The Silk Road Affair by Larry Witham
What's It About?
Recovery of stolen art, its return to the United States, and the political direction of the world’s largest country hang in the balance as two determined heroes wind their way through the puzzle that is modern China.The Silk Road Affair (Archway Publishing) by Larry Witham is a sophisticated, complex thriller about a major art theft that ignites an international political crisis between the U.S. and China.
It begins with the seemingly routine sale of an art collection from a royal family in Vienna to a mysterious Chinese company – which turns out to be stolen loot from a big art heist at a museum in New England 30 years earlier. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for a secret plot involving valuable art objects and artifacts that have been smuggled into the Republic of China.
International Political Tension
But, as we soon find out, this novel is about more than just stolen artwork – there is also a deadly battle for power being waged between competing factions in the Chinese government, with powerful forces in Washington and elsewhere desperately trying to maintain some kind of diplomatic détente in Sino-American relations.
The heroes of this story are an unlikely pair of government operatives who travel from Washington to Boston to Europe and then to China itself in a covert effort to retrieve the stolen artwork and to answer other U.S. questions about the tangled political machinations going on in the Chinese government.
They are Julian Peale, a military veteran from Afghanistan as well as numerous other government operations, and Grace Ho, a Chinese-American woman who served in the Marines and is an expert in martial arts. Both Peale and Ho have an extensive background in art history, but that’s about all they have in common.
When they are thrown together for this assignment, there are some rough moments at first in the relationship – with Julian Peale questioning some of Grace Ho’s decisions, unsure who is in charge of whom and even wondering if Ho is hiding important secrets about herself and her background in China from him.
But they soon settle into a more trusting, comfortable relationship as their trail for the stolen artwork takes them deep into the vastness and the unknown elements and the dangers of modern-day life in China.
History, Stolen Art and Culture
One of the most impressive things about this novel is the author’s vast knowledge of both art history and the Chinese culture – both of which are crucial to the plot of The Silk Road Affair. It is clear to the reader that author Larry Witham has done meticulous research for the book.
This is particularly apparent in the sections about the power struggles in the Chinese hierarchy going on at the same time as the stolen art drama. The current Republic of China leader is desperately trying to hold onto power, but faces political challenges on several fronts – including from his own niece who has her own ambitions which she is willing to go to any lengths – even murder – to achieve.
Some of these tense scenes between Ren Jinuah, the Chinese General Secretary, and Quang Daiyu, his outspoken and aggressive niece – who holds long-buried secrets about their family that could topple him from his job – are among the best, nail-biting and exciting moments in The Silk Road Affair.
There are also moments of humor throughout like members of the Chinese military who think America is all about the musical group The Bee Gees. “Like Americans, yes. Rock and roll,” the soldiers say, “Yah Bee Gees. Stay alive. Stay alive.” Peale points out afterward that the Bee Gees were actually Australian. That’s a running joke for Peale and Ho.
Facts and Humor Meet Pulse-Pounding Action
In addition to all the factual research Witham delivers to us in The Silk Road Affair, there’s plenty of action too, much of it from Ho. She subdues several men with everything from martial arts to pepper spray to immobilizing one with a shot of sodium pentothal. Peale sure knows how to handle himself too, fending off a gang of attackers with a taser that knocks them all out and saves him and Ho from danger. There’s also a dramatic exciting helicopter evacuation scene as the two race to escape from China with the secrets that they have uncovered.
Oh, more thing: There’s an intriguing epilogue to this book. About a mysterious illness that’s suddenly discovered in a Chinese lab in Wuhan and then … well, you’ll have to read the book to learn more about that!
About Larry Witham:
Larry Witham is the author of eighteen books, an award-winning journalist and by avocation a fine art painter. He lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C. Visit him at www.larrywitham.com.
