This one was just not for me, I suspect. 
 If I recall correctly, I saw it on a list of books where there was some big and very-satisfying-when-revealed secret threaded through the whole thing. What happened wasn't extraordinarily surprising to me, however. I felt like the tone was a bit all over the place, too. At its best, it amused me. At its worst, it felt patronizing. Much of the part that takes place in London plods along painfully. 
 The characters. Ugh. Little Bee is fine, I guess, though some of her narrative quirks felt a bit overdone. I did not find Sarah (or Lawrence) at all sympathetic though. The only time I felt anything for her was (view spoiler)[when it seemed that her son Charlie may have disappeared (hide spoiler)], and honestly, I think that is one of the cheapest ways to evoke sympathy. (view spoiler)[Even worse, the circumstances felt contrived to invite an encounter between Little Bee and the police. (hide spoiler)] I didn't find the ending satisfying either. I understand what it was going for (view spoiler)[in terms of trading lives, taking personal responsibility for someone else, etc. (hide spoiler)], but ... nope. 
 Probably just not for me.