The Recommended Reading Path
For readers diving into Brian Klingborg’s works, your best starting point is his signature crime series featuring the sharp-witted detective, Inspector Lu Fei. While Klingborg has written in different genres (including non-fiction and a standalone Western-gothic thriller), his mystery novels are where his storytelling truly shines.
We highly recommend starting with Thief of Souls (also published as City of Ice in some regions and audio formats), which introduces the setting and characters. Following the publication order is the most natural way to experience the evolution of Inspector Lu Fei and the recurring cast of characters around him.
The Quick Checklist: Recommended Reading Order
- Thief of Souls (2021) – Inspector Lu Fei Book 1
- Wild Prey (2022) – Inspector Lu Fei Book 2
- The Magistrate (2023) – Inspector Lu Fei Book 3
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Because the Inspector Lu Fei mysteries take place sequentially, there is no divergence between publication and chronological order. The timeline begins in the quiet, freezing northern border town of Raven Valley in Heilongjiang province and progresses through Lu Fei's subsequent assignments and undercover operations. Reading them out of order is possible because each book features a self-contained murder mystery, but you will miss the gradual development of Lu Fei's career, his changing relationships with local officials, and his personal life.
If you wish to explore his standalone thriller, Kill Devil Falls (2017), or his earlier cultural and culinary non-fiction, you can read them at any point since they share no narrative connection with the Lu Fei universe.
The Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries
This police procedural series is celebrated for its deep cultural authenticity and atmospheric settings in contemporary Northern China.
- Thief of Souls (2021): Introduces Inspector Lu Fei, a highly educated detective exiled to a sleepy township in Raven Valley. The peace is shattered by the discovery of a young woman's mutilated body, forcing Lu Fei to navigate local politics and a relentless killer.
- Wild Prey (2022): Lu Fei is sent undercover to Myanmar to investigate a smuggling ring trafficking exotic animals and girls, highlighting the darker side of border-town nightlife and black-market trade.
- The Magistrate (2023): The stakes rise as Lu Fei faces high-level political corruption, deadly hitmen, and systemic conspiracies in the city of Harbin.
Standalone Novels & Non-Fiction
Before establishing his signature series, Klingborg explored other storytelling formats:
- Kill Devil Falls (2017): A tense standalone thriller set in a crumbling, toxic Sierra Nevada ghost town. It follows U.S. Marshal Helen Morrissey as she tries to survive saboteurs, menacing outcasts, and a murdered prisoner.
- Non-Fiction Works: Klingborg also published The Secrets of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu (1998) and a cookbook, Szechuan Cooking (1999), reflecting his academic background in East Asian Studies and years of living in Asia.
What to Know Before You Start
Klingborg's crime fiction stands out because of his background. Having earned a Master's in East Asian Studies from Harvard and spent years living in Asia, he brings genuine cultural nuance rather than superficial tourist descriptions. The Inspector Lu Fei novels don't shy away from depicting the complex bureaucracy, censorship, and political realities of modern China, making them as much an educational look into the society as they are page-turning mysteries.