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The Last Mandarin
A gripping thriller about family and power cowritten by Louise Penny, #1 bestselling author of the Gamache novels, and Mellissa Fung, an award-winning journalist.
This program is read by fan favorite and multi-award-winning narrator Eunice Wong.
A mother and a daughter race against time in this all-too-real thriller that reaches from Tiananmen Square all the way to the White House.
Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese American and former food blogger, has long lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li— a Tiananmen Square dissident turned world-renowned human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China.
When security and fire alarms go off simultaneously all around the world, setting off a panic, the signal is traced back to China. As world leaders scramble to respond, Vivien and Alice are called to the White House in hopes Madame Li can interpret the Chinese intentions. But why involve Alice?
If China isn’t behind the attack, Vivien warns, someone even more dangerous is pulling the strings. Mother and daughter must join together to overcome their estrangement if they have any hope of preventing global catastrophe. From DC to Ohio to Hong Kong, they work to prevent the next attack, along the way decoding an ancient legend and uncovering a secret language invented by women, for women.
The Last Mandarin is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down.
In a world ruled by power, even family can be a weapon.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
This program is read by fan favorite and multi-award-winning narrator Eunice Wong.
A mother and a daughter race against time in this all-too-real thriller that reaches from Tiananmen Square all the way to the White House.
Alice Li, a first-generation Chinese American and former food blogger, has long lived in the shadow of her mother, Vivien Li— a Tiananmen Square dissident turned world-renowned human rights activist and passionate advocate for a free and democratic China.
When security and fire alarms go off simultaneously all around the world, setting off a panic, the signal is traced back to China. As world leaders scramble to respond, Vivien and Alice are called to the White House in hopes Madame Li can interpret the Chinese intentions. But why involve Alice?
If China isn’t behind the attack, Vivien warns, someone even more dangerous is pulling the strings. Mother and daughter must join together to overcome their estrangement if they have any hope of preventing global catastrophe. From DC to Ohio to Hong Kong, they work to prevent the next attack, along the way decoding an ancient legend and uncovering a secret language invented by women, for women.
The Last Mandarin is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed, political terror and personal conviction. But it is also an intimate examination of choice, of sacrifice, of memory and myths, both cultural and personal. It is the story of a mother and daughter, as well as a compelling international thriller about the precarious balance of power across the world, and within a family. And what happens when both break down.
In a world ruled by power, even family can be a weapon.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
Audible Audio
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Louise Penny
81 books27k followersLOUISE PENNY is the author of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (seven times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.
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June 13, 2026
In a world fraught with greed and the pursuit of power, who can we really trust? Is this what getting rich is all about—the ability to reign terror over ordinary citizens while seeking control of governments?
If I sound like I am talking about current events, perhaps in some ways I am. But in this stand-alone novel from Louise Penny, best known for her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, and co-author journalist Mellissa Fung, these very questions are front and center.
With short chapters and a fast-paced narrative, Penny and Fung craft a geopolitical thriller that whisks readers around the globe, from international hotspots to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. The story explores the influence of immense wealth, political manipulation, and those who believe they have the right to shape the future of nations.
Filled with secrets, betrayals, and high-stakes intrigue, the plot follows an estranged mother-daughter duo caught in an increasingly dangerous web. Readers willing to suspend disbelief may find themselves swept along by this edge-of-your-seat, high-octane rollercoaster ride. Those expecting the thoughtful, slow-burn cozy atmosphere of Three Pines, however, should know that this is something entirely different.
While the themes feel timely and unsettlingly relevant, the increasingly implausible plot often stretched credibility to its breaking point. I found myself racing through the pages to see how it would all unfold, yet never fully convinced by the story's central premise or many of its developments.
As a result, this felt more like an ambitious thriller that was engaging enough to finish, thought-provoking in its themes, but ultimately undermined by an unbelievable plot.
Every book has a way of finding its readers, so I encourage you to look at other reviews—especially if you are a Louise Penny fan—and decide whether this story might resonate with you.
If I sound like I am talking about current events, perhaps in some ways I am. But in this stand-alone novel from Louise Penny, best known for her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, and co-author journalist Mellissa Fung, these very questions are front and center.
With short chapters and a fast-paced narrative, Penny and Fung craft a geopolitical thriller that whisks readers around the globe, from international hotspots to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. The story explores the influence of immense wealth, political manipulation, and those who believe they have the right to shape the future of nations.
Filled with secrets, betrayals, and high-stakes intrigue, the plot follows an estranged mother-daughter duo caught in an increasingly dangerous web. Readers willing to suspend disbelief may find themselves swept along by this edge-of-your-seat, high-octane rollercoaster ride. Those expecting the thoughtful, slow-burn cozy atmosphere of Three Pines, however, should know that this is something entirely different.
While the themes feel timely and unsettlingly relevant, the increasingly implausible plot often stretched credibility to its breaking point. I found myself racing through the pages to see how it would all unfold, yet never fully convinced by the story's central premise or many of its developments.
As a result, this felt more like an ambitious thriller that was engaging enough to finish, thought-provoking in its themes, but ultimately undermined by an unbelievable plot.
Every book has a way of finding its readers, so I encourage you to look at other reviews—especially if you are a Louise Penny fan—and decide whether this story might resonate with you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, that was a disappointment.
I wanted to love this book. I've read and enjoyed other books by Louise Penny, and figured this collaboration would provide exactly the escapist adventure this oppressive winter of 2025-26 needed.
Instead I got coconut buns. Ridiculous conspiracy on top of wild coincidence, on top of more outlandish conspiracy. I was following a maddening maze of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" unbelievable nonsense.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Alice is a food blogger not dating this guy she really likes from college. Next thing we know -- and this might be a bit of a spoiler, but the whole plot revolves around it so I think it's okay to reveal -- her entire extended family, including the non-boyfriend and countless relatives she's never met, are apparently involved in some kind of evil global plot against nations.
Alice never knew. But now, like in a Dan Brown novel, she's in so deep she's got to see this wild adventure through to the end. I personally would feel gravely betrayed, but Alice is good with whatever it takes to find the truth. Me, I just wanted the book to end and I stopped caring if the entire world was going to implode.
I finished The Last Mandarin, but lost interest (and never regained it) about a quarter of the way through. I don't think I've rolled my eyes as much in one novel before.
I wanted to love this book. I've read and enjoyed other books by Louise Penny, and figured this collaboration would provide exactly the escapist adventure this oppressive winter of 2025-26 needed.
Instead I got coconut buns. Ridiculous conspiracy on top of wild coincidence, on top of more outlandish conspiracy. I was following a maddening maze of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" unbelievable nonsense.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Alice is a food blogger not dating this guy she really likes from college. Next thing we know -- and this might be a bit of a spoiler, but the whole plot revolves around it so I think it's okay to reveal -- her entire extended family, including the non-boyfriend and countless relatives she's never met, are apparently involved in some kind of evil global plot against nations.
Alice never knew. But now, like in a Dan Brown novel, she's in so deep she's got to see this wild adventure through to the end. I personally would feel gravely betrayed, but Alice is good with whatever it takes to find the truth. Me, I just wanted the book to end and I stopped caring if the entire world was going to implode.
I finished The Last Mandarin, but lost interest (and never regained it) about a quarter of the way through. I don't think I've rolled my eyes as much in one novel before.
June 3, 2026
Admittedly it took a while for me to get into the flow of this one. But once I did, I was hooked.
A very enjoyable page-turner.
Heads up: for fans of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series, you won't find Armand nor any other beloved Three Pines characters in The Last Mandarin.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Raiders of the Lost Last Mandarin.
"What happens when a nation is threatened? It pulls together. He wouldn't be the first leader to start a war to save himself."
If Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's recent cases haven't yet convinced you that Louise Penny can imagine terrifying terrorist plots and worldwide mayhem, The Last Mandarin - her collaboration with award-winning journalist and bestselling author Mellissa Fung - will certainly seal the deal.
So suspend your disbelief, brush up on your Mandarin, grab a few coconut buns, and enjoy the ride.
