The Tiger and the Cosmonaut

by Eddy Boudel Tan

A noirish page-turner about a mysterious disappearance and a moving portrait of a Chinese Canadian family navigating insecurities, expectations, and simmering anger in their small BC town.

Casper Han grew up the dutiful son of immigrants who never felt entirely welcome in their remote corner of British Columbia. Now an adult, living in Vancouver with a boyfriend whose privilege he quietly resents, Casper rarely returns to his hometown, the site of a grief his family doesn’t discuss: the loss of his twin, Sam.

Over twenty years have passed since Sam went missing, and a pressing crisis has brought Casper and his siblings back. Their father has vanished, only to be found wandering the vast woods beyond the family home, confused and clutching a pair of scissors, seemingly trapped in the memory of that tragic night. In order to move forward, the Han family, accustomed to fleeing their problems, must stay put and finally confront the past—untangling the mystery of what really happened to Sam.

Combining the atmosphere and intrigue of a cracking good suspense novel with the depth of a rich character study, The Tiger and the Cosmonaut tells the story of a family whose members have long made themselves small and quiet and obedient—and what happens when the cycle is finally broken.

Genres: Canada, Fiction, Mystery, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Literary Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2025

About the author

Eddy Boudel Tan writes fiction that isn't easily defined, including his novels The Tiger and the Cosmonaut, After Elias, and The Rebellious Tide. He was named a Rising Star by Writers' Trust of Canada in 2021, and he's been a finalist for the Giller Prize, Evergreen Award, Edmund White Award, and Ferro-Grumley Award. His short stories can be found in Joyland, Yolk, and various literary journals and anthologies. He lives in Vancouver with his husband. Follow Eddy on Instagram (@eddyautomatic) and at eddyboudeltan.com.

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant, immersive, and affecting!

The Tiger and the Cosmonaut is a raw, vivid, suspenseful tale that takes you into the life of Casper Han, a young, gay man who, after his father suddenly goes missing, decides to return to his hometown to not only help find his father, but to finally discover what really happened to his twin brother on that night more than twenty years ago when he vanished without a trace.

The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are sorrowful, secretive, and strong. And the plot is an exceptionally tender tale about life, loss, family, friendship, strength, abuse, loneliness, grief, self-discovery, revelations, heartache, belonging, and love.

Every once in a while you pick up a book that completely moves you and surprises you in all the best ways, and The Tiger and the Cosmonaut is one of those novels. It’s a powerful, pensive, mysterious, beautifully written story by Tan where the space between the words resonates as loudly as the words themselves and is a beautiful reminder that forgiveness in all its forms is always necessary for true healing.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing relief - a Canadian author writing about Canadian characters who sound Canadian, in a totally Canadian setting. Casper Han is returning home to small-town British Columbia to help search for his missing father. He’s bringing his current boyfriend Anthony, and reuniting with his older brother and sister who have both distanced themselves from their elderly immigrant parents. Casper’s twin brother Sam had gone missing 25 years earlier when they were 9 and was never found. This was a heartbreaking story with some solid character development, with a revealed history of systematic racism and socially accepted police brutality. I was moved by most of the Han family’s history but found the resolution of Sam’s disappearance, along with a very strange twist, a bit difficult to believe. How could Sam and Casper’s parents not have noticed? It would have been pretty obvious to any parent. However, it worked well enough within the plot and the nature of each of the characters involved. The writing was original, for the most part. There were some fun phrases (a mosquito's “a propeller in a tin can”) with only a few instances of over-description, and the characters had voices that were unique to themselves. I was surprised by the almost-epilogue as there seemed to be a chapter or at least an explanatory passage missing. How did we get there? I wanted to know more. 4 1/2 stars

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m such a fan of Eddy, and this book is definitely his best one yet! The writing and storytelling is unmatched. I think this is the perfect mix of contemporary/literary fiction with a subplot of mystery. The characters and their situation is a hard one, and the outcome (although I guessed it early on!) was a happy ending.

[Enid Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

And… this is why we read!!

I’m not going to say a lot as I think you really need to go into this without any pre-conceptions as to what to expect.

I’ll start by nothing that this is what a literary mystery/thriller reads like. This is pure gold.

This is a beautifully written, and skillfully nuanced exploration of family, secrets, community and power. Authentically Canadian, it addresses issues of race and discrimination scoring lots of points without ever feeling heavy handed. Understatement, and simple observations, rule the day. Reading it takes you on an emotional roller-coaster… up and down, then back up and down again… always keeping the reader just a little off-balance.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me access to an early digital review copy.

Highly recommended.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting family drama/mystery set in my province of British Columbia. A bit graphic or crude in parts, which didn’t appeal to my prudish sensibilities but admittedly may have contributed to the character development. Overall, it was original and had a good twist that I didn’t see coming.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading The Tiger and the Cosmonaut by Eddy Boudel Tan! I was so excited to read this novel since I loved both of his previous books. I loved the Vancouver setting in this book and the nuance of the Chinese Canadian family. The mystery element really propelled me to keep reading and the ending was so emotional that it made me cry. The writing really excelled at bringing forth those strong emotions and tension with tenderness and hope.

