The Last Mandarin: A Novel

A gripping thriller about family and power co-written by Louise Penny, #1 bestselling author of the Gamache novels, and Mellissa Fung, an award-winning journalist.

A mother and a daughter race against time in this all-too-real thriller that reaches from Tiananmen Square all the way to the White House.

Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese American and former food blogger, has long lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li― a Tiananmen Square dissident turned world-renowned human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China.

When security and fire alarms go off simultaneously all around the world, setting off a panic, the signal is traced back to China. As world leaders scramble to respond, Vivien and Alice are called to the White House in hopes Madame Li can interpret the Chinese intentions. But why involve Alice?

If China isn’t behind the attack, Vivien warns, someone even more dangerous is pulling the strings. Mother and daughter must join together to overcome their estrangement if they have any hope of preventing global catastrophe. From DC to Ohio to Hong Kong, they work to prevent the next attack, along the way decoding an ancient legend and uncovering a secret language invented by women, for women.

The Last Mandarin is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down.

In a world ruled by power, even family can be a weapon.

Louise Pennyis the multi-award winning author of the Chief Inspector Gamache novels, set in her home province of Québec, Canada. Her books, includingState of Terrorwritten with Hillary Rodham Clinton, have sold more than 18 million copies worldwide, topped international bestseller lists, including theNew York Times, and been translated into 32 languages. The recipient of both the Order of Canada and l’Ordre national du Québec, her country’s highest civilian honours, her Three Pines Foundation reaches out to those in crisis and offers financial and emotional support, with a special focus on literacy as well as dementia care. Her husband, Michael, died of dementia in 2016. She lives with her golden retrievers Muggins and Charlie in a village south of Montreal.

"[An] intelligent espionage thriller... Penny’s trademark humor mingles well with Fung’s political expertise. The result is an eerily plausible nail-biter."―Publishers Weekly

"While the strained relationship between Vivien and her daughter Alice forms the emotional core of the book, readers will be captivated by the race-against-time structure of the story... A treat for Penny’s fans, and a solid political thriller in its own right."―Booklist

"Most ambitious..." --Kirkus Reviews

"This book is character-driven and nuanced, with as much attention paid to mother-daughter dynamics and the details of everyday life as is paid to action and intrigue... at once a fast-paced tale of power, greed, terror, and conviction and an introspective examination of the personal and cultural narratives that make people who they are... psychologically nuanced as [is] page-turning."―Library Journal

“A gripping political thriller… It’s a big story about forgiveness, trust, and the poison pill of revenge.” –Christian Science Monitor

“THE LAST MANDARIN is a gripping, high-octane rollercoaster ride as Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung keep the danger on the front burner with tension that doesn't abate until almost the last page.”―Bookreporter

“A cinematic standalone featuring Chinese culture, a powerful mother-daughter bond, and political intrigue, The Last Mandarin is a gripping thriller from start to finish.”―Nerd Daily

“A rare stand-alone novel and with no Inspector Gamache! The cowritten thriller centers on an estranged Chinese American mother (a Tiananmen Square activist) and daughter who are called upon by the U.S. government to assist during an international crisis apparently sparked by China.”–AARP.com

“The tight plotting, recognizable world and complex character relationships make this thriller chillingly relevant and wholly engrossing.”–BookPage

“Make no mistake about it, The Last Mandarin is a proper political thriller with all the tension, machinations, and intrigue genre devotees demand, but it’s also―at its core―an intimate story of a mother and daughter navigating the challenging dynamics such a relationship develops over time.”–BOLO Books