--- product_id: 16263658 title: "A Death in China (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)" price: "$42.81" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/16263658-a-death-in-china-vintage-crime-black-lizard store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # A Death in China (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) **Price:** $42.81 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A Death in China (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) - **How much does it cost?** $42.81 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/16263658-a-death-in-china-vintage-crime-black-lizard) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: A Death in China (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard): 9780375700675: Hiaasen, Carl, Montalbano, Bill: Books Review: Another home run, hole-in-one, a ten on the high bar - The second I saw this book -- I bought it. One never, ever, passes on a Hiaasen action-adventure mystery story! I didn't and was thrillingly rewarded. Good. Exciting. Sad. Crazy. But best of all -- GREAT STORYTELLING! Review: Excellent Vintage Hiaasen - Hiaasen's work has never been so far from Florida, though it does at least make a cameo appearance. In this story, professor Thomas Stratton is on vacation in China, annoying the busybody in his tour group by eschewing nearly all its tours. When he finds out fellow professor and mentor David Wang is also in Peking, he makes plans to see him. Stratton is shocked to learn his friend is dead, a victim of "death by duck," a pithy expression for American tourists who die on vacation in China after overexerting themselves and eating too much rich Peking duck. When Wang Bin, David Wang's influential and nearly identical Chinese brother, asks Stratton to accompany David's body back to the United States, Stratton initially agrees. His casual investigation into David's death turns up a few irregularities, however, and Stratton decides to stay in China instead, setting him unwittingly on a path of danger when he gets in the way of Wang Bin's ambitious plans. That he also falls in love with Wang Bing's daughter Kangmei is his salvation in more ways than one as he is forced to face his demons from a previous, undocumented visit to China as a soldier during wartime. Just as Stratton pieces the entire puzzle of what happened to David Wang together, instead of ending, the story takes a turn and becomes even more intriguing, holding us on the edge until the end. Though Stratton gets conked from behind and overpowered by his enemies at least once too often, this is nonetheless a gripping page-turner. Hiaasen proves again that had he not found his niche in offbeat humor, he could still have had a solid future as a thriller writer. Montalbano's skills and knowledge as a foreign correspondent also come shining through, giving a vivid picture of China's people and politics. Their writing blends seamlessly for a dark tale of mystery and secrets that unfolds on two continents. Hiaasen fans looking for humor won't find it here, but those who enjoy his plotting skills will relish this excellent book. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #304,601 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2,264 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery #2,355 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction #4,151 in Murder Thrillers | | Book 3 of 3 | Black Lizard Series | | Customer Reviews | 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (2,874) | | Dimensions | 5.19 x 0.65 x 8 inches | | Edition | Reprint | | ISBN-10 | 0375700676 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0375700675 | | Item Weight | 9.6 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 282 pages | | Publication date | June 30, 1998 | | Publisher | Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group | ## Images ![A Death in China (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81AjD8BuSCL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another home run, hole-in-one, a ten on the high bar *by K***. on July 23, 2025* The second I saw this book -- I bought it. One never, ever, passes on a Hiaasen action-adventure mystery story! I didn't and was thrillingly rewarded. Good. Exciting. Sad. Crazy. But best of all -- GREAT STORYTELLING! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Vintage Hiaasen *by K***S on June 5, 2006* Hiaasen's work has never been so far from Florida, though it does at least make a cameo appearance. In this story, professor Thomas Stratton is on vacation in China, annoying the busybody in his tour group by eschewing nearly all its tours. When he finds out fellow professor and mentor David Wang is also in Peking, he makes plans to see him. Stratton is shocked to learn his friend is dead, a victim of "death by duck," a pithy expression for American tourists who die on vacation in China after overexerting themselves and eating too much rich Peking duck. When Wang Bin, David Wang's influential and nearly identical Chinese brother, asks Stratton to accompany David's body back to the United States, Stratton initially agrees. His casual investigation into David's death turns up a few irregularities, however, and Stratton decides to stay in China instead, setting him unwittingly on a path of danger when he gets in the way of Wang Bin's ambitious plans. That he also falls in love with Wang Bing's daughter Kangmei is his salvation in more ways than one as he is forced to face his demons from a previous, undocumented visit to China as a soldier during wartime. Just as Stratton pieces the entire puzzle of what happened to David Wang together, instead of ending, the story takes a turn and becomes even more intriguing, holding us on the edge until the end. Though Stratton gets conked from behind and overpowered by his enemies at least once too often, this is nonetheless a gripping page-turner. Hiaasen proves again that had he not found his niche in offbeat humor, he could still have had a solid future as a thriller writer. Montalbano's skills and knowledge as a foreign correspondent also come shining through, giving a vivid picture of China's people and politics. Their writing blends seamlessly for a dark tale of mystery and secrets that unfolds on two continents. Hiaasen fans looking for humor won't find it here, but those who enjoy his plotting skills will relish this excellent book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great read. *by S***Y on September 7, 2025* Not what I expected from a Carl Hiaasen novel! An excellent story, well worth reading. A lot twists in the plot. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/16263658-a-death-in-china-vintage-crime-black-lizard](https://www.desertcart.us/products/16263658-a-death-in-china-vintage-crime-black-lizard) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-05-19*