Thank you to the author for my ARC!

[jenny✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i've really, truly enjoyed eddy boudel tan's writing. the tiger and the cosmonaut is compulsively readable lit fic; it’s a suspenseful thriller; it’s a story about family and race and queerness and otherness—and it would’ve been gripping even without tan's lovely prose, but the way he writes is what captivated me after a year-long reading slump. each of the members of the han family feel so tangible to me: each loving in their own way, and at the same time at odds, all the realer for their contradictions.

Together, we tremble and weep out of relief, out of mourning, out of happiness, even. A complicated moment, yet the underlying feeling is simple and pure. Perhaps it is the essence of family, this contradiction.

i will say, though, that there were certain dynamics that bothered me personally in this book, emphasis on personally because i'm aware that others will read this story and take no issue. for me it was, in particular, (1) how readily, easily, willingly the protagonist forgave ivan when they reunited, even before he realized that ivan had killed his brother—though i recognize that the protagonist is aware of his ivan-bias and this particular plotline is resolved by the end (i cannot tell you how deeply satisfying it was to read the scene where casper walks out on ivan in the motel room), and (2) anthony's role in the story. i love love, and particularly queer love. i have witnessed and experienced the way the love transforms and transcends us; i know that healing happens in communion with others. at the same time, i feel frustrated by the heteronormativity of it all, the centrality of a partner as catalyst for change—casper's reliance on anthony, his boyfriend, a white man (i'm fairly certain he's a white man, but please do let me know if i've gotten this wrong), to feel whole.

at the end, there’s so much i find vindicating about this book, especially as a queer chinese canadian person who grew up in vancouver, amidst this city's insidious racism and othering of queer and racialized people. the final lines of the novel are: They’ve minimized us for generations, underestimated our strength and our anger. [He] wouldn’t be afraid to hurt them.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

[Booksandchinooks (Laurie)]

I really enjoyed this author’s first book and this one is even more compelling. Casper is the son of a Chinese Canadian immigrant family and he had an uncomfortable existence growing up in a small community in British Columbia. He has returned to his hometown to help search for his missing father. When his father is found in the woods he seems to be reliving the night that Casper’s twin, Sam, vanished twenty years ago. After this Casper’s family finally begins the process of understanding what actually happened all those years ago and how it has shaped them. This book is so well written and the characters are raw and well developed. There are a lot of elements and layers to the story and the author has written them beautifully. Casper is also conflicted about his relationship with his partner, Anthony, and is trying to make some decisions about their future. I loved the mystery aspect of the story and it was heartbreaking and important to know more about Casper’s experience as an immigrant. Overall another wonderful book by this author that captivated me from the beginning. This will be an auto buy author for me!

[Hibs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this novel, the author's writing style was so captivating, sometimes I have this issue with books where by the end of the novel I feel like skimming sections and wanting to read only the dialogue but the prose in this novel?? I couldn't look away from any of the words. The novel perfectly captured the feelings of being an immigrant in Canada, having grown up here your whole life but still feeling like an outsider.

The final twist and the mystery was a little obvious, I suspected it from the start but I don't think that takes away from the book because the way it was revealed was still amazing, and I agree with the decision Casper made at the end of the novel.

Also, the way sleep paralysis was described in the novel was a little spooky too because I was reading this at 1 am and started getting scared that I would have a sleep paralysis episode lool.

Also loved that the chapters were short so I was flying through the novel!

Overall, I think this was a great read. Thank you to Natgalley for providing me with an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good story but I think the first half was so much better than the second half. I was almost soulful and it was intriguing. The family dynamics were so well written. And the way the family history and current relationships unfolded were dynamic, but then it just seemed to go too fast and conclude too simply.

I had a favourite line, right in Chapter One; "His minutes always seem longer than everyone else's...", it is just such an elegant way of saying he's never on time.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I would strongly recommend this book to others! Engaging and has many threads woven deftly together: mystery, belonging (and exclusion), and family dynamics. And it’s set in BC!

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is a a reckoning with the past. The protagonist Casper's twin brother vanished into the forest decades earlier, and the unresolved trauma of that loss reverberates through every page. Returning to his remote hometown from life in Vancouver forces him to confront the roles he was assigned within his family: the obedient son, the surviving twin, the closeted adolescent, and how those roles have shaped his adult self.

[Jacob Alvarado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly blown away.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

[Vsevolod Vodonenko · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s starts off with the inciting incident not getting the weight it deserves, unrealistic characters and family dynamics, and ends with a cheap twist that comes with no build up. The blurb on the back claims it’s a “cracking good suspense novel with the depth of a rich character study” and holy does that overpromise and under-deliver.

