BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE NIGHT TIGER by Yangsze Choo Quercus, £16.99 (ebook £7.49).

★★★★★

THE Night Tiger continues in the vein of Choo’s debut work, The Ghost Bride, blending intrigue with folklore.

Following doctor’s servant Ren and dancehall girl Ji Lin, the book takes the reader on a vivid journey through 1930s Malaysia and the afterlife.

Five characters’ lives intermingle as the night turns men into tigers that murder with suspicious accuracy, bringing up secrets and adding danger to new relationships.

Starting with a severed finger and an otherworldly mission and ending with thrilling betrayal, the tale’s various twists and relationships are a pleasure to read.

Written with a deft hand in the third and the first person, the novel paints a luscious view of Malaysia. Though the ending feels as though the tale might continue in another book, and the climax seems a little rushed, the story is engaging enough to hold you to the end.