Legacy of the Dragon (A Paul Chang Mystery)

The follow up / second installment to Final Price, our protagonist and his partner have left the NY Police Department and have struck out on their own, throwing up their own shingle and hoping to make it work. Like Raymond Chandler, however, one doesn't necessarily have to read the Philip Marlowe stories in order to follow along, and J. Gregory Smith follows in the same vein laying out a new situation, fresh case and then proceeds to pour on the troubles like a cement truck sealing everyone together.

An interesting look at police procedure at times, gang interaction, Asian family dynamics and more enemies to shake a tree of sticks at than one could hope for. There is definitely a lot going on here, but smoothly executed throughout and compelling. The camaraderie and friendship of Chang and Nelson is likely the most interesting aspect of the book and something that will definitely haul in the readers over time. Chang is seemingly straightforward, quick and intelligent while Nelson is odd, awkward and engrossing to read. The dynamic between the two men is written deftly and fast-paced.

I was fooled a bit in trying to figure it all out, and determine what was what, which is a testament to the author who actually pulled the wool over my eyes. There's an element to the book which is equally fascinating and very different. Certain aspects of Chang's personality and behavior are unexplainable, even to himself, yet the story circles around and surprises the reader. Traces of Marlowe, traces of "Jack's raging bile duct" -- and a cup of coffee set the story up as one clever book.

Highly recommended.

This is the kind of sequel which has spurred me to read the first novel. "Legacy of the Dragon" is original, featuring characters which grew on me slowly but surely. This book isn't exactly an authentic police procedural, but the plot doesn't suffer for it. I liked Paul Chang very much, perhaps because his struggles to control his "inner dragon" are similar to what many good cops face. The writing is crisp, paced just right to keep my attention, and there are plenty of memorable lines. It turns out that I already have the first book in the series, "Final Price", on my Kindle, which means I will begin devouring it as soon as I finish this review.....(Hence its brevity!) READ THIS NOVEL!!!!!

The Legacy of the Dragon is the second in a new series of detective tales by J. Gregory Smith. The primary detective is Paul Chang and his sidekick is Nelson, a brainy odd duck. As far as Holmes-Watson relationships are concerned, the Chang-Nelson pair have clearly unique qualities and possibilities. Some of the famed detective partnerships, such as Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, and certainly Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, the brains of the pair lie with the primary character. What makes Chang-Nelson unique is that Nelson is the one with the Sherlockian powers of deduction and observation. However, Nelson is withdrawn, skinny and socially awkward if not flat out strange. I found him very interesting. Chang is no dummy, but his unique qualities lie in his relentless quest for doing the right thing and using and controlling the 'Dragon.'

For Paul Chang, the inner dragon represents a kind of killer id, a strong psychological force that is powerful, extremely dangerous and difficult to control once released. When the dragon takes over Paul's being, he becomes the dragon with all of its power, strength and danger. Primarily reserved for use against bad guys, the dragon can pop out at night when Chang is asleep wrecking all kinds of unintended havoc--especially on the women in Paul's life. (Paul's ex refers to the dragon as a 'werewolf.') Fortunately, Chang is not stereotyped as a Charlie Chan who minces through life with a razor sharp mind and troubles with Number One Son nor as another new and promising Asian detective, Tenzing Nobu (Dharma Detective), who is part American (hippie mom) and part Tibetan (Buddhist monk dad). Instead, Chang is a six-foot plus Chinese American who grew up in Chinatown but is an all-American boy who just happens to be of Asian ancestry. Chang's mother is a troublesome stereotype ('Why not you marry nice Chinese girl?'), but no more so than the stereotyped Jewish or WASP mother. Ethnicity plays a role with the nature of the bad guys (some of whom are tong members), but other bad guys are just corrupt politicians and their flunkies of non-Asian origin.

Chang's detective agency takes a hit when a former police colleague and defeated politician publicly denounce Chang. They hold Chang responsible for the politician's defeat for the office of governor, especially since Chang's girlfriend is an aid to the current winning governor. On top of that, certain Chinese with tong connections are acting up. But wait...there's more. Paul Chang is both a former NYPD detective and Delaware State Trooper. He also has what sounds like a spiritual guide named Shu who helps Chang clear his head. Further, he's running back and forth between NYC and Wilmington, DE. At the same time, he's still holding a torch for his former wife Colleen, who's a New York reporter. So between the corrupt politicians, the tongs, his current girlfriend, his ex-wife and one foot in NY and the other in Delaware, there's a lot going on; in fact a bit too much.

While this book serves up plenty of action, interesting characters, and a good detective story, the many subplots and sub-characters (I didn't mention former police acquaintances of Chang) as well as the two-state bounce (New Jersey lies between NY and Delaware), can disorient. Besides, with all of the other characters to develop, the author did less with Nelson, my favorite detective sidekick since Joe Pike. His relationship between his ex-wife (who smokes, which gives her a certain ickiness) is very interesting, but I prefer a romanic interest more along the lines of Sam Spade and Miss Wonderly (AKA Brigid O'Shaughnessy) in the Maltese Falcon; a more dangerous and tantalizing one.

