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The co-op bookstore for avid readers
The Hong Kong Widow
Hong Kong, 1953: In a remote mansion, witnesses insist a massacre took place. The police see nothing but pristine rooms and declare it a collective hallucination. Until decades later, when one witness returns...from the Edgar(R)-nominated author of The Last Russian Doll. In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation--to take part in a competition in one of the city's most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges--she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei's entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house--even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . . .
Book Details
- Publisher: Berkley Books
- Publish Date: Oct 7th, 2025
- Pages: 368
- Language: English
- Edition: undefined - undefined
- Dimensions: 9.20in - 6.20in - 1.30in - 1.15lb
- EAN: 9780593548011
- Categories: • Gothic• Horror - General• Historical - General
About the Author
Kristen Loesch grew up in San Francisco. She holds a BA in history as well as a master's degree in Slavonic studies from the University of Cambridge. Her first novel, The Last Russian Doll, was a finalist for the Edgar(R) Award and has been published in twelve territories. She lives with her family in Switzerland.
Praise for this book
Praise for The Hong Kong Widow
"Impeccably researched, beautifully written, and completely terrifying, this book will appeal to readers of Tananarive Due and Silvia Moreno-Garcia."
--Booklist (starred review) "The Hong Kong Widow is a tour de force: tense, emotional, poetic, and utterly unputdownable.... Kristen Loesch is a major talent, and I can't wait to see what she does next!"
--Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
"Spiritualism, murder, and Shanghai's film industry collide in Kristen Loesch's historical thriller...Spanning three decades, the story is the perfect spooky read."
--Entertainment Weekly "This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! The Hong Kong Widow is gripping, suspenseful, terrifying, filled with shocking twists and turns. But it's also exquisitely written and heartbreaking--a masterful, immersive work about mothers and daughters, trauma and healing, longing and vengeance. Unforgettable."
--Amy Chua, New York Times bestselling author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother "A stunning, addictive, genre-bending book that will sink its claws into you from the very first page. I was utterly spellbound by this tale of a haunted house séance contest (!) that interweaves historical narratives of a child medium and a mother returning to her haunted past. I don't know how Kristen Loesch does it but she has a new super-fan in me."
--C. J. Cooke, bestselling author of The Lighthouse Witches "The Hong Kong Widow is a delightfully creepy shapeshifter of a novel. No one is who they seem in this braided narrative that's part ghost story, horror tale, and gothic thriller set against a fascinating period of history. I dare you to read this before going to bed!"
--Elise Hooper, author of The Library of Lost Dollhouses "This is more than just a historical thriller; it's a powerful testament to the enduring strength of women and the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be broken by history. This is a beautifully crafted novel, unlike anything I have ever read."
--Amita Parikh, international bestselling author of The Circus Train "The Hong Kong Widow is at once an eerie haunted house gothic and a deeply profound meditation on mothers and daughters, the mysteries we end up keeping from each other, and the healing power of empathy and togetherness as a way of confronting -- and laying to rest -- the ghosts of a painful past. Stunning prose, impeccable historical research, and page turning suspense. I absolutely devoured this book."
--Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, author of The Haunting of Moscow House "A riveting tale where evidence confounds and emotions run high. From the first sentence to the last, The Hong Kong Widow ensnares you in plot twists and tensions between mother and daughter."
--Janie Chang, bestselling author of The Porcelain Moon "I loved The Hong Kong Widow! The writing is superb, the historical detail fascinating, and the timelines skillfully woven to create a truly compelling story."
--Jacquie Bloese, author of The Secret Photographs "I am utterly enamored with this beautifully written and profoundly moving tale about the search for meaning amongst the ruins of loss....At the heart of this chilling story, Mei is navigating her path through a life devastated by war, proving that at the end of the day, it is love and survival that triumph. Masterfully told, this mesmerizing read should be on everyone's to read list."
--Rebecca Netley, author of The Whistling "The Hong Kong Widow, Loesch melodically weaves a rich tapestry of home, both as a physical structure and as a given or defined family, and explores its power to scar, strengthen, and shape those who are a part of it."
--Fresh Fiction "...Loesch not only stays true to the historical details of old Shanghai and Hong Kong, but also presents a complex history of both places."
--Asian Review of Books "The Hong Kong Widow is a book that grabs you and doesn't let go."
--Game Vortex "...Just enough to keep you enthralled and reading, but with plenty of story and background to add to the spooky setting."
--The Gloss "Complex though it is, the book is unputdownable. In fact, as soon as I finished it, I read it again from the beginning, to savor all the details."
--Historical Novels Review Praise for The Last Russian Doll "This preternaturally absorbing intergenerational saga seamlessly weaves between two narratives set during peaks of modern Russian history... And in between, a lifetime's worth of haunting mysteries shrouded in love, betrayal, secrets, danger, and lies."
