<p>Meet Judge Dee, the detective lauded as the "Sherlock Holmes of ancient China"</p> <p>Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series will thrill to this reissue of the first volume in Robert van Gulik's classic Chinese Murders series. <em>The Chinese Bell Murders</em> introduces the great Judge Dee, a magistrate of the city of Poo-yang in ancient China.</p> <p>In the spirit of ancient Chinese detective novels, Judge Dee is challenged by three cases. First, he must solve the mysterious murder of Pure Jade, a young girl living on Half Moon Street. All the evidence points to the guilt of her lover, but Judge Dee has his doubts. Dee also solves the mystery of a deserted temple and that of a group of monks' terrific success with a cure for barren women.</p>