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Ava Lee #6
The Two Sisters of Borneo
The sixth installment in the wildly popular Ava Lee series from Arthur Ellis Award winner, Ian Hamilton.
Ava has been in Hong Kong looking after Uncle. She has also set up an investment company with May Ling Wong and her sister-in-law, Amanda Yee. One of their first investments — a furniture company owned by two sisters in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo — runs into immediate problems with a Dutch customer. Ava goes to the Netherlands to investigate, but her life is threatened when she is confronted by a gang of local thugs in Borneo. Out of the shadows comes a mysterious man from Shanghai . . .
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2014
25 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Ian Hamilton
27 books348 followersIan Hamilton has been a journalist, a senior executive with the federal government, a diplomat, and a businessman with international links. He has written for several magazines and newspapers in Canada and the U.S., including Maclean's, Boston Magazine, Saturday Night, Regina Leader Post, Calgary Albertan, and the Calgary Herald. His nonfiction book, The Children's Crusade, was a Canadian Book of the Month Club selection.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
January 11, 2015
It would not surprise me to learn that Ian Hamilton’s books have inspired pilgrimages to Toronto’s vaunted houses of dim sum, as Hamilton is specific about locales and the particular delicacies to be enjoyed in each. Hamilton has a track record now with his sixth novel in the series, and we believe him when he talks about food, clothes, and hotels. This middle-aged white male author is merely channeling his inner young, Chinese, lesbian side, and to judge from reviews, little is as thrilling to the reading public.
The seeds of change in Ian Hamilton’s Ava Lee series are coming to fruition. One of the more interesting things about this series is that the central characters are actually impacted by the world, and they must decide how to react. They encounter difficult challenges and, like most of us in the reading audience, succeed brilliantly at times in turning events to their advantage, and less well at other times. In this sixth installment of the Ava Lee series we begin to see a harder, more expedient Ava, who can be generous or ruthless but who is always calculating.
Some reviews I have seen mention that Ava shows a softer side of herself when with her “Uncle”, Chow Tung. Perhaps. I would argue that he is more family to her than her real family, which is a huge, intercontinental affair. Ava finds herself modeling her own decisions on his, assigning unequivocal “trust” to some people while all the while finely slicing the information they are privy to about her own life. Her lover, Maria, is aware of only the outlines of Ava’s professional life: the constant, sudden travel, the large, dispersed family connections, great wealth. Ava’s business partners May Ling and Amanda are aware of these things and a few more slices of Ava’s life. Only Uncle knew Ava’s full story: her doubts, her failings, her control, or lack of it.
The story takes a leap, in my mind at least, at the end of this episode to something quite different. We now have Ava explicitly aligned with Chinese mainland gangs that extend their reach throughout Asia. In the past, these links were shadowy background that passed through an enigmatic "Uncle" but with his passing, Ava is unquestioningly front and center in the web of triad power. It is difficult to imagine where this might take us, though the next title in the series, due to be published January 2015 is called The King of Shanghai.
As I mentioned in an earlier review, Hamilton’s writing is strong, clever, and involving. He writes two scenes in this episode that illustrate masterful constructs of Chinese social society: the opening Hong Kong wedding and the closing funeral. If nothing else, these two events and Hamilton’s sociological exegesis of them are fascinating enough, but we have skin in the game. We are sad May Ling and her husband had to miss the eight-course wedding banquet and we marvel at Ava’s renting an entire restaurant for the mourners at Chow Tung’s funeral.
But just as the characters in Hamilton’s series change in response to their environment, my own attitude towards Ava is shifting from sympathy and support to a certain wariness. She is making choices now that make me question who she will become, where she will end up. If I sense a certain “breakneck” quality to the writing, and movement away from one kind of story to another, I am still willing to give Hamilton the benefit of the doubt. After all, one must change to live, and who is to say reading about Chinese triads won’t be just as fascinating? This is another good choice for Hamilton, a heretofore unexploited piece of the literary landscape for crime fiction. Good luck to him with the research, however, which I suspect will be even trickier than uncovering and exposing extravagant examples of international fraud.
