This is only the second Joyce Carol Oates book I've read but like her short story collection (Zero Sum), this one has managed to leave me so anxious and tense and like someone punched me in the stomach. And I loved it! This story is hard to read at moments, but you get a really fascinating character study of the title character and the people around him - these characters felt SO real to me and as difficult as the subject matter was I'm so glad that I spent the time with this book. It'll stay with me for a while.

Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley!

An Unsettling Masterpiece of Psychological Suspense

Joyce Carol Oates’s Fox is a spellbinding, deeply disturbing exploration of power and relationships. The novel follows the disappearance of Francis Fox, a charismatic and greatly popular teacher at Langhorne Academy, an elite boarding school in Weiland, New Jersey. His absence ripples through the school and town, unraveling a web of secrets and complicity that implicates students, parents, faculty, and law enforcement.

The mystery begins when two brothers, sons of a part-time janitor at the school, discover Fox’s crashed car and the remains of an unidentifiable body in the woods near a local nature preserve. Detective Horace Zwender, a relentless investigator, is tasked with piecing together the enigma of Francis Fox-- who was he? What has happened?

At the heart of Fox is a provocative examination of relationships—both overt and insidious—between males and females. Oates boldly mirrors themes from Nabokov’s Lolita and it is referenced multiple times in the novel. The female students, the head of school, the parents, and faculty and friends each grapple with their own vulnerabilities, their relationships with Fox, and the aftermath of his disappearance.

As is Oates’s hallmark, the prose is hypnotic and haunting. Her ability to weave together multiple perspectives with intimacy and precision makes each character feel vividly real, even as the story ventures into profoundly uncomfortable territory. The novel provokes and unsettles in equal measure, and will stay with you long after you complete it. Fox illuminates the darkest corners of the human psyche, capturing the complexity of complicity and the insidious nature of predation.

This is not an easy read—it is engrossing and upsetting, the kind of book that demands breaks to process. But for fans of Oates and literary psychological thrillers, it is a rewarding, albeit harrowing, experience.

#RandomHouse #Fox #JoyceCarolOates

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'Fox' by Joyce Carol Oates - expected release date 06/17/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Given the severity of disgusting things happening in this book, it was hard to get through. I had to step away quite a few times, the content was so heavy. Oates is extremely talented, the writing was clean and her characters were fully developed. I didn't see the twist coming from Eunice in the epilogue, that totally caught me off guard. And, unless I somehow missed it, I wish she would've explained what happened to Mary Ann. Other than that, another good book from Oates, just be prepared for extremely intense storylines and topics.

Francis Fox is a favorite teacher at a boarding school. His car is found in a pond and a body nearby. Then everyone starts to wonder about him and who he really was.

This book is hard to read as it's very hard to follow. It wasn't my favorite.

I was not familiar with Joyce Carol Oates' work—or literary ways—before picking up Fox, which promised to be worthy of multitudinous pearl-clutching. But soon, despite the length of this rather harrowing novel, I found myself completely enraptured. The story itself is deeply sinister, with an ending that feels only fitting after the horrors enacted by Mr. Fox. I absolutely loved this, and look forward to exploring Carol Oates' backlist as a result.

Four strong stars.

It’s 500+ pages long. But I love JCO and this sounds fascinating, so I’m in.

The disappearance of “charismatic, mercurial” teacher Francis Fox from Langhorne Academy, an elite boarding school in Weiland, NJ is big news throughout the town. Just before people realized he was gone his crashed car and an unidentifiable body were found below a drop off in a nature preserve near the town dump by Marius and Demetrius Healy, the two sons of a part-time janitor at the school

Detective Horace Zwender, a stoic, single-minded individual is investigating the case and he is charged with confirming the identity of the body and, then, determining who Francis Fox really was amidst his carefully constructed layers.

A number of female students (including a Healy relative), the head of school, the father of one of the students and others from the faculty and town are among those affected by Fox’s disappearance, and their devastation fans out further.

The book is clearly Oates’s LOLITA (a text discussed at length in the narrative) and, further, explores many different types of relationships between females and males. It is overlong; there are definitely sections that could be jettisoned with no effect on the story, and Francis is a bit one note; one wishes he were a bit less of a totally stereotyped villain, but if you enjoy Oates and her signature style, you are likely to like this. It took me a while to get through it but I enjoyed it.

Dark dark dark dark. I've you're not in the mood/headspace for it, beware. If you are, then I think you'll enjoy this immensely. The writing is immersive and expertly done. It sucks you right into the story and the headspace of some pretty sick characters. It's atmospheric and alarming and just so so well written. A very compelling read - big recommend if this is a genre you enjoy.

A bit long winded and repetitive at times . Story line was brutal where a person who was suppose to guide and protect children was totally evil and abusive .

Joyce Carol Oats is an author that has always been in my periphery, and I’ve even checked out a few books from the library, but I never got around to reading them. And that’s a shame because this book was incredibly written. At first, I struggled with the writing, but we were also in the perspective of a dog. The writing was jumbled and sporadic and the sentences took up half a page. But with each subsequent chapter and character perspective, the writing changed and it truly felt like different voices telling this story.

