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The Family Plot: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 26 Jan 27“Yan’s storytelling has a luminous, irrepressible quality.”—NPR
The brilliant and highly resonant new novel from one of China’s most influential and important contemporary writers, exploring a son, father, and mother all consumed by the desire for success, even at the cost of one family member’s life
In Gaotian Town on China’s Central Plains, one perfectly normal working-class family is aspiring to better things. The son dreams of making enough money to go to America, while his father longs to build a new house like his middle-class neighbors, despite lacking the means to do so. His long-suffering wife worries about her only child’s waywardness and feels she must take matters into her own hands. Unbeknownst to one another, each family member is thinking about killing one of the others.
Class tensions run high in the town, from the wealthiest and most envied family to the girl working at the beauty parlour who longs to escape, and the entrepreneurial grocer whose success has consequences for multiple lives. Set against the turbulent backdrop of social and cultural transformation, we witness a community undone by desperation and desire.
Yan Lianke unflinchingly recounts one family’s slow descent into chaos in a darkly comic voice that is his alone. The Family Plot explores the push and pull of money, modernity, familial strife and the decay of tradition—and the lengths to which people will go as they strive for a better life.
- GenresFiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
About the author
Yan Lianke
81 books534 followersYan Lianke (simplified Chinese: 阎连科; traditional Chinese: 閻連科; pinyin: Yán Liánkē; Wade–Giles: Yen Lien-k'e, born 1958) is a Chinese writer of novels and short stories based in Beijing. His work is highly satirical, which has resulted in some of his most renowned works being banned.
He started writing in 1978 and his works include: Xia Riluo (夏日落), Serve the People (为人民服务), Enjoyment (受活), and Dream of Ding Village (丁庄梦). He has also published more than ten volumes of short stories. Enjoyment, which was published in 2004, received wide acclaim in China. His literature has been published in various nations, and some of his works have been banned in China.
(Wikipedia)
He started writing in 1978 and his works include: Xia Riluo (夏日落), Serve the People (为人民服务), Enjoyment (受活), and Dream of Ding Village (丁庄梦). He has also published more than ten volumes of short stories. Enjoyment, which was published in 2004, received wide acclaim in China. His literature has been published in various nations, and some of his works have been banned in China.
(Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 19, 2026
I knew I would appreciate The Family Plot, it’s Yan Lianke after all! His ability to turn unusual plots into compelling exploration on human beings under man-made systems is truly remarkable, and The Family Plot was no exception. I really enjoyed reading this one!
Unbeknownst to one other, a family of three thinks about killing one of the other. A father, mother, and son, each looking for their share of prosperity that seems to come to everyone but them. Told from their (and an author to whom they tell their stories) perspectives, we follow the individuals on a pivotal day full of reasons and opportunities to kill a family member.
I love how each perspective comes with their own tone of voice and set of language. Being a university student, the son speaks lyrically, referring to poems every so often, while his father is the only one who curses. The mother’s voice flows differently from father and son and borrows words from her dialect. Such details not getting lost in translation can’t be appreciated enough.
Reading The Family Plot is overall entertaining, but what I like most is that it shows how fickle life is and I can’t stop thinking that - had the circumstances differed only for the slightest, this would have been a completely different story of an ordinary middle-class family in the Central Plains of China.
Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for sharing an ARC with me.
Unbeknownst to one other, a family of three thinks about killing one of the other. A father, mother, and son, each looking for their share of prosperity that seems to come to everyone but them. Told from their (and an author to whom they tell their stories) perspectives, we follow the individuals on a pivotal day full of reasons and opportunities to kill a family member.
I love how each perspective comes with their own tone of voice and set of language. Being a university student, the son speaks lyrically, referring to poems every so often, while his father is the only one who curses. The mother’s voice flows differently from father and son and borrows words from her dialect. Such details not getting lost in translation can’t be appreciated enough.
Reading The Family Plot is overall entertaining, but what I like most is that it shows how fickle life is and I can’t stop thinking that - had the circumstances differed only for the slightest, this would have been a completely different story of an ordinary middle-class family in the Central Plains of China.
Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for sharing an ARC with me.
