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A review by bookandcoffeeaddict
Death by Bubble Tea by Jennifer J. Chow
5.0
Death by Bubble Tea ticked a lot of boxes for me. I love a good cozy mystery, especially a cozy foodie mystery. Set during a holiday? Characters, settings, and food steeped in culture and tradition? Yes, please and thank you.
Yale Lee is at a bit of a crossroads in her life. Her family runs a successful dim sum restaurant in L.A., but after her mother’s death, Yale lost her taste for cooking. College didn’t pan out for her. She’s just been let go from a bookstore job that she loved. And now her glamourous cousin, Celine, a foodstagrammer who comes from money, arrives from Hong Kong for an impromptu visit.
At least Celine can help her run a food stall at the new local night market being held a couple of days before Halloween, where Yale plans to test out her new snack ideas for the family restaurant.
Celine’s idea to put the bubble tea Yale serves in trendy light bulb glasses is a hit. Unfortunately, Celine’s idea to put real gold flakes in the drink is less successful and puts them at the top of the suspect list when one of their customers ends up dead.
Things between Yale and Celine start out strained, 20 years between visits and a huge economic gap will do that, but they work together trying to clear Celine’s name and save the Yee family restaurant’s reputation. The two are so different – Yale loves books, shuns technology, and doesn’t own a cellphone or a car. Celine is a social media butterfly who lives her life in the golden shine of both pretty AND rich privilege – watching the compare and contrast and growing warmth between the cousins as they search for clues and interview suspects is one of the best parts of the book.
I grew really fond of the characters in Eastwood Village and the night market. Even Detective Strauss of the piercing green eyes and gruff personality grew on me. I didn’t realize Death by Bubble Tea was the first book in a series until the very end and I was so excited when I found out. I can’t wait to see what’s next for these characters and what mysteries they’ll solve.
With likable characters, good pacing, and immersive sleuthing, I highly recommend both the book and the author, especially if you’re a cozy foodie mystery enthusiast like me. I’m eagerly waiting for the next book in the series, Hot Pot Murder, which comes out June 2023. Since the next book is set around Thanksgiving time, I’m really holding hope for a third book set during Christmas!
*Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for a review copy
Yale Lee is at a bit of a crossroads in her life. Her family runs a successful dim sum restaurant in L.A., but after her mother’s death, Yale lost her taste for cooking. College didn’t pan out for her. She’s just been let go from a bookstore job that she loved. And now her glamourous cousin, Celine, a foodstagrammer who comes from money, arrives from Hong Kong for an impromptu visit.
At least Celine can help her run a food stall at the new local night market being held a couple of days before Halloween, where Yale plans to test out her new snack ideas for the family restaurant.
Celine’s idea to put the bubble tea Yale serves in trendy light bulb glasses is a hit. Unfortunately, Celine’s idea to put real gold flakes in the drink is less successful and puts them at the top of the suspect list when one of their customers ends up dead.
Things between Yale and Celine start out strained, 20 years between visits and a huge economic gap will do that, but they work together trying to clear Celine’s name and save the Yee family restaurant’s reputation. The two are so different – Yale loves books, shuns technology, and doesn’t own a cellphone or a car. Celine is a social media butterfly who lives her life in the golden shine of both pretty AND rich privilege – watching the compare and contrast and growing warmth between the cousins as they search for clues and interview suspects is one of the best parts of the book.
I grew really fond of the characters in Eastwood Village and the night market. Even Detective Strauss of the piercing green eyes and gruff personality grew on me. I didn’t realize Death by Bubble Tea was the first book in a series until the very end and I was so excited when I found out. I can’t wait to see what’s next for these characters and what mysteries they’ll solve.
With likable characters, good pacing, and immersive sleuthing, I highly recommend both the book and the author, especially if you’re a cozy foodie mystery enthusiast like me. I’m eagerly waiting for the next book in the series, Hot Pot Murder, which comes out June 2023. Since the next book is set around Thanksgiving time, I’m really holding hope for a third book set during Christmas!
*Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for a review copy