What do you think?
Rate this book
LA Night Market #2
Hot Pot Murder
Trouble is brewing for cousins Yale and Celine Yee after a hot pot dinner gets overheated and ends in murder in this second novel of the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow.
Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies.
Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.
Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies.
Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 6, 2023
29 people are currently reading
1,115 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer J. Chow
24Ìýbooks592ÌýfollowersJennifer J. Chow writes multicultural stories. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
Her accolades include: Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, & Lilian Jackson Braun Award nominations; SoCal Indie Bestseller; Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB finalist; and Teen Vogue coverage.
Find out more and join her monthly newsletter on her author website.
Her accolades include: Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, & Lilian Jackson Braun Award nominations; SoCal Indie Bestseller; Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB finalist; and Teen Vogue coverage.
Find out more and join her monthly newsletter on her author website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 9, 2023
Hot Pot Murder picks up where we left off after Death by Bubble Tea with Yale and Celine back at the center of armature sleuthing and whipping up some great eats! This delightful and mouthwatering mystery combines the intrigue of a whodunit with the delectable world of hot pot dining. I had such a great time getting back into this series!
Our girls find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery when Jeffery Vue, president of the local restaurant association, receives a literal shock to his system and dies. We also see Detective Strauss back in action - although I would have liked to see more of him in this one.
What makes these cozies so much fun is the author's ability to weave the cultural elements seamless into the story. She effortlessly explores the intricate dynamics of family and tradition and gives us a glimpse into the customers and traditions of Chinese cuisine and the close-knit communities that surround them. I am always so hungry when I read these books!
If you are in the mood for a delicious blend of murder mystery and culinary delights - this series is a must read ya'll!
Our girls find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery when Jeffery Vue, president of the local restaurant association, receives a literal shock to his system and dies. We also see Detective Strauss back in action - although I would have liked to see more of him in this one.
What makes these cozies so much fun is the author's ability to weave the cultural elements seamless into the story. She effortlessly explores the intricate dynamics of family and tradition and gives us a glimpse into the customers and traditions of Chinese cuisine and the close-knit communities that surround them. I am always so hungry when I read these books!
If you are in the mood for a delicious blend of murder mystery and culinary delights - this series is a must read ya'll!
January 17, 2023
Yale Yee and her cousin Celine run an Asian food stall at an LA night market. Celine is a foodstagrammer and is always looking for photo ops so they attend an Asian restaurant owner’s meeting with Yale’s dad. An unexpected death at the meeting has Yale and Celine investigating when they learn that it was murder. Then Celine’s wealthy parents arrive from Hong Kong, concerned about the murder and a recent arson fire, demanding that she return with them. Even though this is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. The characters were likable and the descriptions of different kinds of Asian food made me want to visit the restaurants described in the novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 21, 2023
Cousins Yale and Celine are back. This time they are trying to solve the murder of the head of the local restaurant owner’s association after he is killed during a hot pot dinner.
Just like in the first book, I love the relationship of the cousins. They are very different, but are still close. I really enjoy the themes of family and culture in this series, along with the foods mentioned.
This is a great second book in a series, which I hope continues. There is a lot of depth to the characters and I’m quite invested in them at this point.
Just like in the first book, I love the relationship of the cousins. They are very different, but are still close. I really enjoy the themes of family and culture in this series, along with the foods mentioned.
This is a great second book in a series, which I hope continues. There is a lot of depth to the characters and I’m quite invested in them at this point.
June 7, 2023
*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for my digital review copy*
Hot Pot Murder is the second book in the LA Night Market series. I love the main characters, cousins Yale and Celine, who are total opposites, but bring out the best in each other.
When the president of the local restaurant owner’s association dies, Yale wants to figure out what happened once his death is ruled a homicide. There are plenty of red herrings and no shortage of suspects. I was surprised who the murderer turned out to be, although I did suspect this person was up to no good.
The underlying themes of family and food are once again prominent in this sequel. After reading all the yummy descriptions, I was left craving fan tuan (stuffed sticky rice roll) and youtiao (Chinese doughnut).
Hot Pot Murder is the second book in the LA Night Market series. I love the main characters, cousins Yale and Celine, who are total opposites, but bring out the best in each other.
When the president of the local restaurant owner’s association dies, Yale wants to figure out what happened once his death is ruled a homicide. There are plenty of red herrings and no shortage of suspects. I was surprised who the murderer turned out to be, although I did suspect this person was up to no good.
The underlying themes of family and food are once again prominent in this sequel. After reading all the yummy descriptions, I was left craving fan tuan (stuffed sticky rice roll) and youtiao (Chinese doughnut).
June 12, 2023
This is fast becoming a favorite series of mine. I love the characters and the settings and the mysteries keep me so wrapped up, I hardly notice the work day passing as I listen intently as the clues are laid out for me to follow. I also enjoy the family dynamics: Yale and her cousin, Celine; Yale and her dad, Nick and his mom; family is always at the forefront of everything that happens in these books and I find it fitting within the Asian community. And the food! Every book has left me craving so many different things or wanting to try something new. I can't wait to see what happens next!
May 12, 2023
I don't know what it is about this series, but I love it. This series has been my first introduction to cozy mysteries. With the murder and crimes unseen and the normal rhythm of life with small clues along the way built into the storyline, I can see why people like cozy mysteries now. I also loved that this book took us sightseeing in Los Angeles. One of my favorite movies is Valentine's Day (the rom com with all the famous actors and musicians jammed into different love scenes in it), and I finally got to learn a little about where the bridge/river scenes are located in that movie because of this book. I loved this read. Also, I'm giving hot pot another try soon because of this read.
April 11, 2023
A Delicious and Intriguing Cozy Mystery
I had read frequent reviews and raves about Jennifer J. Chow’s first book in this series: “Death By Bubble Tea� and that it had been nominated for an award, but had yet to purchase it. When I saw that her second book was available for reading and reviewing on Net Galley, I requested it immediately. I was overjoyed to be selected to download it, and I started to read it.
I soon read details mentioned about the first book, so I determined that this book is more of a continuation of the first one rather than a stand-alone. I would recommend readers buy and read the first book prior to reading this one to avoid spoilers.