October 31, 2026
What a whirlwind of a read this is! Thank you, Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for the ARC.
Loved this book - good pace, engulfing story, smart twist, sprinkled with thought provoking turns. I found it very strange, almost discardable at the beginning, but oh boy, 30ish pages in you will not be able to put down.
Bonus points for the (very, very) well placed humour.
Loved this book - good pace, engulfing story, smart twist, sprinkled with thought provoking turns. I found it very strange, almost discardable at the beginning, but oh boy, 30ish pages in you will not be able to put down.
Bonus points for the (very, very) well placed humour.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is an unsettling juxtaposition of casual unpredictability and ruthless inevitability in Yan Lianke’s The Family Plot. This slim, yet jaw-dropping novel is, in all likelihood a formidable contender for fiction book of the year. Barely three pages into the book, I was drawn forward with the irresistible force of iron filings to a magnet. Indeed, so immersive is the magic Lianke has conjured I can only fervently hope the author is inspired to produce a sequel, The Family Plot Continues, sooner than later.
Every year, Mr. Yan, a reputed author among other things, returns from Beijing to his ancestral home in a Gaotian village in China’s Central Province. A raucous celebration involving over a hundred relatives sustained by copious amounts of food and drinks invariably culminates in a “new-fangled thing of singing “Happy Birthday”. This year is no different in terms of the usual mode of celebrations. However, Mr. Yan is flummoxed when after the festivities are put to rest, he is approached by three members of the same family each bearing an extraordinary story. Each narrator expresses an interest to sell his/her tale to the writer for publication.
The first storyteller, a college boy, speaks in the evening about an event that unravels at dawn. The second narrator, the boy’s father holds forth at midnight about something that takes place at noon. Finally, the boy’s mother, rounding off the familial triad, elaborates at dawn about an incident that comes to light at sunset. The title is a fantastic take on the core and crux of the story. The Family Plot is a decrepit piece of land upon which it is the unrelenting hope of the father to construct a family home. The Family Plot also represents schemes hatched by each family member to further their own vested interests; Hence the title is at once an innocuous noun emblematic of a decaying property, and an insidious verb symbolic of remorseless manipulation and deceit. In such a sophisticated duality lies Lianke’s prowess with the novel.
Filial relations are put to their sternest test as a shadow of mistrust envelopes the troika. As the family grows impossibly dysfunctional, the external environment does its best to exacerbate the calamity. Lianke brilliantly educates his readers about the cultural, social, and financial cleaves running through the geographies of the second most populous nation on earth. The inhabitants of the Central province look at awe at their Southern counterparts who seems to be enjoying an unrelenting bout of prosperity. A fissiparous mindset takes over the college student as he prepares to make a break for the United States of America to fulfil his aspirations. His father meanwhile scourges and scavenges every inch of land accumulating materials with which to construct his dream house. The brow beaten mother, worn down by the drudgery of maintaining a home, finds herself compelled to supplement the endeavours of her struggling husband by opening a ramshackle bun shop. Faultlines begin to develop in the already fragile relationship between the three members of the family as each one’s ambitions run directly counter to those of the others.
Is there a point of no return for the Family? Have the individual plots gone too far in their execution so as to become irreversible? Will these three individuals, each convinced of the righteousness and purity of their own insane cause, ultimately destroy one another in a mad pursuit of their goals? Can three complicated, chaotic and convoluted means lead to one catastrophic end?
Yan Lianke, known for purveying a style of writing popularly known as “mythorealism”, is an absolute master in exposing societal faults and cultural fissures. He may have attained his apogee as an author with The Family Plot.
The Family Plot is published by Grove Atlantic and will be available on sale beginning January 26 2027.
Every year, Mr. Yan, a reputed author among other things, returns from Beijing to his ancestral home in a Gaotian village in China’s Central Province. A raucous celebration involving over a hundred relatives sustained by copious amounts of food and drinks invariably culminates in a “new-fangled thing of singing “Happy Birthday”. This year is no different in terms of the usual mode of celebrations. However, Mr. Yan is flummoxed when after the festivities are put to rest, he is approached by three members of the same family each bearing an extraordinary story. Each narrator expresses an interest to sell his/her tale to the writer for publication.
