Despite beginning with the mysterious death of a courtesan,  The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo doesn’t feel as much like solving a mystery as watching one unravel before you. Taking place in 1908 China, it follows two perspectives: Snow, a fox spirit seeking vengeance, as she follows the trail of the man she holds responsible for the death of her child, and Bao, a 63 year old private detective with a gift for recognizing lies from truth.

Despite the main characters being on the hunt, the book has a very quiet, measured pace. The characters (and even some readers) might think it’s about finding answers, reaching their goals, and getting what they want, but what this book demonstrates repeatedly is that the things people chase rarely end up satisfying them, and are often more costly than they realize. It deals in themes of grief, second chances, hope, and desperation. I was intrigued by both POVs and rooting for the characters to find some peace, though some may find Bao’s viewpoint a little too introspective compared to Snow’s.

I enjoyed the setting, as I’m not familiar with 1900s Asia, so there were plenty of new things to learn, and alongside the necessary description, Choo incorporates additional information about the period, culture, and various locations in a way that’s informative without feeling pedantic.

All in all, I give The Fox Wife 3.75 stars out of 5. I don’t know how else to say it, it just struck me as a very pretty, thoughtful book, I liked the characters, and the exploration of a historical setting unfamiliar to me was also a plus.