The story centers on Vivien Li, a former Tiananmen Square dissident who fled China decades ago and is now a globally recognized human-rights activist, and her daughter Alice, a Chinese-American food blogger who has long lived in her formidable mother's shadow. When a series of synchronized alarms triggers global panic and appears to originate in China, the two women are unexpectedly drawn into a rapidly escalating international crisis. What follows is a globe-trotting thriller involving political intrigue, a secret language invented by women, an international conspiracy, and even a long-forgotten city hidden inside a tomb - very much in the spirit of an Indiana Jones adventure.
Is it over the top? Absolutely.
Is it wildly entertaining? Also yes.
Despite its breakneck pacing and cinematic flair, the novel also tackles weightier themes: power, authoritarianism, human rights, cultural identity, and the lingering shadows of political history. Much of that grounding likely comes from Fung's decades-long experience as a journalist, which lends the story a welcome layer of geopolitical insight and emotional authenticity.
The mother-daughter relationship at the center of the book adds another compelling dimension. Vivien and Alice are both headstrong, complicated women, and watching them navigate both global stakes and personal tensions gives the story a refreshing twist on the traditional international-thriller formula.
The audiobook, expertly narrated by Eunice Wong, is an excellent companion to the novel. Wong handles the shifting tones - from political urgency to moments of humor and personal reflection - with skill and clarity, bringing both protagonists to life while maintaining the fast-paced momentum the story demands. I can highly recommend both formats.
Yes, The Last Mandarin requires a healthy dose of suspended disbelief. But in its portrayal of power, greed, and political instability, the story also feels unsettlingly plausible and timely.
Cinematic, ambitious, and undeniably entertaining, this feels like the kind of thriller that could easily make the leap from page to screen.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies of both the book and the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Last Mandarin" is slated to be released on May 12, 2026.
"What happens when a nation is threatened? It pulls together. He wouldn't be the first leader to start a war to save himself."
If Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's recent cases haven't yet convinced you that Louise Penny can imagine terrifying terrorist plots and worldwide mayhem, The Last Mandarin - her collaboration with award-winning journalist and bestselling author Mellissa Fung - will certainly seal the deal.
So suspend your disbelief, brush up on your Mandarin, grab a few coconut buns, and enjoy the ride.
The story centers on Vivien Li, a former Tiananmen Square dissident who fled China decades ago and is now a globally recognized human-rights activist, and her daughter Alice, a Chinese-American food blogger who has long lived in her formidable mother's shadow. When a series of synchronized alarms triggers global panic and appears to originate in China, the two women are unexpectedly drawn into a rapidly escalating international crisis. What follows is a globe-trotting thriller involving political intrigue, a secret language invented by women, an international conspiracy, and even a long-forgotten city hidden inside a tomb - very much in the spirit of an Indiana Jones adventure.
Is it over the top? Absolutely.
Is it wildly entertaining? Also yes.
Despite its breakneck pacing and cinematic flair, the novel also tackles weightier themes: power, authoritarianism, human rights, cultural identity, and the lingering shadows of political history. Much of that grounding likely comes from Fung's decades-long experience as a journalist, which lends the story a welcome layer of geopolitical insight and emotional authenticity.
The mother-daughter relationship at the center of the book adds another compelling dimension. Vivien and Alice are both headstrong, complicated women, and watching them navigate both global stakes and personal tensions gives the story a refreshing twist on the traditional international-thriller formula.
The audiobook, expertly narrated by Eunice Wong, is an excellent companion to the novel. Wong handles the shifting tones - from political urgency to moments of humor and personal reflection - with skill and clarity, bringing both protagonists to life while maintaining the fast-paced momentum the story demands. I can highly recommend both formats.
Yes, The Last Mandarin requires a healthy dose of suspended disbelief. But in its portrayal of power, greed, and political instability, the story also feels unsettlingly plausible and timely.
Cinematic, ambitious, and undeniably entertaining, this feels like the kind of thriller that could easily make the leap from page to screen.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with copies of both the book and the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Last Mandarin" is slated to be released on May 12, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had to DNF this one at about 40%. It pained me to do it, but it pained me to read it, as well. I really couldn't believe the author who created the wonderful, complex, compelling characters in the Three Pines mysteries had a hand in this. I felt only apathy or antipathy for all of the characters in this book, which made it hard to go along with the hard-to-swallow plot. (And, as a side note, I am not one who is overly fussy regarding hard-to-swallow plots. I cheerfully went along with Penny in her last Three Pines novel regarding a conspiracy at the highest levels to engineer a war between the U.S. and Canada using -- wait for it -- forest fire smoke. I read and enjoy James Patterson novels, if that tells you anything.) But these characters were either boring or annoying, so I just couldn't make myself care about their predicaments.
May 31, 2026
I must confess that I have not yet read any of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache books, not because I don’t want to, but rather because I came too late to her series. Specifically, when it comes to book series, I’m the type of reader who is very particular about reading the entire series straight through, in order starting with the first book. The problem with this reading method, of course, is that if there are a lot of books in the series, I could potentially be spending months reading the series, which means that I would not be able to get to any of the other books on my already overflowing TBR (exacerbated by the fact that I’m not the type of reader who can read multiple books at one time, with a few very limited exceptions). Since there are already 20 books (and counting) in the Gamache series, it would take me way too long to catch up – so regardless of how much I want to visit Three Pines, I unfortunately won’t get a chance to do so anytime soon.
Given the above, imagine my delight when I found out that Louise Penny would be collaborating with journalist Mellissa Fung on a new book – a standalone political thriller that would revolve around a Chinese mother and daughter crime-fighting duo. My first thought was that, finally, I would get a chance to read a Louise Penny book, but at the same time, I was also excited that many elements of the book would be right up my alley: for example -- mother/daughter relationships, Chinese history and culture, Hong Kong setting, generational family story, etc. I ended up going into this collaboration with high expectations and I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint!
The opening scene is quite gripping, as we are introduced to our two unlikely heroines -- Alice Li, a Chinese American food blogger, and her larger-than-life mother Vivien Li, a world-famous dissident who participated in the Tiananmen Square protests and is now a fierce human rights activist with supporters including the President of the United States. Alice agrees to meet her mother at a fancy Washington D.C. hotel for brunch, but does so reluctantly, as she has a strained relationship with Vivien due to having to live in her shadow, but also because Vivien’s cold and distant attitude toward Alice created a rift that the mother and daughter cannot seem to overcome. In the middle of brunch, Alice escapes to the restroom to get a temporary respite from her demanding mother, when suddenly, a series of alarms go off, not just locally, but it turns out, also all around the world, setting off a panic that quickly descends into chaos. When the signal that triggered the alarms is traced back to China, Vivien (unsurprisingly) and Alice (surprisingly) are summoned to the White House to meet with the President in the hopes of figuring out what is going on. As the situation continues to escalate with more “attacks” that result in mass casualties around the world, Alice and Vivien find themselves caught up in a battle of wills between two superpowers – the U.S. and China – whose mutual mistrust and misunderstanding of each other run deep (not unlike the mother and daughter’s own relationship). Amidst the chaos, one thing becomes clear: there will be more attacks, with each one being more catastrophic than the last, and an outcome that no one wants to see happen – a possible declaration of war. Given the stakes, both Alice and Vivien – along with their respective governments – must figure out a way to work together in order to prevent the next attack (as well as the disastrous outcome that is sure to follow).
Those who follow my reviews will probably know that I’m not a fan of books about politics (especially American politics) and for the most part, if I know that a book will have a heavy political bent, I try to stay away from it as much as possible. Unsurprisingly then, I’m not keen on political thrillers either, though this particular book is an obvious exception (for reasons I mentioned above). Indeed, there were moments as I was reading this book that I didn’t have the slightest clue what was going on from a politics standpoint (and I didn’t even try to keep the various characters’ political titles straight). In addition to the politics though, there was also an underlying storyline related to AI and technology that I wasn’t too keen on either, as this is an area that I understand even less than politics. While I have to admit that this did impact my reading experience a bit, fortunately the other aspects of the novel related to the mother/daughter relationship as well as the Chinese historical and cultural elements were conveyed in a compelling enough way as to keep my interest continually piqued (and kept me turning the pages to see what happens next).