The first storyteller, a college boy, speaks in the evening about an event that unravels at dawn. The second narrator, the boy’s father holds forth at midnight about something that takes place at noon. Finally, the boy’s mother, rounding off the familial triad, elaborates at dawn about an incident that comes to light at sunset. The title is a fantastic take on the core and crux of the story. The Family Plot is a decrepit piece of land upon which it is the unrelenting hope of the father to construct a family home. The Family Plot also represents schemes hatched by each family member to further their own vested interests; Hence the title is at once an innocuous noun emblematic of a decaying property, and an insidious verb symbolic of remorseless manipulation and deceit. In such a sophisticated duality lies Lianke’s prowess with the novel.
Filial relations are put to their sternest test as a shadow of mistrust envelopes the troika. As the family grows impossibly dysfunctional, the external environment does its best to exacerbate the calamity. Lianke brilliantly educates his readers about the cultural, social, and financial cleaves running through the geographies of the second most populous nation on earth. The inhabitants of the Central province look at awe at their Southern counterparts who seems to be enjoying an unrelenting bout of prosperity. A fissiparous mindset takes over the college student as he prepares to make a break for the United States of America to fulfil his aspirations. His father meanwhile scourges and scavenges every inch of land accumulating materials with which to construct his dream house. The brow beaten mother, worn down by the drudgery of maintaining a home, finds herself compelled to supplement the endeavours of her struggling husband by opening a ramshackle bun shop. Faultlines begin to develop in the already fragile relationship between the three members of the family as each one’s ambitions run directly counter to those of the others.
Is there a point of no return for the Family? Have the individual plots gone too far in their execution so as to become irreversible? Will these three individuals, each convinced of the righteousness and purity of their own insane cause, ultimately destroy one another in a mad pursuit of their goals? Can three complicated, chaotic and convoluted means lead to one catastrophic end?
Yan Lianke, known for purveying a style of writing popularly known as “mythorealism”, is an absolute master in exposing societal faults and cultural fissures. He may have attained his apogee as an author with The Family Plot.
The Family Plot is published by Grove Atlantic and will be available on sale beginning January 26 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Family Plot is thoughtful & atmospheric with plenty to admire even if it didn’t quite draw me in completely.
I found it a little difficult to connect to the characters and stay engaged with the story. This book is largely split into three perspectives (father, mother, and son). A large portion of each section involves the character ruminating and circling the same ideas (killing a member of the family as a means to gain success & status). While it definitely hammers home the core themes I personally felt the pacing became a little repetitive. For me, the father’s section was the most engaging and I think this is mostly because it featured a broader cast of characters and I felt like it had a story to connect to beyond the central theme. On the other hand, the mother’s story was the hardest for me to connect with which is a shame because her backstory sounded super interesting and I really wanted to dive deeper into it.
Overall, while it wasn’t always for me, there is a lot to enjoy with this book. The final chapter is especially memorable. It recontextualises the entire story, bringing the three threads and core ideas together superbly. Lianke is clearly an expert storyteller, and I think this book will appeal to a lot of readers!
I found it a little difficult to connect to the characters and stay engaged with the story. This book is largely split into three perspectives (father, mother, and son). A large portion of each section involves the character ruminating and circling the same ideas (killing a member of the family as a means to gain success & status). While it definitely hammers home the core themes I personally felt the pacing became a little repetitive. For me, the father’s section was the most engaging and I think this is mostly because it featured a broader cast of characters and I felt like it had a story to connect to beyond the central theme. On the other hand, the mother’s story was the hardest for me to connect with which is a shame because her backstory sounded super interesting and I really wanted to dive deeper into it.
Overall, while it wasn’t always for me, there is a lot to enjoy with this book. The final chapter is especially memorable. It recontextualises the entire story, bringing the three threads and core ideas together superbly. Lianke is clearly an expert storyteller, and I think this book will appeal to a lot of readers!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*The Family Plot* by Yan Lianke was a very different kind of novel than I expected. I thought it would be more like *Wanting* by Claire Jia or a *Succession*-style family drama mixed with *Lucky Seed* by Justinian Huang. Instead, *The Family Plot* felt more like a Greek myth—a dark, disturbing, repetitive reflection on murder, family, and human nature.
