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Taipei Night Market #4
Death Doesn't Forget
Jing-nan, owner of a popular night market food stall, is framed for a string of high-profile murders—why does it seem like he's always the one left holding the skewer? The fourth entry to Ed Lin's Taipei mystery series is as hilarious and poignant as ever.
Taipei is rocked by the back-to-back murders of a recent lottery winner and a police captain just as the city is preparing to host the big Austronesian Cultural Festival, which has brought in indigenous performers from all around the Pacific Rim to the island nation of Taiwan. Jing-nan, the proprietor of Unknown Pleasures, a popular food stand at Taipei’s largest night market, is thrown into the intrigue. Is he being set up to take the rap, or will he be the next victim? The fallout could jeopardize Jing-nan’s relationship with his girlfriend, Nancy, who is herself soon caught up in the drama, and is increasingly annoyed at Jing-nan’s failure to propose to her.
Jing-nan also has to be careful not to alienate his trusty workers Dwayne and Frankie the Cat, who are facing their own personal trials. Dwayne struggles to reconnect with his roots as a person of aboriginal descent, while septuagenarian Frankie helps a fellow veteran with dementia, intertwining stories that illuminate decades of Taiwanese history.
Jing-nan, meanwhile, has to untangle the mystery of the killings while keeping his food stall afloat against hip new competition. Both his life, and his Instagram follower count, hang in the balance.
Taipei is rocked by the back-to-back murders of a recent lottery winner and a police captain just as the city is preparing to host the big Austronesian Cultural Festival, which has brought in indigenous performers from all around the Pacific Rim to the island nation of Taiwan. Jing-nan, the proprietor of Unknown Pleasures, a popular food stand at Taipei’s largest night market, is thrown into the intrigue. Is he being set up to take the rap, or will he be the next victim? The fallout could jeopardize Jing-nan’s relationship with his girlfriend, Nancy, who is herself soon caught up in the drama, and is increasingly annoyed at Jing-nan’s failure to propose to her.
Jing-nan also has to be careful not to alienate his trusty workers Dwayne and Frankie the Cat, who are facing their own personal trials. Dwayne struggles to reconnect with his roots as a person of aboriginal descent, while septuagenarian Frankie helps a fellow veteran with dementia, intertwining stories that illuminate decades of Taiwanese history.
Jing-nan, meanwhile, has to untangle the mystery of the killings while keeping his food stall afloat against hip new competition. Both his life, and his Instagram follower count, hang in the balance.
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2023
35 people are currently reading
2831 people want to read
About the author
Ed Lin
19 books105 followersEd Lin is a journalist by training and an all-around stand-up kinda guy. He's the author of several books: Waylaid, his literary debut, and his Robert Chow crime series, set in 1970s Manhattan Chinatown: This Is a Bust, Snakes Can't Run, and One Red Bastard. Lin, who is of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian American Literary Awards. Lin lives in New York with his wife, actress Cindy Cheung.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 18, 2022
I received this in a Goodreads Giveaway.
It was okay, but I wasn't wowed by the writing and found very little humor in it. I don't know. I also recived the first book in this series as a bonus when I got Death Doesn't Forget. I'll read it to see how they relate to each other.
It was okay, but I wasn't wowed by the writing and found very little humor in it. I don't know. I also recived the first book in this series as a bonus when I got Death Doesn't Forget. I'll read it to see how they relate to each other.
April 30, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and Soho Press for an advanced copy of mystery featuring both food and Taiwan.
A good mystery series need quite a few things to keep readers coming back for more. A lead character that is engaging and a person the reader wants to spend time with. A cast of characters that are both enjoyable, and again people you want to know more about and want to follow changes in their lives, even if only fictional. A reason why the person is investigating anything. A cop or military man, even a reporter or a lawyer might have a reason, but a bookseller or a dog groomer even a restaurateur needs a very good reason to investigate anything outside of their occupations. And setting. As a reader I have learned alot about cultures and places and how things work there from mysteries than from articles in say The Economist. Ed Lin in Death Doesn't Forget does all those things with the addition of great writing in the fourth book to feature Jing-nan, who lives works and detects in Taipei, Taiwan.