I was intrigued by the LA Night Market theme of this cozy series, because I have lived in LA, so I delighted in reading about so many familiar locations. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the fictitious restaurants and incredible foods that are described. I only wish there were more recipes at the end. We are offered two recipes, which I will try to make.
I was quickly engaged in the lives of the two protagonists, Yale Yee and her social media influencer cousin Celine, and liked how the author beautifully described the characters, foods and locations. I laughed many times at some of the antics, and marveled at how much these two girls could eat…it was almost as if that’s all they did…so that’s what I did too…with my eyes as I read. I learned a lot about their Asian culture, which is refreshing.
I was surprised when the murderer was revealed, as I had not guessed correctly. It was most satisfying, and I liked how everything was wrapped up nicely at the end.
I highly recommend this book and also the first one. I hope there will be a third installment in this series.
Thank you, Net Galley and Berkley, for the opportunity to review this book.
I had read frequent reviews and raves about Jennifer J. Chow’s first book in this series: “Death By Bubble Tea� and that it had been nominated for an award, but had yet to purchase it. When I saw that her second book was available for reading and reviewing on Net Galley, I requested it immediately. I was overjoyed to be selected to download it, and I started to read it.
I soon read details mentioned about the first book, so I determined that this book is more of a continuation of the first one rather than a stand-alone. I would recommend readers buy and read the first book prior to reading this one to avoid spoilers.
I was intrigued by the LA Night Market theme of this cozy series, because I have lived in LA, so I delighted in reading about so many familiar locations. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the fictitious restaurants and incredible foods that are described. I only wish there were more recipes at the end. We are offered two recipes, which I will try to make.
I was quickly engaged in the lives of the two protagonists, Yale Yee and her social media influencer cousin Celine, and liked how the author beautifully described the characters, foods and locations. I laughed many times at some of the antics, and marveled at how much these two girls could eat…it was almost as if that’s all they did…so that’s what I did too…with my eyes as I read. I learned a lot about their Asian culture, which is refreshing.
I was surprised when the murderer was revealed, as I had not guessed correctly. It was most satisfying, and I liked how everything was wrapped up nicely at the end.
I highly recommend this book and also the first one. I hope there will be a third installment in this series.
Thank you, Net Galley and Berkley, for the opportunity to review this book.
April 17, 2023
A fun, charming cozy mystery. Set in the world of the LA Night Market and the local Asian restaurants, I loved all the descriptions of the foods. It made me want to try some of everything. I liked the two main characters, Yale and her cousin Celine. Both characters were nice, always willing to help out the other local restaurant owners. There was also an interesting subplot about Celine's parents wanting her to return to Hong Kong that I liked but felt like it was resolved too quickly. I loved the sense of community present and wish I had strong ties like that. The mystery was interesting with multiple suspects. This is book 2 in the LA Night Market series, but can be read as a standalone. I found this to be a quick, fun read that I finished in one day.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2023
The LA Night Market series is one of my new favorite cozy mystery series. Hot Pot Murder is the second entry. The story picks up soon after the events in the first book. Yale and cousin Celine are settling into a new friendship. Things at the night market are going well. Ba is working as hard as ever and Nik's mother is still trying to set up Celine with her son.
The story opens as a dinner is being held for the local restaurant owners' association. They're there to have Hot Pot and discuss a new president for the group. When the current president, Jeffery Vue, is killed at the dinner everyone becomes a suspect.
Hot Pot Murder has all the cozy feels and a lot of yummy food descriptions. I love how the characters all work together. There is a great sense of community and focus on family. Yale is able to work through some things and grow as a person as well.
I love the creative method of murder and Yale's quick thinking during the showdown with the killer. Celine is a great partner to have on hand. I thought they could have done a little better job investigating or considering suspects but this is only their second murder. I think there may be some romance in future books but who with? I personally think Yale and Nik maybe...🤔
Hot Pot Murder is a quick, feel good read. If you like cozy mysteries you should definitely check it out!
The story opens as a dinner is being held for the local restaurant owners' association. They're there to have Hot Pot and discuss a new president for the group. When the current president, Jeffery Vue, is killed at the dinner everyone becomes a suspect.
Hot Pot Murder has all the cozy feels and a lot of yummy food descriptions. I love how the characters all work together. There is a great sense of community and focus on family. Yale is able to work through some things and grow as a person as well.
I love the creative method of murder and Yale's quick thinking during the showdown with the killer. Celine is a great partner to have on hand. I thought they could have done a little better job investigating or considering suspects but this is only their second murder. I think there may be some romance in future books but who with? I personally think Yale and Nik maybe...🤔
Hot Pot Murder is a quick, feel good read. If you like cozy mysteries you should definitely check it out!
August 26, 2023
Yale and Celine are on the case again. This time, a murder occurs during a meeting of the local Asian American restaurant owners association. While everyone is enjoying a hot pot feast, the president of the association is electrocuted when plugging in a second hot pot.
Of course all the restaurant owners are suspects, and Yale and Celine, even while expanding their own menu for their Night Market stall, dig into the relationships and frustrations the members had with each other. Both young women provide Detective Strauss with important clues, even while wondering why the officer is limiting part of his inquiries.
Celine also gets a bit of a surprise when her somewhat neglectful parents show up to take her back to Hong Kong, against her wishes.
The story moves along well, and Yale and Celine make for likeable protagonists, and a good team, as their proximity to the suspects allow them to gather information effectively. Yale is still dealing with her grief and its associated triggers, though she makes some further progress in this book at tackling some of it.
I also found myself getting hungry when Yale cooked, whether for their Night Market stall or to entertain her relatives. I am looking forward to more adventures for the two cousins, and them becoming both even better friends, and better amateur sleuths.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Of course all the restaurant owners are suspects, and Yale and Celine, even while expanding their own menu for their Night Market stall, dig into the relationships and frustrations the members had with each other. Both young women provide Detective Strauss with important clues, even while wondering why the officer is limiting part of his inquiries.
Celine also gets a bit of a surprise when her somewhat neglectful parents show up to take her back to Hong Kong, against her wishes.
