Eight Skilled Gentlemen — Barry Hughart

Once again World Fantasy Award-winner Barry Hughart blends folklore and fantasy to create a work of enchantment set in an ancient China that never was... but should have been. Master Li and Number Ten Ox -- heroes of Bridge of Birds and The Story of the Stone -- return to solve the mystery of how and why respected mandarins are being mysteriously murdered. Unbelievably, the only suspects appear to be mythical demons....