In the past few years I've loved discovering books by Wilkie Collins such as “The Moonstone” and “The Woman in White”. There are echoes of these masterful stories of mystery in Oates' new epic “Fox” which also incorporates her own form of psychological realism rooted in contemporary America. Surprisingly, this story begins with the perspective of an excitable dog named Princess Di who discovers part of a body near a hiking trail along a lake in New Jersey. A cast of characters are introduced alongside a local detective who endeavours to solve the crime. As we follow the movements of a number of individuals who visit this trail by a lake the ominous sight of turkey vultures circle around in the sky as an omen of death. While following the detective's interviews with suspects and people connected to the victim, I was constantly making my own guesses about who did it and my suspicions kept shifting as more information is revealed. Of course I won't give any spoilers but the ending surprised me.
It should be made clear this is not a cosy crime story. There are more layers to this book beyond its being an effective tale of intrigue. The body which is discovered is believed to be that of the titular character Francis Harlan Fox. He's a lauded poet, a highly respected English teacher at a private middle school and he's beloved by many people in the community. Fox is also a serial pedophile with a “predilection for prepubescent girls”. Not only are his horrific crimes depicted but Oates tunes the reader into his warped sensibility and shows the world through his perspective. As with novels such as “Butcher” and “Zombie”, this tale is another demonstration of how this author so fearlessly explores and exposes psychotic individuals. Naturally this is extremely disturbing but it demonstrates exactly how this man is a masterful manipulator. He's an extremely charismatic individual who forms a legion of supporters willing to defend him. Sadly, this fictional story was inspired by a real case of a teacher who was also a pedophile. So, in addition to the mystery surrounding the discovery of a body, this novel really forms an investigation into how and why someone so dangerous could get away with his crimes for many years.
There's an individual on the case named Detective Zwender who has a sometimes antagonistic relationship with his Christian sidekick Officer Odom. As with Oates' previous novels such as “The Falls” and “Do With Me What You Will”, following this detective's efforts raises questions about the relation between the law and finding justice. There is a murder to be solved but also a larger crime of Fox's abusive behaviour. The story considers exactly how a community should continue and recover after such atrocities are uncovered, especially when warning signs were ignored and the perpetrator continues to be defended by some of his devotees. Zwender is divorced, suffers from health issues and primarily lives for his work. His largely-anonymous lifestyle is in sharp contrast to that of the highly popular Francis Fox who celebrated and loved. Here Oates indicates a sad irony that often charlatans are undeservedly lauded in our society whereas hardworking humble individuals are often overlooked. This novel is a powerful addition to the author's canon of literature which provides absorbing insights into the dark side of America.
I had the great pleasure of interviewing Oates about this novel and you can watch our discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQTvZShm4Uo
