Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Water Rat of Wanchai / The Deadly Touch of the Tigress | 2011 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 2 | The Disciple of Las Vegas / The Fiery Gaze of the Tigress | 2011 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 3 | The Wild Beasts of Wuhan | 2011 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 4 | The Red Pole of Macau | 2012 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 5 | The Scottish Banker of Surabaya | 2013 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 6 | The Dragon Head of Hong Kong | 2013 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 7 | The Two Sisters of Borneo | 2014 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 8 | The King of Shanghai | 2014 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 9 | The Princeling of Nanjing | 2015 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 10 | The Couturier of Milan | 2017 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 11 | The Imam of Tawi-Tawi | 2018 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 12 | The Goddess of Yantai | 2018 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 13 | The Mountain Master of Sha Tin | 2019 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 14 | The Diamond Queen of Singapore | 2020 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 15 | The Sultan of Sarawak | 2022 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 16 | The General of Tiananmen Square | 2023 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
| 17 | The Fury of Beijing | 2024 | Ian Hamilton | Buy |
The Ava Lee series follows a young Chinese-Canadian forensic accountant who specializes in tracking down and recovering stolen money. Working alongside her mentor Uncle Chow Tung, Ava takes on cases that involve fraud, embezzlement, and financial crimes across Asia and beyond. The series launched in 2011 with The Water Rat of Wanchai and has continued through The Fury of Beijing in 2024.
Each book takes its title from a person and a place, establishing the geographic range of the series. The Water Rat of Wanchai, The Red Pole of Macau, The King of Shanghai, and The Diamond Queen of Singapore are just a few of the stops along the way. Ian Hamilton uses the financial investigation framework to explore different Asian cities and cultures, with Ava’s dual identity as both Canadian and Chinese shaping her interactions in each new location. The series has won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel and built a dedicated readership among fans of international crime fiction.