As I was reading through the reviews, I noticed the reaction to this novel has been a mixed bag so far. Some love it, some hate it, some feel it is too much of a departure for Louise Penny, some feel the plotting doesn’t work, some feel it’s not action-packed enough, etc. Of course, as with all books, everyone will have a different opinion, though I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by the huge disparity between the “like” and “dislike” – usually the gap between the two is smaller. I cannot speak for others, as we each bring our own respective experiences into our reading, but on a personal level, I felt that there were so many aspects of this novel that were well done. Now, I must say that I read this one less for the “action-packed political thriller” piece (as I said before, I don’t read too many political thrillers, so can’t really comment on whether Penny and Fung succeed in this area), but rather, I was more interested in the character development (especially the mother/daughter relationship) as well as how the culture (my culture) was portrayed. In both of these areas, I feel that Penny and Fung definitely delivered the goods.
First, the characters – one of the things that stood out to me with this book is the character development. Both Alice and Vivien are nuanced characters who may not necessarily be likeable right off the bat, but they evolve as the story progresses and by the end, even though they might not have fully resolved their differences (which, realistically, they probably wouldn’t), they do come to a better understanding of each other so that their relationship becomes less strained. Indeed, some of my favorite scenes from the story were the ones involving various interactions between mother and daughter. The reason why I was so drawn to Alice and Vivien – not just their characters, but also the complexity of their relationship – is because, as a Chinese daughter myself, I understood intimately the complicated dynamics between mother and daughter that play out throughout the story. One example (of many) that best illustrates this is in the opening scene, where Alice notes that when she entered the restaurant, she was 26 years old, but when she got to her mother’s table, she regressed to being 14 years old; as they interacted further, she became 9 years old and then 5, and finally, at the end of her rope, Alice regresses to a 2 year old on the verge of throwing a tantrum. As I read this opening scene, I was struck by the familiarity of the emotions – specifically, the ever-present undercurrent of tension between mother and daughter – that is a defining feature of their relationship. A couple chapters later, there is this quote, which is one of my favorites because of how perfectly and succinctly it encapsulates what makes the Asian mother/daughter dynamic so challenging: “[Alice] heard the clicking of her mother’s tongue. Exasperation. Disapproval. Disappointment. The trinity that slowly crushed the spirit of Chinese children.” For Asian daughters, striving to meet our mothers’ expectations but never getting there is part and parcel of our relationship dynamic, just like their constant criticisms of every aspect of our lives (how we look, how we dress, what we eat, who we hang out with, etc.) is the natural “love language” with which our mothers communicate with us. This is partly why I was able to relate so deeply to Alice and Vivien’s constant bickering throughout the story – others might find it annoying, but I actually found it refreshing to see the familiar relationship dynamic depicted so authentically in a mainstream novel.
As for the Chinese history and culture portion – as I mentioned earlier, both authors did a great job in this area. I watched an interview that Penny and Fung did where they talked about all the thought and discussion that went into this aspect of the book and I have to say that it absolutely shows. Both authors said that one of their main challenges was figuring out how to accurately portray the history and culture portion without bogging down the story with too much detail – which I feel they definitely accomplished (and it was no easy feat considering the multiple settings of the story in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which each have their own very different cultural nuances). One thing from that interview that stuck with me is when both authors mentioned that the only argument they had while writing this book was about a scene in Taiwan that was originally going to depict people looting, but Fung said that in the culture they are writing about, it would be inaccurate to put that, as looting is not a common occurrence in those circumstances, so they ended up writing that scene differently. Both authors mentioned in the interview that, with Fung’s Chinese background (and especially with various members of her family living in Hong Kong and China currently), she was very conscious about being culturally true to the place that they were setting a scene in. I definitely noticed this as I was reading (especially the scenes set in my birthplace of Hong Kong, a city with which I am intimately familiar) and I appreciate the meticulous attention that was paid to getting things culturally right.
Overall, I felt that this was a solid collaborative effort from Penny and Fung, especially given the two authors’ completely different backgrounds and writing styles. While I can’t comment on how this book compares to either author’s previous works (because, as I mentioned earlier, I haven’t read either author’s previous works), nor do I care to comment on the genre aspect (i.e. how well the “political thriller” piece was executed), I really enjoyed the story as a whole. I’m not sure whether there will be another collaboration in the future with these two authors (who are both great storytellers in their own right), but if there is, I’m definitely looking forward to it!
Received ARC from Minotaur via NetGalley (though I ended up reading a finished copy).
Given the above, imagine my delight when I found out that Louise Penny would be collaborating with journalist Mellissa Fung on a new book – a standalone political thriller that would revolve around a Chinese mother and daughter crime-fighting duo. My first thought was that, finally, I would get a chance to read a Louise Penny book, but at the same time, I was also excited that many elements of the book would be right up my alley: for example -- mother/daughter relationships, Chinese history and culture, Hong Kong setting, generational family story, etc. I ended up going into this collaboration with high expectations and I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint!
The opening scene is quite gripping, as we are introduced to our two unlikely heroines -- Alice Li, a Chinese American food blogger, and her larger-than-life mother Vivien Li, a world-famous dissident who participated in the Tiananmen Square protests and is now a fierce human rights activist with supporters including the President of the United States. Alice agrees to meet her mother at a fancy Washington D.C. hotel for brunch, but does so reluctantly, as she has a strained relationship with Vivien due to having to live in her shadow, but also because Vivien’s cold and distant attitude toward Alice created a rift that the mother and daughter cannot seem to overcome. In the middle of brunch, Alice escapes to the restroom to get a temporary respite from her demanding mother, when suddenly, a series of alarms go off, not just locally, but it turns out, also all around the world, setting off a panic that quickly descends into chaos. When the signal that triggered the alarms is traced back to China, Vivien (unsurprisingly) and Alice (surprisingly) are summoned to the White House to meet with the President in the hopes of figuring out what is going on. As the situation continues to escalate with more “attacks” that result in mass casualties around the world, Alice and Vivien find themselves caught up in a battle of wills between two superpowers – the U.S. and China – whose mutual mistrust and misunderstanding of each other run deep (not unlike the mother and daughter’s own relationship). Amidst the chaos, one thing becomes clear: there will be more attacks, with each one being more catastrophic than the last, and an outcome that no one wants to see happen – a possible declaration of war. Given the stakes, both Alice and Vivien – along with their respective governments – must figure out a way to work together in order to prevent the next attack (as well as the disastrous outcome that is sure to follow).
Those who follow my reviews will probably know that I’m not a fan of books about politics (especially American politics) and for the most part, if I know that a book will have a heavy political bent, I try to stay away from it as much as possible. Unsurprisingly then, I’m not keen on political thrillers either, though this particular book is an obvious exception (for reasons I mentioned above). Indeed, there were moments as I was reading this book that I didn’t have the slightest clue what was going on from a politics standpoint (and I didn’t even try to keep the various characters’ political titles straight). In addition to the politics though, there was also an underlying storyline related to AI and technology that I wasn’t too keen on either, as this is an area that I understand even less than politics. While I have to admit that this did impact my reading experience a bit, fortunately the other aspects of the novel related to the mother/daughter relationship as well as the Chinese historical and cultural elements were conveyed in a compelling enough way as to keep my interest continually piqued (and kept me turning the pages to see what happens next).
As I was reading through the reviews, I noticed the reaction to this novel has been a mixed bag so far. Some love it, some hate it, some feel it is too much of a departure for Louise Penny, some feel the plotting doesn’t work, some feel it’s not action-packed enough, etc. Of course, as with all books, everyone will have a different opinion, though I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by the huge disparity between the “like” and “dislike” – usually the gap between the two is smaller. I cannot speak for others, as we each bring our own respective experiences into our reading, but on a personal level, I felt that there were so many aspects of this novel that were well done. Now, I must say that I read this one less for the “action-packed political thriller” piece (as I said before, I don’t read too many political thrillers, so can’t really comment on whether Penny and Fung succeed in this area), but rather, I was more interested in the character development (especially the mother/daughter relationship) as well as how the culture (my culture) was portrayed. In both of these areas, I feel that Penny and Fung definitely delivered the goods.