--Buzzfeed "...[A] masterly, unique, gripping novel."
--New York Journal of Books "A masterful debut."
--Ellen Alpsten, author of Tsarina "...[E]motionally rich.... Loesch moves seamlessly between the expansive dual timelines, slowly establishing the connections between Rosie's quest to solve the mystery of her family's murders and Tonya's efforts to survive the Bolshevik Revolution. Historical fiction fans will love this."
--Publishers Weekly
"...[P]owerfully affecting tale."
--Booklist
"Impeccably researched, beautifully written, and completely terrifying, this book will appeal to readers of Tananarive Due and Silvia Moreno-Garcia."
--Booklist (starred review) "The Hong Kong Widow is a tour de force: tense, emotional, poetic, and utterly unputdownable.... Kristen Loesch is a major talent, and I can't wait to see what she does next!"
--Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
"Spiritualism, murder, and Shanghai's film industry collide in Kristen Loesch's historical thriller...Spanning three decades, the story is the perfect spooky read."
--Entertainment Weekly "This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! The Hong Kong Widow is gripping, suspenseful, terrifying, filled with shocking twists and turns. But it's also exquisitely written and heartbreaking--a masterful, immersive work about mothers and daughters, trauma and healing, longing and vengeance. Unforgettable."
--Amy Chua, New York Times bestselling author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother "A stunning, addictive, genre-bending book that will sink its claws into you from the very first page. I was utterly spellbound by this tale of a haunted house séance contest (!) that interweaves historical narratives of a child medium and a mother returning to her haunted past. I don't know how Kristen Loesch does it but she has a new super-fan in me."
--C. J. Cooke, bestselling author of The Lighthouse Witches "The Hong Kong Widow is a delightfully creepy shapeshifter of a novel. No one is who they seem in this braided narrative that's part ghost story, horror tale, and gothic thriller set against a fascinating period of history. I dare you to read this before going to bed!"
--Elise Hooper, author of The Library of Lost Dollhouses "This is more than just a historical thriller; it's a powerful testament to the enduring strength of women and the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be broken by history. This is a beautifully crafted novel, unlike anything I have ever read."
--Amita Parikh, international bestselling author of The Circus Train "The Hong Kong Widow is at once an eerie haunted house gothic and a deeply profound meditation on mothers and daughters, the mysteries we end up keeping from each other, and the healing power of empathy and togetherness as a way of confronting -- and laying to rest -- the ghosts of a painful past. Stunning prose, impeccable historical research, and page turning suspense. I absolutely devoured this book."
--Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, author of The Haunting of Moscow House "A riveting tale where evidence confounds and emotions run high. From the first sentence to the last, The Hong Kong Widow ensnares you in plot twists and tensions between mother and daughter."
--Janie Chang, bestselling author of The Porcelain Moon "I loved The Hong Kong Widow! The writing is superb, the historical detail fascinating, and the timelines skillfully woven to create a truly compelling story."
--Jacquie Bloese, author of The Secret Photographs "I am utterly enamored with this beautifully written and profoundly moving tale about the search for meaning amongst the ruins of loss....At the heart of this chilling story, Mei is navigating her path through a life devastated by war, proving that at the end of the day, it is love and survival that triumph. Masterfully told, this mesmerizing read should be on everyone's to read list."
--Rebecca Netley, author of The Whistling "The Hong Kong Widow, Loesch melodically weaves a rich tapestry of home, both as a physical structure and as a given or defined family, and explores its power to scar, strengthen, and shape those who are a part of it."
--Fresh Fiction "...Loesch not only stays true to the historical details of old Shanghai and Hong Kong, but also presents a complex history of both places."
--Asian Review of Books "The Hong Kong Widow is a book that grabs you and doesn't let go."
--Game Vortex "...Just enough to keep you enthralled and reading, but with plenty of story and background to add to the spooky setting."
--The Gloss "Complex though it is, the book is unputdownable. In fact, as soon as I finished it, I read it again from the beginning, to savor all the details."
--Historical Novels Review Praise for The Last Russian Doll "This preternaturally absorbing intergenerational saga seamlessly weaves between two narratives set during peaks of modern Russian history... And in between, a lifetime's worth of haunting mysteries shrouded in love, betrayal, secrets, danger, and lies."
--Buzzfeed "...[A] masterly, unique, gripping novel."
--New York Journal of Books "A masterful debut."
--Ellen Alpsten, author of Tsarina "...[E]motionally rich.... Loesch moves seamlessly between the expansive dual timelines, slowly establishing the connections between Rosie's quest to solve the mystery of her family's murders and Tonya's efforts to survive the Bolshevik Revolution. Historical fiction fans will love this."
--Publishers Weekly
"...[P]owerfully affecting tale."
--Booklist