The seeds of change in Ian Hamilton’s Ava Lee series are coming to fruition. One of the more interesting things about this series is that the central characters are actually impacted by the world, and they must decide how to react. They encounter difficult challenges and, like most of us in the reading audience, succeed brilliantly at times in turning events to their advantage, and less well at other times. In this sixth installment of the Ava Lee series we begin to see a harder, more expedient Ava, who can be generous or ruthless but who is always calculating.
Some reviews I have seen mention that Ava shows a softer side of herself when with her “Uncle”, Chow Tung. Perhaps. I would argue that he is more family to her than her real family, which is a huge, intercontinental affair. Ava finds herself modeling her own decisions on his, assigning unequivocal “trust” to some people while all the while finely slicing the information they are privy to about her own life. Her lover, Maria, is aware of only the outlines of Ava’s professional life: the constant, sudden travel, the large, dispersed family connections, great wealth. Ava’s business partners May Ling and Amanda are aware of these things and a few more slices of Ava’s life. Only Uncle knew Ava’s full story: her doubts, her failings, her control, or lack of it.
The story takes a leap, in my mind at least, at the end of this episode to something quite different. We now have Ava explicitly aligned with Chinese mainland gangs that extend their reach throughout Asia. In the past, these links were shadowy background that passed through an enigmatic "Uncle" but with his passing, Ava is unquestioningly front and center in the web of triad power. It is difficult to imagine where this might take us, though the next title in the series, due to be published January 2015 is called The King of Shanghai.
As I mentioned in an earlier review, Hamilton’s writing is strong, clever, and involving. He writes two scenes in this episode that illustrate masterful constructs of Chinese social society: the opening Hong Kong wedding and the closing funeral. If nothing else, these two events and Hamilton’s sociological exegesis of them are fascinating enough, but we have skin in the game. We are sad May Ling and her husband had to miss the eight-course wedding banquet and we marvel at Ava’s renting an entire restaurant for the mourners at Chow Tung’s funeral.
But just as the characters in Hamilton’s series change in response to their environment, my own attitude towards Ava is shifting from sympathy and support to a certain wariness. She is making choices now that make me question who she will become, where she will end up. If I sense a certain “breakneck” quality to the writing, and movement away from one kind of story to another, I am still willing to give Hamilton the benefit of the doubt. After all, one must change to live, and who is to say reading about Chinese triads won’t be just as fascinating? This is another good choice for Hamilton, a heretofore unexploited piece of the literary landscape for crime fiction. Good luck to him with the research, however, which I suspect will be even trickier than uncovering and exposing extravagant examples of international fraud.
April 2, 2019
Gosh! I just started the book and I love this already...
... And loved it till the end. Of the series!
... And loved it till the end. Of the series!
July 11, 2017
Finding a copy of this book in the U.S. was overly difficult and costly, and I'd like to thank House of Anansi Press, the Canadian publisher, for its assistance. Ava Lee is preparing for her close friend and business partner Amanda's marriage to her half-brother when the third partner May Ling reveals that one of their largest investments has been forced into bankruptcy and things look very bleak. Ava bops off to Amsterdam to see if there is fraud, enlisting some local help, and Amanda breaks off her honeymoon to head to Borneo, where the business is based. She and their local partner are badly beaten, and Ava gets in over her head with a local gangster when she tries to find the responsible party. Meanwhile, Uncle's cancer continues to ravage his body, and he has to call in a favor to save Ava. Good ending, but don't expect happiness for all.
April 22, 2017
Ian Hamilton improves this series with each book he adds! Ava Lee has become a much more fully rounded character. The people in her life have increased exponentially with each novel, and those relationships further enrich the plot. May Long, Amanda and Ava Lee are now partners in a business, and one of their investments in Borneo has suddenly gone sour. And the search is on!
I'm enjoying the series. It is unlike any other I've read before, which has added to the pleasure.