First, the characters – one of the things that stood out to me with this book is the character development. Both Alice and Vivien are nuanced characters who may not necessarily be likeable right off the bat, but they evolve as the story progresses and by the end, even though they might not have fully resolved their differences (which, realistically, they probably wouldn’t), they do come to a better understanding of each other so that their relationship becomes less strained. Indeed, some of my favorite scenes from the story were the ones involving various interactions between mother and daughter. The reason why I was so drawn to Alice and Vivien – not just their characters, but also the complexity of their relationship – is because, as a Chinese daughter myself, I understood intimately the complicated dynamics between mother and daughter that play out throughout the story. One example (of many) that best illustrates this is in the opening scene, where Alice notes that when she entered the restaurant, she was 26 years old, but when she got to her mother’s table, she regressed to being 14 years old; as they interacted further, she became 9 years old and then 5, and finally, at the end of her rope, Alice regresses to a 2 year old on the verge of throwing a tantrum. As I read this opening scene, I was struck by the familiarity of the emotions – specifically, the ever-present undercurrent of tension between mother and daughter – that is a defining feature of their relationship. A couple chapters later, there is this quote, which is one of my favorites because of how perfectly and succinctly it encapsulates what makes the Asian mother/daughter dynamic so challenging: “[Alice] heard the clicking of her mother’s tongue. Exasperation. Disapproval. Disappointment. The trinity that slowly crushed the spirit of Chinese children.” For Asian daughters, striving to meet our mothers’ expectations but never getting there is part and parcel of our relationship dynamic, just like their constant criticisms of every aspect of our lives (how we look, how we dress, what we eat, who we hang out with, etc.) is the natural “love language” with which our mothers communicate with us. This is partly why I was able to relate so deeply to Alice and Vivien’s constant bickering throughout the story – others might find it annoying, but I actually found it refreshing to see the familiar relationship dynamic depicted so authentically in a mainstream novel.
As for the Chinese history and culture portion – as I mentioned earlier, both authors did a great job in this area. I watched an interview that Penny and Fung did where they talked about all the thought and discussion that went into this aspect of the book and I have to say that it absolutely shows. Both authors said that one of their main challenges was figuring out how to accurately portray the history and culture portion without bogging down the story with too much detail – which I feel they definitely accomplished (and it was no easy feat considering the multiple settings of the story in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which each have their own very different cultural nuances). One thing from that interview that stuck with me is when both authors mentioned that the only argument they had while writing this book was about a scene in Taiwan that was originally going to depict people looting, but Fung said that in the culture they are writing about, it would be inaccurate to put that, as looting is not a common occurrence in those circumstances, so they ended up writing that scene differently. Both authors mentioned in the interview that, with Fung’s Chinese background (and especially with various members of her family living in Hong Kong and China currently), she was very conscious about being culturally true to the place that they were setting a scene in. I definitely noticed this as I was reading (especially the scenes set in my birthplace of Hong Kong, a city with which I am intimately familiar) and I appreciate the meticulous attention that was paid to getting things culturally right.
Overall, I felt that this was a solid collaborative effort from Penny and Fung, especially given the two authors’ completely different backgrounds and writing styles. While I can’t comment on how this book compares to either author’s previous works (because, as I mentioned earlier, I haven’t read either author’s previous works), nor do I care to comment on the genre aspect (i.e. how well the “political thriller” piece was executed), I really enjoyed the story as a whole. I’m not sure whether there will be another collaboration in the future with these two authors (who are both great storytellers in their own right), but if there is, I’m definitely looking forward to it!
Received ARC from Minotaur via NetGalley (though I ended up reading a finished copy).
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026Less than 1%, then an f bomb.
May 18, 2026
The Last Mandarin was written by bestselling author Louise Penny in collaboration with Melissa Fung, an international journalist, to lend authenticity to passages set in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It shows what might happen when one strays from a mainly quiet, neighbourly home (Three Pines) into a political world of action, espionage, and intrigue. There is political instability, fear, and solutions must be found before a defensive war breaks out. The characters lack the charm and depth usually found in Penny's books, and the flow is stilted and uneven, yet still suspenseful and tense.
The beginning is explosive. Alice, a food blogger, is having lunch with her estranged mother, Vivien Li, when alarms for danger go off worldwide. As they and other patrons try to exit the restaurant, others from outside are in a panic and are trying to enter for safety. We learn that the alarms have been activated and are shrieking everywhere, and people have been trampled or injured. A second cyberattack has caused elevators to plunge to the bottom, killing those trapped inside. There are mass casualties worldwide. The source of these attacks is traced to China, although the country has suffered the same disasters.
This is an exciting, complicated political thriller, where some suspension of disbelief is necessary. There are many characters and conspiracies to keep straight, so strict focus on various clues is needed. Some characters also have alternate identities, secrets, nicknames, and assumed names. Food distribution, noodle shops, and bakeries play an essential role. We frequently read about various Chinese soups, coconut rolls, dumplings, and other Chinese dishes. It is not surprising that some characters are chefs, food bloggers, or working in food distribution.
Vivien Li was an anti-communist dissident at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, and escaped to the West. She is now a symbol against the Chinese communist government and advises the US government about China. If you Google the photos of the pro-democracy protest in Tiananmen Square in 1989, which resulted in the state killing many demonstrators, the most famous photo is of a lone man standing in front of the tanks. Nicknamed "Tank Man," Kevin (Kai Wen) represents Vivien's fictional brother, long thought dead.
Vivien Li is described as elegant and commanding in presence. Her costly designer dress by Shanghai Tang is frequently mentioned. By the story's end, it is described as tattered and smelling from various spills. Why didn't she take time to change her clothing? Vivien and Alice are called into the office of the USA President to advise him and his cabinet. This is not the first time that she has been asked to provide her insight on China. Why is Alice, a food blogger, also set up to advise the American government? It is becoming clear that the head of the Chinese government is unaware of the origin and motive for the attacks and that the Chinese President has lost control to traitors within the country. Another fear is that of APAI (adaptive predictive artificial intelligence), the latest step in AI, which is capable of acting in part on its own. This may be in the hands of the unknown terrorists.
The signals seem to be originating in Xian, at the site of the Terracotta Soldiers. I was fortunate to visit them, and their photos must be seen on Google to be believed. They were excavated near the tomb of the emperor credited with the construction of the Great Wall. Some action takes place at this incredible site. The story contains Chinese customs, history, and folklore.
Alice was friends with a fellow food blogger, Liam, who worked in international food distribution. He sent Alice a selfie showing himself on a boat in Hong Kong holding a coconut roll. Alice knew he was deathly allergic to coconut. When he was reported drowned immediately after sending the photo, she was convinced this might be a clue to the worldwide threat. Liam is rumoured to be working for the CIA, and may have learned something leading to his death. Alice is trying to become an expert in interpreting clues.
Vivien Li and her daughter Alice travel to Asia to decipher clues in Liam's photo and find the answer to the cyberattacks.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this political thriller. Recommended to readers who enjoy stories of espionage and danger.
The beginning is explosive. Alice, a food blogger, is having lunch with her estranged mother, Vivien Li, when alarms for danger go off worldwide. As they and other patrons try to exit the restaurant, others from outside are in a panic and are trying to enter for safety. We learn that the alarms have been activated and are shrieking everywhere, and people have been trampled or injured. A second cyberattack has caused elevators to plunge to the bottom, killing those trapped inside. There are mass casualties worldwide. The source of these attacks is traced to China, although the country has suffered the same disasters.
This is an exciting, complicated political thriller, where some suspension of disbelief is necessary. There are many characters and conspiracies to keep straight, so strict focus on various clues is needed. Some characters also have alternate identities, secrets, nicknames, and assumed names. Food distribution, noodle shops, and bakeries play an essential role. We frequently read about various Chinese soups, coconut rolls, dumplings, and other Chinese dishes. It is not surprising that some characters are chefs, food bloggers, or working in food distribution.
