I’m just going to get this out of the way first this time. It seems the only books I am writing reviews on these days are my favorites of the year and this one is no exception. This book is a 🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃 read so stick with me and find out why.
I have tried a lot of new to me authors this year and I have have not been disappointed. My wonderful reader friends on #BookSky have opened my eyes to so many wonderful books this year. This book is about Cora Zeng who witnessed the brutal murder of her sister by a racist who pushed her in front of a train. Jump forward, Cora has become a crime scene cleaner. She is noticing a pattern of horrific murders against East Asian women. Each scene Cora finds a bat left behind like a calling card.
If this wasn’t already an intriguing murder mystery in itself, Kylie Lee Baker hits us with an incredible Ghost story. All these deaths are occurring during the festival of the Hungry Ghost. The divide between our world and the spirit world is open. Cora who doesn’t fully believe in this has found herself being haunted, and maybe possibly even helped by a frightening ravenous ghost.
I think what meant the most to me in this book was the eye opening realization of how horrible people can be. I’m not sheltered and i know how horrible people can be, but I was not aware of all the hate towards Asian people during the Pandemic. Bat Eater wasn’t a term I had heard before. Sure I have redneck family who find it hilarious to still call COVID the China Virus, but I had no idea that people were spitting in the face of Asians and blaming them for everything. I was shocked and yet wasn’t. Just look at the daily reminder of how much hate exists these days. There truly are far too many hateful, bigoted, racists in this country. Everyone is a human being who deserves respect, kindness and love. How some cannot grasp this concept is astounding.
On to a happier topic. I really enjoyed learning about the Hungry Ghost Festival and it did cause me to research it myself. Here is a great article from The History Channel. I loved getting to know more about the culture through Cora’s Auntie Zeng. I also connected with Cora on the germaphobe level too. During the pandemic I to was overly clear and paranoid about becoming sick. My family and I made it almost 2 years before we were struck down by COVID.
Overall I loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down but adulting sucks. This is one i could have easily read straight through if I had uninterrupted time. I highly recommend this book and I’m going to check out what else Kylie Lee Baker has written.
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