I'm enjoying the series. It is unlike any other I've read before, which has added to the pleasure.
February 7, 2016
This fast-paced Ian Hamilton novel featuring kickass forensic accountant Ava Lee is yet another fun adventure. This time one of her newest investments - a furniture company - is in dire financial straits with the word "suspicious" written all over it. Following the money trail from Hong Kong, Borneo, and the Netherlands with a stopover in her hometown of Toronto, Canada, we experience Ava at probably her most vulnerable in the series. As she investigates the debacle, she's simultaneously dealing with family matters - being maid of honor for her half brother's future wife, the start of a new business partnership and the close-to-death situation of her beloved uncle - culminating in a major shift in her future. Another entertaining and fast read about the inimitable Ava Lee!
July 15, 2016
Book # 6, in the Ava Lee Mystery
In “The Two Sisters of Borneo” the relationship between Ava and her mentor plays a good part and offers us one of the most emotional installment to date.
Uncle, a former Triad boss is dying and Ava is looking after him….when other problems surfaces… After investing into a Bornean furniture company Ava falls victims to a suspected fraud and needs to go all out in her usual manner to follow the money trail that will lead her to Amsterdam and to Kota Kinabalu…and of course we are for a treat following her exploits.
As in the predecessors we find a plot that is complex and fast-paced, the writing style is strong, clever and involving. Ava is still the kick-ass protagonist we came to love since her first appearance. Of course Mr. Hamilton adds strong travel elements and doesn’t not disappoint with rich details and descriptions of Hong Kong delicacies and locales.
As far as I am concerned this is a highly addictive series and I could only blame the author for that. The plots have the perfect balance and are fun to read. The story ends with a twist and opens to door for a new player to take the mentoring role….will see.
In “The Two Sisters of Borneo” the relationship between Ava and her mentor plays a good part and offers us one of the most emotional installment to date.
Uncle, a former Triad boss is dying and Ava is looking after him….when other problems surfaces… After investing into a Bornean furniture company Ava falls victims to a suspected fraud and needs to go all out in her usual manner to follow the money trail that will lead her to Amsterdam and to Kota Kinabalu…and of course we are for a treat following her exploits.
As in the predecessors we find a plot that is complex and fast-paced, the writing style is strong, clever and involving. Ava is still the kick-ass protagonist we came to love since her first appearance. Of course Mr. Hamilton adds strong travel elements and doesn’t not disappoint with rich details and descriptions of Hong Kong delicacies and locales.
As far as I am concerned this is a highly addictive series and I could only blame the author for that. The plots have the perfect balance and are fun to read. The story ends with a twist and opens to door for a new player to take the mentoring role….will see.
February 28, 2014
I picked up the first book in this series after meeting the author at a reading last year (go public libraries!). And, as cliched as it is to say, I never looked back.
I'm not entirely certain what the appeal of the books is for me, because there is isn't just one aspect I can point to that explains the fascination I have for Ava and her world, but this is one author I'll pre-order and not worry about wasting the money.
I'm not entirely certain what the appeal of the books is for me, because there is isn't just one aspect I can point to that explains the fascination I have for Ava and her world, but this is one author I'll pre-order and not worry about wasting the money.
January 7, 2014
I don't think I have cried at the end of a thriller as much as I have with this one. I cannot wait until the next one and this one hasn't been published yet!! Ava is my HERO !! Ian has produced one of my most favorite characters aside from Jo Nesbo and Harry Hole!!
August 13, 2019
What a joy to return to a favourite series! Honestly though, I've procrastinated reading this book because I had a feeling it would represent a pivotal moment in Ava Lee's life. And, I'm not sure if I was ready for it. Well, at the risk of being spoilery, Ava's life is changing and I think the arc of the novels will also be different from now on.
For one, she's in a venture capital business with May Ling and Amanda. This time, the problem is in their investment in Borneo. Ava's skills are called into action trying to recover their own capital. It contains all the elements I love in this series. Who knew accounting and detective work would go well together? Things get pretty emotional at the end though, so fair warning.
