The Night Tiger

by Yangsze Choo

Malaya, with its mix of Malays, Chinese, and Indians, is full of spirits: a looking-glass world governed by unsettling rules.

While I was writing this book, I found myself exploring this whole idea of parallel or mirror worlds, and twins. Duplicates that are similar but also opposite. THE NIGHT TIGER itself can be read as a straight-forward mystery or a ghost story—or both at the same time. Within it are also the dual realities of servants and masters, men and women, natives and foreigners, the dead and the living, humans and beasts. Even the narrative structure is split between Ji Lin and Ren’s viewpoints. I didn’t exactly plan it all this way, but it emerged as I was writing, growing like two trees entwining in a jungle, or two paths criss-crossing each other in a dark wood. What is real and what is unreal? Or does it only matter if you care?... I hope you enjoy the journey.