Ghost Moths is a painstakingly researched, carefully plotted and well-written issues-driven thriller that takes place among the towering eight thousand meter peaks of South Asia’s Himalayan Mountains.Ghost The novel is about the occupied nation of Tibet . . . and it’s long struggle for freedom. It begins with the discovery of a sacred object by a young boy in the mountains of Southern Tibet, just as the Chinese Communist Army comes in and claims the tiny country as its sovereign territory in the early 1950s, setting off a conflict which rages to this very day, with no ending in sight.
The focus then switches to the year 2014 and introduces a man named Neil Quinn. He’s an Englishman, a climbing guide with many years of professional experience leading groups of high altitude summiteers to the tops of the world’s highest peaks . . . and the protagonist of the story. As he’s leading a group back from the top of Mt. Shishapangma, he observes some Chinese soldiers machine gun three Tibetan yak herders to death. Quinn records the massacre on his cell phone and forwards it to a woman named Henrietta Richards in Kathmandu, Nepal—the home of large numbers of expatriate Tibetans, Sherpas and Chinese spies. She’s the acknowledged record keeper of all recognized full ascents of the world’s highest mountains, and a retired British Embassy aide who’s lived in Kathmandu for forty-plus years. Together, Quinn, Richards and an American freelance journalist named Elizabeth Waterman team up to publicize the truth about the plight of Tibet and the ongoing search—in the face of ruthless and often deadly Chinese Communist opposition—for the next Dalai Lama . . . as well as the ongoing hunt for the Pachen Lama . . . who was chosen by his Holiness the Dalai Lama, at age six in 1995. The boy disappeared in the Chinese mainland shortly thereafter.
Could the mysterious and ghostly images of a simple moth that keep appearing at critical times and in crucial places have a role to play in the ongoing conflict? Are they somehow related to the shadowy group of climbers who called themselves ‘The Ghost Moths,’ and fought to save Tibetan culture and sacred objects during the so-called “Cultural Revolution” back in the 70s? Is there any hope of escaping the attention of a sadistic Chinese army officer nicknamed ‘Yama’ . . . for the Tibetan Lord of Death? The answers to all of those questions, and more, can only be found by reading The Ghost Moths. It’s one of the most engaging, propulsive, and, dare we say it, educational novels to come along since The Great Wall was built. The Ghost Moths is fiction with a bite . . . and a story the whole planet should sit up and take notice of . . . because in a just world this novel would go viral. It’s that good!

Immersed in Tibetan culture, religions and traditions is a mixture of people and politics who have been fighting for control of their heritage and destiny. Farthing transports the reader to the Himalayas through the means of a puzzling mystery, both thrilling and informative. A young Tibetan boy unearths an unusual artifact shortly before the People’s Liberation Army of China destroys all he knows.

Sixty years later, a mountain guide, Neil Quinn is caught on high in an earthquake and bears witness to both a temporal and a spiritual event that will propel him into a world of intrigue. He must somehow navigate through enemies, make new alliances and depend upon those who he has trusted in the past. He may hold the key to Tibet’s next step if only he can discern what is required of him.

Farthing creates an intricate tale of those who wish to help and those who wish to harm. Like the characters, the reader is not sure what the messages may mean or if spirited ghosts or real demons are at work. The author captures the dynamics of the region as well as the climbing culture and excitement. Having read his earlier book, The Summit, enabled me to reunite with some of the characters and settings mentioned there. It is not necessary to have read the previous book to enjoy this one, but The Summit was well-worth the reading trip. This is a thrilling and thoughtful adventure. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

This read as if it were in translation and I could easily believe it was narrated by a Tibetan boy. The story is about a boy searching for a fungus called ghost moth, when he finds an ancient relic.

The narrative takes us through some of the political upheaval Tibet went through under Chinese rule and the different phases of change. It's not what you would call a fast moving action story, but it goes through beliefs and attitudes of the Tibetan religion and how the priests who live in the monasteries respond to changes imposed from the outside world, while maintaining their own legends.

Descriptions and characterisations were well done and I did feel transported into this very different culture. We also learned a thing or two about mountain climbing.

Keeps the action pulsing with enough intrigue to make it hard to turn the virtual pages fast enough. Thoroughly fleshed-out characters you tend to either like or dislike with enthusiasm. A great bedtime read that'll keep you engaged till the very end. Highly recommended!

*This book was provided free of charge in exchange for my honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to participate in this program.*

“For the past to determine the future, it must survive the present.” Central to the story are the history, culture, and politics of the Tibetan region. It features mysteries set in the Himalayas and stories that have grown huge from historical accounts. Is something like the Brocken specter a beautiful natural phenomenon or the omen of death? These things depend on who you ask.

If you are not a mountain climber, you’ll learn about the aforementioned Brocken specter – your own reflection cast by the rising sun onto the cloud below – and many other things. The author’s knowledge shines through. You will also read about Tibet’s history, present and past, and its struggle to be an autonomous region.

The main characters want to do right by their conscience or country. You’ll find these people on both sides of the fight. Sometimes you don’t have a choice when powers bigger than you determine the course, though there are some who defend the cause they believe in, until the end.

But what is even more important than a well-designed setting, is that The Ghost Moths also has an interesting storyline, with credible characters. While the plot thickens and all characters get the information needed for their end game, the relevance of the events in the past become clear at the right time.

It is rewarding to take notice of the chapter titles, as they are witty and often come across as a joke or a comment on the situation. I also like the subtitles stating the year and the location of the chapter, which makes it easy to follow the story.

The Ghost Moths by Harry Farthing is a good read for those visiting Nepal, Tibet, or Dharamsala in India. I enjoyed reading it a lot and loved the fact that it transported me to the other side of the world.