The Night Tiger: A Novel

This book had me hooked by the end of the second short chapter, and apparently I don’t have much willpower, as I devoured the rest in a 24-hour period. The brisk pacing and mystery box format, with deftly handled multiple points of view, are addictive. The main protagonist, Ji Lin, is endearing, as is the houseboy Ren, and I found myself rooting for each through all the twists and turns of their adventures. This is easily my favorite of all the new books I’ve read in the past year. (And no, I did not receive a free advance copy—bought this for myself and am glad I did!)

I read this in one sitting. It took me to another time and place, and I couldn't put it down. And when I reached the end, I had to go back and read it a second time--this time slowly, savoring all my favorite moments.I also read The Ghost Bride, and I enjoyed this one more.

Could not put it down. I swapped between the audio and the kindle and finished it in one go. Even better than the Ghost Bride. Yangsze has the native's grasp of her place, and the time could be from grandparent's tales. But the mystery had me going to the end! The romance was very realistically nuanced as well.

I liked the story except that the heroine's oblivion to Shin's interest sometimes had me knocking my head against the wall. C'mon, really? But the story and the writing were wonderfully flavored with the Malayan culture, which was a big draw for me. Refreshing to not have to read a cookie-cutter plot with stilted characters. Highly recommend.

After reading the Ghost Bride I eagerly looked forward to Yangsee Choo’s next book. This book takes place in Malaysia in the 1930’s. The heroine, who works as a dance hostess, is given a mummified finger in a glass bottle. She needs to find the body it belongs to and bury it. Ms Choo is such a captivating writer that this works as a plot device. I read it in 2 days because I didn’t want to put it down.

Interesting plot, like able characters and I must have liked it because I want a sequel. Learning about other cultural beliefs threaded into a suspenseful story.

This was such an interesting story line and glimpse into Malaysian culture. This is definitely book club worthy - truly fascinating.

Enjoyable read, short chapters made for addictive reading. The overall story was great, the themes and imagery were awesome. The only problem was the love story for the character Ji Lin. Too creepy.

Like a number of readers I was invited by Quercus Books to take part in a buddy read of ‘The Night Tiger’ by Yangsze Choo. For the last month we have collectively read 10 chapters a week and then discussed these on social media using #NightTigerTogether.I had originally received an eARC from Quercus Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, I quickly found myself loving the novel and so bought a hardback copy and its matching audiobook, narrated by the author.‘The Night Tiger’ is a rich work of historical fiction combined with magical realism, which draws on the mythology and folklore of Malaysia. The novel alternates between two narrative streams both set in colonial Malaya in the 1930s.In the first, Ren, an eleven-year-old Chinese boy, is sent as a bequest by his deceased master to serve as a house-boy to a British doctor. Ren has been tasked with finding his old master’s severed finger and reuniting it with his body within 49 days. If he fails to do this in time his master’s soul will be condemned to wander the earth forever.In the second, Ji-Lin works as an apprentice dressmaker and also moonlights as a dance hall girl in order to pay off her mother’s gambling debts. When one of her dance partners accidentally leaves her a gruesome souvenir (no prizes for guessing what this is) it leads her on her own journey. In the background are a number of mysterious deaths among rumours of a were-tiger.The spiritual aspect of this novel spoke very powerfully to me, including the use of dreams as a way of interacting with the unseen. It also addressed the society that Ren and Ji-Lin were part of. The pressure was especially acute for Ji-Lin , who was expected to marry and not pursue an education. Add to this the secrecy necessary to hide her dance hall work from her family.I grew very fond of the characters and was invested in their respective fates. The novel does also contain a degree of intrigue and romance. I felt that the two narratives were beautifully woven together with lyrical descriptions that brought the setting vividly to life.I loved it and certainly plan to recommend widely. My thanks to Quercus Books for the opportunity to take part in this fascinating online event.

This book should be enjoyed by the reader fully and entirely on his own, without the spoilers of a synopsis. Hence, I need only say that this book is about romance and intrigue in old world Malaya – Malaya during the times of her colonial masters. It is a story that begins with a finger in a jar (not much of a spoiler because that’s how the story begins) and it gathers quick pace around that finer and the protagonist who found it. We learn about ancient Confucian beliefs about the five virtues, and how the characters in the book are named after them. The plot also involves a great deal of Malayan and Chinese numerology and superstition – and, unlike crime novels, in which the crime is disclosed at the beginning of the book even if the perpetrator is not, this book reveals the crime towards the end of the novel. It is amazing how the author piles on mystery after mystery without losing her readers. It is very well-written, fluent and stunning, and one can read without stopping for food. This is a sampling from the first pages, for a glimpse into the style of Yangsze Choo’s writing: ‘Forty-four is an unlucky number for Chinese. It sounds like “die, definitely die”, and as a result, the number four and all its iterations are to be avoided. On the ill-fated day in June, I’d been working at my secret part-time job at the May Flower Dance Hall in Ipoh for exactly forty-four days.’

So of course we love the 2 main characters, BUT so much padding in terms of what is real and what isn't, and beliefs about magic, superstition and mystical beliefs that this reader finds boring, tedious and fanciful - sorry if that is the parts you liked!Also, I found the place and time poorly captured and kept forgetting when it was based and even where. Every now and then there would be a reference to it and I was given a jolt - it could be anytime/place (within reason!)Could not also believe in the skills of 10 year old Ren. Loved him but unbelievable.Also found Ji-Lin's voice interesting but out of time with when it was supposed to be. Not convincingClearly leaving the door open for a follow up novel, which I will not be anxious to read.

A compelling read. Part ghost story, part thriller, part romance this beautifully written book tells the story from the point of view of 2 very different characters, both complex and interesting and believable. A satisfying ending makes me highly recommended this book. I like a good plot, characters I care about, an author who writes well, (not formulaic or clumsily). I liked the book so much I bought the author's first book to read

I loved this book and could not put it down. The author manages to weave all the characters' stories together beautifully and the plot comes together seamlessly and believably. The characters were beautifully written and you really invested in the outcomes for all of them. I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Malay life. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.