A paradise of pleasure hides a web of deceit—and Judge Dee must untangle it before more blood is spilled.

In The Red Pavilion, Judge Dee arrives in the coastal city of Ramble-on-the-Corner, known for its luxurious pleasure houses and decadent elite. But beneath the city’s glittering surface lies danger: a young courtesan has committed suicide, a celebrated poet dies under suspicious circumstances, and whispers swirl about a secretive brothel called the Red Pavilion.

As Judge Dee investigates, he’s drawn into a dangerous world of forbidden passions, intricate power plays, and concealed identities. Every answer leads to deeper questions, and every clue points to a truth more twisted than he expected.

Tense, atmospheric, and seductive, The Red Pavilion is one of van Gulik’s most sensual and psychologically charged mysteries—highlighting the moral dilemmas and human complexities of Tang Dynasty China.