The story moves along well, and Yale and Celine make for likeable protagonists, and a good team, as their proximity to the suspects allow them to gather information effectively. Yale is still dealing with her grief and its associated triggers, though she makes some further progress in this book at tackling some of it.
I also found myself getting hungry when Yale cooked, whether for their Night Market stall or to entertain her relatives. I am looking forward to more adventures for the two cousins, and them becoming both even better friends, and better amateur sleuths.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
June 4, 2023
This was my first introduction to Jennifer J. Chow’s books, but I was interested in the LA Night Market series because of the setting and Asian influences that this series book. As someone who is Asian, I love to discover new authors who explore the Asian culture in their books and this one definitely keeps the Asian culture and food at the forefront of the series.
Since this was my first book by Chow, I didn’t know what to expect. But I thoroughly enjoyed the LA Night Market setting. It created a cool setting, but also introduced a unique community of people. Now I’m excited to learn more about the Night Market and Yale and Celine.
Yale and Celine Yee are cousins, so it was nice to see that dynamic between them. But when a hot pot dinner gets heated and a dead body is found, it’s up to them to figure out what happened. The mystery was fun and interesting, even if it was a bit predictable. I still enjoyed this book and I am definitely considering reading the other books in the series.
HOT POT MURDER definitely exceeded my expectations and I’m now looking forward to the next book in the series!
Since this was my first book by Chow, I didn’t know what to expect. But I thoroughly enjoyed the LA Night Market setting. It created a cool setting, but also introduced a unique community of people. Now I’m excited to learn more about the Night Market and Yale and Celine.
Yale and Celine Yee are cousins, so it was nice to see that dynamic between them. But when a hot pot dinner gets heated and a dead body is found, it’s up to them to figure out what happened. The mystery was fun and interesting, even if it was a bit predictable. I still enjoyed this book and I am definitely considering reading the other books in the series.
HOT POT MURDER definitely exceeded my expectations and I’m now looking forward to the next book in the series!
April 8, 2023
Yale Yee and her father operate a food stall named Wing Fat family Dim Sum restaurant. Her cousin Celine from Hong Kong shares Yale's apartment and is a well-known social influencer. At what started out as a family Thanksgiving celebration the president of the restaurant association is electrocuted, but the local detective says that it's no accident. Let the sleuthing begin! Good story!
I requested and received an EARC copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received an EARC copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!
February 24, 2024
If you're a foodie you will love this. There are even more descriptions of delicious food in this second installment. I hope this series continues!
June 7, 2024
I'm on my ninety-ninth review already? Holy crap!
(Trouble is brewing for cousins Yale and Celine Yee after a hot pot dinner gets overheated and ends in murder in this second novel of the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow.
Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies.
Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.) ~ Blurb from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ
I found Jeffery to be an interesting character. He's the kind of guy who likes to be in charge, but he's not a tyrant. Instead, he's actually quite upbeat and friendly, willing to step up and help with whatever he can. Despite this, he isn't without his struggles, such as the struggle of supposedly being under a curse that activated after he started dating and he doesn't seem to always get along with Derrick. Yes, he does get killed off early on by a tampered with extension cord, but what the reader does get to see is still great. It makes it easy to understand why he's the president of the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association and makes it all the more tragic when he does die.
I loved how it balanced the old elements and the new elements. There's another murder, Yale and her cousin Celine have to work together to solve the mystery, they sell their wares at the night market, you get the idea. However, this entry basically uses these elements as a jumping off point. For example, Yale and Celine's night market stall now has an expanded menu and interactive elements, the fact that the reader gets to spend time with the victim before he is killed in a somewhat gruesome way, the repaired bond Yale and Celine have is reinforced, and so on. It's a great way to keep things fresh without losing the series' identity.
I enjoyed how the mystery played out. Compared to the first entry, it's a little different in the sense that it's more of a set up/payoff kind of thing rather than having each element build on one another in succession. However, it still really works because it's maintaining that natural rhythm of the previous entry in a different enough way to keep things fresh and help this entry stand out a little more.
At times, the dropcaps were an obstacle. Sometimes they didn't show up at all or messed with the formatting of the text, making certain parts hard to read. I don't know if this was an issue exclusive to my copy (which was an eBook) or if other people had this issue too, but either way, it did get in the way. Honestly, for the digital versions, I would've just dropped the dropcaps entirely.
There's this weird inconsistency that I don't understand. So in But in
I really did not like the reveal of the killer. No spoiler tags for this because... just keep reading. So basically, it turns out that Trisha was the culprit and from what I understand, she tried to injure Nik and/or his mother with the tampered with extension cord (which ended up killing Jeffery). Because of this failure, she then attempted to cause mild fire damage to Nik and his mother's restaurant so that she could scare them away to get the building it occupies for cheap to expand the restaurant business she co-owns, especially because it gives off a fitting atmosphere. Oh boy. Now, it's not as ridiculous as the reveal in the previous entry, but it's still pretty damn ridiculous. Why does Trisha feel the need to resort to murder and arson to achieve her goal? There is absolutely no reason. She could've talked to the higher ups about picking out a budget friendly location that was for sale, then, once that detail was nailed down, propose the creation of an online crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds to buy the location and renovate it to their preferred aesthetic. They could blast the crowdfunding campaign on social media, make flyers in Canva or something, and maybe reach out to prominent foodie influencers about it to see if they'd like to donate or just get the word out about it. As a result of having no reason not to implement this solution, Trisha's motivation comes off as illogical and unbelievable.
Overall, Hot Pot Murder may have had its pitfalls, but the good stuff was still really damn good and made it worth the read.
Overall Grade: B-
(Trouble is brewing for cousins Yale and Celine Yee after a hot pot dinner gets overheated and ends in murder in this second novel of the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow.
Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies.
Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.) ~ Blurb from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ
I found Jeffery to be an interesting character. He's the kind of guy who likes to be in charge, but he's not a tyrant. Instead, he's actually quite upbeat and friendly, willing to step up and help with whatever he can. Despite this, he isn't without his struggles, such as the struggle of supposedly being under a curse that activated after he started dating and he doesn't seem to always get along with Derrick. Yes, he does get killed off early on by a tampered with extension cord, but what the reader does get to see is still great. It makes it easy to understand why he's the president of the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association and makes it all the more tragic when he does die.
