The Year of the Woman

by Jonathan Gash

Kway Fay was once a "Cockroach Child", a homeless scavenger on Hong Kong’s waterfronts. Now grown, she lives in a squatter shack on the mountain slopes, and commutes daily to her job as a lowly office clerk. She survives by paying bribes if she has to, and keeping silent when abused. Her only ally is Grandmother’s Ghost. Hong Kong is in turmoil, as this is the time just before the Handover, when the People’s Republic of China will repossess the Crown Colony. Hongs and Triads, underworld organizations above the law, are concerned, for China’s policy is to eliminate criminal cliques. The head of a Triad learns of the impoverished "no-family" girl who talks to ghosts, and wonders if she is a way out of his dilemma. Except that superstition is forbidden by the incoming regime. The girl might be the last chance for his Triad’s survival.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

John Grant is an English crime writer, who writes under the pen name Jonathan Gash. He is the author of the Lovejoy series of novels. He wrote the novel The Incomer under the pen name Graham Gaunt.

Grant is a doctor by training and worked as a general practitioner and pathologist. He served in the British Army and attained the rank of Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was head of bacteriology at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for the University of London between 1971 and 1988.

Grant won the John Creasey Award in 1977 for his first Lovejoy novel, The Judas Pair. He is also the author of a series of medical thrillers featuring the character Dr. Clare Burtonall.

Grant lives outside Colchester in Essex, the setting for many of his novels. He has also been published in Postscripts.

Reviews

[Jenny Kirkby · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read that gave a glimpse into the older culture and traditions of Hong Kong. It kept me interested to know how the story would unfold though it took a few chapters to get used to the style of writing. An open ended conclusion but not disappointingly so as I was in two minds as to what I hoped the young girl would do. Not a book I would rave about but certainly not sorry to have encountered it.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - I struggled with the style of writing.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this; I don't understand some parts but I felt I knew the place and cared for the people.

[Alice Bloomfield · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars ⭐️✨

This was not an easy to read and the writing style was not enjoyable for me. If I wasn’t on holiday and had more options I probably wouldn’t have finished it.

[Yrinsyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this novel - fast paced, good plot and interesting characters. Gash has nailed the many personalities of the Hong Kongite. And having traveled to some Asian countries, the descriptions of the streets, the harbours, the hotels, the noise and the traffic, really brought it back to me. The main character is a woman who is uncertain of her place in life and throughout her adventure, she has no idea about the forces she is contact with. The beaming monster! The gambler! The old man! If you are interested in Chinese tradition and history, and love a good crime novel, this is the book for you.

[Denise Rawling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprising book from this well-known novelist. It is not really a murder mystery or even an investigation but a curious mix of oriental magic and crime syndicates during a time of great cultural and historical change as HongKong is handed back to China. It is told from the point of view of a street orphan living in makeshift slums and battling for an existence in the tough world of crowded HongKong. The background and local colour almost seems the hero of this story except our heroine is also so engaging she eventually triumphs and I found this book hard to put down in the end. It is not perfect or literature but it comes closer than many. Unusual and a good read.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is kind of a suspense book, although it's pretty gentle. I found the view of Hong Kong's underworld just before it became part of China very interesting. Also, for example, the description of the miniature building, gardens, concubines, clothing, feast, gold and silver ingots, etc., all made of paper to be burned as a sacrifice to appease Tiger Wong's ancestors.

[Lisa]

This Book is something different,you have to read it but think in Chinese,imagine Hongkong just before the handover to China,add the Triads,The Hongs as the base of the story,then the main chracter a young girl who lives in a tin squatter shack but has a job as a office clark who talks to ghosts.

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

very strange. very good. gives an interesting insight into the english handover to the chinese of Hong Kong and also into the superstitions on which chinese character is built. a very real tension even today.

[Sandra]

rather shallow plot but sufficient that I read the whole thing

[P.D.R. Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually like Gash's novels but this was too depressing for me.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way Gash writes about the powerful yet innocent always delights me.

[Spinwallah · Rating 4 out of 5]

thoroughly enjoyed meself reading this likeable book