Jing-nan is the owner and social media director of a popular food stall Unknown Pleasures, at a night market in Taipei. Jing-nan day starts off bad when his girlfriend Nancy asks him to try and get some of her estranged Mom's lottery winnings from her boyfriend before he spends it all on his friends. The initial meeting goes well, but Nancy's Mom wants more but before Jing-nan can do anything the boyfriend is killed. As is a police investigator no friend of our detective which suddenly puts Jing-nan in trouble both with the police and his social media status. At the same time his employees are having problems of their own, which gives him more to deal with. And his girlfriend is starting to push for marriage.
A very enjoyable read. The setting is different and full of information and facts about Taiwan that I was unaware of. Jing-nan is a great character, one you could see asking for help, or being happy that his food stall was doing well. The cast is just as engaging, and both of Jing-nan touch on different aspects of Taiwanese society that is treated well, and again something I was unaware of. The writing is good, though sometimes it bogs down with so much information on the characters, but still I found myself thinking quite a bit about what I read when I was finished.
This is my first book by Ed Lin, and he seems to have two series, which I am going to have to start looking for. A mystery that teaches about food, life and culture from a place I didn't know much about. Recommended for fans of the Inspector Mislan books by Rozlan Mohd Noor, the Poke Rafferty series from Timothy Hallinan and the Sonchai Jitleecheep series written by John Burnett.
A good mystery series need quite a few things to keep readers coming back for more. A lead character that is engaging and a person the reader wants to spend time with. A cast of characters that are both enjoyable, and again people you want to know more about and want to follow changes in their lives, even if only fictional. A reason why the person is investigating anything. A cop or military man, even a reporter or a lawyer might have a reason, but a bookseller or a dog groomer even a restaurateur needs a very good reason to investigate anything outside of their occupations. And setting. As a reader I have learned alot about cultures and places and how things work there from mysteries than from articles in say The Economist. Ed Lin in Death Doesn't Forget does all those things with the addition of great writing in the fourth book to feature Jing-nan, who lives works and detects in Taipei, Taiwan.
Jing-nan is the owner and social media director of a popular food stall Unknown Pleasures, at a night market in Taipei. Jing-nan day starts off bad when his girlfriend Nancy asks him to try and get some of her estranged Mom's lottery winnings from her boyfriend before he spends it all on his friends. The initial meeting goes well, but Nancy's Mom wants more but before Jing-nan can do anything the boyfriend is killed. As is a police investigator no friend of our detective which suddenly puts Jing-nan in trouble both with the police and his social media status. At the same time his employees are having problems of their own, which gives him more to deal with. And his girlfriend is starting to push for marriage.
A very enjoyable read. The setting is different and full of information and facts about Taiwan that I was unaware of. Jing-nan is a great character, one you could see asking for help, or being happy that his food stall was doing well. The cast is just as engaging, and both of Jing-nan touch on different aspects of Taiwanese society that is treated well, and again something I was unaware of. The writing is good, though sometimes it bogs down with so much information on the characters, but still I found myself thinking quite a bit about what I read when I was finished.
This is my first book by Ed Lin, and he seems to have two series, which I am going to have to start looking for. A mystery that teaches about food, life and culture from a place I didn't know much about. Recommended for fans of the Inspector Mislan books by Rozlan Mohd Noor, the Poke Rafferty series from Timothy Hallinan and the Sonchai Jitleecheep series written by John Burnett.
June 22, 2022
This book jumps between different points of view for all of the characters while they try to navigate family, work, and the murders of those around them. Set in Taiwan, an unconventional group of family and friends try to solve a few murders that the police cannot. The way this book moves from character to character makes it more exciting to read. It is a little slow moving at times and the end seems a little rushed, but overall this was a great book.
September 22, 2023
Fantastic. A series highlight centered on how our past impact our present. I thoroughly enjoyed entering the minds of Frankie the Cat and Dwayne. The night market crew have become friends to me as I've listened to the audiobook editions. I do wish Peggy Lee meddled her way more in this one!
February 1, 2023
Mid - it was a suspense/murder mystery but it lacked scariness and the thrill of a mystery.
