Ghost Month by Ed Lin

The gate is never shut. The dead are always with us, because they live on in our hearts. We just can’t talk to them.

Title: Ghost Month

Author: Ed Lin

Genre: Mystery

Publication Date: July 29, 2014

Number of Pages: 336 pages

Geographical Setting: Taipei, Taiwan

Time Period: Contemporary

Series: Taipei Night Market

Plot Summary: Chen Jing-nan, or Johnny Taipei as he’s known when working, runs his family’s food stall, Unknown Pleasures, in the Shilin Night Market of Taipei. When Jing-nan learns of the death of his high-school love Julia, whom he believed to be in America, he wonders what on earth she was doing back in Taiwan. As Jing-nan faces his grief, he is tasked by Julia’s parents to uncover the truth of her death, which leads him to old classmates, organized crime, and new love.

Content warnings: References to and disparagement of sex work

Subject Headings: Taiwanese cuisine, Food, Grief, Murder, Criminal investigation, Exploitation, Gangsters

Appeal:

• Candid
• "The narrative style of these books is frank and forthcoming, even when discussing potentially sensitive or uncomfortable subjects."
• Perhaps the result of setting, Jing-nan's way of speaking is very blunt, as is the same with other characters around him. Often these frank lines are combined with humor, such as: "Americans love to talk about problems they’re having and issues in their families with people they don’t even know."
• Sardonic
• "Dry humor and biting wit set the tone in these stories."
• There are many lines in this book that are so simple and yet so hilarious. One example is Jing-nan's statement about another character: "We hadn’t had a substantial exchange of facial expressions since."
• Action packed
• "Pulse-pounding, high-octane excitement is the rule!"
• Murder, stabbings, vehicle wrecks, burning buildings, threats, stalking, espionage: this book has it all.
• Mildly sensuous
• "Sex is present, but it’s not given pride of place. Relationships are most important, but sometimes characters act on their attractions."
• Jing-nan's relationship with Nancy becomes physical, and it is described in a relatively abstract way, though not at all explicit.
• Strong sense of place
• "Powerfully depicted locales—real or imaginary—come alive and give a good sense of what makes a place unique."
• Throughout the book, Ed Lin provides detailed descriptions of Taipei's buildings, streets, and people, and includes historical information as well, which comes together to perfectly set the scenes that take place.

3 terms that best describe this book: Political, Descriptive, Funny

Similar Authors and Works:

Nonfiction

 

1. Myers+Chang at Home by Joanne Chang:
• Taiwanese food recipes. Food is very important in Ghost Month, and I think it would be great to try some recipes from its setting.
2. I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara:
• Investigative, personal narrative, death of women
3. Accidental State: Chiang Kai-Shek, the United States, and the Making of Taiwan by Hsiao-ting Lin
• Provides more information on the history of Taiwan, which features heavily in descriptions in Ghost Month.

Fiction

  

1. Himself by Jess Kidd: 
• Darkly humorous, strange characters, atmospheric
2. The Return of Faraz Ali by Aamina Ahmad:
• Asian, character driven, atmospheric, suspenseful, compelling, gritty
3. Tigerman by Nick Harkaway:
• Darkly humorous, Asian setting, dramatic, suspenseful, character-driven

References

Lin, Ed. (2014). Ghost month. Soho Crime.

NoveList. (2018). The secret language of books: A guide to appeal. EBSCOHost.

Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction. Chicago: ALA