[Kirsty Dickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Hard to put down - I haven’t been that absorbed in a book in a long time. I love reading stories with family dysfunction, queer identities, and long unsolved mysteries and this book was somehow all of that. All set on the backdrop of BC. I especially enjoyed reading the scenes set on the ferry and in Sechelt.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family drama and a suspense novel wrapped in one. I did not see that ending coming, it was well executed.

[Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Tiger And The Cosmonaut' by Eddy Boudel Tan (2025)

Casper Han returns to his parents' home in Wilhelm, BC, joining his sister and older brother to assist with the care of their father, who is experiencing the initial stages of dementia.

Their town is one filled with numerous memories, predominantly sorrowful ones, associated with the disappearance of Casper's twin brother, Sam, two decades prior. But there is more.

Families are filled with contradictions and the Han family is no different. The plight of the missing boy underlines deeper troubles. There is heartbreak as Han and Asian immigrants try to find acceptance. Where shame and fear are inflicted on those who don't comply with society's rules - rules are based on the colour of one's skin.

Ultimately, it explores themes of self-discovery and personal identity. The story will inspire you to positive change and will leave a lasting impact.

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! One of the most compelling stories I’ve read in a while. I’m in awe of Eddy’s beautiful writing.

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Chinese Canadian family live in a small town near Sechelt in British Columbia. The town has had a history of bigotry and violence, which is a factor in two terrible incidents that happen to the family.

During an annual party, the youngest boys of the family, twins Casper and Sam, don cosmonaut and tiger costumes, respectively. Some time during the party, the boys had an argument and separated, and Sam ran into the woods, and never returned home. Though his disappearance was reported and investigated, no trace of the boy was found. When Paul Bauer, the Chief of Police’s son Ivan, also a friend of the twins, went missing very shortly after, his disappearance was handled differently, with many mobilizing to search with Ivan found shortly thereafter, Sam.

Years later, Casper and Ivan have a short and intense relationship, which is outed in the worst way possible, sending Casper escaping to Vancouver; his elder brother Richie and sister Nadia had left some years before to begin their adult lives elsewhere, with the parents urging the siblings to stay. There was no similar scene when Casper said he was leaving.

Years later , Nadia calls Caspar to say that their dad is missing after walking into the woods. The three siblings rush home, Casper with his partner Anthony in tow. Though their dad was found wandering and confused, and clutching a pair of scissors, this is really only the start of the family grappling with their past.


This novel is a mystery, but at its heart it’s a family drama, full of secrets, and the need to keep things silent and acknowledged. And ultimately, the how the corrosiveness of silence and how it twists, cuts and shames people.

The story brought me to anger and to tears, and finally to some degree of calm as darkness was brought into the open. There are two moments I felt like cheering also:
-a mother fought back against a town’s (and ultimately Canada’s false niceness narrative) silence and willingness to coddle racist violence, and
-the protagonist decided to finally speak about the past, acknowledge the damage to himself, his family and community, and find his way through it.

[Cassia Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, with prose that’s smooth and engaging, this was a compelling read. From the beginning, the tone was sad and the mystery drew me in and made me anxious to get some answers. More than anything else, it’s the protagonist’s introspective and deeply conflicted nature that held me captive. Casper is well-drawn, utterly believable, and his backstory (as the child of immigrants living in a small town in rural British Columbia, hours north of Vancouver), is hugely affecting.

Moving back and forth in the timeline (what happened on one significant night when Casper was 9 years old, and what happened 12 years ago, when he was in his early 20s) was absolutely seamless, which I think is incredibly hard to do. Not just a mystery or a character study, The Tiger and The Cosmonaut is a deeply moving story that speaks to the othering of immigrants, of parental expectations that can ruin relationships, of the weight of secrets, and the power of forgiveness, not only for those who hurt us (meaning to or not) but for ourselves, allowing us to heal and move forward.

[Patsey]

I liked a lot about this book. There was some gorgeous sentences. And powerful indictments of how we treat racialized people. I always feel a bit of a thrill when a setting is in my backyard and I know first hand what the place looks like. However, it says it’s “ a twisty page-turner” and “ a kind of rich literary suspense” but I found it very thin on that plot line. The identical twin bait and switch is a cheap trick imho. This was a Giller finalist so some very smart people recognized this book as worthy but I think that there is a great book in you Mr. Han and that’s the one I’ll wait for.

[Christy Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about relationships, identity, and belonging, this tale is both mystery and literary fiction. The flawed characters are all portrayed realistically and sympathetically and the descriptions of Vancouver and the island are visually striking.

[Anne Gafiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read thus far in 2025! Beautifully written. I was transported to a small town north of Vancouver, surrounded by forests and rocks, and within this town, secrets.

[Steve Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tan has created a pretty good book that weaves together a mystery and story of an Asian-Canadian gay man and his family. He handles both storylines well.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author was new to me, but is a great discovery thanks to being on the Giller long list. The writing is excellent and the story extremely compelling.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent storytelling. Simply excellent.

[Mike Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

As this was in contention for the 2025 Giller prize. I was expecting more. It really under delivered for me. Not every line of narrative and dialogue should be so full of finality. 2/5

[Gwen Sapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️