9tail Fox

Sergeant Bobby Zha of San Francisco's Chinatown police station is shot dead while investigating a suspicious shooting at the home of eleven-year-old Natalie Persikov. He awakens in a New York hospital in a different body - that of Robert Van Berg, a wealthy man who has been in a coma since childhood. Using his new identity and resources, Bobby returns to San Francisco to solve two mysteries: his own murder and the truth behind the Persikov shooting. He moves through the city's underbelly, adopting various personas to gather information from his old contacts while confronting questions about his past life and current existence. The novel blends police procedural with supernatural elements, drawing on Chinese mythology's nine-tailed fox spirit. Set in a near-future San Francisco, the narrative incorporates references to Russian literature and explores the fluid nature of identity in modern society. This genre-crossing work examines themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the ways memory shapes personal identity. The supernatural framework serves to probe deeper questions about what makes a person who they are.

Readers found this noir detective story with supernatural elements creative but uneven. The San Francisco setting and Chinese mythology elements drew praise, while many noted the strong opening chapters grabbed their attention. Liked: - Fast-paced action sequences - Cultural details and atmosphere - Complex character relationships - Blend of police procedural with fantasy Disliked: - Confusing plot threads left unresolved - Pacing issues in middle sections - Some found the ending rushed - Character motivations unclear at times Several readers mentioned struggling to follow the narrative shifts between timelines and realities. As one Goodreads reviewer noted: "Great concept but the execution left me lost." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (40+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (150+ ratings) The book resonated more with readers familiar with noir fiction than those seeking traditional fantasy, according to review patterns.

Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem A noir detective story set in a surreal future Oakland follows a private investigator through a world of evolved animals and memory-altering drugs while exploring identity and consciousness.

The City & The City by China Miéville A police procedural set in two cities that occupy the same space but require citizens to "unsee" the other city creates a similar blend of crime fiction and speculative elements.

River of Gods by Ian McDonald Set in a future India, this murder investigation weaves through multiple identities and artificial intelligences while incorporating Hindu mythology.

When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger A detective in a cyberpunk Arabic future uses personality modules to solve crimes, creating parallel exploration of identity and consciousness themes.

The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien A murdered man investigates his own death in a reality that operates on different physical laws, mixing crime fiction with metaphysical questions about existence.

🦊 The nine-tailed fox (jiǔwěihú) from Chinese mythology is considered both a blessing and a curse, known for shapeshifting abilities and appearing to powerful rulers throughout history. 🌉 The novel's San Francisco Chinatown setting draws from the oldest and largest Chinatown outside of Asia, established in 1848 during the California Gold Rush. ✍️ Jon Courtenay Grimwood has written over 15 novels across multiple genres, including alternate history and cyberpunk, and has won the BSFA Award for Best Novel twice. 🔍 The book combines elements of hardboiled detective fiction—a genre pioneered in San Francisco by Dashiell Hammett in the 1920s—with traditional Chinese folklore. 🧠 The concept of consciousness transferring into new bodies, featured prominently in the novel, has roots in both Buddhist reincarnation beliefs and modern transhumanist philosophy.