For one, she's in a venture capital business with May Ling and Amanda. This time, the problem is in their investment in Borneo. Ava's skills are called into action trying to recover their own capital. It contains all the elements I love in this series. Who knew accounting and detective work would go well together? Things get pretty emotional at the end though, so fair warning.
August 10, 2023
I love this series, I love this character. This is an extremely strong entry in the series that marks a clear transition in the series from debt collecting with Uncle as a Charlie (of Charlies Angels) character to an independent operator with the foreshadowing that Ava is about to get involved with the triads. Like always when I finish an Ava Lee novel I start trying to figure out what comes next I the series so I guess it's on to the King of Shanghai.
September 8, 2016
Ava is vulnerable in this book. We see her letting emotion get the best of her. She shows she is not perfect. She is doing the same sleuthing in exotic locales but this time the client is herself as a new business venture with May Ling gets off to a rocky start with bankruptcy and theft. Ava is preoccupied with Uncle's ill health and the wedding of her half brother. While in Borneo she unwittingly allows herself to be kidnapped. Lots of action and the cavalry to the rescue in this one that leaves her poised to pursue new ventures and new "family."
May 24, 2014
Like many of these, I read this book in one sitting. The pace and story kept it moving along as the need to find out what was going to happen with the characters was greater than the need to get to sleep. This one was more emotional than the others, less of a travelogue than some and more about bonds and connections. Overall a good addition to the Ava Lee collection.
March 16, 2014
Since the very first book of this series I have been hooked. Two Sisters was so vivid in its description. The funeral scenes transported me and generated such emotion. Looking forward to King of Shanghai. Thanks to the public libraries.
March 27, 2014
somehow, i think of ava as a man rather than a woman... it has nothing to do with her sexual inclination, but rather her characteristics.
nevertheless, the story is engaging as the other books, it is thrilling and highly emotional ride.
nevertheless, the story is engaging as the other books, it is thrilling and highly emotional ride.
August 4, 2014
Meh. Although by the ending I was engaged. The lead character is a rich, stuck up unreal stable character
December 22, 2022
My mother and brother are big fans of this series of detective novels, by Ian Fleming, with the heroine, Ava Lee, a Chinese-Canadian lesbian. And Mom basically thrust his book onto me, wanting to know what I thought. I was, I admit, a bit suspicious. Even though I read that Chinese-Canadians, lesbians, and Chinese-Canadian lesbians are fans of the series, it seemed a bit suss for an older white guy to be using this particular identity as his hero.
The thing is though, I can't find anything objectionable about the hero of the book, as the telling strangely lacks details that I could find objectionable. The hero is a character. The hero of his books. And it doesn't feel like her identity is being wielded in a way to get attention, or done in a sloppy fashion. Lee is wealthy and well-dressed, in a seemingly healthy relationship with someone she doesn't necessarily see a lot of, is a master of an obscure form of martial arts and is a forensic accountant. Also, in this book, she shows proper concern for a mentor (business partner) who is dying.
While there are details about her, and she has a voice, I never lose the sense of an author carefully plotting a book and moving around pieces, as if on a chess board. So, the hero could have been a retired Welsh-born journalist and civil servant, like the author himself, or it could be a Chinese-Canadian lesbian forensic accountant. The details just seemed, like the details of the plot, a way of keeping the book moving along.
And yet, I found the story pretty lifeless. The main plotline here is forensic accounting, that money is being stolen under the cover of bankruptcy and insolvency. The characters are sketched in terms of their size and build, and probably the most attention in the book goes to their clothes and the labels they are wearing. There is also a ton of detail about a fairly traditional Chinese wedding, and, uh, eating dim sum and a funeral. While my mother and brother found this clever, how well the author captured these events, I found the recounting somewhat anthropological. In the book, there are some good people ... and a few sketchy people. I can't pinpoint why I find the dialogue so stilted and unnatural, but it all felt very pedestrian. How about this gem: 'Growing a business when you're undercapitalized isn't any fun'? Everyone speaks in a very similar voice, except for Uncle, who seems to purposely not speak with any contractions.