December 3, 2022
151 🎧🇹🇼TAIWAN 🇹🇼The third book in the series I have listened to (and actually the 4th), and I feel like the author has run out of steam. The “crime” isthe murder of Boxer, the thieving boyfriend of our hero, Jinang’s girlfriend’s (Nancy) estranged mother (Sulin). Basically, Sulinis a washed up “entertainer” come barmaid who neglected her motherly responsibilities and Nancy has succeeded in-spite of her mother. Sulin and Boxer win a government lottery(of sorts). In a act of blind stupidity, Sulin lets Boxer claim the prize, which he quickly blows on an absolute bender. Despite Sulin remembers her daughter has a media-famous and well-connected boyfriend and do begins Juning’s connection. When Boxer is found dead, Juning is framed for his murder and relies on his employees Dwayne and Frankie street smarts to rescue him and find the real murderer. I felt like I got to know a lot more about the minor characters in this book, possibly to pad out the plot, because it was a bit light on. #🌏📚#readingworldtour2021 #readtheworld #worldliterature #readingworldliterature #reading #readingwomenchallenge #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #bookstagram #booklover #book #booknerd #bibliophile #travel #travelogue #fiction #nonfiction #nonfictionreads #travelbooks #ayearofreadingaroundtheworld #taiwan
July 6, 2022
Jing-nan, popular owner of a night market food stall in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei, and his girlfriend Nancy, are the main characters in the continuation of the mystery series. The mystery in the murder of not one, but two individuals, cast shadows over Jing-nan, who must act as a sleuth to clear his name and bring back his food stall customers.
The author brings Taiwan culture and history after the Chinese civil war into focus, its relationship with China and Australia, and especially the local Taiwan aborigines as well as the immigrant aborigines from Australia.
A mixture of history, culture, and crime, the book is revealing and informative as well as entertaining.
Thanks to Soho Crime and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
The author brings Taiwan culture and history after the Chinese civil war into focus, its relationship with China and Australia, and especially the local Taiwan aborigines as well as the immigrant aborigines from Australia.
A mixture of history, culture, and crime, the book is revealing and informative as well as entertaining.
Thanks to Soho Crime and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
August 15, 2022
This story is a mystery. Two people die. But only after the protagonist, Jing-nan, has recently been in unpleasant conversations with each of them. In the first case, he is doing a favor for this girlfriend's mother to get back her half of the earning from a lottery ticket; in the second case, the police officer accuses him of the murder and physically intimidates him at the police station. And Jing-nan has the motivation to find the criminal before he or his night-market stand, Unknown Pleasures.
But this book and the entire series are much more than a mystery. Each of the stories is rich in aspects of daily life in Taiwan, especially for street vendors, in their life to run these stands.
The book also highlights Taiwan’s multi-cultural history through the backgrounds of other characters and some of the discussion in the book. Helping Jing-nan run the night-market stand are 70-year-old Frankie the Cat, who came to Taiwan from mainland China with Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, and thirty-something Dwayne, a member of one of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes. Jing-nan is a member of the Taiwanese, those whose families lived in Taiwan before Chiang came over.
The book also captures Taiwan’s transition to democracy from martial law through the eyes of a police officer. It also mentions the underlying corruption in some of the police.
There is a nice segment in the book talking about Taiwan’s fluid approach to religion (Dao, Buddhist, Christianity), where shrines enjoy visits from different groups, often to pray for the soul of an individual.
And, underlying this story is facing the century land acquisition of Chinese immigrants from the aboriginal, and their lower stature in society.
The story also makes a point of Taiwan’s need to go with the flow when it comes to other countries' desires. This is not talking about China, but in order to maintain friendly relations with other countries, Taiwan needs to make concessions. In this story, it is about justices.
The author also shares his sense of humor in various situations, often between Jing-nan, Frankie, and Dwayne. But there is a strong bond between them.
To add another dimension, Jing-nan’s girlfriend, Nancy, really wants the relationship to get to marriage, but also she wants Jing-nan to complete his college degree. Jing-nan feels that Nancy’s friends, educated, look down on him, without a degree, and running a stall in the night market.
While there is much to appreciate about this story, the additional context might overwhelm the reader, wonder what this has to do with the mystery. Also, the reader needs to pay attention since we get views from all the characters.
FB. A mystery that contains a realistic slice of life in Taiwan together with Taiwan’s past and current challenges in a multicultural society.
But this book and the entire series are much more than a mystery. Each of the stories is rich in aspects of daily life in Taiwan, especially for street vendors, in their life to run these stands.
The book also highlights Taiwan’s multi-cultural history through the backgrounds of other characters and some of the discussion in the book. Helping Jing-nan run the night-market stand are 70-year-old Frankie the Cat, who came to Taiwan from mainland China with Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, and thirty-something Dwayne, a member of one of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes. Jing-nan is a member of the Taiwanese, those whose families lived in Taiwan before Chiang came over.