I loved how it balanced the old elements and the new elements. There's another murder, Yale and her cousin Celine have to work together to solve the mystery, they sell their wares at the night market, you get the idea. However, this entry basically uses these elements as a jumping off point. For example, Yale and Celine's night market stall now has an expanded menu and interactive elements, the fact that the reader gets to spend time with the victim before he is killed in a somewhat gruesome way, the repaired bond Yale and Celine have is reinforced, and so on. It's a great way to keep things fresh without losing the series' identity.
I enjoyed how the mystery played out. Compared to the first entry, it's a little different in the sense that it's more of a set up/payoff kind of thing rather than having each element build on one another in succession. However, it still really works because it's maintaining that natural rhythm of the previous entry in a different enough way to keep things fresh and help this entry stand out a little more.
At times, the dropcaps were an obstacle. Sometimes they didn't show up at all or messed with the formatting of the text, making certain parts hard to read. I don't know if this was an issue exclusive to my copy (which was an eBook) or if other people had this issue too, but either way, it did get in the way. Honestly, for the digital versions, I would've just dropped the dropcaps entirely.
There's this weird inconsistency that I don't understand. So in But in
I really did not like the reveal of the killer. No spoiler tags for this because... just keep reading. So basically, it turns out that Trisha was the culprit and from what I understand, she tried to injure Nik and/or his mother with the tampered with extension cord (which ended up killing Jeffery). Because of this failure, she then attempted to cause mild fire damage to Nik and his mother's restaurant so that she could scare them away to get the building it occupies for cheap to expand the restaurant business she co-owns, especially because it gives off a fitting atmosphere. Oh boy. Now, it's not as ridiculous as the reveal in the previous entry, but it's still pretty damn ridiculous. Why does Trisha feel the need to resort to murder and arson to achieve her goal? There is absolutely no reason. She could've talked to the higher ups about picking out a budget friendly location that was for sale, then, once that detail was nailed down, propose the creation of an online crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds to buy the location and renovate it to their preferred aesthetic. They could blast the crowdfunding campaign on social media, make flyers in Canva or something, and maybe reach out to prominent foodie influencers about it to see if they'd like to donate or just get the word out about it. As a result of having no reason not to implement this solution, Trisha's motivation comes off as illogical and unbelievable.
Overall, Hot Pot Murder may have had its pitfalls, but the good stuff was still really damn good and made it worth the read.
Overall Grade: B-
July 5, 2024
This book exceeded my expectations. I was on the fence as to whether to read this or dnf the series, but I’m happy I did.
The best part of this is certainly the food descriptions. I keep finding myself super hungry and craving what the characters are making, especially the chai and scallion pancakes.
Another great thing is that this is a full Asian cast! Maybe only the inspector is white (I think?) but everyone else isn’t, which is very unusual for a cosy mystery, and very nice to see.
Sadly for me the characters still lack something at times. Mainly Misty and Trisha felt so similar for a while that I couldn’t distinguish them. And Yale might be a bit more of a proper MC but she’s still too passive, while Celine is more compelling. As I said before, if the secondary character is more interesting than the main one, maybe the roles should be inverted. It’s also still so weird how Yale uses no technology, especially because it is always so inconvenient! I get that it makes for easier plot points, but it just feels bizarre.
The mystery had quite a lot of potential, since the moments before it were so confusing with all the people walking around and doing things. However, Yale and Celine were always asking the wrong questions and never really focusing on the important bits. My first instinct would be to figure out who was doing what, go over the timeline, and think about who had the chance to do certain things. But apparently no one does?? Like it is clearly mentioned that the
The same thing happened with two other clues. One was a piece of paper with the Chinese/Japanese word for fire, which makes no sense even when explained, and no sane person would feel the need to write that down when they want to light something up, so it’s just a plot device.
Another clue is the victim’s cart that was vandalised with a pink heart with initials of him and his girlfriend, but this is absolutely not relevant to the plot, and not explained???
The last thing that really confused me is the constant mention of the cloying smell of chives. Cloying?? Maybe in the UK our chives suck and have a weak scent, but to me they smell like nothing much?
But in the end it was sweet, and I enjoyed it as a light read. It definitely feels better than the first book, so if another one will come out, I will probably read it.
The best part of this is certainly the food descriptions. I keep finding myself super hungry and craving what the characters are making, especially the chai and scallion pancakes.
Another great thing is that this is a full Asian cast! Maybe only the inspector is white (I think?) but everyone else isn’t, which is very unusual for a cosy mystery, and very nice to see.
Sadly for me the characters still lack something at times. Mainly Misty and Trisha felt so similar for a while that I couldn’t distinguish them. And Yale might be a bit more of a proper MC but she’s still too passive, while Celine is more compelling. As I said before, if the secondary character is more interesting than the main one, maybe the roles should be inverted. It’s also still so weird how Yale uses no technology, especially because it is always so inconvenient! I get that it makes for easier plot points, but it just feels bizarre.
The mystery had quite a lot of potential, since the moments before it were so confusing with all the people walking around and doing things. However, Yale and Celine were always asking the wrong questions and never really focusing on the important bits. My first instinct would be to figure out who was doing what, go over the timeline, and think about who had the chance to do certain things. But apparently no one does?? Like it is clearly mentioned that the
The same thing happened with two other clues. One was a piece of paper with the Chinese/Japanese word for fire, which makes no sense even when explained, and no sane person would feel the need to write that down when they want to light something up, so it’s just a plot device.
Another clue is the victim’s cart that was vandalised with a pink heart with initials of him and his girlfriend, but this is absolutely not relevant to the plot, and not explained???
The last thing that really confused me is the constant mention of the cloying smell of chives. Cloying?? Maybe in the UK our chives suck and have a weak scent, but to me they smell like nothing much?
But in the end it was sweet, and I enjoyed it as a light read. It definitely feels better than the first book, so if another one will come out, I will probably read it.
