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boggremlin's review
3.0
Ovidia Yu writes some of the best character descriptions I have ever read. I was captivated by Aunty Lee’s energy and enthralled by the vivid supporting characters.
bluestarfish's review
3.0
Curious women of a certain age seem to exist the world over. And they get stuff done too...In this case in a gentle way through wisdom gained through cooking and judging people by their food. Aunty Lee runs a restaurant with delicious food (there's even a recipe at the end of my version of the book) and gets poking around in a murder case in Singapore.
I do enjoy reading a murder mystery like this every now and then when it isn't all a huge and horrible thriller. And it was really a nice change to read a book not set in Europe/western world and I would like to try to read more of those. The world is a big and varied place:)
I do enjoy reading a murder mystery like this every now and then when it isn't all a huge and horrible thriller. And it was really a nice change to read a book not set in Europe/western world and I would like to try to read more of those. The world is a big and varied place:)
toxicpick's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
maggiekms's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
13iscute's review
2.0
2022 Reading Challenges
• ATY #9 3 books set on three different continents [Asia]
• Ladies First #19 The first book of a series written by a woman
• Popsugar #14 A book with cutlery on the cover or in the title
How I selected this book
I added this to my TBR a while ago after seeing it on a Book Riot list of mysteries with old lady sleuths. It is a good fit for my plan to read mysteries set on three different continents for ATY.
Plot summary
Aunty Lee and her step-son Mark host wine tasting dinners at Aunty Lee's restaurant in Singapore.
Likes
• The details of the Singapore setting and Aunty Lee's restaurant
• Aunty Lee's caring personality (she takes personal responsibility for anyone she feeds in her restaurant), and her relationship with her step-son Mark and his wife Selina.
Dislikes
• This wasn't great as far as mysteries go. It was a short book, but somehow almost nothing happened for the first half, then we start getting some fake clues, then the murderer is revealed out of nowhere with no real explanation of his motive.
Final thoughts
Yet another mystery series that I don't plan on seeking out the next book. Maybe mysteries are better when they stand alone?
• ATY #9 3 books set on three different continents [Asia]
• Ladies First #19 The first book of a series written by a woman
• Popsugar #14 A book with cutlery on the cover or in the title
How I selected this book
I added this to my TBR a while ago after seeing it on a Book Riot list of mysteries with old lady sleuths. It is a good fit for my plan to read mysteries set on three different continents for ATY.
Plot summary
Aunty Lee and her step-son Mark host wine tasting dinners at Aunty Lee's restaurant in Singapore.
Spoiler
At one dinner, two women, Laura Kwee and Marianne Peters, don't show up. Laura is soon identified as the body that washed up on shore of a nearby beach, and Marianne's body was found later. Marianne was a lesbian and in a secret relationship with Carla Saito, an American who comes to Singapore to look for her. Laura Kwee is homophobic and is involved in conversion therapy. So, there are some ideas that the murders might be related to this, but the murder turns out to be Harry, another guest at the dinners. Harry wasn't actually Harry, but had stolen his uncle's identity and murdered the two women just because he was a misogynistic jerk?Likes
• The details of the Singapore setting and Aunty Lee's restaurant
• Aunty Lee's caring personality (she takes personal responsibility for anyone she feeds in her restaurant), and her relationship with her step-son Mark and his wife Selina.
Dislikes
• This wasn't great as far as mysteries go. It was a short book, but somehow almost nothing happened for the first half, then we start getting some fake clues, then the murderer is revealed out of nowhere with no real explanation of his motive.
Final thoughts
Yet another mystery series that I don't plan on seeking out the next book. Maybe mysteries are better when they stand alone?
justasking27's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Racism
iceangel9's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The first in the Singaporean mystery series. Aunty Lee runs a restaurant and her step-son has asked her to cater his wine tastings - as he is trying to push his business as a wine merchant. When two of the guests don't show, and are then found dead in bags on the beach, Aunty Lee decides to assist the police in finding the killers. A charming series cozy mystery fans will love.
tfisher78's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75