Kirkus Reviews

Confession: I've always loved a good rewards chart. When I was in elementary school, my teacher ran a reading contest. The person who read the most number of books (and earned the most stickers) got a reward at the end of the school year. Since I adored reading, I took on the challenge--and zoomed ahead on the chart. At the end of the year, I won! My prize? A coveted gift card to the local bookstore. (Where I promptly went to purchase Anne of Green Gables books.) Today, after a year … [Read more...]

Agatha Award Nomination

I grew up on Agatha Christie--I mean, after I read stuff like Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew. There was something transportive about puzzling out a mystery. The Queen of Crime was great at stumping me. Later on, as a writer, I appreciated her skill at varying scenarios and clues (unreliable narrator, anyone?). My mom also loved Christie and was the one who first introduced me to her. That day, I wasn't sure what to borrow at the library, and the beginning of the adult section was right behind … [Read more...]

Book Review: Under Lock & Skeleton Key

5 stars Genre: Traditional Mystery/ Amateur Sleuth/ Impossible Crime Fascinating story. I particularly loved Tempest and her multicultural background with all the interesting family histories and global experiences. I also adored the centrality of magicians and illusions in this book. A gothic cozy, this novel offers a touch of the supernatural with the Raj family curse. It’s a new subgenre with interesting mystery possibilities. This is layered with an impossible crime, and I’m … [Read more...]

Who Wants Cookies?

I’ve always been fond of cookies. Maybe because they were a rare treat we got from the local bakery only once in a while. We didn’t actually bake any cookies growing up. Our oven was used mostly for roasts. Somehow, though, we did have a cookie cookbook in our household. I can’t remember how young I was, but I was still too small to “touch the oven” when I had my first baking adventure. I decided to microwave the cookie batter (not sure if you’d call it that since the dough was mostly flour … [Read more...]

Book Review: Like A Sister

5 stars Genre: Mystery/ Domestic suspense Like A Sister by Kellye Garrett This book left me guessing with its myriad twists and turns. Lena is clearly the star of the book, and I appreciated her observations and dry wit. I also enjoyed getting to know NYC a little more and all the insider tips and details. The family dynamics are done really well in this story—the complicated relationships we have with dear ones around us. Technology is interwoven in a smart way throughout this … [Read more...]

Book Review: The Tokyo Zodiac Murders

5 stars Genre: Impossible Crime/Locked-Room Mystery The Tokyo Zodiac Murders Intricately deceiving. The letter that sets up the stage is hard to decipher, but the puzzle aspects continue at a rapid pace for the rest of the novel. I think if I had a better grasp of Japanese history and geography, it would have been even more fascinating. Shimada did an amazing job of creating a puzzler of a story. There were so many moving parts. My only minor issue is that there’s a lot of … [Read more...]

Happy Book Birthday to Me!

Hooray! It’s the official release day for Mimi Lee Cracks the Code! The third book in the Sassy Cat Mystery series has been on the following lists: Best Upcoming Cozy Mysteries for the Second Half of 2021 (Book Riot)All the Best Books Being Released in November (BuzzFeed)The 13 Best New Mystery and Thriller Books of November 2021 (POPSUGAR) ABOUT THE BOOK: When murder follows Mimi Lee to her romantic island getaway, she puts on her best sleuthing hat with her sassy cat in tow in … [Read more...]

Wonderful Wednesday: Cozy Escape Awards

I have some exciting news! Mimi Lee Gets A Clue has been nominated for a Cozy Escape Award in the Own Voices category. Background behind the award: The Cozy Escape Book Club is hosting their first ever Cozy Escape Awards on 9/15 for National Cozy Mystery Day on their Patreon Page.  There are 20 different Cozy Mystery categories with 5 great cozy mysteries nominated for each category. How you can participate for free: Vote for your favorite book in each … [Read more...]

Wednesday Roundup

Hi there! I'm doing something new on certain Wednesdays. I've decided to once in a while post some bookish news roundups. I realize that not everybody checks my media page, so I figure I'll go ahead and list some fun articles and mentions about my books. Here are two recent posts: Sister love in books: http://nwasianweekly.com/2021/08/for-the-love-of-sisters/ High-tech mystery reads (I'm quoted in this article!): https://bookriot.com/high-tech-mysteries/ … [Read more...]

Wordless Wednesday: Nicki Chen’s When in Vanuatu’s Book Birthday

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