The Murder Of Mr. Ma

Judge Dee travels around the world to solve the murder of a comrade in arms

Judge Dee Ren Jie, both a real historical figure and the hero of gong'an crime fiction, travels to London from China in 1924 to investigate the death of a World War I comrade. There he meets the academic Lao She, a university lecturer, with whom he develops a Holmes and Watson dynamic. 

This team effort from SJ Rozan and John Shen Yen Nee offers a twist on a classic detective story, albeit with our protagonists being seen as outsiders, grappling with a city that is largely reluctant to view them as true people rather than broad stereotypes and is largely indifferent to crime committed against Chinese immigrants.

While the central mystery may not be brand new to Holmes fans, the development of the characters, the strong historical research, and a battle for justice in an indifferent world is what sets this story apart from other entries in the Holmes style. There is enough departure from Doyle's work, however, that you don't need to be a Baker Street Irregular to enjoy this series debut.