Based on a genuine Chinese tradition, this novella explores the concept of a ghost marriage. This is a union involving at least one deceased person, with the aim of honouring ancestors, preserving lineage and securing spiritual or familial continuity. Such marriages are often between a deceased man and a young woman, who may be alive or dead. This tradition has reportedly encouraged grave robbing, corpse trafficking and even murder to supply ghost brides. Following six Chinese thrillers, this short story revisits Margaret and Li Yan, who now have a son. Margaret is approached by a grandmother whose granddaughter has disappeared. The rest of the story is sordid but gripping, as you would expect from a Peter May story. It was enjoyable to immerse myself in these Chinese thrillers again, even though I can’t really remember the plots of the others. I am a big fan of Peter May.
“You said you saw no harm in what you were doing, because the souls you sold were already dead. Well think on this, Huan. That girl wasn’t dead. She was alive and well, with her whole life ahead of her. The chances are, the person whose identity you are refusing to reveal is her killer. There is no honour in that.”
Listened to as an audiobook