The Curse of Living Knowledge: A Gothic Mystery of the Qing Dynasty (Book 2 of The Suzhou Mysteries)
By Dave Alber

In the shadow of Yushan Mountain, knowledge hungers?and minds are its feast.

Following their harrowing encounters in Suzhou, scholar-official Shen Bingcheng and the brilliant but memory-scarred Yan Yonghua embark on a perilous journey to the enigmatic Yushan Academy. Here, amidst mist-shrouded peaks and whispering pines, they confront a legacy of forbidden wisdom that blurs the line between enlightenment and madness.

Three Mysteries Unfold:

1. The Mirror of the Enemy ? Haunted by past horrors, Shen and Yan set out for Yushan with a guilt-ridden carriage driver whose cursed bridge hides a tragedy. As they trade tales of sorcerer's mirrors and flawed weavers, each story mirrors their own burdens?Shen's grief, Yan's forgotten sins, and the crushing weight of truths too heavy to bear.

2. The Mountain That Drinks Ink ? The ascent to Yushan Academy becomes a descent into fractured minds. When a former scholar collapses, raving about the mountain's "thirst for ink," Yan recognizes his madness as her own?a half-remembered nightmare of dagger-lit rituals and a blinding light that strips sanity. What awaits them at the summit is more than a school: it is a living thing, hungry for those who seek its secrets.

3. The Curse of Living Knowledge ? Within Yushan's hallowed halls, a sinister order thrives on psychological torment and sacrifice. Yan confronts her traumatic past as a woman disguised among male scholars, while Shen uncovers the academy's darkest ritual: the legend of Bai Ze, a mythical beast said to grant ultimate wisdom at the cost of one's humanity. As they navigate hidden passages and the perilous Astral Observatory, they must outwit a secret society that consumes dissenters?leaving only ash and shattered minds in its wake.

Richly atmospheric and steeped in the folklore of Qing Dynasty China, The Curse of Living Knowledge is a masterful blend of historical fiction and Gothic horror. This second installment in The Suzhou Mysteries series reimagines the lives of Shen Bingcheng and Yan Yonghua?the real-life founders of Suzhou's iconic Couple's Retreat Garden?as they navigate a world of mystery, grief, and ultimately, love.

Praise for The Suzhou Mysteries:
"A masterful blend of historical fiction and gothic horror?Alber's China is as haunting as it is vivid."

Perfect for fans of:

· The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

· Babel by R.F. Kuang

· The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Will Shen and Yan expose the academy's secrets?or become the next victims of its insatiable hunger?

Dive into this richly atmospheric tale where every page pulses with psychological suspense, Qing Dynasty folklore, and the timeless question: How much truth can a mind endure before it breaks?

The Suzhou Mysteries continue...