Shanghai, January 1932
As tensions between Japan and China reach a boiling point, Chinese-American expat Tom Lai has troubles of his own. A successful nightclub owner and supporter of the Chinese Nationalist Party, he’s about to start a new life with his mistress, the glamorous Mei-chen. But when Shanghai’s crime syndicate – the infamous Green Gang – accuses Tom of being a Japanese spy, he’s given just forty-eight hours to prove his innocence or face a gruesome death.
Scouring glitzy and decadent Shanghai, Tom uncovers evidence suggesting that his best friend – an American Consulate officer – is the real spy. But in the netherworld of espionage, he’s unsure what to believe anymore. Tom will have to rely on an ally in the Chinese Army, his personal bodyguard, and Mei-chen to clear his name and survive.
However, he’ll also have to avoid corrupt cops, Japanese agent provocateurs, and a sadistic Chinese gangster, while a full-scale war threatens to engulf the entire city.