The book also captures Taiwan’s transition to democracy from martial law through the eyes of a police officer. It also mentions the underlying corruption in some of the police.
There is a nice segment in the book talking about Taiwan’s fluid approach to religion (Dao, Buddhist, Christianity), where shrines enjoy visits from different groups, often to pray for the soul of an individual.
And, underlying this story is facing the century land acquisition of Chinese immigrants from the aboriginal, and their lower stature in society.
The story also makes a point of Taiwan’s need to go with the flow when it comes to other countries' desires. This is not talking about China, but in order to maintain friendly relations with other countries, Taiwan needs to make concessions. In this story, it is about justices.
The author also shares his sense of humor in various situations, often between Jing-nan, Frankie, and Dwayne. But there is a strong bond between them.
To add another dimension, Jing-nan’s girlfriend, Nancy, really wants the relationship to get to marriage, but also she wants Jing-nan to complete his college degree. Jing-nan feels that Nancy’s friends, educated, look down on him, without a degree, and running a stall in the night market.
While there is much to appreciate about this story, the additional context might overwhelm the reader, wonder what this has to do with the mystery. Also, the reader needs to pay attention since we get views from all the characters.
FB. A mystery that contains a realistic slice of life in Taiwan together with Taiwan’s past and current challenges in a multicultural society.
August 21, 2024
I wanted a book to compliment my trip to Taipei (after almost a decade or so) and I thought this was interesting. It took me another week to finish it off after the trip - and I don’t know if that helped further put me in perspective.
In any case, this was a weird book to kick-off my goal to read more books again. The premise did sounded interesting but somewhere in the middle in became slow and off. There were definitely an effort to give an interconnectivity (if this even a word) to all the characters - all having their own quirks. But they felt either too surface level or too on the nose for me to further appreciate it. Boxer started off the narration and then gets passed on to other characters - but Jing Nian was clearly the main character…. The thing is it also didn’t feel that way? The attempts to justify other characters just made it more unfocused.
The deaths were supposed to be the crucial puzzle to link everyone - and I thought it was, until it became uninteresting. It did pick up the pace towards the end, but I thought it was too late. And for a book to compliment my Taiwan trip - it didn’t seem to made me yearn Taiwan (solely, but on the other hand, am already yearning with or without the book).
What interested me the most here? The aboriginal aspect - makes me want to learn more about Taiwan’s history. This book doubled down my interest that was already sparked by my Tea Tour in the trip.
Long story short - Expecting it to compliment my trip, but didn’t grasp me as much due to uneven pacing and character focus. However, it was still a fun read and covered some relevant aspects of Taiwan - which is a win to bring back both my interest in history, in turn to read more (books perhaps)!
Now, who wants to go to Shilin Market - find Unknown Pleasure and actually high five Frankie the Cat because he was the silent star here.
In any case, this was a weird book to kick-off my goal to read more books again. The premise did sounded interesting but somewhere in the middle in became slow and off. There were definitely an effort to give an interconnectivity (if this even a word) to all the characters - all having their own quirks. But they felt either too surface level or too on the nose for me to further appreciate it. Boxer started off the narration and then gets passed on to other characters - but Jing Nian was clearly the main character…. The thing is it also didn’t feel that way? The attempts to justify other characters just made it more unfocused.
The deaths were supposed to be the crucial puzzle to link everyone - and I thought it was, until it became uninteresting. It did pick up the pace towards the end, but I thought it was too late. And for a book to compliment my Taiwan trip - it didn’t seem to made me yearn Taiwan (solely, but on the other hand, am already yearning with or without the book).
What interested me the most here? The aboriginal aspect - makes me want to learn more about Taiwan’s history. This book doubled down my interest that was already sparked by my Tea Tour in the trip.
Long story short - Expecting it to compliment my trip, but didn’t grasp me as much due to uneven pacing and character focus. However, it was still a fun read and covered some relevant aspects of Taiwan - which is a win to bring back both my interest in history, in turn to read more (books perhaps)!
Now, who wants to go to Shilin Market - find Unknown Pleasure and actually high five Frankie the Cat because he was the silent star here.
February 6, 2025
Boxer wins a lottery, and he convinces Siu-Lien, his girlfriend, that he was going to get the money from the bank and then he will split it equally between themselves. Boxer, but does not return, and Siu-Lien takes the help of his daughter Nancy's boyfriend Jing-Nan to get back the money. The reasoning is that Jing-Nan being a mild celebrity, Boxer is likely to handover the money to him.
