Ava attends London Fashion Week for the launch of the PÖ fashion line, one of the major investments she and her partners in the Three Sisters — May Ling Wong and Amanda Yee — have made during the last year. With the exponential expansion of the luxury-brand market in China, Ava and her partners are determined to see a young Chinese designer break out in Europe and North America and they go full out in London.

The show is a success, but perhaps too much of one. It attracts the attention of Dominic Ventola, the principal partner in the luxury fashion conglomerate VLG. The women are invited to Milan to meet with Ventola and senior executives in his company. VLG offers to buy the Three Sisters’ stake in PÖ. Ava and her partners decline. A few days later, PÖ comes under attack in the fashion media and a large part of their customer base is pressured by VLG to abandon them.

Ava decides to strike back and turns to Xu for assistance, leading to a confrontation between two of the world’s biggest global crime syndicates: the Camorra and the Triad.

Ian Hamilton is the author of seven novels in the Ava Lee series: The Dragon Head of Hong Kong: The Ava Lee Prequel, The Water Rat of Wanchai, The Disciple of Las Vegas, The Wild Beasts of Wuhan, The Red Pole of Macau, The Scottish Banker of Surabaya, and The Two Sisters of Borneo. The Water Rat of Wanchai was the winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, an Amazon.ca Top 100 Book of the Year, an Amazon.ca Top 100 Editors’ Pick, an Amazon.ca Canadian Pick, an Amazon.ca Mysteries and Thrillers Pick, a Toronto Star Top 5 Fiction Book of the Year, and a Quill & Quire Top 5 Fiction Book of the Year.

Ian Hamilton's profile page

[A]n award-winning series that absorbs intriguing aspects of both Asian and Canadian cultures

The London Free Press

The pleasure in following Ava’s clever plans for countering the bad guys remains as ever a persuasive attraction.

Toronto Star

In Ava Lee, Ian Hamilton has created a crime fighter who breaks the mould with every new book (and, frankly, with every new chapter).

CBC Books

This book, like all the Ava Lee novels, is pure fun.

Publishers Weekly

Praise for The King of Shanghai

“Fast-paced suspense, exotic locales, and a rich cast of characters ... make for yet another hugely entertaining hit.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Good fun, too, for those who like to combine crime fiction with armchair traveling.” — Booklist

Praise for The Princeling of Nanjing

“The reader is offered plenty of Ava in full flower as the Chinese-Canadian glamour puss who happens to be gay, whip smart, and unafraid of whatever dangers come her way.” — Toronto Star

“Ava Lee has a new business, a new look, and, most important, a new Triad boss to appreciate her particular financial talents . . . We know that Ava will come up with a plan and Hamilton will come up with a twist.” — Globe and Mail

Praise for the Ava Lee series and Ian Hamilton

“Whip smart, kick-butt heroine, mixed into a perfect combination of adventure and exotic location. Can’t wait to see where Ava is off to next.” — Taylor Stevens, author of the Vanessa Michael Monroe Series

“The only thing scarier than being ripped off for a few million bucks is being the guy who took it and having Ava Lee on your tail. If Hamilton’s kick-ass accountant has your number, it’s up.” — Linwood Barclay

“A heck of a fun series, sharing Ian Fleming’s penchant for intrigue and affinity for the finer things in life and featuring Ava Lee — a remarkable hero, a twenty-first century James Bond with real depth beneath her tough- as-nails exterior. Five stars and first class!” — Owen Laukkanen, author of The Professionals

“Ava Lee, that wily, wonderful hunter of nasty business brutes, is back in her best adventure ever . . . if you haven’t yet discovered Ava Lee, start here.” — Globe and Mail

“Slick, fast-moving escapism reminiscent of Ian Fleming.” — Booklist

“A hugely original creation.” — Irish Independent

“Crackling with suspense, intrigue, and danger, your fingers will be smoking from turning these pages. Don’t ever, ever, mess with Ava Lee. She’s not your average accountant.” — Terry Fallis, author of The Best Laid Plans