Fox
By Joyce Carol Oates
Hogarth, June 2025, 672pp.
The Short of It:
An exploration of temptation and the need for love.
The Rest of It:
*No Spoilers*
Mr. Fox is quite popular, with a certain group of girls.
Francis Fox, an English teacher at the prestigious Langhorne Academy possesses charm and wit and knows just what to say to a select few. Many of his students hang on his every word and seek his approval whenever they can, often leading to days of misery when not in the radius of his attention.
But when Fox’s car is found submerged in a local nature reserve’s pond, and the unidentified body is strewn about, while Fox is nowhere to be found, detectives begin to ask the tough questions.
Who is Fox? What’s his story? How did he arrive at this sleepy little town? As Detective Horace Zwender and his partner begin questioning school administrators and really anyone who Fox came in contact with, they slowly discover another side to him that begs to be further explored.
I found myself completely enthralled with this book. It speaks to forbidden wants and desires and how they play out between people when the conditions are just right. The tension! Fox’s private life is not so private as each page is turned. Oates creates flawed vulnerable characters that pull you in, even when the subject matter is difficult to digest.
The nuanced writing takes center stage. The tone is subtle while creating tension that will have you reading each word, slowly. It’s mesmerizing and satisfying.
It checked all my boxes:
- Imperfect characters
- Surprising twists
- Highbrow academia setting
- Intellectually thoughtful, reflective
- Delicate handling of a tough topic
At nearly 700pp, I did not feel its length whatsoever. I flipped those pages in awe because Oates takes you gently by the hand and then as you get further in, you end up running full speed to those final pages.
I didn’t want it to end. My mind got such a workout while spending time with Fox. I guess you could say he charmed me as well.
Highly recommend. Not sure how I missed this book when it was first released.
Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.
Book Chatter 
I haven’t read a book by Oates in forever!
I was surprised that this was my first time reading her!
As I read your review, for some reason I kept thinking it was written by Margaret Atwood, but it didn’t sound like an Atwood book. Then you said it was your first time reading her (and I knew you had read Oryx and Crake), so I shook my head and realized the book is by Oates and not Atwood! It sounds like something I’d like. I like a mystery with twists. I don’t care for Atwood, so now I’m more eager to give this a read. Probably on audio since it’s soooooo long!
It DOES seem like something Atwood would write. I could have sworn I’ve read Oates before, maybe pre-blogging but I looked through her books and collections and nope. She did something with those characters. They are so nuanced. I feel like she carefully chose every word to describe them and what was going on. Subtle, but alarming. I read a few sentences multiple times and was like, is she saying what I think she’s saying? Yes, she is!
Great topic for a novel! Glad to hear it was good.
I mean, with everything going on with those files, I was shocked when I realized I picked up a book about a pedo. I mean, really? BUT, so well done. Plus the story had some surprises I didn’t anticipate.
This sort of a story is not what I think about when I think about Oates’ writing at all. It sounds like a compelling story!
Right? Very compelling. Expertly handled.
Wow you smoked this Ti. You make it sound very good and provocative. I might need to add it for a fall read. I have not read it! Can I handle Francis Fox ? – he sounds evil and manipulative – do I want to spend time with him? It seems long but fast … and the writing good.
You ask some good questions. Can you handle Francis Fox, I think yes. That’s why this book is so good because the author’s handling of HIM and what he does is very delicately done.
I’m so glad to see this review because I recently downloaded Fox from the library and have been trying to decide whether I want to read it. I’ve read a few of Oates’ books, and because they tend to be dark, I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood. I think she’s a very good writer so maybe that will be next for me!
It’s very well done. Dark but handled delicately.
Visit my blog: Book Chatter https://bookchatter.net/
I want to read this. Lovely cover, too!