Penny is a bestselling author known for the Armand Gamache series, while Fung is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker, whose memoir is Under an Afghan Sky.

The book’s cover, released exclusively to PEOPLE, portrays an electrifying study of power, greed, political terror, and personal conviction, anchored by a compelling family storyline.

Preorders are available now, with The Last Mandarin scheduled for publication on May 12, 2026.

Louise Penny and Melissa Fung have co-authored a new thriller titled The Last Mandarin, with a spring 2026 release from Minotaur Books and an official publication date set for May 12, 2026.

The narrative centers on Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese-American food blogger, and her mother Vivien, a Tiananmen survivor turned global human rights activist, as they investigate a worldwide attack traced to China.

The story follows the duo’s global investigation to stop a looming strike, as their working relationship evolves under political and personal pressures.

Penny and Fung fuse propulsive action with political intrigue and personal dynamics, all while infusing humor, shaped by a collaborative process that included long discussions and shared meals.