John Burdett: The Last Six Million Seconds, Vintage Crime, Penguin Random House, 9780307948618, ebook, 

I have read Burdett's exceĺlent Bangkok trilogy and while on holiday in Asia downloaded this novel. Hongkong during the last 2 months before being returned to China in April 1997.

Charlie Chan, chief inspector with the Royal police, of half Chinese, half European heritage,  is dealing with a gruesome murder, three mutilated heads are found without bodies. The beginning of a complex thriller. 

I was fascinated how Burdett processed the Asian mentality in this sometimes brutal novel, the delicate political landmines involved during the handover, the cover ups and the fundamental differences in Western and Chinese philosophy in dealing with problems.  Chan is a charismatic character who is trying to solve the murders before the clock runs out on him and he faces an uncertain future. A complex plot, sometimes too brutal for my taste but gripping.