The Hong Kong Widow - an intriguing tale of historical fiction and mystery blended with gothic horror.

During her troubled childhood in Shanghai, Mei discovered that she possessed the Sight - she could see spirits. In 1953, as a young woman in her 20s, she received an invitation to participate in a seance competition in Hong Kong, hosted at the mansion of Holly Zhang, a former silent film star and wife of George Maidenhair, Mei's teacher, former surrogate father, and the man she now hates and seeks revenge on. The contest ends with most of the attendees murdered, yet the police found no bodies, leaving doubt as to what really happened. In 2015, Mei, now 85 years old, is told by her daughter Susanna that she has an anonymous letter which accuses Mei of being to blame for the massacre. The two women travel to Maidenhair House as Susanna needs to learn more. For Mei, being in this house revives more than bad memories. 

The Hong Kong Widow by Kristen Loesch is many things. Most of all, it's dark. Mei's childhood years were filled with great loss and disappointment. She endured the Chinese Communist revolution and, years later, survived the Maidenhair House massacre. Featuring multiple timelines and supernatural elements, this book is not for everyone, and it wasn't what I initially expected. I struggled at times until everything became clear. It's beautifully written and I'm glad I read it. I went back and re-read certain parts to ensure I fully grasped what had occurred. Keep the lights on for this haunting story. 

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction | Mystery | Horror.

Publication Date: October 7, 2025.

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