The Trail to Buddha’s Mirror

A Neal Carey Mystery, Book 2

By: Don Winslow

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Robert Pendleton is a chemical genius with a fertilizer worth a fortune to whoever controls the formula. Not surprisingly, the Bank, his notoriously exclusive backer, wants to keep an eye on its investment. But so does the CIA. And the Chinese government. And a few shadier organizations. So when Pendleton disappears from a conference in San Francisco, along with all of his research, Neal Carey enters the picture.

Neal knows the Bank is calling in its chips in return for paying his grad school bills. He thinks this assignment will be a no-brainer—until he meets the beguiling Li Lan and touches off a deadly game of hide-and-seek that will lead him from San Francisco’s Chinatown to the lawless back streets of Hong Kong, and finally into the dark heart of China. In a world where no one is what they seem, Neal must unravel the mystery of a beautiful woman and reach the fabled Buddha’s Mirror, a mist-shrouded lake where all secrets are revealed.

©1992 Don Winslow (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“What begins as a routine missing persons case becomes a complex web of deceit, danger, and international intrigue in this superb mystery…. Vivid local color and absorbing historical detail enhance the chase and reinforce suspense as the story reaches its surprising resolution.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Waiting for the second book in the series

What did you like best about The Trail to Buddha’s Mirror? What did you like least?

Took the first book and replaced London with Hong Kong

What could Don Winslow have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Written a new plot with or given Niel some motivation besides his dick.

Downhill

I enjoyed some of the writing, enough to try another book. But there were boring chapters of Chinese history which had me skipping chapters. The ending was very lame. The reader was great and I'll look for more books read by him.

Genius

Don Winslow weaves a story like few others. Don Winslow combines history with detailed geography and intrigue in a way that is both highly addictive and quite enjoyable. He takes his reader on a “trip” through unfamiliar situations and into far-off and not so far-off lands. Winslow uses switchback after switchback to keep his reader engaged—and guessing. While Don Winslow’s novels are classified as Suspense and Suspense Thrillers by Amazon, the novels are as much “historical” as “suspense thrillers.” I thoroughly enjoy Don Winslow’s writing. I have read the vast majority of his art, and I have never been disappointed. Even when I think I have his plot all figured out, I am surprised: repeatedly and pleasantly surprised.

Great story

This one had a few more twist and turns than I would like but it came together. I wish the ending was different though! Great characters and story!!

Entertaining!

Great book! It got a little tedious in the end talking about history, But all in all a really good listen especially thanks to the great narration!