Review of The Shanghai Circle

[Sky Revews]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Shanghai Circle" by Tony Henderson.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Tony Henderson takes you inside the perilous and addictive realm of Shanghai in the 1930s with The Shanghai Circle. There is a whirlwind of plot, well-drawn characters, and an elaborate location where you can almost smell the warm scent of opium smoke and hear rickshaws. It's a thrilling historical tapestry. You can smell the opium dens, hear mahjong games, and feel how gritty those backstreets are. I feel like I am engrossed in the aura of this boiling, bustling city through his precise descriptions. “The Shanghai Circle” is difficult to classify.

Davina is an entrepreneur who fights a battle against society; Ah Sing dreams of peace amid life demands; and Irina becomes desperate to come up with creative ways and find resources. Ah Sing, the conflicted heir to a powerful triad, struggles between his duty and yearning for a different life, as their motivations are significantly nuanced and often morally ambiguous. Russian beauty Irina adds an aura of mystery and intrigue to the plot; her motivations remain uncertain. The supporting cast is just as fleshed out; everyone has their agenda and secrets. All those charismatic British taipans, those ruthless triad leaders, and those loyal Chinese maids put life into the story.


All through the book, you’re constantly hit with curveballs and remain on edge throughout. From daring assassinations to high-stakes gambling dens to desperate escapes, there is hardly time for breathing. The narrative twists and turns are wonderfully unpredictable, leaving you guessing until the last page. Henderson brilliantly incorporates real historical events, such as the typhoon and the invasion of Japanese troops, into his story, making it more lifelike.

The Shanghai Circle is thrilling to read. It is worth reading if you enjoy historical fiction, international intrigue, and fully developed characters. Henderson’s prose is very rich and vivid, describing the visual sounds and smells of 1930s Shanghai. He successfully uses sensory details to engage readers. Readers remain engaged through constant action and suspense. I loved everything about this book. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars because the graphic content was also balanced and the editing was great.

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The Shanghai Circle
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