The story in one page
When a valuable jade bracelet disappears, Captain Ted Talham and the polyglot detective Tillizinni enter a frantic chase. Their target is not merely a thief, but the fabled tomb of the first Emperor of China, hidden for two millennia. As they cross from the streets of London to the cavernous depths of the East, they outmaneuver international criminals who want the emperor’s pearls. Through narrow escapes and encounters with deadly booby traps, the duo secures the prize. Talham ultimately retires to a quiet life in Surbiton, while Tillizinni reflects on the grim fate of his rivals in the silent, ancient dark.
Who's who
- Tillizinni
A polyglot detective of Italian birth who solves cryptic cases.
- Captain Ted Talham
A decisive, non-social soldier who helps recover the jade prize.
- Soo
A villainous figure seeking the tomb who values face over life.
- Yvonne Yale
The lady whose bracelet triggers the international investigation.
- Gregory de Costa
A shamed youth caught in his father’s criminal schemes.
What it's really about
- Cultural Dislocation
- Detective work requires mastering many tongues.
- Legacy of Empires
- Ancient Chinese treasures drive modern greed.
Why it's memorable
- A python hanging from the roof of a cavernous tomb.
- A villain smiling while dying by his own hand.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Soo commits suicide with a hidden knife to preserve his honor. Tillizinni later observes Talham living a dull, domestic life in Surbiton, finding it as stifling as the tomb itself.
For your book club
- Why does Tillizinni find London domesticity more terrifying than ancient traps?
- How does the jade bracelet serve as the primary map?