Vivien Li was an anti-communist dissident at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, and escaped to the West. She is now a symbol against the Chinese communist government and advises the US government about China. If you Google the photos of the pro-democracy protest in Tiananmen Square in 1989, which resulted in the state killing many demonstrators, the most famous photo is of a lone man standing in front of the tanks. Nicknamed "Tank Man," Kevin (Kai Wen) represents Vivien's fictional brother, long thought dead.
Vivien Li is described as elegant and commanding in presence. Her costly designer dress by Shanghai Tang is frequently mentioned. By the story's end, it is described as tattered and smelling from various spills. Why didn't she take time to change her clothing? Vivien and Alice are called into the office of the USA President to advise him and his cabinet. This is not the first time that she has been asked to provide her insight on China. Why is Alice, a food blogger, also set up to advise the American government? It is becoming clear that the head of the Chinese government is unaware of the origin and motive for the attacks and that the Chinese President has lost control to traitors within the country. Another fear is that of APAI (adaptive predictive artificial intelligence), the latest step in AI, which is capable of acting in part on its own. This may be in the hands of the unknown terrorists.
The signals seem to be originating in Xian, at the site of the Terracotta Soldiers. I was fortunate to visit them, and their photos must be seen on Google to be believed. They were excavated near the tomb of the emperor credited with the construction of the Great Wall. Some action takes place at this incredible site. The story contains Chinese customs, history, and folklore.
Alice was friends with a fellow food blogger, Liam, who worked in international food distribution. He sent Alice a selfie showing himself on a boat in Hong Kong holding a coconut roll. Alice knew he was deathly allergic to coconut. When he was reported drowned immediately after sending the photo, she was convinced this might be a clue to the worldwide threat. Liam is rumoured to be working for the CIA, and may have learned something leading to his death. Alice is trying to become an expert in interpreting clues.
Vivien Li and her daughter Alice travel to Asia to decipher clues in Liam's photo and find the answer to the cyberattacks.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this political thriller. Recommended to readers who enjoy stories of espionage and danger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
As a fan of Louse Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, I was looking forward to reading The Last Mandarin. Set in China and hyped as a political thriller, I wish I enjoyed this power hungry, character driven plot much more than I did. I sincerely hope other readers enjoy it! Unfortunately, this was not an enjoyable book for me. 2/5
June 5, 2026
*3.5 stars rounded up
An edge-of-y0ur-seat political thriller from Louise Penny and her friend, the veteran journalist, author and filmmaker, Mellisa Fung. But at its heart, the authors say they wanted to address a fraught mother-daughter relationship and they did that so well.
Food-blogger Alice and her mother Vivien Li, the famous Chinese dissident, are having brunch together at a luxury hotel in Washington DC, when suddenly every alarm in the place goes off. They learn later that occurred worldwide, the signal apparently coming from China.
The mother and daughter are brought to the White House where the president and his advisors are meeting to try to figure out who is behind this cyber attack and what its purpose was. They want Vivien's insight into the political machinations of China. But Alice is there because of her plans to meet a college friend named Liam, a fellow food blogger. She now learns Liam was secretly working for the US government and has died from drowning while on assignment in China. His last text to Alice included a selfie which is examined thoroughly. When the next attack occurs and is even more deadly, mother and daughter head to China to follow the clues Liam left Alice.
Vivien Li has always been a distant, disapproving mother but now Alice learns her mother has lied all these years and her entire family is somehow mixed up in this mess. Meanwhile the heads of government learn they are dealing with APAI--adaptive predictive artificial intelligence--but who in China is controlling it and how can they stop them before it brings on WWIII?
The exciting action bounces back and forth between all the different players in this deadly game so much that I found the switching points of view a bit confusing at times. The language was quite a bit coarser than we've come to expect from Ms Penny and all in all, I felt like I was reading a Dan Brown book. An escapist adventure tale for easy summer reading.
Many thanks to the authors and publisher for providing me with an arc via NetGalley.
An edge-of-y0ur-seat political thriller from Louise Penny and her friend, the veteran journalist, author and filmmaker, Mellisa Fung. But at its heart, the authors say they wanted to address a fraught mother-daughter relationship and they did that so well.
Food-blogger Alice and her mother Vivien Li, the famous Chinese dissident, are having brunch together at a luxury hotel in Washington DC, when suddenly every alarm in the place goes off. They learn later that occurred worldwide, the signal apparently coming from China.
The mother and daughter are brought to the White House where the president and his advisors are meeting to try to figure out who is behind this cyber attack and what its purpose was. They want Vivien's insight into the political machinations of China. But Alice is there because of her plans to meet a college friend named Liam, a fellow food blogger. She now learns Liam was secretly working for the US government and has died from drowning while on assignment in China. His last text to Alice included a selfie which is examined thoroughly. When the next attack occurs and is even more deadly, mother and daughter head to China to follow the clues Liam left Alice.
Vivien Li has always been a distant, disapproving mother but now Alice learns her mother has lied all these years and her entire family is somehow mixed up in this mess. Meanwhile the heads of government learn they are dealing with APAI--adaptive predictive artificial intelligence--but who in China is controlling it and how can they stop them before it brings on WWIII?
The exciting action bounces back and forth between all the different players in this deadly game so much that I found the switching points of view a bit confusing at times. The language was quite a bit coarser than we've come to expect from Ms Penny and all in all, I felt like I was reading a Dan Brown book. An escapist adventure tale for easy summer reading.
Many thanks to the authors and publisher for providing me with an arc via NetGalley.
April 26, 2026
I listened to the audiobook of The Last Mandarin, and unfortunately this one never worked for me.
From the beginning, I struggled with the family dynamics. The story centers on Alice Li, a food blogger, and her mother Vivien, a famous Chinese dissident and global human rights figure. Their relationship is supposed to be complex and emotionally layered, but it mostly comes across as exhausting. They seem to love and resent each other in equal measure, with constant tension rooted in the past and what happened to Alice’s father—her hero—who divorced Vivien and later died in a car crash. Add in a brother whose sexuality is somehow invisible to their supposedly hyper-perceptive activist mother, and the emotional foundation of the story never quite feels believable.
Alice herself is a difficult protagonist to connect with. She spends much of the book sounding uncertain, unhappy, and frankly a bit whiny. Yet somehow this same character becomes central to an international crisis.
The plot kicks off when synchronized alarms and system failures erupt around the world, apparently originating from China. In response, the President of the United States calls Vivien to the White House to interpret what’s happening. That part is at least somewhat plausible. What isn’t clear—and never really becomes convincing—is why Alice is also suddenly crucial to the investigation.
Intelligence agencies and world leaders somehow end up relying on the instincts of a relatively insecure food blogger to decode clues, unravel global conspiracies, and ultimately help save the world—all while discussing coconut buns at length.
Massive acts of sabotage—blackouts, fires, elevator failures, travel disruptions—seem to affect everyone except our heroes. The central group jets effortlessly between the U.S., mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei whenever the plot requires it, always one step ahead of their enemies. Characters routinely make huge logical leaps that just happen to be correct. We’re repeatedly told that no one can be trusted, yet the characters trust people constantly—and it always works out.
Meanwhile, the villains are portrayed as nearly flawless masterminds with ties to the highest levels of government. They never make mistakes—until suddenly they do, conveniently allowing Alice to locate them.
Scene after scene strains credibility, and eventually the story simply becomes tedious rather than thrilling. The final straw for me .
I kept waiting for the story to pull everything together into something compelling, but it never did. In the end, The Last Mandarin felt like an overstuffed international thriller built on shaky logic and characters I never fully believed in.
From the beginning, I struggled with the family dynamics. The story centers on Alice Li, a food blogger, and her mother Vivien, a famous Chinese dissident and global human rights figure. Their relationship is supposed to be complex and emotionally layered, but it mostly comes across as exhausting. They seem to love and resent each other in equal measure, with constant tension rooted in the past and what happened to Alice’s father—her hero—who divorced Vivien and later died in a car crash. Add in a brother whose sexuality is somehow invisible to their supposedly hyper-perceptive activist mother, and the emotional foundation of the story never quite feels believable.
Alice herself is a difficult protagonist to connect with. She spends much of the book sounding uncertain, unhappy, and frankly a bit whiny. Yet somehow this same character becomes central to an international crisis.
