London, 1933. A quiet scholar lies dead. A deadly game begins.

When Detective Inspector Thomas Higgins is called to investigate the brutal murder of Ming Wei?a respected Chinese gentleman found stabbed in his Piccadilly flat?the case appears straightforward. A burglary gone wrong, his superior declares. File the paperwork and move on.

But Higgins knows better. And when brilliant private investigator Lei Liang arrives at the crime scene, claiming the victim as his mentor, their reunion from a previous case takes a deadly turn. The red dragon mahjong tile clutched in the dead man's hand is no coincidence?it's a message.

What they uncover will shake the foundations of British society.

Wei wasn't just a quiet scholar. He was a spy, investigating a series of high-society burglaries targeting government officials. Someone with access to London's most exclusive circles has been stealing state secrets and selling them to the highest bidder. And when Wei got too close to the truth, they silenced him forever.

Now Higgins and Liang are marked for death.

Their investigation leads them into a web of espionage, betrayal, and murder that reaches the highest levels of government. Behind it all lurks a criminal mastermind hiding in plain sight?someone who can kill with a smile and destroy lives with a dinner invitation.

In a game this deadly, one wrong move means death.

Perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Agatha Christie, The Mahjong Murder combines the atmospheric detail of 1930s London with brilliant deduction, international intrigue, and unforgettable characters. The second book in a thrilling mystery series that proves the most dangerous criminals wear the most respectable faces.