Henry Chang books

Henry Chang is an American crime novelist known for his Detective Jack Yu mystery series set in New York's Chinatown.

A Detective Jack Yu Investigation Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Chinatown Beat 2006 Buy
Year of the Dog 2008 Buy
Red Jade 2010 Buy
Death Money 2014 Buy
Lucky 2017 Buy

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Asian Pulp 2015 Buy

Henry Chang was born and raised in New York’s Chinatown, where he still lives. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute and the City College of New York. His writing draws on his lifelong experience in the neighborhood, capturing a side of Chinatown that tourist guides never show.

His Detective Jack Yu series, beginning with Chinatown Beat (2006), follows a Chinese-American NYPD detective working the streets of lower Manhattan. The books have been praised by the New York Times Book Review, the Washington Post, and the Boston Globe for their vivid portrayal of Chinatown’s shifting power dynamics, including tong rivalries, immigrant struggles, and the tension between old traditions and new realities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Henry Chang written?

Henry Chang has written six books across two series.

What was Henry Chang's first book?

Henry Chang’s first book is Chinatown Beat, published in 2006.

What makes Henry Chang's mysteries distinctive?

Chang was born and raised in New York’s Chinatown, and his Detective Jack Yu novels draw directly on that experience. The series portrays Chinatown’s underworld of tong wars, gang violence, and generational tension through the eyes of a Chinese-American NYPD detective who uses both modern police methods and his knowledge of Chinese culture to solve crimes.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy