[.uk] Grave Imports (Ray Sharp Mystery) (ISBN 1932557474)

Book Description:
A routine investigation into a Chinese art supplies company unearths a smuggling ring. The trail leads through a warehouse filled with looted antiquities in the boomtown of Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong; to the lair of a vicious ex-South Vietnamese general now living in Thailand; and finally to the murderous Khmer Rouge in the ancient temples and more recent killing fields of Cambodia. Based on the sordid facts of the illegal trade in stolen Cambodian art, GRAVE IMPORTS is a hotpot of high adventure in exotic locales, fascinating characters, high commerce, terrible crime and one mixed-up, reluctant hero trying to shed light into some of the darkest corners of Asia.

Raise your pulse and stimulate your mind:
GRAVE IMPORTS kept me up late. Author Eric Stone leads the reader on a thrilling journey to the remote corners of Cambodia, Thailand, and Hong Kong. One can smell the gunpowder, eavesdrop on the cacophony of Chinese dialects, observe the limbless beggars, and taste the sting of pungent chili. In GRAVE IMPORTS, protagonist Ray Sharp is compelled to investigate a smuggling enterprise that is robbing ancient Cambodian temples of their priceless artifacts. Still recovering from an experience that plagues him with nightmares and occasionally drives him to the bottle, Sharp must confront not only his own demons, but a lawless world of opportunists and manipulators. Though many of the characters are unique and deeply sympathetic, some tread a narrow line between survival and corruption. Sharp can't pass judgment, as the lines he once drew between right and wrong have blurred or moved. I heartily recommend the journey through GRAVE IMPORTS, which will leave you with a racing pulse. It will also have you pondering the clouded moralities of war and enterprise.

Stolen Treasures:
Stolen Cambodian art--statues, parts of temples, icons--illegally sent through Thailand, Vietnam and China to Hong Kong where it is sold, at the time, legally, brings Ray Sharp to his second adventure. The exotic Far East background provides the reader with real glimpses into the people and locales. Sharp leaves his journalistic career as a result of an unfortunate incident, which leaves him in a depressed state. A good friend, a former CIA spook, now trying to build a corporate investigation firm, hires Ray. He is assigned a routine look into a Chinese art supplies company in which an American client is considering investing. Instead of mundane art supplies, he finds secret stashes of antiquities. The trail leads to an ex-South Vietnamese General now living in Thailand and to the Khmer Rouge, the ancient temples, and the killing fields of Cambodia. The author's knowledge of the Far East seems to be quite genuine, and the descriptions of the streets and people of Hong Kong, Bangkok and other locations compelling. The story is believable and the characters real. Insights into the cultures of the area, as well as the horrible plunder of artifacts, are lessons well-told.

Pack Your Bags for a Wild Trip:
GRAVE IMPORTS is Eric Stone's second outing with his character, Ray Sharp. You are immediately inside Sharp's head, seeing what he sees, feeling what he feels. And there is a lot to see from Hong Kong to Cambodia. You can see, taste, and smell the exotic locations as Sharp starts digging into the illegal trade of antiquities. But Sharp has his own ruins to get through. His rough past keeps haunting him while he tries to sort out the mess around him. And it gets worse before it gets better. The pages start to fly as he gets closer to the truth. This is a great read from a guy who lived in Asia and reported from there for eleven years. You can tell Stone's been there from his brilliant descriptions of people, places and things. Grave Imports is well worth the trip.

A Journalistic Bent:
In Eric Stone's second novel we once again learn about far-flung places; this time it's Cambodia, and the illicit art trade robbing the country of its national treasures. Stone's journalism background shines through, yet he casts his scenes vividly, allowing readers to suspend enough disbelief to lose themselves in the story.

Second in a Thrilling tour of Asia - Part Fiction / Part Fact:
Eric Stone has done another masterful job of capturing the pulse, passions and aroma of another asian culture. The description of the territories Ray Sharp travels through, his interactions with creadible characters, and his sense of self and social issues is thought provoking. In it's entirity it makes the reader want to walk in his footsteps, support the causes he ties them to; while avoiding the dangerous element of course. After finishing the first two books in this series, I'm certainly hoping a third will be written soon! Eric Stone's blog indicates that he is working on a book tentatively titled 'Shanghaied'. We can only hope it will take Ray Sharp on a new thilling adventure in another part of asia. I have passed through a lot of these same areas and can say with some experience that this series depicts realistic backgrounds for a most exciting read!