The plot kicks off when synchronized alarms and system failures erupt around the world, apparently originating from China. In response, the President of the United States calls Vivien to the White House to interpret what’s happening. That part is at least somewhat plausible. What isn’t clear—and never really becomes convincing—is why Alice is also suddenly crucial to the investigation.
Intelligence agencies and world leaders somehow end up relying on the instincts of a relatively insecure food blogger to decode clues, unravel global conspiracies, and ultimately help save the world—all while discussing coconut buns at length.
Massive acts of sabotage—blackouts, fires, elevator failures, travel disruptions—seem to affect everyone except our heroes. The central group jets effortlessly between the U.S., mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei whenever the plot requires it, always one step ahead of their enemies. Characters routinely make huge logical leaps that just happen to be correct. We’re repeatedly told that no one can be trusted, yet the characters trust people constantly—and it always works out.
Meanwhile, the villains are portrayed as nearly flawless masterminds with ties to the highest levels of government. They never make mistakes—until suddenly they do, conveniently allowing Alice to locate them.
Scene after scene strains credibility, and eventually the story simply becomes tedious rather than thrilling. The final straw for me .
I kept waiting for the story to pull everything together into something compelling, but it never did. In the end, The Last Mandarin felt like an overstuffed international thriller built on shaky logic and characters I never fully believed in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
Happy Publication Day for this 5 star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐read! I couldn't put it down and I'm still thinking about the characters after. Go in with the expectation of a read that I would describe as Indiana Jones meets a political thriller, suspend disbelief, don't overthink and just enjoy the non-stop exciting ride!
We are quickly into the excitement when Alice meets her mother, Vivian (whom she keeps a healthy distance from) for brunch and while there, thinking her biggest problem is how much meeting with her Mother will annoy her, security and fire alarms around the world sound, is there a cyber attack, if so who is behind it? Luckily for Alice, her mother is a respected confidant of the American President and she is called to the White House to consult. This starts a whirlwind adventure where both Alice and Vivian fly across the globe to unravel who is behind the attacks and help to ensure that another isn't about to strike and ruin the world as we all know it.
I'm glad I didn't even read much of the description and went into this blind, it was so much fun and I enjoyed watching these female leads navigate an international threat. Will they be able to overcome their differences and be able to listen to and give weight to each other's perspectives and values? Will they be able to get where they needed to without getting killed? Go women!
I know many people who are Asian Canadian and struggle to find much out about their roots and beyond names and dates, also search wanting to know their ancestors' motivations and desires so I found it so enjoyable to follow Alice as a first generation Chinese American as she (unfortunately for her, with a bit too much urgency, immediacy and danger..) sets out on a high intensity trek into her family's past.
This is fun and addictive to read and the audiobook was fabulous! Eunice Wong drew me in and made me want to keep listening!
Why let Indiana Jones and Jason Borne have all the fun? Give this one a try and see if you can solve the trail of espionage along with the Last Mandarin 💴🥠🥮
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this sneak peak ARC, I loved it. Look for this to publish on May 12th, 2026
We are quickly into the excitement when Alice meets her mother, Vivian (whom she keeps a healthy distance from) for brunch and while there, thinking her biggest problem is how much meeting with her Mother will annoy her, security and fire alarms around the world sound, is there a cyber attack, if so who is behind it? Luckily for Alice, her mother is a respected confidant of the American President and she is called to the White House to consult. This starts a whirlwind adventure where both Alice and Vivian fly across the globe to unravel who is behind the attacks and help to ensure that another isn't about to strike and ruin the world as we all know it.
I'm glad I didn't even read much of the description and went into this blind, it was so much fun and I enjoyed watching these female leads navigate an international threat. Will they be able to overcome their differences and be able to listen to and give weight to each other's perspectives and values? Will they be able to get where they needed to without getting killed? Go women!
I know many people who are Asian Canadian and struggle to find much out about their roots and beyond names and dates, also search wanting to know their ancestors' motivations and desires so I found it so enjoyable to follow Alice as a first generation Chinese American as she (unfortunately for her, with a bit too much urgency, immediacy and danger..) sets out on a high intensity trek into her family's past.
This is fun and addictive to read and the audiobook was fabulous! Eunice Wong drew me in and made me want to keep listening!
Why let Indiana Jones and Jason Borne have all the fun? Give this one a try and see if you can solve the trail of espionage along with the Last Mandarin 💴🥠🥮
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this sneak peak ARC, I loved it. Look for this to publish on May 12th, 2026
May 24, 2026
LOVED IT!
Sure, some of the plot is a little brow-raising, but isn’t that why we read fiction?
I thoroughly enjoyed the growth of the relationship between mother and daughter. In true Louise Penney style, they demonstrated the interaction between the characters, and the evolution of, and eventual understanding that developed between them allowed their love for each other to become conscious again. How many of us have relationships with family, particularly our mothers/daughters that are filled with regret, or unresolved feelings?
I think this was a wonderful collaboration. The threads of hope and possibility that run through this book are enough to give us faith in each other again. I really liked how Louise and Mellissa showed us how two seriously opposing perspectives (governments) could work together, or at least work toward mutual benefit.
I would definitely read another book written by these two very gifted authors!
Sure, some of the plot is a little brow-raising, but isn’t that why we read fiction?
I thoroughly enjoyed the growth of the relationship between mother and daughter. In true Louise Penney style, they demonstrated the interaction between the characters, and the evolution of, and eventual understanding that developed between them allowed their love for each other to become conscious again. How many of us have relationships with family, particularly our mothers/daughters that are filled with regret, or unresolved feelings?
I think this was a wonderful collaboration. The threads of hope and possibility that run through this book are enough to give us faith in each other again. I really liked how Louise and Mellissa showed us how two seriously opposing perspectives (governments) could work together, or at least work toward mutual benefit.
I would definitely read another book written by these two very gifted authors!
May 28, 2026
What an amazing book The Last Mandarin is. Lots of history about the first Emperor of China and his accomplishments. Also the everyday workings of the Chinese Government. The descriptions of The Emperors tomb intrigued me to learn more. I was fascinated by the Terracotta Army, the mercury and the booby traps. The AI threat and what it could do to the world was an eye opener. My four star rating is due to the fact that the book slowed down in places; Other sections I couldn't read fast enough.
May 14, 2026
3.5 Stars
Alice Li, a food-blogger, is excited to be back in Washington DC to meet up with her friend and fellow food-blogger, Liam. She’s not so thrilled to meet up with her mother, Vivien Li, a Chinese dissident famous for escaping after Tiananmen Square, since they don’t have the best relationship. However, they’re forced to work together when the world is turned into chaos when during brunch security and fire alarms go off and they find out it’s a worldwide event.
Alice is even more shocked to be summoned to the White House along with her mother and questioned over her friendship with Liam. Apparently, intelligence has discovered China is responsible for this global attack and to Alice’s surprise, Vivien is a regular advisor to the President on Chinese affairs.
When it becomes obvious the attack won’t be the last. Alice and Vivien must band together and stop a terrorist group before they can execute whatever they have planned next.
One wouldn’t think a food-blogger and her mother would be key to stopping this nefarious force, but I enjoyed Alice and Viviene’s journey. As they try to get to the truth secrets from Vivien’s past are slowly revealed. Alice’s view of her mother and their relationship shifts. Vivien gets to see another, more capable, side to her daughter, as well.
The Last Mandarin was an engaging thriller with two unlikely heroines. And while I had to suspend my disbelief at some parts of the plot, I was entertained from the start and eager to find out how it would all turn out!
I’ve listened to and enjoyed Eunice Wong’s narration in the past and thought she did a wonderful job here performing all characters, bringing them to life as they experienced a whole range of emotions. Her accents and pronunciation of Mandarin made the story feel authentic. Listening to the audio version definitely enhanced my enjoyment!
I voluntarily listened to a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Alice Li, a food-blogger, is excited to be back in Washington DC to meet up with her friend and fellow food-blogger, Liam. She’s not so thrilled to meet up with her mother, Vivien Li, a Chinese dissident famous for escaping after Tiananmen Square, since they don’t have the best relationship. However, they’re forced to work together when the world is turned into chaos when during brunch security and fire alarms go off and they find out it’s a worldwide event.