It takes more than two thirds of the book for something to happen that interests me, and as I expected, the villain HAD to be someone different than the only possibility sketched out for most of the book, but there certainly were few red herrings and no twists or turns. It IS an easy read, and because it's so easy to read, I guess a page-turner. And if my mother and brother like reading a detective novel about a Chinese-Canadian lesbian forensic accountant, than really, I shouldn't be reviewing this as literature and simply be glad that they are enjoying the book and series.
The thing is though, I can't find anything objectionable about the hero of the book, as the telling strangely lacks details that I could find objectionable. The hero is a character. The hero of his books. And it doesn't feel like her identity is being wielded in a way to get attention, or done in a sloppy fashion. Lee is wealthy and well-dressed, in a seemingly healthy relationship with someone she doesn't necessarily see a lot of, is a master of an obscure form of martial arts and is a forensic accountant. Also, in this book, she shows proper concern for a mentor (business partner) who is dying.
While there are details about her, and she has a voice, I never lose the sense of an author carefully plotting a book and moving around pieces, as if on a chess board. So, the hero could have been a retired Welsh-born journalist and civil servant, like the author himself, or it could be a Chinese-Canadian lesbian forensic accountant. The details just seemed, like the details of the plot, a way of keeping the book moving along.
And yet, I found the story pretty lifeless. The main plotline here is forensic accounting, that money is being stolen under the cover of bankruptcy and insolvency. The characters are sketched in terms of their size and build, and probably the most attention in the book goes to their clothes and the labels they are wearing. There is also a ton of detail about a fairly traditional Chinese wedding, and, uh, eating dim sum and a funeral. While my mother and brother found this clever, how well the author captured these events, I found the recounting somewhat anthropological. In the book, there are some good people ... and a few sketchy people. I can't pinpoint why I find the dialogue so stilted and unnatural, but it all felt very pedestrian. How about this gem: 'Growing a business when you're undercapitalized isn't any fun'? Everyone speaks in a very similar voice, except for Uncle, who seems to purposely not speak with any contractions.
It takes more than two thirds of the book for something to happen that interests me, and as I expected, the villain HAD to be someone different than the only possibility sketched out for most of the book, but there certainly were few red herrings and no twists or turns. It IS an easy read, and because it's so easy to read, I guess a page-turner. And if my mother and brother like reading a detective novel about a Chinese-Canadian lesbian forensic accountant, than really, I shouldn't be reviewing this as literature and simply be glad that they are enjoying the book and series.
April 14, 2019
Through the progression of this series, Ava Lee's career has transformed from forensic accountant to venture capitalist. She and her partners, May Ling and Amanda, have invested in a furniture factory in Borneo. Originally a large family business, the two sisters who have invested the most time and money in it wanted to sever their business relationship with their brothers who were not active in the company. The investment by Ava and her associates facilitated that split. Shortly after this arrangement was finalized, the company is put in a precarious position when a large Dutch company declares bankruptcy before paying their outstanding bills. The women quickly decide that the timing is suspicious and Ava heads to Amsterdam for further investigation.
Now you're probably thinking corporate fraud and venture capitalism may not be your cup of crime tea. But Ava Lee is a badass with connections to Chinese triads and frauds of this magnitude can lead down some strange paths.
This is a series best read from the beginning as Ava's personal life is woven into the narrative and missing out on her journey may leave some blank spots for you. Take my advice because I read these books out of order and spoiled a major part of the ongoing story for myself. One of my favourite things about this series is getting to virtually travel to different parts of Asia so my one niggle here is that Borneo isn't explored in the same depth as other destinations have been. Still, this is one of my favourite series as it fills a particular niche that differentiates it from other crime novels.
Now you're probably thinking corporate fraud and venture capitalism may not be your cup of crime tea. But Ava Lee is a badass with connections to Chinese triads and frauds of this magnitude can lead down some strange paths.