I appreciate what Lianke is doing here, but I had a hard time connecting with the novel. I was hoping for more humor, satire, or sharp social commentary that could have added some lightness or helped me get into the story. Instead, the tone stayed consistently grim and distant, and I never really became emotionally involved with the characters or their story. It dives into the theme without much of a backstory to get me on anyone's side.
There are definitely interesting ideas at play, and I suspect this might resonate much more strongly with other readers. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the right fit for me. My rating reflects my personal taste, and I encourage others to read and decide for themselves. Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
I appreciate what Lianke is doing here, but I had a hard time connecting with the novel. I was hoping for more humor, satire, or sharp social commentary that could have added some lightness or helped me get into the story. Instead, the tone stayed consistently grim and distant, and I never really became emotionally involved with the characters or their story. It dives into the theme without much of a backstory to get me on anyone's side.
There are definitely interesting ideas at play, and I suspect this might resonate much more strongly with other readers. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the right fit for me. My rating reflects my personal taste, and I encourage others to read and decide for themselves. Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a dark Chinese novel, told from the perspectives of a rural mother, father and their adult son, intermingled with occasional chapters told by the writer to whom each has approached to sell their family story. The family is poor, having missed out on the economic boom that transformed their rural hinterland village into a wealthier, bustling urban zone. They live frugally on income from baking and selling buns. Their small, modest home is falling apart, and the father dreams of building a new, grander home on his land that was originally on the outskirts of town. He devotes himself to gathering abandoned building materials for the home he feels will transform his family's life. The son, in turn, was academically promising and their pride and hope for a transformed future. They fund his university schooling in a distant city, but for reasons I won't reveal here, he returns as a bitter disappointment. The son's most ardent dream is to (re-)escape his hinterland hometown and go somewhere where he feels he can make a fresh start--ideally by studying in America. He despises his parents for their frugality and their unwillingness to spend their meagre savings to fund his dream. As we read the book, we discover that each of the three narrators nurture fantasies (that may become realities) of killing the others. Muchj of the book describes the varied ways they plot the others' deaths. Their are other sub-plot lines, but overall, the dominant suspense is whether or not one of those murderous fantasies will be realized. The book took a couple of chapters to get into, but once in it held my interest. It was solidly narrated, effectively capturing the voices of each of the characters. My only disappointment was the ending, which felt abrupt and less carefully articulated than the rest of the book, hence the deleted star.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is by Yan Lianke, so I knew I would love it before even reading it. The Family Plot is full of his signature dark humor, mytho-realism, and clever allegory. It made my skin crawl (in a good way) and I am still thinking about it a lot. Yan always includes such interesting details in the method of storytelling, this time framing it as a family coming to him (Yan himself) at a family event to sell him this story. There are also a lot of overarching themes, like the family plot itself (plot of land) that never seems to come to fruition. This book would be perfect for a book discussion or book club.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Wow, this book was something else. I feel like it could be even more alluring if you start reading it without knowing the actual plot. I wouldn't say that it is funny—it is mostly satirical. It remarks the Chinese dynamics of family: what is expected of women, men, marriage and a son.
Honestly, I wasn't very allured to the book at first but it became better as the POV's were going through the parts. A great read!
Wow, this book was something else. I feel like it could be even more alluring if you start reading it without knowing the actual plot. I wouldn't say that it is funny—it is mostly satirical. It remarks the Chinese dynamics of family: what is expected of women, men, marriage and a son.
Honestly, I wasn't very allured to the book at first but it became better as the POV's were going through the parts. A great read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A family drama told from 3 perspectives: each corner of a murderous triangle, as each family member wants to kill another. This unusual framing allows for secrets to be revealed as we get to know each member of this rural working-class Chinese family that just wants to find the success they believe another is holding them back from
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a new release translated from Chinese by Jeremy Tiang. The Family Plot by Yan Lianke is a wild ride! Basically, three members of a family all want to kill each other and they live in small town China and have a lot of disappointments and hangups. It is very funny in a totally insane way, and I don’t even know if I understood it all, but it is nice to read a contemporary Chinese novel.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews