THE SNAKEHEAD An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream

Feodor Chin is the listener’s guide into Chinatown's heart: the neighborhoods that tourists don't see, the inner workings of human trafficking from China to America in the 1980s and '90s, and the growing violence of the emerging gang culture. The perfect guide, Chin keeps his voice instructive and interesting, never preachy or accusative. This grim true crime involves "Sister Ping," the “Snakehead” of the title, the person who, for an exorbitant price, arranges passage for the illegals—who then must pay her back or pay the consequences. Chin wisely doesn't give voices or accents to the many characters involved but instead opts for a matter-of-fact tone that keeps Keefe's absorbing narrative moving and listeners listening. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2009]