All in all, though, I look forward to the next adventures of Chang and Nelson. The two are a well-matched pair, and J. Gregory Smith is a good storyteller. However, less is more. Less subplots, less locations, and more Nelson! (Also, Colleen can drop dead from lung cancer and Chang can hookup with someone who can ride the dragon.)

In this, the second installment of J. Gregory Smith's Paul Chang mystery series, the former NYPD and Delaware State Police detective leads quite the life. Retired, amidst some controversy, he has opened his own detective agency with his former partner, Nelson Rogers. However, Chang is being hounded by his former boss, Colonel Byrd, head of the Delaware state police, and Byrd's cousin, Clyde Foley. Byrd carries a grudge over an election gone bad, and Foley ... well, Foley, also with the state police, is a not too bright gofer for Byrd. End result - they are running Chang of business and into bankruptcy.

Add a current girlfriend, a former wife, and a personal demon (the dragon), and you have the makings of a great mystery! Toss in a background of Asian tongs and martial arts, an impossible mother, and his martial arts teacher (who doubles as his mother's helper), and the game is on!

The storyline is well constructed, the characters well defined and consistent, and the flow of action so good that you do not want to put this book down! To get his life back, Chang needs to defend himself of false charges, and take a trip through memory lane, back into his early years on the NYPD. Only then will the dragon be slain!

"Legacy of the Dragon", J. Gregory Smith's second book featuring Paul Chang, is an entertaining thriller that reveals more about Chang's struggles to control the violent side of his character. Chang's propensity towards violence is likened to a "dragon" that threatens to explode, and it is this side of him that ended his marriage to Colleen, whom he has never ceased to love.

In this novel, Chang and the eccentric and somewhat nerdy Nelson Roberts have opened a private investigation firm that is on the edge of bankruptcy. Their former boss, Colonel Byrd, head of the Delaware State Police, continues to plague them by setting his brother-in-law and employee Clyde Foley on them. In addition, someone is stalking Colleen and her lover, apparently because of Chang. Dead bodies follow the former state trooper wherever he goes. Straining to find out who is behind the stalking, keep his business afloat, restrain the dragon inside him, and deal with Byrd and Foley, Chang learns more about himself, who his friends and enemies are, and strengths and weaknesses of those around him.

Smith has created characters with interesting personalities, peculiar pasts, and pressing problems in their lives. Chang, obsessed with controlling his "dragon", however, is lacking in intense emotion about the others in his life, particularly the women, seeming to care for them, yet somehow removed and drifting into whatever comes his way. This makes it difficult for me to really care about what happens to him. The book is worth a read, but misses the mark when it comes to a truly engaging main character. Although it contains some good action scenes, these, too, are less intense than those of the best thriller writers.

Three and a half stars.

Paul Chang and Nelson Rogers once worked together in the NYPD and the Delaware State Police. They are now trying to establish the East and West Detective Agency.

Their business is struggling because they have enemies who are supposedly on both sides of the law. These include, in particular, Colonel Byrd of the Maryland State Police and Clyde Foley, also of the Maryland PD. Gangs from which Chang and Rogers have made arrests also make life difficult for these two.

These enemies harass Chang and Rogers, their friends and families, and do their best to destroy the business and even kill. Chang's mentor Shu, Chang's mother, and Chang's girlfriend Colleen are on these enemies' "lists."

Chang has a "dragon" - an inner demon - which he struggles to control. I see this "dragon" as the demon even the most mild-mannered of us have just because we're human. Because of Chang's line of work, this demon is more difficult to manage than it would be for someone in a less violent, less dangerous line of work. This symbol is brought out well, but it doesn't pound readers over the head.

There is plenty of suspense and action in this fast-paced thriller. I wanted to keep reading just to see how the good guys would win and how the bad guys would get their just desserts. Though violence and coarse language are part of the thriller/police genre, sensitive readers should be aware that these things are present in this novel -- in moderation.

The one thing that threw me off a bit about this novel is the author's switching back and forth between the characters' first names and last names when referring to them. For example, Nelson Rogers is referred to as "Nelson" and "Rogers." Since Nelson can be either a first or last name, this can lead to a little confusion if the reader is reading a little too quickly - and many people do tend to read too quickly when engrossed in a novel like this. Perhaps between the ARC/Uncorrected Proof stage (which I read for this review) and the final copy, the author and editors can brainstorm a way to solve this.

I will be looking for more from this author!

I recently had the chance to preview J.Gregory Smith's novel "Legacy of the Dragon" second in the series featuring detective Paul Chang. This is the first time I have read Mr. Smith's work and I found it impressive. I had the strong sense that one does not need to have read the first novel to fully enjoy this work, I believe it stands on its own very nicely.

The main characters Chinese-American Paul Chang and his erstwhile and socially awkward partner Nelson Rogers are engaged in running a financially troubled detective agency. Their problems stem primarily from their former employer (Col Byrd) who runs the Delaware State Police and blames them for his failed run for Governor and vicious Asian gangs who want revenge on Paul for his past actions against them. The story never stalls and is quite the page turner.

