The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo (2024 fiction)

In 1908 Manchuria, a courtesan is found frozen to death in a doorway. There are rumors of foxes, who are said to take the form of beautiful women and handsome men. Bao, a detective with the ability to discern when people tell lies, is hired to find the woman’s identity. Meanwhile, a family who owns a famous medicine shop can cure ailments, but they aren’t able to find a way to escape a curse that has caused the death of eldest sons before their 24 th birthday. Hiring a beautiful servant named Snow seems to change their luck. Snow has many secrets, but mostly she is seeking vengeance for the death of her daughter. She follows the trail of the murderer from China to Japan, while Bao doggedly follows the same path, as they encounter old friends and spirits. The Fox Wife is a fantastic and stunning novel about mortals, spirits, and love.

Reviewed by Ginger Russell