Series reading guide · updated 2026
Inspector Chen Books in Order
Every Inspector Chen book in publication order — 12 in total, spanning 2000–2020.
Publication Order of Inspector Chen Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Death of a Red Heroine | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  A Loyal Character Dancer | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  When Red is Black | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 |  A Case of Two Cities | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 |  Red Mandarin Dress | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 |  The Mao Case | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 |  Don't Cry, Tai Lake | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 |  Enigma of China | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 |  Shanghai Redemption | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 |  Hold Your Breath, China | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Inspector Chen Collections
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Poems of Inspector Chen | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  Inspector Chen and Me | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
Every title by year All 12, oldest to newest
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death of a Red Heroine | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | A Loyal Character Dancer | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | When Red is Black | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | A Case of Two Cities | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Red Mandarin Dress | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | The Mao Case | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | Don't Cry, Tai Lake | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | Enigma of China | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | Shanghai Redemption | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | Poems of Inspector Chen | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | Inspector Chen and Me | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | Hold Your Breath, China | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
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