In Prayer of the Dragon, beautiful Tibetan landscape and quiet village life is marred by ancient cruelty and hidden secrets. At the urgency of his friend’s request, the lead character, Shan Tao Yun, finds himself in a little village in Tibet. Out of touch from modern civilization, isolated in a land where they say you must be part mountain goat to survive, Shan must maintain the delicate balance of respecting culture and religion while solving several murders. Interesting characters, from a prominent Chinese scientist and his ambitious, talented nephew to Tibetan and Navajo monks, create a well-rounded and intense journey for the reader.

This 360-page hardcover is worth every penny booksellers charge. The protective slipcover bears fascinating imagery that attracted the eye of every person who came through my house during this book review project. I found that I was looking at the cover myself as it rested beside me between reading sessions. Eliot Pattison, an international lawyer, is the Edgar-Award winning author of The Skull Mantra. He has also written three other novels, including Water Touching Stone, Bone Mountain and Beautiful Ghost.

This is one book that will remain on my bookshelf among the favorites I treasure. It goes far beyond fiction mystery and crime genres, venturing into politics, racism, Tibetan culture, and the life of Tibetan monks. The clear, intelligent and descriptive language used by the author had me feeling like I could smell, taste and see the country. Pattison also includes a general glossary of terms used in the storyline from the Tibetan culture.