In Hangcheng in 1998, humid heat and bone-chilling cold intertwine. One bizarre murder after another takes root like lurking vermin in the corners of old alleys, salvage yards, and luxury garden estates. An elderly person living alone is found dead in an old building, the scene riddled with unanswered questions; dismembered remains turn up in a bicycle basket, its chain wrapped around a blood-soaked secret; a young girl is murdered, and her organs are arranged on a plate as “breakfast”... City Criminal Investigation Team captain Tao Yi and retired soldier Qin Heng lead their team into the maze of mysteries. From size-42 diamond-pattern shoeprints and “Da Qianmen” cigarette butts to the precise cuts used to peel off human skin, the killer commits each crime with an almost obsessive sense of ritual. Every case is like a rusted cog, leaving a misaligned mark on the gears of its age. As yellowed case files reveal the hidden pain of mass layoffs and the struggles of ordinary people, and rookie Liang Shizhi grows amid pools of blood, Tao Yi and Qin Heng develop an unspoken understanding as they hunt the killer side by side. The obscure corners of human nature that have been concealed, and the grievances crushed beneath the weight of the times, gnaw at the shell of the truth like “delusion worms” lurking in the dark. Amid limited technology and the labyrinth of the human heart, can justice cut through the fog and expose the evils lying in wait?
This book is really eye-catching. The author's writing style is delicate and full of depth. It is both enjoyable to read and inspiring to think about. It is really a masterpiece! 🌟
This book is really eye-catching. The author's writing style is delicate and full of depth. It is both enjoyable to read and inspiring to think about. It is really a masterpiece! 🌟