Alice is even more shocked to be summoned to the White House along with her mother and questioned over her friendship with Liam. Apparently, intelligence has discovered China is responsible for this global attack and to Alice’s surprise, Vivien is a regular advisor to the President on Chinese affairs.
When it becomes obvious the attack won’t be the last. Alice and Vivien must band together and stop a terrorist group before they can execute whatever they have planned next.
One wouldn’t think a food-blogger and her mother would be key to stopping this nefarious force, but I enjoyed Alice and Viviene’s journey. As they try to get to the truth secrets from Vivien’s past are slowly revealed. Alice’s view of her mother and their relationship shifts. Vivien gets to see another, more capable, side to her daughter, as well.
The Last Mandarin was an engaging thriller with two unlikely heroines. And while I had to suspend my disbelief at some parts of the plot, I was entertained from the start and eager to find out how it would all turn out!
I’ve listened to and enjoyed Eunice Wong’s narration in the past and thought she did a wonderful job here performing all characters, bringing them to life as they experienced a whole range of emotions. Her accents and pronunciation of Mandarin made the story feel authentic. Listening to the audio version definitely enhanced my enjoyment!
I voluntarily listened to a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
June 10, 2026
The title refers to Vivian Li, the premier dissident China expert and human-rights advocate, friend of billionaires and the president of the United States. However, a better title might be The Mother-Daughter Spy Club. Vivian, like so many Tiger Mothers, has a frayed relationship with her Chinese-American daughter, Alice Li; even so, Alice gets dragged into a spy adventure involving her difficult mother through a classmate from her Columbia University days.
This is another case of it being me, definitely not Louise Penny. I adore, adore, adore her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. But I just could not care about Vivian or Alice Li. I didn’t even care who was behind all the terrifying skullduggery. This is probably another Anna Karenina-like example of my philistinism. I may get back to this novel some day; if so, I’ll update this review. However, considering what a slog it was to get 57 percent through this 400-page novel, it’s pretty unlikely. The two stars are simply in honor of Penny’s usual prowess and don’t really reflect my feeling for The Last Mandarin, which can be summed up as “Argh!”
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.
This is another case of it being me, definitely not Louise Penny. I adore, adore, adore her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. But I just could not care about Vivian or Alice Li. I didn’t even care who was behind all the terrifying skullduggery. This is probably another Anna Karenina-like example of my philistinism. I may get back to this novel some day; if so, I’ll update this review. However, considering what a slog it was to get 57 percent through this 400-page novel, it’s pretty unlikely. The two stars are simply in honor of Penny’s usual prowess and don’t really reflect my feeling for The Last Mandarin, which can be summed up as “Argh!”
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2026
Wow! What a riveting political thriller. This is not one of my usual genres, but I enjoy Louise Penny and thought I’d give it a try.
The plot is propulsive, page-turning, on-the-edge-of-your-seat. If it isn’t made into a movie, someone has truly missed the boat.
The characters are hard to like, especially because you are distrustful of everyone. However, there is character growth for several characters.
My biggest dislike is the amount of profanity. F-bombs on almost every page are just jarring and unnecessary. Usually I would DNF a book for that reason, but I was so caught up in the plot. I tried to just skim over them.
The plot is propulsive, page-turning, on-the-edge-of-your-seat. If it isn’t made into a movie, someone has truly missed the boat.
The characters are hard to like, especially because you are distrustful of everyone. However, there is character growth for several characters.
My biggest dislike is the amount of profanity. F-bombs on almost every page are just jarring and unnecessary. Usually I would DNF a book for that reason, but I was so caught up in the plot. I tried to just skim over them.
May 14, 2026
A real disappointment. The writing was clunky, the plot elements strained even my credulity (and I like fantasy) and the jumbled POVs made the book unnecessarily confusing.
Also, did luxury brand Shanghai Tang pay for product placement? Because holy cats, the brand was mentioned nearly every third page.
Also, did luxury brand Shanghai Tang pay for product placement? Because holy cats, the brand was mentioned nearly every third page.
May 28, 2026
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung on NetGalley.
Published: 05/12 /26
Stars: 2.5 (Generous)
Disappointing is an understatement. This read like a middle grade student pitched a story and Penny wrote for him. The characters were at best insulting. Penny's writing did not support food bloggers going against Chinese spies. That only happens with Army men and wild imaginations.
I stayed with the book hoping Penny would blow me out of the water with her ending.
I recommend passing on this.
Published: 05/12 /26
Stars: 2.5 (Generous)
Disappointing is an understatement. This read like a middle grade student pitched a story and Penny wrote for him. The characters were at best insulting. Penny's writing did not support food bloggers going against Chinese spies. That only happens with Army men and wild imaginations.
I stayed with the book hoping Penny would blow me out of the water with her ending.
I recommend passing on this.
May 31, 2026
As a huge fan of Louise Penny, I was excited to hear that she was partnering up with a Canadian journalist on a political thriller. The premise sounded intriguing, so I jumped at the chance to read an early copy courtesy of a NetGalley giveaway from the publisher. I am sorry to say that I didn't connect with it and found it to be a bit of a letdown. I've had a hard time pinpointing why it was a miss for me, which is why it took me awhile to write a review. I think it was two overarching factors for me. First, it felt like the book was trying to cram in too much and that diluted the plot for me. I don't mind a complicated plot but this one had an extremely convoluted international political intrigue plot with some elements that seemed too fantastical to have been rooted in reality, an amateur sleuth/food blogger navigating complex US-China relations with no real background in that beyond being the daughter of a Chinese dissident, a coming of age novel for a young adult trying to find herself/her voice, a strained mother-daughter relationship, and a tragic unrequited love angle. It just seemed to me like a lot was thrown in here and some of it could have been stripped out to tighten up the plot or help me see the daughter as a more believable amateur sleuth jetting across the globe to resolve the international crisis.
The second factor was the overall pacing. I like a fast-paced political thriller, but this one felt frantic at times. The characters hopped on planes from the U.S. to Hong Kong to Taiwan to mainland China with such ease and speed that it didn't feel like they were in any one place long enough to do whatever they needed to do there. That on top of some of the more over-the-top plot points made it hard for me to get invested in the story. It did make for a fast read. But I think I would have liked the characters to have taken a breath more to allow me to digest all of the details.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for providing a NetGalley copy of this novel.
The second factor was the overall pacing. I like a fast-paced political thriller, but this one felt frantic at times. The characters hopped on planes from the U.S. to Hong Kong to Taiwan to mainland China with such ease and speed that it didn't feel like they were in any one place long enough to do whatever they needed to do there. That on top of some of the more over-the-top plot points made it hard for me to get invested in the story. It did make for a fast read. But I think I would have liked the characters to have taken a breath more to allow me to digest all of the details.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for providing a NetGalley copy of this novel.
May 15, 2026
i could not get through the first 25% of this book
I love Louise Penny, but this book made no sense. The characters were impossible to get to know, i could not follow,the story and worse, i was so confused by the story i did not want to make the effort.
I love Louise Penny, but this book made no sense. The characters were impossible to get to know, i could not follow,the story and worse, i was so confused by the story i did not want to make the effort.
June 6, 2026
I love Louise Penny books. I respect Mellissa Fung as an extraordinary journalist. I was hoping to enjoy this but it was too convoluted. I am okay with suspending belief and just going with a wild plot, but this had too many “ you must be kidding me!”moments.
May 24, 2026
I was excited to read my first Louis Penny book! The Last Mandarin by Louis Penny and Mellissa Fung is a solid international spy thriller. It’s about Alice, a food blogger, and her mother Vivian who must suddenly work together and with the CIA and the President to prevent global catastrophe. I liked the high stakes and global settings from DC to Hong Kong. The relationship between Alice and Vivian was interesting and I liked how the plot started off with a bang (fire alarms going off around the world) but then as the story went further it did seem to get more and more far fetched. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Eunice Wong was very good. I’ve enjoyed several audiobooks now that were narrated by her. At the end of this book it didn’t leave me wanting to read more by this author but it did leave me craving a coconut bun!
