Book Review: Water Touching Stone

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Water Touching Stone     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Eliot Pattison
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Ethnic
Series: Shan Tao Yun # 2
St. Martin's, Jun 2001, $24.95, 416 pp.

His revered teacher, the Lama Gendun summons Shan Tao Yun to ask the former Chinese prisoner to determine how a teacher of children Lau in the north died. Gendun also worries that someone is murdering the children from Lau's class. Though dangerous if caught by the People's Army outside the immediate area, Shan readily agrees to investigate the alleged homicide because he would do anything for Gendun.

The elderly Lokesh and Gendun surprisingly leave their mountain hermitage to accompany Shan. Along the way the different guides escort the Lama and his party until Gendun vanishes. Though worried about the Lama, Shan continues his trek. On every turn, Shan feels the hatred of the locals towards his own people and their destruction of the Ancient ways. Still, Shan risks his "isolated freedom" and his life to insure a child killer is stopped.

WATER TOUCHING STONE is a mystery, but is more than just a who-done-it. The story line focuses on life along the Himalayas, especially looking at the Communist China's impact on the Tibetan. This gives readers an insightful look at life in the area within an exciting adventure tale. The mystery is cleverly devised and in most novels would prove to be the dominant theme, but in Eliot Pattison's great story, the people are what make this another triumph for fans of the Edgar award-winning author (see THE SKULL MANTRA).

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner