China Bride

Despite certain opposition from his fabulously wealthy and exceedingly traditional family, Michael Chang brings former Olympic runner Beth Connor to Hong Kong to introduce her as his fianc e. Upon arrival, however, the pair are immediately kidnapped by thugs from one of the island's many triads, Asian secret societies richer and more powerful than the Mafia. Beth manages to escape only to find herself alone and abandoned: Michael's family refuses to acknowledge her and the authorities regard her with suspicion. In her search for Michael, she has only the sympathies of a young police inspector and the dubious support of the head of another triad to help her. Beth's refusal to keep silent in a society that demands compliance from its women further imperils her. Unfortunately, stilted dialogue and cardboard characters mar this briskly paced novel filled with Eastern political intrigues, brutality, perverse sex, and deadly family intrigues. Gratuitous references to Beth as the ""American whore"" and endless disparaging comments regarding her physical endowments grow from tiresome to offensive. (June).