This plot is not an easy plot to read. A much beloved teacher at a prestigious school has been found dead in a swamp. And as an investigation begins, all the dirt comes out. I’m not one for trigger warnings because I grew up in the generation told to ‘rub dirt’ in our wounds and all things unpleasant ‘build character.’ But I’ve noticed a few reviews that have dnf’d this book due to some very graphic scenes. And I nearly quit too. At around 10% of this book, something horrific is described and it’s tough to read. Really tough. But it begins to mellow out a little later on. If you push through, it’s not as hard. Still a tough subject matter, but not described as graphically.

The writing was exquisite. I got absolutely lost in the writing, and looked forward to picking this book up. The ending was…a little disappointing, but probably very accurate to what would happen in normal life. I wanted retribution and fiery justice, and I felt a little robbed. But that’s not going to stop me from diving into this author’s books and read more. I’m so glad that I read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Joyce Carol Oates writes stories about topics that many people don’t want to think about. "Fox" is one of these books. However, the things she writes about do happen, not just in fiction. This book may not be for everyone, but it’s a story that needs to be told, even if this one is fiction. The characters in this book are well-written. Fox was disturbing, and made me sick, but I couldn’t get enough of him. The book was definitely long, but worth it! #Fox #NetGalley

If I see Oates as the writer of a book, I'm going to read it. She's a powerhouse of a writer. An epic storyteller. I loved Fox and found it to be suspenseful and mysterious. I was entertained throughout and will think about this one for a long time. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another sprawling and expansive crime story from the queen of them. The writing was very well done, but the characters just didn't hook me, and the pacing wasn't enough for me. This felt 150 pages too long.

DNF - This was such a tired story that was so very very tiring to try & read. Therefore, I decided early on not to do so.

While it is clear Oates is an exceptional writer, I did not enjoy this book. The subject matter is difficult which I was prepared for, but I was not prepared for the repetitiveness and length. This book could have been at least 100 pages shorter while maintaining all of the plot points. The antagonist does face justice, however, it was not enough to make the book worthwhile.

If you enjoyed reading Lolita and The Talented Mr. Ripley, you will absolutely adore this novel. If you didn't, be warned that it will be tough going.
Difficult to read? You bet! Worth sticking to it? Yes! I hadn't read Joyce Carol Oates in a long time and now I remember why. She is likely to upset you and make you want to stop reading, but you just can't. The tale begins in a landfill location in south Jersey, near the Pine Barrens, where two brothers are dumping refuse. The Healy boys are the current generation of an old local family whose ancestor may be the one who brought down the Hindenburg wi5th a rifle shot.

It moves on to Eunice and her father walking in that same location, and, eventually, to Francis H. Fox. He is a youngish, handsome man with piercing blue eyes and a charismatic personality, He is hired to teach at a private school in Weiland, New Jersey. If Pedophilia, beautifully described, is not for you. Be warned. At this point, I put the novel down and walked away for several days. But I was drawn back, almost hypnotically, to see what happens. At 640 pages, a commitment is necessary to continue reading.

Oates' characterizations are flawless. the Headmistress, the detective, major and minor people are three-dimensional. You have seen them, known them. If you get past the cringemaking descriptive prose, you will; probably guess the ending. Yet you will still be surprised by the afterward. This novel is gripping and insightful even when most disturbing. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this (very) early copy.

This novel ended up being a did not finish (DNF) for me. I read about a quarter of the way through, and while Oates’ writing style is impressive and the suspense is effectively conveyed, I found the topic of childhood sexual assault too difficult to handle. The level of detail and the assailant’s perspective were too disturbing for me to continue. I appreciate the advanced reader copy (ARC) and would urge readers to check for content warnings (CWs) before starting, especially if they have concerns about the subject matter.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75 (4.75/5)

Okay, I am obsessed with this book. Fox by Joyce Carol Oates is everything I didn’t know I needed—a dark, twisty, psychological thriller with a mysterious, seductive antihero at its center. Francis Fox, the charismatic teacher at an elite boarding school, is a character you’ll love to hate (or maybe just secretly love?). From the moment he arrives, he pulls everyone into his orbit, and when he vanishes, all the secrets start spilling out.

Oates’s writing is incredible—so atmospheric and intense, I couldn’t put it down! It’s like she took the creepiness of Patricia Highsmith and mashed it up with the sophistication of a classic mystery. And that ending? Mind. Blown.

If you’re into morally gray characters, clever twists, and stories that leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page, grab this one. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn or anyone who loves a dark literary thriller.

(4.5 rounded down) Man, I forgot how absolutely gutting Joyce Carol Oates’ work can be. This is a book about secrets, and not light ones, either. Our plot revolves around an English teacher at a private academy, Francis Fox, and just exactly who he is after his car is discovered in a pond and dismembered body parts are found near the car. Oates is an extremely prolific writer and her prose is razor-sharp. She doesn’t hold back and as this book is over 600 pages, it is a lot to take in. Fox is a character I think only Oates could bring to life. The synopsis likens him to Tom Ripley and that feels apt; he is cunning and insidious and manipulative. All of the content warnings for this one. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

Excellent read. Great descriptive language and prose as Oates always delivers. The characters were well developed and plot well thought out.

DNF - while I appreciate the advanced copy, the story line was just too disturbing for me.
Thank you to NetGalley