This is a series best read from the beginning as Ava's personal life is woven into the narrative and missing out on her journey may leave some blank spots for you. Take my advice because I read these books out of order and spoiled a major part of the ongoing story for myself. One of my favourite things about this series is getting to virtually travel to different parts of Asia so my one niggle here is that Borneo isn't explored in the same depth as other destinations have been. Still, this is one of my favourite series as it fills a particular niche that differentiates it from other crime novels.
December 6, 2019
The good news: the product placement that overwhelmed the previous books seems to have abated a bit.
The Bad News: there isn't really much of a story here. It's not a spoiler that some money was embezzled from someone, and Ava got it back. The extreme violence that we sometimes see is missing, but the stilted detailed writing style is still here. "then she put on her Brooks Brother shirt, then she got out her Gucci bracelet, then she put it on her right wrist, then she walked over to her Apple Laptop, then she opened the lid, then she turned it on"....etc etc
Other than the turning point in Ava's life that makes her situation going forward different than the previous 5 books, there really is no reason for this book to exist.
I'll likely read the rest in the series because they are quick and easy reads, but I will say that they can get a bit tedious when nothing much new happens
The Bad News: there isn't really much of a story here. It's not a spoiler that some money was embezzled from someone, and Ava got it back. The extreme violence that we sometimes see is missing, but the stilted detailed writing style is still here. "then she put on her Brooks Brother shirt, then she got out her Gucci bracelet, then she put it on her right wrist, then she walked over to her Apple Laptop, then she opened the lid, then she turned it on"....etc etc
Other than the turning point in Ava's life that makes her situation going forward different than the previous 5 books, there really is no reason for this book to exist.
I'll likely read the rest in the series because they are quick and easy reads, but I will say that they can get a bit tedious when nothing much new happens
April 11, 2023
From the Goodreads Blurb: Ava has been in Hong Kong looking after Uncle. She has also set up an investment company with May Ling Wong and her sister-in-law, Amanda Yee. One of their first investments — a furniture company owned by two sisters in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo — runs into immediate problems with a Dutch customer. Ava goes to the Netherlands to investigate, but her life is threatened when she is confronted by a gang of local thugs in Borneo. Out of the shadows comes a mysterious man from Shanghai . . .
It looks like the "mysterious man" signals a major shift in the pattern of the Ava books.
We all agreed that Ava's lack of caution in the "Wan incident" was not really convincing... a bit of weak point. Overall, a compelling and entertaining read.
This was book #17 on our 2023 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List and #19 on our own 2023 Read-alouds List.
It looks like the "mysterious man" signals a major shift in the pattern of the Ava books.
We all agreed that Ava's lack of caution in the "Wan incident" was not really convincing... a bit of weak point. Overall, a compelling and entertaining read.
This was book #17 on our 2023 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List and #19 on our own 2023 Read-alouds List.
February 12, 2020
Ava survives the Hong Kong high-society wedding of her half-brother Michael and her business partner Amanda, including some awkward family relations, and is immediately dispatched to help resolve a financial crisis with her newly-formed partnership with May and Amanda. While she goes to Amsterdam to chase the money, May goes to Borneo to meet with the clients - 2 sisters whose company is on the verge of bankruptcy after some suspicious activity. All hell breaks loose in Borneo and Ava's very sick Uncle lends a hand.
I have found that I most enjoy the Ava Lee books when there is a combination of financial detective work, some disguised role-play (spoiler: none in this book), and some excellent violence.
I have found that I most enjoy the Ava Lee books when there is a combination of financial detective work, some disguised role-play (spoiler: none in this book), and some excellent violence.
August 22, 2018
Ava Lee number 6! Finally found an ebook of this one on hoopla from the library. It definitely slots into the earlier forensic accounting plots, but this one seems much more complex than some of the earlier books. I was dog-sitting today and that gave me a lot of time to read. Really enjoying this, as I have with all of this series that I've read.
Finished it this morning. What a wild ride! Hard to talk about what I thought of the plot without totally ruining the read for others. Such a powerful story, kept on the edge of my chair, dreading some things, heartened by others, just a terrific read. Must find #7 NOW!
