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  • The Firemaker

  • The China Thrillers, Book 1
  • By: Peter May
  • Narrated by: Peter Forbes
  • Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,877 ratings)
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The Firemaker cover art

The Firemaker

By: Peter May
Narrated by: Peter Forbes
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Summary

A burned corpse is a disturbing mystery for Beijing detective Li Yan until he enlists forensic pathologist Margaret Campbell. Having abandoned a broken life in Chicago for her work, she's as determined as Li to ask difficult questions about the man's death. But some questions have answers they'd rather not hear - facts that others are desperate to conceal. 

The Firemaker is the first in the acclaimed China series from Peter May, author of Runaway, Entry Island and the internationally best-selling Lewis Trilogy. 

©1999 Peter May (P)2015 WF Howes

Critic reviews

"Peter May is an author I'd follow to the ends of the earth." (New York Times)

What listeners say about The Firemaker

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great insight into the Chinese psyche and Beijing.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Having lived in Beijing from end 1994 to 2009, I was impressed with Peter May's insight into the North Chinese psyche and Beijing. His description of the culture clash between American and Chinese culture, and the growing understanding, is done with great understanding and respect.
It was with great nostalgia I read the book, partly because the Beijing described had more og less disappeared before I left in 2009, and partly because of the many good years I spent in Beijing.

What did you like best about this story?

The insight into the motives behind the actions of the characters, both villains and heroes.

Have you listened to any of Peter Forbes’s other performances? How does this one compare?

As always an excellent performance, only marked down by a slight mispronunciation of the Chinese words, which isn't fair to mark him down by. :D

Any additional comments?

A great listen, especially if you miss Beijing as it used to be.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Listen

A really enjoyable listen. You knew how the plot was going but there were still many many twists and turns within it that I didn't see coming. Fascinating incite to Chinese life also...Well worth a listen.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Standard fare: good enough but no better

The main plus in this book is the attempt to describe aspects of modern China. However, Peter May's series set in the Outer Hebrides was much better at such exposition.

The characterisation in this book is not strong, the development is too predictable, and the plotting not sufficient to compensate for its other failings.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • dj
  • 07-08-15

fascinating and intriguing.

an exciting combination of crime detective novels and interesting informative, fascinating description of Chinese culture.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Finding the dragon in DNA

A good summer read, a thriller that develops well with good characters and China as a place for a modern detective team, with lots of background on the Chinese way, and the idiosyncrasies of the communist party capitalist ways.

Entertaining and with lots of twists and surprises to keep the plot moving. Much more I can not reveal because it would spoil the fun and fun it is.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

More Mills and Boones than murder and mayhem

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Anyone who likes romance and is not too bothered about the storyline

Has The Firemaker put you off other books in this genre?

No, because this book should not be in the. Crine/Thriller section

What didn’t you like about Peter Forbes’s performance?

He did a reasonable job with such poor material, I thought he sounded embarrassed to be reading it at times

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes, it ended and I have the ability to return it, which I will be doing

Any additional comments?

Potentially this had the making of a good story. The author wrote a romance story and chucked in a few dead bodies. The female lead, did women and in particular American women no favors at all, she was as thick as they come, no redeeming characters in the book.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

interesting and easy listening

read very well again. it was interesting to gain an insight into China . I do like Peter May books. this was easy to get into and to listen to as usual but I felt the story was a little weak and unlikely. that said I will download the next one in the series.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not as good as The Lewis Trilogy

I had high hopes for this new series by the author of the excellent Lewis Trilogy. To judge from this first book I’m not sure I want to continue with further books. Being set in China enables the author to included much about Chinese customs and way of life that is quite interesting, and the basic story is unusual and eventually engaging, but the book is overburdened with extra themes that add little to the main story but slow down the pace: for example an unconvincing and at times cringe-making romance between a Chinese policeman and a feisty American forensic anthropologist. The latter is a too abrasive, rude and unsympathetic a central character for me to want to follow her life in future novels.

Probably because it’s the first in a series there’s a lot of introductory stuff about the characters and their occupations that means what seemed like hours of of listening before the story gets going.

The book isn’t bad: just it could be better with less superfluous baggage.

The reader is good.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A clash of cultures

Would you listen to The Firemaker again? Why?

Yes I would listen again to The Fire Maker again to concentrate on the detailed descriptions of life in the new China. The interactions between a self-centered american pathologist and a newly promoted chines police detective open up to the reader the big gulf that still exists between an ancient culture and the brash modern US way of thinking

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to the next books in the series

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Tiresome Woman!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Get Dr Margaret Campbell to buck her ideas up! I really can't imagine that a well educated woman would act so tiresomely

Who was your favorite character and why?

Li Yan - excellent characterisation of someone trying to break out of the straight jacket of bureaucracy, but not really sure whether he wants to!

Which character – as performed by Peter Forbes – was your favourite?

I like all of Peter Forbes reading and his characterisations of all are down well even the tiresome Dr Campbell.

Was The Firemaker worth the listening time?

I'm afraid I haven't finished the book, as I got so irritated with the female lead. But...I may come back to it later and in a different mood!

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7 people found this helpful