is a time to be ruthless with those who will never give up on revenge. It is time to be ruthless.

Xu sends 100 men from Shanghai to Hong Kong to be ready for war.

Ava’s empathy leaves her with regret for the families and friends of those killed but regret will not blunt her ruthlessness.

The Mountain Master of Sha Tin is one of the action adventures of Ava Lee. Her only accounting is of the bodies falling. I prefer the books in the series where Ava is focused on accounting and business issues. Still, The Mountain Master of Sha Tin  is a compelling driving adventure that drew me through the 311 pages in 24 hours.

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Hamilton, Ian - (2012) - The Water Rat of Wanchai; (2013) - The Disciple of Las Vegas; (2014) - The Wild Beasts of Wuhan; (2014) - The Red Pole of Macau; (2016) - The Scottish Banker of Surabaya; (2018) - The Two Sisters of Borneo; (2019) - The King of Shanghai; (2020) - The Princeling of Nanjing; (2020) - Fate; (2020) - Foresight; (2021) - Fortune; (2022) - Finale; (2022) - Body Counts in Fictional Gang Wars (Ian Hamilton, John Grisham and Don Winslow); (2023) - The Couturier of Milan; (2023) - The Iman of Tawi-Tawi; (2024) - The Goddess of Yantai