by Cynthia Chow & Jennifer Chow

This week we have a review of the latest L.A. Night Market Mystery by Jennifer J. Chow, along with a fun guest post by Jennifer about summer staycations. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

Hot Pot Murder: An L.A. Night Market Mystery by Jennifer J. Chow
Review by Cynthia Chow

Despite the burst of publicity that resulted after a recent murder in Los Angeles’s Eastwood Villager Night Market, it still wasn’t enough for food booth owner Yale Yee to earn an invitation to the Thanksgiving dinner held by the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association. Instead she will be a plus-one with her father, owner of the family’s Wing Fat dim sum restaurant. A long-held rivalry between Yale and AAROA member Nikola Ho has the meeting being held not in Wing Fat’s banquet room but at the Ho’s Small Eats Taiwanese restaurant, something that turns out to be fortunate when their president Jeffrey Vue shockingly – rather literally – dies during the middle of the Hot Pot meal. Yale’s cousin Celine, Ba’s plus-two for the dinner, had been ready to promote the event through her foodstagramming social media accounts, but now she and Yale are more focused on clearing both Ai Ho and Yale’s father of guilt. Not only did Detective Strauss announce that the electrical wiring had been sabotaged, another fire indicates that someone seems intent on taking the AARO down.

Having mended their long estrangement since Celine’s arrival from Hong Kong, Yale also has her hands full with the rebranding that has her running the renamed Canai and Chai food booth to at least include some form of chai. A fraudulent check implicating Yale’s father has her further invested in the investigation, while Celine must contend with the news that her wealthy and rather judgmental parents are unexpectedly and imminently arriving for a visit.

As they investigate the AAROA members who were at the dinner and had the opportunity to lethally remove the president, Yale and Celine also must contend with their own personal challenges and traumas. Blaming herself for the car wreck that killed her mother during an errand to pick up chives, Yale has not only been unable to cook with the ingredient – something integral to Chinese cuisine – she has not been back into her childhood home filled with heartbreaking memories. Yale has slowly been regaining the cooking skills that allow her to share love with her family, but it’s the meals where she eats jook rice porridge breakfasts, cheung fun, and, of course the communal hot pot dinners where she truly makes emotional bonds. Yale even relates personalities to types of dim sum, where the unassuming exteriors often hide exquisite and delicate surprises inside.

This second in the series will have readers craving an array of Asian treats, many of which have been influenced enough throughout the years to become a blend of cultures and flavors. While Nik may scoff at xiao long bao’s authenticity as a true dim sum, it’s really the fortune cookie that is the most non-Asian treat that still is expected at the end of every Chinese meal. What is so compelling about this series and the other books by Jennifer J. Chow is how Asian cultures and traditions are depicted through the Americanized lens. Celine’s prosperous parents have taken the Westernized names “Sunny” and “Cher,” but they still have a very traditional outlook that demands that their daughter not bring shame while supporting the family businesses.

The threat of immigration investigating Celine’s tourist visa and rivalry between Yale’s father and uncle add to the family drama, which is already simmering with resentment over pride and expectations. A written Hanzi character and hot oil playing crucial roles in the murder reinforce the uniquely Asian aspects of this novel, making it a very welcome AAPI multicultural entry in the mystery genre. Even without this welcoming viewpoint, Hot Pot Murder stands on its own as a cleverly plotted, character-driven novel full of mouth-watering descriptions by an author whose work has grown stronger with every new entry.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Summer Staycations
By Jennifer J. Chow

When I think of summer, my mind quickly goes to vacationing. Maybe it’s a throwback to summertime school breaks. My family definitely prioritized being able to get away and cool down — if only for a single weekend.

I understand all the planning involved and the time crunch issue now. As a parent, I need to keep track of and juggle people’s schedules. My family won’t have the time to luxuriate in an extended vacation this summer, but we are anticipating a short camping trip. It’ll be nearby in Big Bear, but sometimes local sights and staycations turn out to be the best places.

Korean Friendship Bell

In my Night Market series, I like to highlight lesser-known but lovely Los Angeles spots for my visiting cousin character, Celine Yee. The first book, Death By Bubble Tea, finds the two cousins appreciating the Korean Friendship Bell. This huge seventeen-ton bell is a physical symbol of friendship between the U.S. and South Korea and is housed in a beautiful pagoda on a hilltop overlooking the ocean.

My latest novel, Hot Pot Murder, highlights a local museum. The International Printing Museum is a gem of a place to visit for literary lovers. It houses one of the largest collections of antique printing presses in the country, and its very air feels rich with history.

I’m grateful to live near (and write about) such great places. Staycations can be filled with amazing local treasures. Whether you’re taking a far-flung trip or staying close to home, I wish you a wonderful summer!

To enter to win a copy of Hot Pot Murder, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “hot pot” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 22, 2023. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode went up this week.

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Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage. She is an Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-nominated author; her most recent series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. Book 1, Death by Bubble Tea, was reviewed by the New York Times, featured in Woman’s World, and hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List. Kirkus Reviews said Book 2, Hot Pot Murder, has “great characters and a delightful mystery filled with luscious descriptions of food.” Jennifer currently serves as President on the board of Sisters in Crime and blogs at chicksonthecase.com. She is an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America. Find her online at JenniferJChow.com.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.