The Fox

by Annie Macmanus

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MOTHER MOTHER

'A very 21st-century story of love and obsession’ SAM BAKER
'Unforgettable and deeply original' ELAINE FEENEY
'A real literary page-turner . . . Amazing' DONAL RYAN
'I devoured The Fox' SARA COX
'A beautiful and intelligent novel' OISÍN McKENNA

Send me a picture of you wherever you are right now.

53-year-old Carmel is furious at her husband for dying. Grief-stricken and holding everything together for her adult sons, she’s never felt more alone. But as spring arrives in Dublin, she meets fellow widower Graham on a dating app. He makes her feel truly alive for the first time in years.

Across the sea in London, twenty-something Lisa devotes her life to helping people. Beneath the gleaming facades of Westminster, she cares for the homeless at work, and for her troubled sister at home. But Lisa has a secret that sustains her, and it’s growing more dangerous by the day.

When the two women’s lives collide, it brings a twisted connection that neither of them could have imagined – and cannot be undone.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 9, 2027

Reviews

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

it started off super strong but then lost itself a bit

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fox was a story that instantly captured my interest. As we initially follow Carmel's story, we form a bond with her even though, from the outset, we can tell that the relationship she's building is not going to be what she thinks; as readers we can spot a scam from the beginning. The twist for us comes more when Lisa steps into the narrative. I am avoiding spoilers, but it was in Part 2 when her narration commenced that I was first surprised, the truth turning out to be what I had expected on the one hand but not on the other hand. As the book moved towards its conclusion, I could see where things were going, yet I still found the ending unexpected and, because of that, perhaps also a little disappointing. Something about it left me a little unsatisfied and that is why I am giving this book 4 stars. It was an intriguing story told with plenty of emotional punch, but the conclusion didn't quite work for me; maybe others will appreciate it more.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara Rohde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book where we meet Carmel who is recently widowed and Lisa who works with the homeless. Carmel becomes involved with Graham, who she meets on a dating app. Graham makes Carmel feel loved even though one lives in Ireland and the other in London. Both have adult children and are able to support each other through their daily tribulations managing work and family commitments. They decide to meet but Graham has a last minute emergency with his sister and so they don’t. We later meet Lisa who has a difficult family life and an emotionally demanding job while supporting her younger sister who lives with her. It’s difficult to say more without revealing spoilers.

This story quickly drew me in and held my interest with its characterisation and its twists and turns in the plot. Online romance scams is not a subject I normally read but this is told so well and very realistically. I thought the ending was just right for this kind of story which does not rely on any sensational dramatic turns but explores situations in subtle and believable ways.

[Pgchuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Carmel's husband John died unexpectedly a year ago, and although the marriage wasn't entirely happy, Carmel has grieved for him. Now she starts an online conversation via an app with Graham ('Gray'), who seems to be her soul mate, and falls for him quickly. She and Gray don't like video calls (you can see where this is going!) but they text and talk on the phone. Then in part 2 we move from Ireland to London and meet Lisa and Sylvie's waste of space father Graham, who does not resemble Gray in any way. The plot (such as it is) doesn't go the way you might expect and, although I found the ending a little flat, the book as a whole was compelling and thought-provoking. The depiction of Carmel's relationships with her three adult sons was very convincing.

I am going to look into this author's back catalogue.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy of The Fox by Annie Macmanus from NetGalley and this is my honest review. Carmel and Lisa's lives collide in an unexpected way and although I thought I knew exactly what was happening, the twist was unexpected.

The novel explores themes of grief, loneliness, homelessness, family dysfunction and substance abuse. I appreciated the way the novel explored these themes and how love and loss can affect decision making.

The novel had an interesting premise but I found my interest wandering as I read, and I found I wasn't particularly invested in the characters. Perhaps this book just wasn't for me. I appreciated the way the book ended, but I wanted more closure for Carmel and Lisa and would have liked to know a little more about what happened to them.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Annie, she's been a voice in my ear for so long.
This is her third book, and it's as enjoyable as the two previous ones.
I didn't even read the blurb, just picked it up due to the author, and so was making up all sorts of ways these two women might cross paths.
I didn't guess right.
As each of them opened up to both each other and the reader, I felt sympathy for them both.
Yet, there was slight wincing as I felt we were on a fast collision course to SOMETHING.
The ending left me surprised, and satisfied, and pleased it hadn't gone any other way.


Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy

[Elena M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

“The Fox” has a fantastic and unique premise of two women being drawn together by a scam. I very much enjoyed the dual points of view and how the author focused on giving each character a detailed backstory and persona. I also thought putting a spotlight on topics such as homelessness and loneliness was fantastic. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect emotionally with the characters and felt that the ending was disappointing - I would have liked to see these characters interact more at that point as that was when the story started to pick up for me. All in all, a very interesting novel that, for me, did not quite hit the mark.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was entranced by this book. I read it in one sitting because I was so invested in both main characters and the progression of their relationship. In a time aware online scamming is so rampant, this story really reminds you how romance can be used to gain trust. It was interesting to see how there was still a gain on both sides and while I expected to be devastated at the outcome I was actually quite satisfied. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[B K178 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought *The Fox* had an intriguing premise, which probably drew me in the most. I appreciated the author's writing style and found the characters to be the most compelling aspect of the story. Watching their lives and perspectives unfold was captivating and thought-provoking. Overall, I believe this book will resonate strongly with readers who enjoy character-driven narratives.. Thanks to Europa Editions and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.