US Olympian Beth Chang nee Connor married fellow Harvard graduate Michael Chang. They left the United States for Hong Kong where Michael is THE HEIR to a large business dynasty. Her in-laws treat her like a devil except the family patriarch Chang Wing Hing who respects Beth for her business acumen, and ability to adapt and learn a new culture.
With the transfer of power from England to China coming soon, everyone expects radical change. However, Beth never realizes how dangerously ambitious her beloved Michael is until the countdown to reunification begins. A disabled Chang Wing Hing turns to Beth to keep the family firm afloat. She steers past bloodthirsty family members who want her to fail even at the cost of the business and piranhas seeing a chance to gain wealth and power with the transfer of Hong Kong to China. She also struggles with the attractive efforts of friend Peter Lau to start an affair.
THE HEIR is a powerful heir to the sensational CHINA BRIDE continuing Beth's story, which provides a look into Hong Kong and China during the final countdown. Although Beth is too perfect as she cleverly adapts to being a fish out of water in a sea of piranhas and sharks, her efforts add depth to a deep plot. The transfer of power is less than five years old, yet Henry Luk gives his book (and the prequel) a historical feel to it. Fans of historical fiction and readers who enjoy contemporary news tales will relish Beth's stories and want to read the next chapter in her life.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Heir
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of story
- scarey (primal ax-wielding fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Challenging
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller
Yes
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
The crook is....
- criminal's rise in a crime organization
Crime Thriller
Yes
Crime plotlets:
- search for gems/treasure/money
Mostly a criminal POV story
Yes
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Search for technology?
- method of mind control
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- diplomat
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
Profession/status:
- trader
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
The antagonists are:
- big business leader(s)
Setting
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Southeast Asia
City?
Yes
City:
- Dirty, dangerous (like New York)
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 0 (not a murder mystery)
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
