The Haunted Monastery

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Title The Haunted Monastery
University of Chicago Press - 1997
University of Chicago Press - 1997
Author Robert van Gulik
Cover artist Ed Lindlof
Series Judge Dee
Genre(s) Mystery, Detective Novel
Publisher University of Chicago Press
Released 1961
Media type Print (Paperback)
Pages 196 pp (paperback edition)
ISBN ISBN 0-226-84879-5
Preceded by The Chinese Nail Murders
Followed by The Emperor's Pearl

The Haunted Monastery is a detective novel written by Robert van Gulik and set in Imperial China (rougly speaking the Tang Dynasty). It is a fiction based on the real character of Judge Dee (Ti Jen-chieh or Di Renjie), a magistrate and statesman of the Tang court, who lived roughly 630700.

The book contains eight illustrations by the author as well as a diagram of the Monastery where the action takes place.

[edit] Plot introduction

Judge Dee and his four aids are forced to take refuge in a strange Taoist monastery due to a terrible storm. While there, the chief abbot dies suddenly and Judge Dee thinks it was murder. When investigated the monastery proves to be filled with strange people, frightening statues, and young girls under duress.

[edit] On Screen

In 1974 the novel The Haunted Monastery was produced as a television show by Gerald Isenberg with the title Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders [1]. It was filmed with an all Asian cast (including Mako and James Hong). Writing was credited to Nicholas Meyer and Robert van Gulik. It was nominated for and Edgar Award, for Best Television Feature or Miniseries in 1975.