The Fourth Sacrifice Pdf Book is a Crime Mystery Thriller novel By Peter May. This second in the China Thriller series is another testament to Peter May’s ability to write captivating characters that move stealthily through Beijing’s vibrant and dangerous setting.
The Fourth Sacrifice Summary
Margaret Campbell had finally decided to leave Beijing—and the man she loved—and return home to the States. She had first come to Beijing to conduct a seminar on her specialty, forensic pathology, for the city’s police. The invitation turned out to ask for more than she expected; she was thrust into the search for a murderer. This was how she met and came to fall in love with the Beijing police detective Li Yan. Although they began as enemies, the attraction between them was overwhelming—until personal tragedies pulled them apart.
Now the police need an answer to a series of gruesome murders. Four men have been killed; the first three were Chinese and the fourth man was born in China but became an American in his youth. All were victims of what looks like ritual sacrifices.
The U.S. ambassador practically forces Margaret to work once more with Li Yan. She buries her pain and turns to a new admirer for her free time—an American archaeologist who is making a television documentary. As Margaret and Li Yan investigate, they come closer and closer to finding the truth behind the killer’s executions. They also come closer to a killer who will sacrifice anyone to conceal a secret.
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About Peter May Author of The Fourth Sacrifice Pdf Book
Peter May Author of The Fourth Sacrifice Pdf who is one of Scotland’s most prolific television dramatists, has garnered more than 1000 credits in 15 years as scriptwriter and script editor on prime-time British television drama. He is the creator of three major television drama series and presided over two of the highest-rated serials in his homeland before quitting television to concentrate on his first love, writing novels. Born and raised in Scotland he lives in France.
His breakthrough as a best-selling author came with The Lewis Trilogy. After being turned down by all the major UK publishers, the first of the The Lewis Trilogy – The Blackhouse – was published in France as L’Ile des Chasseurs d’Oiseaux where it was hailed as “a masterpiece” by the French national newspaper L’Humanité. His novels have a large following in France. The trilogy has won several French literature awards, including one of the world’s largest adjudicated readers awards, the Prix Cezam.
The Blackhouse was published in English by the award-winning Quercus (a relatively young publishing house which did not exist when the book was first presented to British publishers). It went on to become an international best seller, and was shortlisted for both Barry Award and Macavity Award when it was published in the USA. The Blackhouse won the US Barry Award for Best Mystery Novel at Bouchercon in Albany NY, in 2013.
The Fourth Sacrifice pdf, Paperback, Hardcover Book Information
- Publisher : Minotaur Books; First Edition (February 6, 2007)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0312364644
- ISBN-13 : 978-0312364649
- Item Weight : 1.32 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.04 x 1.38 x 8.45 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,642,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #89,337 in Suspense Thrillers
- #181,361 in Mysteries (Books)
- #196,593 in American Literature (Books)
- Customer Reviews: 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,737 ratings
The Fourth Sacrifice Book Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Murder and Mayhem in China
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2010
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In Beijing one does not have to look far to find a contradiction or a contrast. There is one on every corner. The nearest street vendor might well be a learned ex-university professor that has been transformed by the cultural revolution into a producer of wonderful jian bing, a breakfast pancake as well as riddles for Li Yan, a senior detective with the Beijing Municipal Police as he rides his bike to work.
“If a man walks in a straight line without turning his head, how can he continue to see everything he has walked past? There are no mirrors involved.” Asks Mei Yuan.
Today Li Yan has been called to what appears to be a ritual killing. A man had been beheaded, as he knelt with his hands tied behind his back with a silk cord. He has a placard around his neck with an apparent nickname on it, scored through by a single line and the number three. He is the fourth victim found in these circumstances. The main difference is that this man is an American. He has returned to China after many years of living and working in the United States at a prestigious University and has taken a lowly job at the US embassy going through visas. Another part of the mystery is that he is found at an apartment of his own, not the one given to him by the embassy.
The American Embassy has requested that Dr. Margaret Campbell assist in the autopsy of the sacrificial victim. The Chinese are not especially happy about this but they accept with good grace because Margaret Campbell has helped them before. They know that she sees things with a different and very perceptive eye, which gives them a distinctive edge in solving the crime. Li Yan, on the other hand is perturbed because he has had feeling for Margaret that developed during a previous case and had been warned that he must avoid any kind of a relationship with her.
Margaret does the postmortem on this last murder victim and does indeed open new avenues of investigation. She also begins to pursue a new relationship with an American archeologist working in China who is intent on soothing the feeling Li Han has trampled. The American Embassy is interested in assisting in the investigation and wangles Margaret onto the investigating team as well.
Another stress is placed on Li as his sister abandons her daughter and leaves her with him as she goes off to a secret location to have a forbidden second child, a boy. Li loves the little girl and is grateful that she does not suffer from a new Chinese syndrome known as `the little emperor’ quite commonly seen now a days as the one child allotted to Chinese families is quite doted upon and very spoiled. These children are acting like oh no !! Western children. But at the same time they are also growing up without cousins, aunts uncles or extended families. The young men are increasing in preponderance, as girls are not wanted because they are seen as not being there to help in the parent’s old age.
The answer to the riddle is that the man is walking backwards. Just as to solve this crime, the investigators have to look to the past for clues to solve a murder that is based very much in the present.
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4.0 out of 5 stars An ancient form of death in modern China
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2015
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Four men are beheaded in the ancient way in Beijing, and it’s beginning to look like the city’s first serial killing. Deputy Section Chief Li Lan is in charge of the case. And because the fourth victim is an American citizen, Margaret Campbell, an American forensic pathologist, gets involved with the investigation.
The trouble is, LI and Margaret have recently broken up after being lovers, and working together is a nightmare for them.
The case is engaging, springing from events during the Cultural Revolution. So we get a horrific picture of that period. We also get a lot of background on Chinese history, because Margaret starts dating an archeologist who loves to talk about China’s past. Another interesting theme is China’s One Child Policy and its effect on the behavior of certain of the characters.
The story is unfolds amidst lots of local color. The narrative takes us to a bird market and an underground city. We taste the offerings of street food vendors and visit excavations in Xi’an.
Margaret’s character perplexed me a bit. On the one hand she’s an extremely sharp forensics expert and investigator. On the other hand she’s profoundly ignorant of the country she’s in. She’s never heard of the Silk Road, or the Terra Cotta Warriors or Chiang Kai-shek. Is it possible for an intelligent professional to be so uninformed? I enjoyed this book, though not as much as other books I’ve read by Peter May.
3.0 out of 5 stars GOOD READ but NOT a FAVORITE
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2014
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I’ve been reading Peter May non-stop and really enjoy his books and style!
Fourth Sacrifice is not as good. Debated over 3 or 4 stars but due to the weakness of a major character I gave a 3.
Margaret, main player, is aggravating in this series. Close to annoying, very unflattering. Emotional nut. I. Can’t see anyone being attracted to that. In other books in series,she comes across better. Got tired of her gyrations. Main guy Li is a great character study! As usual the plot is excellent thriller, mystery. China Series is a definite read! Still torn on my rating but I’ll stick to it.
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