During the Qingli era of the Northern Song dynasty, a series of bizarre murders rocked Bianjing. Court officials, including Vice Minister of Rites Li Bingren and Vice Director of the Directorate of Education Zhang Jun, died under mysterious circumstances one after another. Each was found beside a painting depicting the very scene of their death. The murders were blamed on “murderous demon paintings,” sending the whole city into a panic as rumors of evil spirits spread unchecked.
The destitute painter Yan Wugou was expelled three years ago after his mentor, Zhou Wenju, perished in a fire at the Imperial Painting Academy. Reduced to selling paintings on the streets, he is drawn into the case. Shen Baizhi, a female coroner at the Kaifeng Prefecture, was born into a lowly status but firmly believes that “corpses don't lie.” While examining the bodies, she discovers that all the victims were poisoned with a rare Liao toxin. Forced to join forces, the two pursue the truth through layers of
mist.
The beginning is catchy. Locked room murder. Who did it? Why? There is something strange about the painting on the desk in the secret room. Who painted it? Was it done by one person or by someone else?
The logic is strict, the story structure is novel, the characters are rich, and there is no industrial saccharine. I like reading this kind of intellectual literature.
Great. Everyone is vividly portrayed and very recognizable.