It's a sequel, but stands alone just fine. Master Li is Sherlock, and Number Ten Ox is Watson, and the situations are all amusing. When I saw it at the library book sale I thought, "Hey, I remember that, it was pretty good!". I know I liked it when it came out, but I didn't remember much. Sadly in the interim 38 years my ability to appreciate humorous fiction has declined a lot, so this time around I just faintly smiled a few times. But if you like other comic fantasy or mystery, you should like this one.
In the valley of sorrows a monk is brutally murdered for a worhless manuscript,and the abbot of the humble monastery calls upon Master Li and Number 10 Ox to invvestigate.
This was a good book.