November 20, 2023
In the second instalment of the LA Night Market, Yale and her cousin Celine are back for another murder mystery. They are having hot pot with other members of the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association (AAROA), a small local group in West LA. While they are enjoying their dinner, the president Jeffery was found dead at the restaurant. The cause of death was being electrocuted by the hot pot cord, which was cut open and wet. While working at the night market, Yale and Celine are trying to find the murderer among the AAROA.
This is my third book by JC, and I was pretty wary as I did not like the other two I read. Hot Pot Murder was better than the other two, but I still found it to be pretty meh. I'm not a fan of Yale and I can't connect with her. I find it very unrealistic that she doesn't have a phone for a person in their 20s, and uses a landline. She also doesn't know how to use cloud apps such as Google Drive. I'm not sure if this fact is supposed to make Yale different and unique, but I just find it odd. I actually like Celine more and wish she was the MC. I was enjoying the first 50% but then the story trudged on, and I ended up skimming the later half. However, I'll give it a 3 star due to the Asian representation and constant mention of delicious food. I'm not sure if I'll continue, maybe this author just isn't for me after 3 books. Also, please get Yale a phone!
This is my third book by JC, and I was pretty wary as I did not like the other two I read. Hot Pot Murder was better than the other two, but I still found it to be pretty meh. I'm not a fan of Yale and I can't connect with her. I find it very unrealistic that she doesn't have a phone for a person in their 20s, and uses a landline. She also doesn't know how to use cloud apps such as Google Drive. I'm not sure if this fact is supposed to make Yale different and unique, but I just find it odd. I actually like Celine more and wish she was the MC. I was enjoying the first 50% but then the story trudged on, and I ended up skimming the later half. However, I'll give it a 3 star due to the Asian representation and constant mention of delicious food. I'm not sure if I'll continue, maybe this author just isn't for me after 3 books. Also, please get Yale a phone!
December 10, 2023
I loved Death By Bubble Tea, the first in this cozy series by Jennifer J. Chow. I married a Chinese American and am crazy about Asian food and love the annual traditions and customs like getting together with friends and family for Hot Pot.
Yale gained experience working at her father's restaurant and now has a night marker food stand with her cousin, Celine who is temporarily staying with her. The story is set in Los Angeles and brings back many memories of eating in different Chinese restaurants. That is a bonus for me.
Her father belongs to the Asian restaurant association and Jennifer and her cousin get invited to help at the celebration at Thanksgiving time. She was looking forward to the traditional turkey dinner but it will have great food.
Unfornately, the president of the association plugged in an electric cord to a hot pot that was wet and was shocked to death.
Yale and Celine uncover some clues which help to determine the true murderer.
Besides being a great cozy, this book makes me feel at home.
Yale gained experience working at her father's restaurant and now has a night marker food stand with her cousin, Celine who is temporarily staying with her. The story is set in Los Angeles and brings back many memories of eating in different Chinese restaurants. That is a bonus for me.
Her father belongs to the Asian restaurant association and Jennifer and her cousin get invited to help at the celebration at Thanksgiving time. She was looking forward to the traditional turkey dinner but it will have great food.
Unfornately, the president of the association plugged in an electric cord to a hot pot that was wet and was shocked to death.
Yale and Celine uncover some clues which help to determine the true murderer.
Besides being a great cozy, this book makes me feel at home.
August 4, 2023
The dynamic duo are back in action! Yale and Celine Yee are quickly becoming one of my favorite sleuthing teams in the cozy mystery genre.
"Hot Pot Murder" sizzles with excitement right from page one as Yale and her family assemble for a Thanksgiving hot pot celebration with members of the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association. It doesn't take long for tensions to bubble to the surface, leading to the main entree: murder.
Jennifer J. Chow has whipped up another puzzling whodunit, one that is enhanced by all the great relationships developing in this series. Both timeless and timely, Chow's delightful characters will have you laughing and tearing up within minutes of each other. If you're a fan of cozies or are looking to explore them for the first time, "Hot Pot Murder" is the perfect place to start.
"Hot Pot Murder" sizzles with excitement right from page one as Yale and her family assemble for a Thanksgiving hot pot celebration with members of the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association. It doesn't take long for tensions to bubble to the surface, leading to the main entree: murder.
Jennifer J. Chow has whipped up another puzzling whodunit, one that is enhanced by all the great relationships developing in this series. Both timeless and timely, Chow's delightful characters will have you laughing and tearing up within minutes of each other. If you're a fan of cozies or are looking to explore them for the first time, "Hot Pot Murder" is the perfect place to start.
September 9, 2023
Two very different cousins--Yale, bookish and raised in America, and Celina, fashionable and raised in Hong Kong--combine to solve a murder when a Thanksgiving banquet for the local organization of Asian restaurant owners ends with the organization president being electrocuted. It might have been just a faulty plug--the restaurant where the banquet was held needed renovation--but not everyone was a fan of the dead man. This is one of the books where Yale, the narrator, finds herself in danger although she hasn't really figured out the culprit.
July 9, 2023
"All happy Hot Pot gatherings are alike."
Quientessiental cozy mystery full of friendship, family and food. I really enjoyed the second book in the LA Market Mystery series. I would have liked to see a bit more of the love interest in this book. But perhaps it will pick up a bit in the next book!
Quientessiental cozy mystery full of friendship, family and food. I really enjoyed the second book in the LA Market Mystery series. I would have liked to see a bit more of the love interest in this book. But perhaps it will pick up a bit in the next book!
July 10, 2023
Another great foodie cozy mystery that has wonderful family/friendships themes, but your girl needs more Detective Strauss stat...
July 21, 2023
3.5 stars
This was so much fun to read. The mystery was nice, and while I had my own theories, I didn’t quite expect the ending. I also loved how Celine’s parents were included in this one.
This was so much fun to read. The mystery was nice, and while I had my own theories, I didn’t quite expect the ending. I also loved how Celine’s parents were included in this one.
April 16, 2024
Estoy disfrutando un montón de estos libros, pero creo que todavÃa no salió el tercero.
March 28, 2024
eek i inhaled the second cozy in this series. for those who can overlook the sim-like side characters and the conveniently compressed geography and timeline and suspect list, a sound mystery peopled by a winsome family and their foodstuffs awaits. a lovely light read. :)
February 18, 2024
I sadly didn't think that this second volume of the installment was as good as the first. It tries hard to keep a similar pace, create intrigue and sprinkle clues throughout the scenes, but it doesn't pull through unfortunately.