Finished it this morning. What a wild ride! Hard to talk about what I thought of the plot without totally ruining the read for others. Such a powerful story, kept on the edge of my chair, dreading some things, heartened by others, just a terrific read. Must find #7 NOW!
June 2, 2019
Thank Heavens he's quit with the 'panties' thing - mostly, but the brand name fetish remains alive and well. It seems as if he can't figure out any other way to describe things - or maybe he's looking forward to product placement bonuses in the movie. I don't know, but it sure got old fast - even before the end of the first book.
These are supposed to be cozy mysteries too, pretty much, but we have the protagonists second sexual assault in the series. No fun there either.
But still a quick, fun read and fairly well plotted.
These are supposed to be cozy mysteries too, pretty much, but we have the protagonists second sexual assault in the series. No fun there either.
But still a quick, fun read and fairly well plotted.
May 2, 2018
This reads like a modern Alistair MacLean or Ian Flemingnovel. It has lots of complex plot, organized crime from back-alley beatings to accounting schemes, and careful descriptions of everything involved.
You'll care more about the food and spreadsheets than the characters, but I think that's largely how the genre rolls.
You'll care more about the food and spreadsheets than the characters, but I think that's largely how the genre rolls.
May 18, 2020
This one made me happier with the series than the last book. I think it's muuuuuuuch shorter, but action packed and emotionally riveting and exactly what I wanted after the last book in the series which was too dark for me. Also, I love that there is a large plot twist, it took me by surprise and in the best of ways it tied everything together. Ready for the next one, which says Ava become triad so I'm curious on that process!
August 6, 2022
Gah. I find this series so frustrating. I love the different settings, plots, and characters from my usual mysteries, but I also feel there is a casual disregard of what it means to be a woman. In many ways, the main character is just a man - no allowance to her feelings as a woman just her clothing when it benefits her (and many mentions of her “overly large breasts”). I feel annoyed enough that this might be the last one I read.
March 20, 2024
Number six in the Ava Lee series and our hero faces problems in her newly formed Investment company. I’m still enjoying the series even if the forensic accounting and money retrieval parts are getting less and less while Ava’s ‘family’ bits are getting more and more, and the badass accountant who gets herself out of trouble seems to be slowly being replaced by the ‘family’ rescue. Still a four star read, though.
December 28, 2018
Best work by far.
I think there's a good balance between the storyline and the different characters. Also the main character, Ava Lee relies on someone new instead of her established network. At the same time, the end of the book ends with the death of Uncle. The funeral part was illustrated well.
A good read.
I think there's a good balance between the storyline and the different characters. Also the main character, Ava Lee relies on someone new instead of her established network. At the same time, the end of the book ends with the death of Uncle. The funeral part was illustrated well.
A good read.
May 4, 2022
I have become addicted to the Ava Lee series, and in love with the characters, especially Uncle Chow and Sonny. It's always fun to follow Ava's forensic accounting tracks around the globe as she chases millions of dollars that were cheated out of her clients. And to vicariously enjoy interesting food (who knew chicken feet were delicious?). This one made me cry though, at the end.
April 24, 2021
This is the weakest of the several Ava Lee books I’ve read. Practically no plot, same old characters, far too much emphasis on the details of fancy (fanciful) ceremonies , a wedding and a funeral, that I wouldn’t care about even if I were convinced they were realistic.
June 29, 2022
CW: Sexual assault
Spoiler alert:
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The entire chapter regarding Uncle's funeral brought me to tears. It truly was moving - and the Buddhist funeral traditions were not improperly represented (I'm not sure how they reflect the Taoist ceremonies, as Uncle is reportedly Taoist).
Spoiler alert:
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The entire chapter regarding Uncle's funeral brought me to tears. It truly was moving - and the Buddhist funeral traditions were not improperly represented (I'm not sure how they reflect the Taoist ceremonies, as Uncle is reportedly Taoist).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews