Bartle Bull, former publisher of the Village Voice and master of the exotic adventure novel, returns with a tale of romance, vengeance, and intrigue. China Star begins in 1920s Paris, where Shanghai Station the 's Russian count, Alexander Karlov, and Viktor Polyak, the Soviet agent who killed Karlov's parents and abducted his twin sister Katerina, hunt each other through grand hotels, sewers, fashion houses, and embassy parties. Soon after, Katerina sets sail with Alexander for China on theChina Star.