My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've had this on my TBR pile for ages, so it was about time I got stuck into it.
Cora Zeng is living through the pandemic and after a traumatic event, she finds herself working as a crime scene cleaner. It's actually a job that she enjoys because she wants things as clean and sanitized as possible. But too many Asian women are being killed in Chinatown, and she starts to wonder if she might be next...
Wow. This story doesn't waste any time getting started. Yikes! That first chapter is absolutely insane. And gory. And brilliant in a totally messed-up and devastating way.
The running theme in this book is sadness. It's a dark story that features a woman who is obsessed with cleanliness during the Covid pandemic. So much that she ends up getting a job as a crime scene cleaner. As if dealing with the pandemic and the awful realities of so much death at every turn isn't enough, she also catches the attention of hungry ghosts who haunt her mercilessly.
I really liked Harvey, Yifei, and Auntie Zeng. These characters really helped the flow of the story and the way they support and help Cora helps balance the awful nature of so many other characters.
As bleak and tragic as Cora's story is, I was hooked from beginning to end. It's not just about the pandemic, it's also about some people showing their true, despicable colours. Covid highlighted just how terrible people can be, and this book showcases the effects of racism and disgraceful behaviour in the grittiest and most violent way.
I'm so glad I finally read Cora's story.
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