Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| New Review Anthology |
1987 |
Buy |
Ava Lee Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Water Rat of Wanchai / The Deadly Touch of the Tigress |
2011 |
Buy |
| The Disciple of Las Vegas / The Fiery Gaze of the Tigress |
2011 |
Buy |
| The Wild Beasts of Wuhan |
2011 |
Buy |
| The Red Pole of Macau |
2012 |
Buy |
| The Scottish Banker of Surabaya |
2013 |
Buy |
| The Dragon Head of Hong Kong |
2013 |
Buy |
| The Two Sisters of Borneo |
2014 |
Buy |
| The King of Shanghai |
2014 |
Buy |
| The Princeling of Nanjing |
2015 |
Buy |
| The Couturier of Milan |
2017 |
Buy |
| The Imam of Tawi-Tawi |
2018 |
Buy |
| The Goddess of Yantai |
2018 |
Buy |
| The Mountain Master of Sha Tin |
2019 |
Buy |
| The Diamond Queen of Singapore |
2020 |
Buy |
| The Sultan of Sarawak |
2022 |
Buy |
| The General of Tiananmen Square |
2023 |
Buy |
| The Fury of Beijing |
2024 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Bonnie Jack |
2021 |
Buy |
Uncle Chow Tung Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Fate |
2019 |
Buy |
| Foresight |
2020 |
Buy |
| Fortune |
2021 |
Buy |
| Finale |
2022 |
Buy |
Ian Hamilton writes international thrillers set primarily in Asia. His Ava Lee series, which began in 2011 with The Water Rat of Wanchai, has grown to 17 books. Ava Lee is a forensic accountant who works with her mentor Uncle Chow Tung to recover money that has been stolen, embezzled, or hidden. The cases take her from the gambling tables of Macau to fashion houses in Milan to political power brokers in Beijing.
Hamilton also launched the Uncle Chow Tung series in 2019, shifting the focus to Ava’s aging mentor and his rise through the Hong Kong triad. The four books (Fate, Foresight, Fortune, and Finale) trace Chow Tung’s story from young immigrant to crime boss. Hamilton’s standalone novel Bonnie Jack (2021) moves to a different setting entirely. Before his fiction career, Hamilton worked in international business, which informs the financial detail and Asian settings that run through his novels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Ian Hamilton written?
Ian Hamilton has written 23 books across four series.
What was Ian Hamilton's first book?
Ian Hamilton’s first book is New Review Anthology, published in 1987.
What is the Ava Lee series about?
The Ava Lee series follows a Chinese-Canadian forensic accountant who tracks and recovers stolen money for clients around the world. The books are set across Asia, from Hong Kong and Macau to Borneo and Singapore, mixing financial intrigue with crime thriller pacing.