Product Description

Lovejoy, a disreputable antiques dealer, connoisseur of women, and our hero, falls into the middle of a worldwide antique-trading scam and a ruthless Chinese crime syndicate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1141752 in Books
• Published on: 1989-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 273 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Lovejoy's latest and best-yet caper is set in the teeming, steaming diversity of Hong Kong where Gash plumbs the passions of his famous antique "divvy" and scamsman sleuth. Forced to flee England after the police destroy his latest forgery, Lovejoy ends up in the Hong Kong airport where he is relieved of his worldly possessions and forced to fend for himself. His first benefactor, an antiques dealer, is shot shortly after their meeting; he is saved next by an expatriate gigolo who needs a partner to accommodate excess business. Though successful at his newest trade, Lovejoy's divvying talenthe can spot a real antique in a warehouseful of fakesmust out. Soon he is also working for a powerful Triad with tentacles reaching deep into international government, commerce and the antique trade. As Lovejoy moves toward the Triad's inner circle, he is drawn to the "jade woman" of the title, a combination of brains and beauty and fame, trained for her role since infancy. Realizing he knows too much Triad business ever to leave Hong Kong alive, the rogue-artist must save his skin with the forgery scheme of a lifetime. Along with comic sex scenes and the latest in British slang, Gash gives his readers enough details about the manufacture of fake masterpieces to spawn a new generation of forgers. Ever appealing, ever the con, Lovejoy delivers the real thing. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo/ Mystery Guild selection; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Lovejoy's mock-heroic escapades continue in rare form when he travels to Hong Kong to escape a crook/creditor. At first pressed into service as a gigolo (not altogether grudgingly), he soon schemes (at the insistence of the notorious Triad) to take over an international antiques firm. Needless to say, Lovejoy survives numerous close calls, amorous women, and more. Crammed with flavorful detail and history, educational bits on antiques, Lovejoy's picturesque and witty language, and an improbable but well-focused plot, this stands as best in the series so far.-- REK
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Humor, adventure, excitement, murder, gangsters, Hong Kong
Dashing Lovejoy is at it again--this time in Hong Kong! Running from the law and some small time hood, he's off to the orient, loses everything, becomes mixed up in a huge antiques swindle, and is locked into serfdom. Jade Woman is one of my favorite Jonathan Gash books. Even when his life is on the line, Lovejoy never runs out of witty things to say. Murder, intrigue, antiques, and the spell of Hong Kong mix together to bring you a real page-turner.

Such a rogue
When the heavies in England force Lovejoy from his home and possessions and make his future seem less than pleasant, he takes advantage of an opportunity to leave England and to move to Hong Kong for the sake of his health and freedom. The extreme heat and humidity saps his strength so badly that he doesn't even make it out of the terminal of the airport, but collapses in a heap for a quick nap on the floor of the terminal. Big mistake...when he awakens to find his money and passport missing, he makes the long walk into the city and throws himself on the mercy of a man who had given him his card on the plane. The man rejects his plea for charity and walks away, only to be stabbed to death a few minutes later. After finding himself temporary shelter with a friendly expat, Lovejoy hawks his talents as an expert in antiques and antique reproductions, and is contacted by the Triads and forced into working for them. His room mate works as a gigolo, servicing travelling ladies with dinner, dancing and anything else they might require, and recruits Lovejoy into the profession. He is fascinated by Jade Woman, a beautiful and highly educated young woman, trained since childhood to be the face of the Triads. Lovejoy makes a deal with the gangs to forge pieces of art for them and soon finds himself in big trouble as usual. The lovable rogue struggles out of his predicaments with his usual flair and, by the end of the book, is heading for the US. I just hope that I can find this sequel.

The finest of Gash's Lovejoy series. Panorama of Hong Kong.
Though high-brow reviewers may consider the work of Jonathan Gash to be just a character line of intrigue pot-boilers, there is much to be learned from the deep research put into antiquities in the series. This is far and away the jewel of his work, in a wonderfully woven story that reveals Hong Kong to the novice. Though common perception viewed Hong Kong as glamorous, it is not, but exotic it is. Every human condition from spectacular wealth, to depravity, to honor, to despair can be seen at any given street corner. Gash strips away the veils, while keeping you involved with our hero at the same time. The TV series should have closed with a four hour screenplay of this benchmark effort.