Things don't go according to plan. Boxer dies, and the cop investigating the case - Captain Huang, also dies. Jing-Nan and Siu-Lien are investigated, and now it becomes their problem to find the culprit. The plot and mystery, feels very low-key and simple, but then the readers are subjected to atmosphere, the tourism-heavy Taipei industry, the social & religious peculiarities of the country, all of which makes this an interesting read.
Not entirely satisfactory, but the milieu and the cliche-avoidance makes this a good read.
Notes:
* Every paper receipt in Taiwan is the lottery ticket for cash prices from the government
* Youtiao, known in Southern China as yu char kway, is a long golden-brown deep-fried strip of wheat flour dough of Chinese origin and also popular in other East and Southeast Asian cuisines. Conventionally, youtiao are lightly salted and easily separated by hand.
* Mazu or Matsu is a sea goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism
* Taiwanese indigenous peoples are Austronesians, with linguistic, genetic and cultural ties to other Austronesian peoples. For centuries, Taiwan's indigenous inhabitants experienced economic competition and military conflict with a series of colonizing newcomers. Centralized government policies designed to foster language shift and cultural assimilation, as well as continued contact with the colonizers through trade, inter-marriage and other intercultural processes, have resulted in varying degrees of language death and loss of original cultural identity
Things don't go according to plan. Boxer dies, and the cop investigating the case - Captain Huang, also dies. Jing-Nan and Siu-Lien are investigated, and now it becomes their problem to find the culprit. The plot and mystery, feels very low-key and simple, but then the readers are subjected to atmosphere, the tourism-heavy Taipei industry, the social & religious peculiarities of the country, all of which makes this an interesting read.
Not entirely satisfactory, but the milieu and the cliche-avoidance makes this a good read.
Notes:
* Every paper receipt in Taiwan is the lottery ticket for cash prices from the government
* Youtiao, known in Southern China as yu char kway, is a long golden-brown deep-fried strip of wheat flour dough of Chinese origin and also popular in other East and Southeast Asian cuisines. Conventionally, youtiao are lightly salted and easily separated by hand.
* Mazu or Matsu is a sea goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism
* Taiwanese indigenous peoples are Austronesians, with linguistic, genetic and cultural ties to other Austronesian peoples. For centuries, Taiwan's indigenous inhabitants experienced economic competition and military conflict with a series of colonizing newcomers. Centralized government policies designed to foster language shift and cultural assimilation, as well as continued contact with the colonizers through trade, inter-marriage and other intercultural processes, have resulted in varying degrees of language death and loss of original cultural identity
March 13, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Death Doesn't Forget is the 4th Taipei Night Market novel by Ed Lin. Released 19th July 2022 by Soho Press on their Soho Crime imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in second quarter 2023.
This is a distinctly quirky and oddly paced slice-of-life mystery set in Taipei which has a returning ensemble cast of oddball characters, from social media influencer and food-stall owner Jing-nan, his girlfriend Nancy, her estranged (and thoroughly unlikable) mother Siu-lien, and a few others. Most of the characters are just a strange combination of hapless and dishonest or disconcertingly gullible.
The plotting reminds me of a relatively high-drama soap opera. There was some awkward dialogue and I found myself yanked out of the story on several occasions by the sheer unlikelihood of plot developments including the climax. The denouement was bizarre and possibly the most cynical piece of prose I've read this year. It's clearly meant to be humorous; but it just missed in my case.
Three stars. It does work well as a standalone.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Death Doesn't Forget is the 4th Taipei Night Market novel by Ed Lin. Released 19th July 2022 by Soho Press on their Soho Crime imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in second quarter 2023.
This is a distinctly quirky and oddly paced slice-of-life mystery set in Taipei which has a returning ensemble cast of oddball characters, from social media influencer and food-stall owner Jing-nan, his girlfriend Nancy, her estranged (and thoroughly unlikable) mother Siu-lien, and a few others. Most of the characters are just a strange combination of hapless and dishonest or disconcertingly gullible.
The plotting reminds me of a relatively high-drama soap opera. There was some awkward dialogue and I found myself yanked out of the story on several occasions by the sheer unlikelihood of plot developments including the climax. The denouement was bizarre and possibly the most cynical piece of prose I've read this year. It's clearly meant to be humorous; but it just missed in my case.
