Pagan Madonna is a gripping tale from the pen of Harold MacGrath, set against the exotic backdrop of Shanghai. The narrative weaves a web of intrigue, murder, and illicit art dealing. The lives of Jean Norman, a US Red Cross nurse, Ling Foo, a cunning pawn shop owner, and Anthony Cleigh, a wealthy art aficionado, become intricately intertwined over a mysterious string of beads. In this world, every action is dictated by the whims of Chance – the Pagans Blind Madonna.