CHRISTOPHER WEST was born in Germany in 1954. He did a variety of jobs before going to the LSE as a mature student where he obtained a First in philosophy. He then travelled to China; on returning, he wrote Journey to the Middle Kingdom, a travel book. This was followed by Death of a Blue Lantern, his first mystery featuring Wang Anzhuang, followed by Death on Black Dragon River, Red Mandarin and The Third Messiah.