Qiu Xiaolong

Qiu Xiaolong is a Chinese-American crime fiction author known for his series featuring Detective Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department. Born in Shanghai in 1953, Qiu fled to the US in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square protests. He holds a PhD in comparative literature from Washington University in St. Louis and taught Chinese literature at Saint Louis University. Qiu's crime novels have received critical acclaim both in the US and abroad. The series, which began with "Death of a Red Heroine" (1999), presents a unique blend of crime fiction and cultural insight into modern-day China. Qiu has won numerous awards including the Anthony Award for Best First Novel (1999) and the Hammett Prize (2003). His books have been translated into 28 languages and have sold over a million copies worldwide. Despite his success, Qiu has faced criticism for his portrayal of China's political and social problems. However, he continues to write thought-provoking and entertaining crime fiction that sheds light on the complexities of contemporary Chinese society.