Paul is a martial arts master whose skills become even more deadly as he unleashes the "dragon" which is an inner demon that gives the concept of anger management a whole new dimension. The suspense builds throughout in this tightly written and compelling mystery/thriller. I look forward to reading the prequel and hope Mr. Smith continues this series

I recently had the chance to preview J.Gregory Smith's novel "Legacy of the Dragon" second in the series featuring detective Paul Chang. This is the first time I have read Mr. Smith's work and I found it impressive. I had the strong sense that one does not need to have read the first novel to fully enjoy this work, I believe it stands on its own very nicely.

The main characters Chinese-American Paul Chang and his erstwhile and socially awkward partner Nelson Rogers are engaged in running a financially troubled detective agency. Their problems stem primarily from their former employer (Col Byrd) who runs the Delaware State Police and blames them for his failed run for Governor and vicious Asian gangs who want revenge on Paul for his past actions against them. The story never stalls and is quite the page turner.

Paul is a martial arts master whose skills become even more deadly as he unleashes the "dragon" which is an inner demon that gives the concept of anger management a whole new dimension. The suspense builds throughout in this tightly written and compelling mystery/thriller. I look forward to reading the prequel and hope Mr. Smith continues this series

Always on the lookout for new authors, I took advantage of the opportunity to preview "Legacy of the Dragon." I can honestly say that my first exposure to J. Gregory Smith left a very positive impression. The story starts fast and keeps the pacing strong throughout, driving to a peak at the end. It became tougher and tougher to put this down as I went along. Smith weaves the plot and sub-plots in a way that keeps the reader guessing. The character set and character development was solid, though the reader needs to keep track of a fairly large cast of characters. I especially liked the way that the primary characters, private detectives Paul Chang and Nelson Rogers, complemented each other.

"Legacy of the Dragon" is Smith's second novel featuring Chang and Rogers. There are numerous references to action and events from the first novel, "Final Price," sprinkled throughout this book. Not having read "Final Price," it is hard to say whether my experience would have been better for "Legacy of the Dragon" if I had first read the prequel. I certainly don't think it is necessary to read both books in order. This book clearly stood on its own. It is definitely good enough, however, that I will go back and read "Final Price" in the near future.

I wasn't sure how I was going to like J. Gregory Smith's writing, but once I started the novel I couldn't put it down until I got to the end. Even then I wanted more. Smith does a good job of developing the characters and bringing them to life for you. Even though I hadn't read the first novel in this series I wasn't short-changed. He introduced characters from the previous work and gave me just enough background to know who they were, then developed further information about them to build their characters and bring more of their personality to life.

For the new characters in this book he introduced, developed and then brought to conclusion each character with skill and beauty. You learned to love the good guys, hate the bad guys and not be sure how to feel about the people who drifted back and forth between good and bad. You wanted to dislike them, but you also wanted to love them, just like the other characters in the story went through the same vacillating themselves.

The drama is gripping, tense, suspenseful, funny, sad, well it's just every emotion that you might want to have in a good story. You get caught up with the characters and can't put it down until you know what happened to them.

So, what's the story? Well Paul Chang and his partner Nelson are trying to keep their private detective agency on the positive side of the financial balance sheet. But it's hard to do when your previous employer, the State Police, want to cause you trouble at every step of the way and see you go out of business. Why is Colonel Byrd from the State Police so bothered by these men that he wants to see them fail? Did they really do something so bad as to bring his wrath upon them? You are left to wonder about that until the story moves further along and then you start to draw your own private conclusions and frankly they are a bit disturbing.

Paul Chang is not a choir boy. He has his dark side. But is he really the villain that others make him out to be. There are times where I wondered. Paul's past is catching up to him. He has the reputation of just gunning down the bad guys and worrying about the legality of it later. While that might make him a hero in some peoples books it also makes him a pathetic excuse of a police officer in other peoples books.

I wasn't sure whether to like or hate him. Then he has this alter Ego, The Dragon, that he keeps pent up inside. But when it gets released Paul can be quite dangerous. His ex-wife is his ex-wife because Paul would have nightmares and actually end up trying to choke his wife to death in their bed. Luckily for her he also came to before she was harmed. But she had enough and moved out on him.

But now someone is trying to kill off all of Paul's friends and family, why? Does it really relate back to his time on the police force and how he dealt with the bad guys? Does it relate back to when he 'murdered' a local Asian Gangster? Or is it Colonel Byrd who is just trying to mess with his mind?

Smith weaves several story lines and several characters together to build a wonderful book. You keep reading because you want to know, did Paul really do this? Is Paul really a monster? Will Paul and his ex-wife get back together? Will Paul's partner be the hero of the moment again? Will Col. Byrd get his just rewards? Oh and what about the former Police Officer turned Biker fit into all of this?

Oh, and on top of all this we have Shu the mentor/karate master who trains Paul and guards his mother. Is he really the great guy we all think he is suppose to be?

Well, to get answers to the many questions you need to buy the book and read it. You won't be disappointed. You will not be able to put it down and you will be left hungry for the next adventure of Paul Chang.

Enjoy!