Three stars. It does work well as a standalone.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 1, 2022
I liked the main character, Jing-nan and his interactions with the other characters. I would love to try the skewers they make at Unknown Pleasures at the night market. I do not know very much about Taiwan, so I enjoyed learning about the people and culture. I particularly liked the portrayal of how religion works, how people go to Temples to pay tribute for a lived one or friend. It seems that visiting the idol at a Temple eases the life of the spirit of the deceased and potentially brings comfort to the worshiper. Then there are moments when bowing your head and offering a prayer suffices.
I visit people living in adult living facilities so I particularly enjoyed the scenes when Jing-nan and his girlfriend go to an assisted living facility for aborigines. There are some very funny moments. This was a nice and enjoyable read, but there was not much crime sleuthing. Things unfold at their own pace. Eventually they stumble on who the murderer is, or at least they think they know, but they have to figure out how to capture the murderer. I am not sure if I know what the final outcome was.
I visit people living in adult living facilities so I particularly enjoyed the scenes when Jing-nan and his girlfriend go to an assisted living facility for aborigines. There are some very funny moments. This was a nice and enjoyable read, but there was not much crime sleuthing. Things unfold at their own pace. Eventually they stumble on who the murderer is, or at least they think they know, but they have to figure out how to capture the murderer. I am not sure if I know what the final outcome was.
July 6, 2023
The Taiwan setting of this mystery relies on cultural and political implications as plot elements. Aboriginal rights, the role of night markets, the value of a college education, and the importance of family all play a part in this book. A more subtle element is the economic competition between Taiwan and Australia. The book starts with the simple murder of Boxer, a man who has lived up to his bad reputation by stealing his girlfriend's lottery winnings. The woman's daughter Nancy enlists her boyfriend Jing-nan, a night market stall owner, to help Siu-lien, her mother, get her money back. Another murder follows. The police officer investigating Boxer's murder is killed. Finally, there is another suspect in both murders. The book is more entertaining than suspenseful. The crimes and the police investigation are not realistic. Think of this book as a cozy with muscle.
February 1, 2023
I've read Ed Lin's three other Taipei Night Market books about the returning characters Jing-nan, Nancy, Dwayne, and Frankie. This book is less about the Taipei Night Market and Jing-nan's past and could stand on its own. I enjoyed the beginning of the story of Boxer winning the lottery and then being murdered. The twists and turns kept me guessing but couldn't predict how the tale was going to unfold.
The previous books in the series provided better insight into Taiwan. This book discusses more about the struggle of the indigenous people of Taiwan, which is something about I knew next to nothing. Overall, I liked "Ghost Month" (book #1) the best. "Death Doesn't Forget" could be picked up without needing to read the others.
The previous books in the series provided better insight into Taiwan. This book discusses more about the struggle of the indigenous people of Taiwan, which is something about I knew next to nothing. Overall, I liked "Ghost Month" (book #1) the best. "Death Doesn't Forget" could be picked up without needing to read the others.
March 9, 2023
It took a while to get acclimated/acculturated to the atmospheric immersion into Taiwan in Death Doesn’t Forget. Eventually, I started to get it and was able to enjoy the story.
My own time on the ground in Taiwan over a 20 year period worked against me. Despite all those experiences visiting and working in Taiwan i wasn’t prepared for this insider looking out view. I was always an outsider looking in. A thoughtful and insightful application of creative character development by author Lin was the salvation of this novel. His plotting , on the other hand, was uninspired and jumpy. Half the time it was hard to figure out what was going on. But there was often something interesting and usually amusing going on with the characters.
My own time on the ground in Taiwan over a 20 year period worked against me. Despite all those experiences visiting and working in Taiwan i wasn’t prepared for this insider looking out view. I was always an outsider looking in. A thoughtful and insightful application of creative character development by author Lin was the salvation of this novel. His plotting , on the other hand, was uninspired and jumpy. Half the time it was hard to figure out what was going on. But there was often something interesting and usually amusing going on with the characters.
November 6, 2022
I hate it when the blurbs on the back of a book promise mystery, satire, "laughs on every page," and other enticements that the actual book fails to deliver. I read about two-thirds of this novel and finally gave it up. There was no character development. There was no plot development. Taiwan seemed flat and stereotypical. Worst of all, there were no laughs. (Not even a chuckle.) I will never know who killed Boxer and/or the second guy (Spoiler alert! There are two murders.) and I am ok with that.
