{Review} AUNTY LEE'S DEADLY SPECIALS by Ovidia Yu

ISBN #: 978-0062338327

Page Count: 384

Copyright: September 30, 2014

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original Edition

Description:

(Taken from back cover)

Few know more about what goes on in Singapore than Aunty Lee. When a scandal over illegal organ donation makes news, she already has a list of suspects. There’s no time to snoop, though—Aunty Lee’s Delights is catering a brunch for local socialites Henry and Mabel Sung.

Rumor has it that the Sung’s fortune is in trouble, and Aunty Lee wonders if the gossip is true. But soon after arriving at the Sung’s house, her curiosity turns to suspicion. Why is the guesthouse in the garden locked up - and what’s inside? Where is the missing guest of honor?

Then, Mabel Sung and her son, Leonard, are found dead. The authorities blame it on Aunty Lee’s special stewed chicken with buah keluak, a local black nut that can be poisonous if cooked improperly. She’s certain the deaths are murder—and that they’re somehow linked to the organ donor scandal. To save her business and her reputation, she’s got to prove it—and unmask a dangerous killer.

Charlene's Review:

Aunty Lee is back, and as fastidious as ever, as she minds her small restaurant that caters to local Singaporean dishes. Never too busy to keep up on the local news, she finds herself in the middle of another mystery, and this time, her reputation and livelihood is at stake. She is being accused of murder but she is sure there is more to the story than meets the eye. Aunty Lee embarks on a plan to find the link between the murder, a mysterious prayer group, and illegal organ transplants, and clear her good name forever.

As the second in the Aunty Lee series, I was delighted to review Aunty Lee’s Deadly Specials.

Aunty Lee is a force to be reckoned with, and nothing stops her from finding the truth. She, along with her helper, Nina, and a slew of lively characters make this an enjoyable story. Reminiscent of many mysteries, Aunty Lee always seems to land smack in the middle of murder. Her tenacity and personality make the storyline stick together, as she is a most formidable and stubborn sleuth.

There is nothing heavy, or dark in this series. Aunty Lee mysteries are light and often times comical, focusing more on the antics of the amateur detective than the actual deeds. Adding to the richness of the story, Ovidia Yu depicts a culture and world vastly different than ours here in America, especially as it relates to Aunty Lee’s old-world ways. I’m not sure I’d be game to try some of Aunty Lee’s recipes, but I would definitely love to see more books in this series.


*A physical copy of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.