From the very beginning the prose is clunky. In general I don't like the way many authors re-establish context in the further volumes of a book, the details don't fit into the prose seamlessly and read as if they have been added on top, interrupting the flow of the narrative. The same happens here, with reminders like what the Chinese elements are when Yale, the main character, mentions how she has always connected more with water.
In 'Hot Pot Murder', the events take place during a meeting of the Asian American Restaurant Owner Association at Mrs. Ho's establishment. While fetching a second power extender, the president of the association is electrocuted and dies, with the extender previously sitting next to the sink and having gotten wet.
In reading this, the weaknesses in the author's prose have become stark. The characters are underdeveloped with a lot of their dialogue being so similar to each other that it's hard to distinguish their voices, particularly new ones like Trisha and Misty. These characters are introduced with a lot more rapidity and less nuance than previously, and they haven't been given as much care in order to make them stand out.
This, plus the fact that there are very few details about the victim both before and after the murder, made me not care about what I was reading. I wasn't feeling committed to avenging him (in fact I'm writing this review after barely finishing the book and all I remember from his name is that it starts with a J), or blaming anyone because they didn't leave me with strong impressions. In a cosy mystery, a lot of this sense of warm is brought by wholesome characters and wholesome interactions, and here everything was resolved quickly, without that depth of emotion that I know for a fact Jennifer J. Chow can do.
Similarly disappointing was also more modest detail about the dishes that appear. 'Death by Bubble Tea' featured scrumptions descriptions about every food and drink that appeared, and something I found particularly interesting was also that with many of them the author discussed how their provenance has become murky in time, whether they are originally from Hong Kong or Taiwan for example. But in this book there is far less of that level of deliciousness. There's a wee bit about chai and xiao long bao, but those were the only memorable ones really.
This could've been sweet.
From the very beginning the prose is clunky. In general I don't like the way many authors re-establish context in the further volumes of a book, the details don't fit into the prose seamlessly and read as if they have been added on top, interrupting the flow of the narrative. The same happens here, with reminders like what the Chinese elements are when Yale, the main character, mentions how she has always connected more with water.
In 'Hot Pot Murder', the events take place during a meeting of the Asian American Restaurant Owner Association at Mrs. Ho's establishment. While fetching a second power extender, the president of the association is electrocuted and dies, with the extender previously sitting next to the sink and having gotten wet.
In reading this, the weaknesses in the author's prose have become stark. The characters are underdeveloped with a lot of their dialogue being so similar to each other that it's hard to distinguish their voices, particularly new ones like Trisha and Misty. These characters are introduced with a lot more rapidity and less nuance than previously, and they haven't been given as much care in order to make them stand out.
This, plus the fact that there are very few details about the victim both before and after the murder, made me not care about what I was reading. I wasn't feeling committed to avenging him (in fact I'm writing this review after barely finishing the book and all I remember from his name is that it starts with a J), or blaming anyone because they didn't leave me with strong impressions. In a cosy mystery, a lot of this sense of warm is brought by wholesome characters and wholesome interactions, and here everything was resolved quickly, without that depth of emotion that I know for a fact Jennifer J. Chow can do.
Similarly disappointing was also more modest detail about the dishes that appear. 'Death by Bubble Tea' featured scrumptions descriptions about every food and drink that appeared, and something I found particularly interesting was also that with many of them the author discussed how their provenance has become murky in time, whether they are originally from Hong Kong or Taiwan for example. But in this book there is far less of that level of deliciousness. There's a wee bit about chai and xiao long bao, but those were the only memorable ones really.
This could've been sweet.
May 29, 2023
The first book in this series, Death by Bubble Tea, was a real standout � an unusual setting, a foodie backdrop, and two cousins getting to know each other, one plain, one fancy. Yale Yee lives in LA near her family restaurant, Wing Fat, which her father runs; she runs their night market stand, selling bubble tea and other delicacies. Her cousin Celine arrived from Hong Kong in the last book. She’s everything Yale is not: into her appearance, into her social media profile (she’s a food-stagrammer), and leisured � family money ensures she can spend much of her time at her favorite hobby, shopping. The two are now roommates and their relationship has assumed almost a partnership status. The two women complement each other without being cardboard caricatures.
As the book opens, Yale’s father has arranged a hot pot thanksgiving feast at his restaurant, including everyone in their small restaurant association. Like any small organization, it’s rife with politics, and when the president is electrocuted at the dinner, it’s all hands-on deck (mostly Yale’s and Celine’s) to solve the crime.
Much of the establishing backstory was set up in the first book, and this already feels like a comfortable series entry. One thing Yale is still working through is the death of her mother; she blames herself and is reluctant to even enter her childhood home. The restaurant is bad enough, though her night market stall has restored some of her joy in cooking.
Two threads are extremely strong in this novel � the importance of family, and food. While Yale and Celine investigate, their investigations take them to many, many delicious sounding restaurants. This also allows the author to delineate the various members of the restaurant association, people who also work alongside Yale at the night market, and who she thinks of as her community. We as readers might think of them as “suspects.�
Celine is raising the profile of their stall through relentless Instagram posts and the creation of a selfie photo backdrop next to the night market stall. (The market seems to be based on the 626 Market in LA � it includes entertainment, games, and tons of food. It’s a wonderful and vivid setting for the books.) The characters of Yale and Celine play into their detective skills as well, making them a good team, and they do indeed help solve the case.
There’s family drama as well, as Celine’s fancy parents descend from Hong Kong, wanting to take Celine back home with them and wanting to reconnect with Yale’s father, Sing, as well as Yale herself who doesn’t know her hilariously named aunt and uncle, Sunny and Cher, all that well. They mostly make Celine uncomfortable as she doesn’t want to go back to Hong Kong, and Yale is surprised to find that she would like her cousin to stay.
This gently paced and well assembled mystery has nice character development, an unusual setting, and a nice sense of story. Jennifer Chow is aware of the elements required to tell a good and entertaining tale, and I anticipate this being a long and successful series.
