White Ghosts

Elvira Baryakina’s engrossing historical fiction “White Ghosts” is set in Shanghai in the 1920s. The utopian society created by the colonialists is upset as Russian refugees escape the Bolsheviks. Journalist Klim Rogov hunts for his missing girlfriend Nina, amid mystery and peril. His journal turns into a fanciful trip guide to China, exposing communist operatives, opium dealers, and weapon smugglers. This story of improbable heroes opposes racist ideology and advances China’s independence. Fans of The Good Earth, Shanghai Girls, and The Girl Who Wrote in Silk should not miss this one.