The Third Messiah

New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000. AC2 - A first edition (stated with complete numberline) hardcover book in very condition in very good dust jacket. Dust jacket has very light shelf wear on top and bottom of spine and light scuffing. Book has light discoloration, wrinkle on top of spine from pulling, and light shelf wear on bottom. A mystery of Modern China. Although not marked in any way, this copy comes from the personal collection of Otto Penzler, legendary editor and founder of the Mysterious Press, an award-winning icon in the genre. 8.5"x6", 260 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Anzhuang Wang, a detective in the Beijing police department, starts investigating a cult- the New Church of the Heavenly Kingdom- when his sister-in-law "Julie" gets involved with the group. The church has ties that lead back to the nineteenth century Taiping Rebellion and maintains a strictly nonpolitical stance. Still, given the current climate in Beijing, the recent crackdown on the Fa Lun Gong, and the campaign from above against nuisance crime, there is much about the situation to make Wang nervous. As a cloud of death and danger begins to surround the church, Wang must now find a way to protect his family, defy the pressure form somewhere high above him in the Communist Party structure, and uncover the truth before it is too late.. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.