As the book opens, Yale’s father has arranged a hot pot thanksgiving feast at his restaurant, including everyone in their small restaurant association. Like any small organization, it’s rife with politics, and when the president is electrocuted at the dinner, it’s all hands-on deck (mostly Yale’s and Celine’s) to solve the crime.
Much of the establishing backstory was set up in the first book, and this already feels like a comfortable series entry. One thing Yale is still working through is the death of her mother; she blames herself and is reluctant to even enter her childhood home. The restaurant is bad enough, though her night market stall has restored some of her joy in cooking.
Two threads are extremely strong in this novel � the importance of family, and food. While Yale and Celine investigate, their investigations take them to many, many delicious sounding restaurants. This also allows the author to delineate the various members of the restaurant association, people who also work alongside Yale at the night market, and who she thinks of as her community. We as readers might think of them as “suspects.�
Celine is raising the profile of their stall through relentless Instagram posts and the creation of a selfie photo backdrop next to the night market stall. (The market seems to be based on the 626 Market in LA � it includes entertainment, games, and tons of food. It’s a wonderful and vivid setting for the books.) The characters of Yale and Celine play into their detective skills as well, making them a good team, and they do indeed help solve the case.
There’s family drama as well, as Celine’s fancy parents descend from Hong Kong, wanting to take Celine back home with them and wanting to reconnect with Yale’s father, Sing, as well as Yale herself who doesn’t know her hilariously named aunt and uncle, Sunny and Cher, all that well. They mostly make Celine uncomfortable as she doesn’t want to go back to Hong Kong, and Yale is surprised to find that she would like her cousin to stay.
This gently paced and well assembled mystery has nice character development, an unusual setting, and a nice sense of story. Jennifer Chow is aware of the elements required to tell a good and entertaining tale, and I anticipate this being a long and successful series.
July 15, 2023
Thanksgiving dinner takes on a different tone when the celebrants are part of the Asian restaurant business community. More of a meeting of minds, the attendees are not enjoying a traditional turkey dinner. The menu includes a traditional hot pot luncheon and a meeting of the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association, or AAROA. When a deadly accident occurs during the hot pot feast, it soon becomes clear that it was murder.
Yale and her visiting cousin Celine, who happens to be a social influencer, decide to add a bit sleuthing to their food stall business. They need to make sure Ai Ho, a family friend, and Yale’s father are cleared after becoming the prime suspects of the crime. Unfortunately, Celine’s parents arrive from Hong Kong in time for the fallout from the murder. Because Yale’s father is a suspect, they quickly want to swoop in to acquire his share of the family restaurant. This helps spur on the two cousins to find the real murderer.
The Hot Pot Murders is an interesting foray into the workings of family restaurants and a deeper dive into Asian Americans. The plot is solid, revealing the killer in the final chapters. The characters are fully developed and likable (and others hate worthy). But, it made me rather crazy that the main character, Yale, only has a land line, and does not have a cell phone. It may be the character’s quirkiness, but it absolutely is unrealistic. I don’t know anyone under the age of 90 (yes, my 90-year-old aunt texts and calls via cell phone) who doesn’t have a cell phone. This is the first book I have read by Jennifer J. Chow. I recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.
Jennifer J. Chow is currently serving as Vice President on the national board of Sisters in Crime. She is also a member of the Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America. Mimi Lee Gets A Clue, the first book in her Sassy Cat series, was selected as an Overdrive Recommended Read, a PopSugar Best Summer Beach Read and one of BuzzFeed’s Top 5 books by AAPI authors.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the publicist and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2023 Laura Hartman
Yale and her visiting cousin Celine, who happens to be a social influencer, decide to add a bit sleuthing to their food stall business. They need to make sure Ai Ho, a family friend, and Yale’s father are cleared after becoming the prime suspects of the crime. Unfortunately, Celine’s parents arrive from Hong Kong in time for the fallout from the murder. Because Yale’s father is a suspect, they quickly want to swoop in to acquire his share of the family restaurant. This helps spur on the two cousins to find the real murderer.
The Hot Pot Murders is an interesting foray into the workings of family restaurants and a deeper dive into Asian Americans. The plot is solid, revealing the killer in the final chapters. The characters are fully developed and likable (and others hate worthy). But, it made me rather crazy that the main character, Yale, only has a land line, and does not have a cell phone. It may be the character’s quirkiness, but it absolutely is unrealistic. I don’t know anyone under the age of 90 (yes, my 90-year-old aunt texts and calls via cell phone) who doesn’t have a cell phone. This is the first book I have read by Jennifer J. Chow. I recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.
Jennifer J. Chow is currently serving as Vice President on the national board of Sisters in Crime. She is also a member of the Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America. Mimi Lee Gets A Clue, the first book in her Sassy Cat series, was selected as an Overdrive Recommended Read, a PopSugar Best Summer Beach Read and one of BuzzFeed’s Top 5 books by AAPI authors.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the publicist and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2023 Laura Hartman
June 24, 2023
HOT POT MURDER is the second book in the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer Chow. Once again, the reader is taken for a delicious sensory journey set amongst the backdrop of the L.A. night market scene while trying to solve a puzzling murder. I greatly enjoyed the first book in the series, but with this second book, Ms. Chow has found her stride and the story and the character development is even stronger. Protagonist Yale Yee and her cousin Celine run Yale’s family food stall at the L.A. night market. Early on, they had a contentious relationship but have now bonded after solving a murder. I enjoy how they have their own strengths and weaknesses, which they recognize and use to support each other, whether it’s making the business a success or solving a crime.
There’s also a very strong sense of family and community displayed on the pages. Ms. Chow offers a bit of Chinese customs along with a tantalizing view of Los Angeles settings. I especially enjoyed the visits Yale and Celine make to the local restaurants as they visit the people who were at Yale’s father’s restaurant when tragedy struck. With the strong descriptive voice, the characters and the food jump to life on the pages as the two young women seek answers to the death of the president of the restaurant owners� association.
