Author of more than sixty books, Chang Kuo-Li has attained mastery over writing technique. So, when he set his sights on the international market with The Sniper, he knew how to attract readers outside of the Chinese language sphere: sharp pacing, striking visual imagery, precisely tailored technical knowledge. He built readers’ trust, and put his well-practiced prose to use presenting uniquely Taiwanese story elements, giving readers a strikingly original reading experience without the foreign locale becoming a barrier. His sequel, The Third Bullet, continues in this vein, using real events of the 2004 Taiwan presidential election to set the stage: an attempt is made on a candidate’s life, but the gunman’s bullet just grazes the candidate’s belly, leaving only a minor wound, much as the bullet intended for US presidential candidate Donald Trump only nicked his ear. While Trump’s would-be assassin was shot and killed on the scene, the assassination case in Taiwan was never solved, giving the author full-reign to develop his story.