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for my ALC!
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for my ALC!
May 30, 2026
While at times a bit confusing and starting off slow, this political thriller picked up pace and kept me reading;
I love all Louise Penny’s books, and while it’s not a Three Pines novel at all, her twisty and turn-y plot was noted and appreciated
I love all Louise Penny’s books, and while it’s not a Three Pines novel at all, her twisty and turn-y plot was noted and appreciated
April 12, 2026
To clear up any confusion, this is not a Gamache or Three Pines story by Louise Penny. This is a fantastic political thriller that takes you into the top levels of the governments of China and the US. Will the United States take out China because of a clandestine force with spies embedded deep inside each President's cabinets? You have to read to find out. This review is not a summary, just my thoughts on this well-crafted, suspenseful story.
Vivien Li, a Chinese dissident, and her food blogger daughter, Alice, get wrapped up in this fast moving story and must use their family from both countries to unravel the mystery. Is the plot far fetched? Yes and no. The generational feelings between the two countries feel real, but the details of how they are pitted against each other by a secret enemy could be far fetched, but this is a fiction book after all. There is continual action taking place that kept me engaged and reading until the end. I was kept wondering who were the traitors and spies as well as how were Vivien, Alice, and the Presidents going to decipher the truth from the deception. Each chapter is from the different plot lines and jump to another character just as something important is happening or going to be revealed. You are invested as a reader on every page.
I enjoyed the family connections elements in the book. Vivien and Alice were estranged and had a cold relationship at the beginning. As the story unfolds, the two women learn more about each other and find ways to bridge the gap to develop a better connection. There are family surprises throughout the story as well, especially concerning Alice's father. The history of Alice's parents is fascinating because of who they were as young adults in China plus the inclusion of the Terracotta Warriors and their history was captivating.
For all the drama and tension, there are moments of levity that are entertaining. For example, the nicknames that each government calls the other President were funny and humanized the leaders.
I would recommend this book for fans of Louise Penny and her other thriller, State of Terror, fans of political thrillers in general, and readers who love an immersive story.
#TheLastMandarin #NetGalley
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Vivien Li, a Chinese dissident, and her food blogger daughter, Alice, get wrapped up in this fast moving story and must use their family from both countries to unravel the mystery. Is the plot far fetched? Yes and no. The generational feelings between the two countries feel real, but the details of how they are pitted against each other by a secret enemy could be far fetched, but this is a fiction book after all. There is continual action taking place that kept me engaged and reading until the end. I was kept wondering who were the traitors and spies as well as how were Vivien, Alice, and the Presidents going to decipher the truth from the deception. Each chapter is from the different plot lines and jump to another character just as something important is happening or going to be revealed. You are invested as a reader on every page.
I enjoyed the family connections elements in the book. Vivien and Alice were estranged and had a cold relationship at the beginning. As the story unfolds, the two women learn more about each other and find ways to bridge the gap to develop a better connection. There are family surprises throughout the story as well, especially concerning Alice's father. The history of Alice's parents is fascinating because of who they were as young adults in China plus the inclusion of the Terracotta Warriors and their history was captivating.
For all the drama and tension, there are moments of levity that are entertaining. For example, the nicknames that each government calls the other President were funny and humanized the leaders.
I would recommend this book for fans of Louise Penny and her other thriller, State of Terror, fans of political thrillers in general, and readers who love an immersive story.
#TheLastMandarin #NetGalley
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 2, 2026
I am hedging my bets that this will be on many lists of top books of the year.
I’m not incredibly educated in politics/history and yet this held my attention. I didn’t want to have to pause listening.
It’s very fast moving as Alice and her mother, Vivian (and others) try to stop a world wide disaster from happening.
It stays interesting as they move around the world and discuss history and politics and even if you don’t know what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 they give you enough information to understand the story.
It doesn’t discuss politics that much per se but political leaders are part of the story line.
Also hearing so much mandarin had me pulling it up on Duolingo to try a few words lol
This felt like a great movie could come from The Last Mandarin. Political thriller meets Indiana jones/The Mummy.
Some said there are parts that are a bit far fetched or that you need to suspend belief at some points but it didn’t bother me. I loved it so much!
I find myself wanting to start it over to see what I might have missed or didn’t clue into along the way lol
I will definitely recommend it to anyone for a fun read/listen and hope it becomes a movie lol
I’m not incredibly educated in politics/history and yet this held my attention. I didn’t want to have to pause listening.
It’s very fast moving as Alice and her mother, Vivian (and others) try to stop a world wide disaster from happening.
It stays interesting as they move around the world and discuss history and politics and even if you don’t know what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 they give you enough information to understand the story.
It doesn’t discuss politics that much per se but political leaders are part of the story line.
Also hearing so much mandarin had me pulling it up on Duolingo to try a few words lol
This felt like a great movie could come from The Last Mandarin. Political thriller meets Indiana jones/The Mummy.
Some said there are parts that are a bit far fetched or that you need to suspend belief at some points but it didn’t bother me. I loved it so much!
I find myself wanting to start it over to see what I might have missed or didn’t clue into along the way lol
I will definitely recommend it to anyone for a fun read/listen and hope it becomes a movie lol
May 29, 2026
The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung is my first book by both authors. I grabbed a copy from NetGalley when I saw it, because my mother in law loves Louise Penny. I was not disappointed and I always appreciate a stand alone novel.
The Last Mandarin is look at two unlikely heroines, Alice Li, a first generation Chinese American and food blogger, and her mother, Vivien Li, a Chinese dissident, who escaped China after the famous Tiananmen Square standoff.
It begins when security and fire alarms go off all across the globe and the signal is traced back to China. Alice Li and her mother, Vivien Li are called to the White House, hoping they can decode the transmissions. Things don't go where I thought they would and I love when an author can grab my attention and never let it go.
The suspense builds slowly. Power and greed drive the characters. Things are not as they seem, but the truth needs to be quashed or China could erupt into political disaster. I really like this twist. The mother and daughter relationship will be put to the ultimate test.
Could this be our future? Will wars still be fought by feet on the ground, or will everything cyber be the rule? How big a role with social media play? Aren't we already living in a world where the fifth estate, social media, has the one of the loudest voices? This is one example of how something good can be twisted into something bad.
The Last Mandarin is look at two unlikely heroines, Alice Li, a first generation Chinese American and food blogger, and her mother, Vivien Li, a Chinese dissident, who escaped China after the famous Tiananmen Square standoff.
It begins when security and fire alarms go off all across the globe and the signal is traced back to China. Alice Li and her mother, Vivien Li are called to the White House, hoping they can decode the transmissions. Things don't go where I thought they would and I love when an author can grab my attention and never let it go.
The suspense builds slowly. Power and greed drive the characters. Things are not as they seem, but the truth needs to be quashed or China could erupt into political disaster. I really like this twist. The mother and daughter relationship will be put to the ultimate test.
Could this be our future? Will wars still be fought by feet on the ground, or will everything cyber be the rule? How big a role with social media play? Aren't we already living in a world where the fifth estate, social media, has the one of the loudest voices? This is one example of how something good can be twisted into something bad.
June 17, 2026
Really enjoyed this book - the suspense keeps growing despite the fact that the plot was not really believable
June 7, 2026
I've read a couple Louise Penny novels before, and enjoyed them. I don't know Mellissa Fung but I'm sure she's great too. But this collaborative effort is outright bad and has very much the quality of being cranked out with little thought. The characters are paper thin. The main protagonist seems to have no traits beyond loving food and hating her mother. The plot is totally absurd, yet boring, involving a terrorist group that succeeds in hacking the entire planet through means that are mostly unexplained. Something about adaptive AI, cyber-networks, yada yada. The authors don't understand technology and probably expect that the reader doesn't either. A series of escalating cyberattacks kills millions globally, yet somehow I only felt bored. The plot is eventually resolved through outrageous good luck and the protagonist's ability to miraculously derive meaning from old photographs. When the villains are revealed to include traitors in the highest level of US government, I felt nothing. The villains are given even less character development than the protagonists, and their motivations are never explained. Please read something else.
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