November 18, 2022
This readable book is set in modern Taiwan, and the author's feel for the life of the lower class characters is the best part of the book. Two murders take place - a lowlife bum and a cop. The mystery takes a second place to the personal lives of the main characters so there is a definite lack of tension to the process. The resolution of the murders is not based on an substantive investigation, which we see from the perspective of some friends linked to the two dead men. As a mystery, this book is not a success. As a day-in-the-life of the main characters in Taiwan, it's ok.
December 29, 2022
Could have been an excellent book but the plot really didn’t hold up and plotting is everything in mystery novels. The good part is the setting, the night market and bar scene in Taipei. I was also interested in the subplot about the Austronesian minority groups of Taiwan. But we had no way of guessing the murderer; we didn’t even meet him till more than 3/4 of the book was over. And the middle dragged. This book needed a better editor. By the way, I still have no idea how the title relates to the book.
September 17, 2022
As someone who spent her childhood in Taiwan, I found the descriptions of the night market culture in Taiwan vivid and familiar. The book gives insights into specific populations in Taiwan who tend to be overlooked: the night market vendors and the various Taiwanese indigenous tribes. It is moving to read about their hard work on overcoming their struggles.
The story can feel jumpy (aka not fully developed) from time to time. It is a fun and casual read nonetheless!
The story can feel jumpy (aka not fully developed) from time to time. It is a fun and casual read nonetheless!
May 1, 2024
A one time read that's as quick or slow as you like. The story is intended to show a more intimate view of Taiwanese culture and I quite enjoyed that. The murder mystery itself was lackluster and fell into a few patterns that had me move through the second half faster.
I'd rec this if you're interested in the culture and want an easy fiction read. I wouldnt expect much else of it, though I am curious if any of Ed Lin's other books are more popular.
I'd rec this if you're interested in the culture and want an easy fiction read. I wouldnt expect much else of it, though I am curious if any of Ed Lin's other books are more popular.
December 8, 2025
The fourth book of the Taipei Night Market series.
We're back with Jing-nan and Nancy!
Nancy asks Jing-nan to retrieve money from Nancy's mum's boyfriend Boxer. The money was won from a lottery ticket, and Boxer takes it all to pay back his debts. Unfortunately Boxer suddenly dies, but who killed him?
Jing-nan becomes detective and a food stall owner once again after he's accused of killing Boxer.
This one is not as funny as book 3, or the previous books... so another 4 star book!
We're back with Jing-nan and Nancy!
Nancy asks Jing-nan to retrieve money from Nancy's mum's boyfriend Boxer. The money was won from a lottery ticket, and Boxer takes it all to pay back his debts. Unfortunately Boxer suddenly dies, but who killed him?
Jing-nan becomes detective and a food stall owner once again after he's accused of killing Boxer.
This one is not as funny as book 3, or the previous books... so another 4 star book!
January 24, 2023
I didn't like this quite as much as 99 ways to die, but I did enjoy the sidelines into the daytime lives of Frankie and Dwayne. The A plot didn't engage me, as I didn't quite buy the investment of Jing-nan and Nancy in the main murder plot. Still, a lot of details of Taipei day and night life, vivid scenery, and excellent food backstory.
March 17, 2024
I was looking forward to reading this based on reviews in various periodicals. I found the story line to be all over the place. It was a very jumbled read from why the employee couldn't commit to the gym, to the bag of krugerands to the volunteer visiting at a nursing home. I'm about 7/8 through and wondering if it's even worth finishing.
May 25, 2025
I liked that the characters were nuanced and didn’t all follow typical arcs. Story was interesting in the sense that it was a murder mystery, but there wasnt much substance beyond that. I didnt realize it was part of a series, so maybe some good stuff was lost on me, but I doubt any additional knowledge couldve salvaged the writing.
March 6, 2023
This was a fair-to-middling mystery, which really shone in its detailed depiction of everyday life in Taipei. The writing style, unfortunately, was very stiff and elementary, so overall it was not my favorite.
September 20, 2022
Interesting view of Taipei and its culture - somewhat interesting characters. I have read better mysteries!
October 9, 2022
A good picture of life in Taipan but not much of a mystery.
December 20, 2022
3.5 stars
April 8, 2023
Love these glimpses into my childhood home.
December 26, 2023
One of my favorites this year. Picked it up at my library on a whim. Fast paced storytelling and a very unique voice. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
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