Books to Borrow Martinsburg Public Library Recommends

Death by Bubble Tea is the first novel in a new cozy mystery series by Jennifer Chow. Wikipedia describes cozy mystery series, or “cozies,” as “a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence occur off-stage, the detective is an amateur sleuth, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.” This first novel of the L.A. Night Market Mysteries has been dubbed by the New York Times as “the first in a fizzy new series.”

Yale Lee, a resident of Eastwood Village near Los Angeles, has just lost her job at a local bookstore when she discovers that her cousin Celine from Hong Kong will be visiting. Yale hasn’t seen Celine since they were children and was not thrilled about playing tour guide to her rich, spoiled, self-centered cousin. Ba Lee, Yale’s father, has a plan for the cousins to work together at the Eastwood Village Night Market to sell cold food prepared in his restaurant and drinks prepared by Yale herself. Since she had worked as a cook in the restaurant before her mom died, Yale didn’t mind researching and making fun, interesting drinks for the food stand.

The cousins soon find themselves investigating a murder that occurred at the night market. The victim appeared to have died after drinking bubble tea from Yale’s food stand. Did Celine, a “foodie” who posts food pictures on Instagram, accidentally poison the victim by placing a foreign substance in the drink to make it more photogenically appealing? The investigation leads them to consider the other vendors at the food market, the victim’s ex-boyfriend, and her former roommates. Along the way, Yale and her cousin learn to appreciate each other’s differences and find the relationship each has been missing.

“Death by Bubble Tea” is a fun, engaging mystery that is sure to keep you reading to discover if Yale and Celine will find the murderer! This novel is available in large print at the Martinsburg Community Library.