Given that the murder takes place during a Thanksgiving gathering at Yale’s father’s restaurant, it resembles a closed room murder. And, because the attendees were colleagues or close friends, Yale and Celine are faced with trying to find clues without alienating the people they know so well. I like how they work in together, asking questions, and listening to gossip, to find justice. As the clues come together, so does the suspense of the killer’s actions. I didn’t suspect the perpetrator and at the reveal, I was on the edge of my seat to find out what happens next. Jennifer Chow’s well-plotted mystery weaves together a story filled with wonderful characters, mouthwatering food, and a fun meander through the tantalizing L.A. night market. I’m looking forward to finding out what’s in store next for Yale and Celine!
There’s also a very strong sense of family and community displayed on the pages. Ms. Chow offers a bit of Chinese customs along with a tantalizing view of Los Angeles settings. I especially enjoyed the visits Yale and Celine make to the local restaurants as they visit the people who were at Yale’s father’s restaurant when tragedy struck. With the strong descriptive voice, the characters and the food jump to life on the pages as the two young women seek answers to the death of the president of the restaurant owners� association.
Given that the murder takes place during a Thanksgiving gathering at Yale’s father’s restaurant, it resembles a closed room murder. And, because the attendees were colleagues or close friends, Yale and Celine are faced with trying to find clues without alienating the people they know so well. I like how they work in together, asking questions, and listening to gossip, to find justice. As the clues come together, so does the suspense of the killer’s actions. I didn’t suspect the perpetrator and at the reveal, I was on the edge of my seat to find out what happens next. Jennifer Chow’s well-plotted mystery weaves together a story filled with wonderful characters, mouthwatering food, and a fun meander through the tantalizing L.A. night market. I’m looking forward to finding out what’s in store next for Yale and Celine!
January 17, 2024
Originally posted on my blog .
Hot Pot Murder is the second LA Night Market shopfront foodie cozy mystery by . Released 6th June 2023 by Penguin Random House on their imprint, it's 284 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is an interesting "buddy" investigation where the two main protagonists couldn't be more different. They're cousins, shy bookish Yale and her flashy outgoing influencer cousin Celine, who got into hijinks together on a visit from Hong Kong in book one. It's not long until murder intrudes again, and the cousins decide to play amateur sleuth (again). The story is engaging and told well, but the pacing is occasionally odd and uneven. That being said, the story is fun, and the denouement, reveal, and resolution are satisfying and well crafted. The cousins seem to be finding their footing and developing into a good team.
Being a cozy, it's blissfully free of graphic violence, bad language, or sexual content. There were a couple bits of clunky dialogue, but they're happily few and far between. The author has included some recipes in the back of the book which are simple and authentic.
Four stars, with good characters and a well crafted story. A good choice for public library acquisition, as well as for fans of shopfront food cozies. It would make a good choice for a mini binge/buddy read
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Hot Pot Murder is the second LA Night Market shopfront foodie cozy mystery by . Released 6th June 2023 by Penguin Random House on their imprint, it's 284 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is an interesting "buddy" investigation where the two main protagonists couldn't be more different. They're cousins, shy bookish Yale and her flashy outgoing influencer cousin Celine, who got into hijinks together on a visit from Hong Kong in book one. It's not long until murder intrudes again, and the cousins decide to play amateur sleuth (again). The story is engaging and told well, but the pacing is occasionally odd and uneven. That being said, the story is fun, and the denouement, reveal, and resolution are satisfying and well crafted. The cousins seem to be finding their footing and developing into a good team.
Being a cozy, it's blissfully free of graphic violence, bad language, or sexual content. There were a couple bits of clunky dialogue, but they're happily few and far between. The author has included some recipes in the back of the book which are simple and authentic.
Four stars, with good characters and a well crafted story. A good choice for public library acquisition, as well as for fans of shopfront food cozies. It would make a good choice for a mini binge/buddy read
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 6, 2024
I am always looking for a cute and cozy mystery book and while I have found a couple of series that I love and enjoy (The Stephanie Plum series and the Mrs. Pollifax series) it's nice to stumble upon a new one, ecspecially when it's early on in the series. When I am looking for a cozy mystery story, I'm looking for something not super corny, something fresh, and something I don't have to wrap my mind around a dozen times and the Hot Pot Murder does that for me.
Hot Pot Murder picks up right after the last book, Death by Bubble Tea, drops off. The two cousins are right where we left them, but they don't stay there the whole book. We get some more character development and reasonable character growth from both the girls and from some of our side characters as well. We get to see Yale come more to terms with her mother's death. While Celine, who is already a little rambuncious, except when it comes to her parents, uses that energy to finally take a stand against them without being too disrespectful.
Speaking on characters, it was nice to have our author shine a light on the side characters from the last book. The whole Asian Restauant Association members were there, but not the main focus of the last story. This one, they all get to shine and we get to see them individually and learn more about them and thus this whole world building. We also get new characters introduced, such as Celine's parents.
I was also impressed by how much back and forth I was going with trying to figure out who exactly the murderer was. There were moments when I thought it had to be one person, but then they would get details on another person, so then they made sense and so on and so forth.
Overall, I had a cozy, comfy time reading the Hot Pot Murder. It's a fun little mystery novel that goes a long way and great for when you just want something more relaxing and down-to-earth to read.
Hot Pot Murder picks up right after the last book, Death by Bubble Tea, drops off. The two cousins are right where we left them, but they don't stay there the whole book. We get some more character development and reasonable character growth from both the girls and from some of our side characters as well. We get to see Yale come more to terms with her mother's death. While Celine, who is already a little rambuncious, except when it comes to her parents, uses that energy to finally take a stand against them without being too disrespectful.
Speaking on characters, it was nice to have our author shine a light on the side characters from the last book. The whole Asian Restauant Association members were there, but not the main focus of the last story. This one, they all get to shine and we get to see them individually and learn more about them and thus this whole world building. We also get new characters introduced, such as Celine's parents.
I was also impressed by how much back and forth I was going with trying to figure out who exactly the murderer was. There were moments when I thought it had to be one person, but then they would get details on another person, so then they made sense and so on and so forth.
Overall, I had a cozy, comfy time reading the Hot Pot Murder. It's a fun little mystery novel that goes a long way and great for when you just want something more relaxing and down-to-earth to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.