Jennifer J. Chow's Blog, page 15
September 14, 2020
ARCs, Glorious ARCs
There’s something really beautiful about being one of the first. It’s a privilege and an honor. This is especially true for getting to read someone’s book baby. It does take an extremely long time to write and then publish something.
Although 2020 has been an absolute wild ride of a year, there have been silver linings. Advance reading copies, or ARCs, has been a delight for me this year. I’ve been able to read fabulous work from both established and new authors.
In the above photo, I received an early copy of A Murderous Relation because I was going to an in-conversation event with Deanna Raybourn. For Darling Rose Gold, I won an ARC through an online contest.
Then I dove into the world of electronic copies. I finally signed up for a NetGalley account when I also won (!) a copy of Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner. What an amazing idea! I could ask to read people’s works (and maybe) be granted early access to them.
To my delight, I was recently told by my editor at my wonderful publisher, Berkley, that I could also ask her for books of fellow authors within the imprint. Huzzah!
To that end, I’ve since collected the following:
-Olivia Blacke’s Killer Content
-Deborah Blake’s Furbidden Fatality
-Kate Lansing’s A Pairing to Die For
-Denise Williams’ How to Fail at Flirting
Additionally, I’m part of the Chicks on the Case book club, where we discuss novels by fellow Chick bloggers. It’s a fun no-spoilers discussion that happens on the blog. I’ve got copies of the latest by Ellen Byron and Becky Clark loaded onto my reading device. (Next book club discussion will be on Murder in the Bayou Boneyard and happens on October 16th!)
My TBR pile is enormous. Happy reading, everyone!
September 9, 2020
September 4, 2020
Foodie Friday: Hummus
One of the favorite things that I whipped up during lockdown was hummus. I usually purchase a tub of it from the grocery store. There’s something artistic about creating customized spices for the dip, though.
I also like to add in special garnishes like toasted sesame seeds, parsley, or even green onions.
Here’s a quick recipe:
1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c cold water
2 garlic cloves
2 lemons, juiced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
pinch of salt and pepper
Place all ingredients in the food processor and mix.
Fun tip: I’ve tried both dried and canned chickpeas, and I think the canned version is a lot easier to use. To get the hummus to a softer consistency, I boiled the garbanzo beans with a dash of baking soda before placing them into the food processor.
August 26, 2020
August 17, 2020
MurderCon
“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” –fortune cookie saying
MurderCon is an annual training event put on by the Writers’ Police Academy, and 2020 marks the 12th anniversary of the conference. Workshops taught by experts, combined with hands-on learning, are the draw of this special event for writers. I’ve heard about this conference for years, but because of the expenses involved (travel + lodging + fee), I had constantly put off attending it. Due to the pandemic, though, a virtual conference emerged, so I was finally able to participate in two days of in-depth training provided by homicide investigators. There was so much information packed into such a short period of time that it would be impossible for me to summarize everything. I still have pages upon pages of notes to sort through! Nevertheless, I’ve decided to provide some broad sweeping facts as a taste of the invaluable information that’s provided during the event:
Time of death
It’s not possible to determine the exact time, but only a time rangeThere’s reliance on forensic entomology (go, bugs!) to determine the timingThree mortises can appear after death: rigor mortis (stiffening of body); livor mortis (settling of blood); and algor mortis (cooling of body)
Evidence and Rights
Fourth Amendment rights/ an expectation of privacy exists for citizens, so a formal process must be undertaken (e.g. warrant) before a search or seizure of propertyLevels of evidence can span from nothing to suspicion to probable cause (leading to an arrest or warrant) to beyond a reasonable doubt (this evidence can also include confessions)A key difference between a subpoena and a warrant is that a subpoena concerns data and documentsTechnology evidence and information must also take into account privacy concerns (think: search warrant); everything techie from cell phones to computers to Bluetooth devices fit into this category
Methods of evidence identification
Not only are there latent fingerprint examiners but there are also footwear examinersShoe identification involves uncovering the pattern, size, wear, and random individual characteristics displayed in footwearDatabases are available for identifying footwear, fingerprints, and DNA
I was so grateful for a chance to listen to experts, better understand investigative processes, and hear about real-life cases!
August 12, 2020
August 3, 2020
Book Review: Iced in Paradise
5 stars
Genre: Contemporary cozy mystery
Hirahara pens an excellent ice-cold murder mystery in Iced in Paradise, her first book in the new Leilani Santiago series. As always, Hirahara does an excellent job of infusing interesting historical and contemporary details into her story. I particularly like the insider’s perspective on living in the Islands as opposed to the typical Mainlander view. All the characters in the novel are strong and unique. Leilani, the protagonist, is very feisty and definitely not a pliable young woman, but I like her bravery and tenacity in searching for the brutal truth. I also appreciated how she didn’t have life figured out already and had realistic dilemmas revolving around romantic relationships, job choices, and even family ties.
A great start to a new unique mystery series; a literary treat as delicious as a bowl of cool shave ice.
Find more of my book ratings and reviews here.
July 31, 2020
Foodie Friday: Boba milk tea ice cream bar
Boba milk tea ice cream bar: boba—but as a popsicle!
My brother kept telling me about these, but whenever I popped by the grocery store, I couldn’t find them in the freezer aisle. I finally located a box the other week. Hurrah!
They actually really taste like milk tea, with that decadent flavor combo of rich black tea and sweetened milk. (Perhaps a little too sweet.) The tapioca balls are frozen, so they’re not quite the same chewy texture. If you lick the ice cream bar, though, it defrosts them a little to revive that QQ* consistency.
It’s not really the best substitute if you’re yearning for bubble tea, though. In that case, go straight to your local milk tea shop!
*Fun fact: “QQ” is a Taiwanese term that talks about the bounciness or the chewy-chewy texture of certain foods.
July 22, 2020
July 13, 2020
Book Review: Your House Will Pay
5 stars
Genre: Contemporary fiction (mystery/thriller)
A literary revelation.
There are no easy answers or one-sided characters in Cha’s latest novel. Instead it offers a finely drawn dual perspective about racial relations through the main characters, Grace Park and Shawn Matthews. Rooted in authentically detailed Los Angeles history, Cha pens an illuminating work about racism, family, and society—a timely read for us all. A taut novel that features a raw and gripping storyline.
Find more of my book ratings and reviews here.
