Death by Bubble Tea - A Review

 Review

DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA by Jennifer J. Chow
The First L. A. Night Market Mystery

When she was young Yale Yee wished that she and Celine would be more like sisters than cousins, but that never happened. In fact, she hasn't even seen her cousin in 20 years. When her father tells Yale that Celine will be visiting from Hong Kong, she reluctantly agrees to play tour guide. While Yale eschews modern technology, Celine embraces it, yet the two have been tasked to run a food stand together, representing Wing Fat, the family restaurant, at the new night market. When Yale stumbles across a dead body with a signature glass from their booth nearby, the two become embroiled in a murder investigation. The pair will have to work together to prove their innocence.

DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA is a tale of opposites, family, and fitting in. Yale Yee has always eschewed modern technology. She doesn't own a computer, uses a landline with an answering machine, and hasn't even driven since her mother's fatal accident. On the other hand, she never met a book she didn't like. Meanwhile, Celine is a social media butterfly, a foodstagrammer, and a marketing maven with her cell phone always at hand. I loved seeing the two getting to know, understand, and value each other. Even more than their growing friendship, I love the relationship between Yale and her father, Ba. On the other end of the spectrum I wouldn't mind Nik becoming a murder victim!

I had difficulty getting in to the book at the start. The pace was slow and, though a Luddite myself, didn't find myself immediately liking Yale... or Celine. As the mystery evolved, however, so did the characters, and by the end I was immensely enjoying the time I was spending with them. I also really appreciated learning about the various foods, the differences between Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine as well as well as food from El Salvador and food truck ice cream!

Entertaining and food centric DEATH BY BUBBLE TEA is an odd couple mystery bound by family. I only wish I could get some of Yale's drinks and Ba's delicacies. Grapefruit green tea with lychee boba, guk bao, and jin deui for me, please!