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Taipei Night Market #3
99 Ways to Die
Ed Lin’s third funny, food-forward mystery set in and around Taipei’s bustling night market
Jing-nan has known Peggy Lee, a bullying frenemy who runs her family's huge corporate bank/real estate company, since high school. Peggy's father has been kidnapped, and the ransom the kidnappers are demanding is not money but IP: a high-tech memory chip that they want to sell in China.
Jing-nan feels sorry for Peggy, who is worried about her dad, but not so sorry that he’s happy when she blackmails him into helping out. Peggy is worried the kidnappers’ deadline will pass before the police, whom she doesn’t trust, will be able to track down the chip. But when the reluctant Jing-nan tries to help, he finds himself getting deeper and deeper into trouble with some very unsavory characters—the most unsavory of whom might very well be the victim himself.
Jing-nan has known Peggy Lee, a bullying frenemy who runs her family's huge corporate bank/real estate company, since high school. Peggy's father has been kidnapped, and the ransom the kidnappers are demanding is not money but IP: a high-tech memory chip that they want to sell in China.
Jing-nan feels sorry for Peggy, who is worried about her dad, but not so sorry that he’s happy when she blackmails him into helping out. Peggy is worried the kidnappers’ deadline will pass before the police, whom she doesn’t trust, will be able to track down the chip. But when the reluctant Jing-nan tries to help, he finds himself getting deeper and deeper into trouble with some very unsavory characters—the most unsavory of whom might very well be the victim himself.
273 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2018
13 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Ed Lin
19 books104 followersEd Lin is a journalist by training and an all-around stand-up kinda guy. He's the author of several books: Waylaid, his literary debut, and his Robert Chow crime series, set in 1970s Manhattan Chinatown: This Is a Bust, Snakes Can't Run, and One Red Bastard. Lin, who is of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian American Literary Awards. Lin lives in New York with his wife, actress Cindy Cheung.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
May 19, 2021
a fun little thriller set in Taipei !
January 15, 2019
A fun, food-filled mystery set in Taipei that has plenty to say about immigration, tradition, and the relationship between China and Taiwan.
October 17, 2018
Although this is third in the series, it is my first, and a welcome find. There's a mcguffin, a valuable computer enhancement, which sparks a kidnapping and murder, but the real enjoyment lies in the time and location -- I don't believe I've read anything like this set in Taiwan. Ed Lin incorporates history, relationship with the Main Land, and interestingly, immigration issues, all exemplified by a great cast of characters. Jing-nan, central protagonist and narrator, owns a food booth in the Taiwanese Night Kitchen, and his menu planning and cooking are a joy to read as well as his development of a vegan special of the day to appeal to tourists.
December 16, 2020
3.5/5
Third in the Taipei Night Market series, 99 Ways To Die is an improvement over the second book in the series, though ultimately uneven.
First, the good. Ed Lin has a great voice for his character, which makes the narrative entertaining. This includes the Jing-nan, the protagonist, 'peppering' the narrative with discussing local food, and NOT talking on and on about the old band Joy Division as he did in the previous two installments. Most importantly, the crime-to-be-solved draws you in. A billionaire has been kidnapped, but by whom? The billionaire's daughter goes to her classmate, Jing-nan to help solve the crime. Is it a kidnapping for money? Are there complex cross-strait political dynamics behind this? Was it an inside job? Ed Lin sets this up to be accessible to those familiar with Taiwan and those who have no clue as to why Taipei and Beijing don't get along.
And then there are the drawbacks.
Ed Lin takes a detour partway through the book to insert thinly-veiled commentary on US politics and society. His commentary is not wrong, but it is obvious enough to distract from the plot. Some of the protagonists decisions in the second act seem a bit improbable, as well. Broadly, Ed Lin focuses a lot of his attention on the relationships between the protagonist and his circle of friends and family, which works in the case of Jing-nan's relationship with Peggy, but distracts when it comes to Jing-nan's relationship with Big Eye or Dwayne. Most of these are interesting, and encapsulate some of the more complex social dynamics in Taiwan, but ultimately distract from the mystery to be solved.
Ultimately, I am hopeful that the next book in the series irons out some of these wrinkles. Taipei is a fascinating city, but it has vanishingly few mysteries that take advantage of it. Ed Lin seems like one of only a handful of authors in English who are attempting to set stories there, and I hope that he gives Jing-nan another chance to find himself in the middle of a crime.
Third in the Taipei Night Market series, 99 Ways To Die is an improvement over the second book in the series, though ultimately uneven.
First, the good. Ed Lin has a great voice for his character, which makes the narrative entertaining. This includes the Jing-nan, the protagonist, 'peppering' the narrative with discussing local food, and NOT talking on and on about the old band Joy Division as he did in the previous two installments. Most importantly, the crime-to-be-solved draws you in. A billionaire has been kidnapped, but by whom? The billionaire's daughter goes to her classmate, Jing-nan to help solve the crime. Is it a kidnapping for money? Are there complex cross-strait political dynamics behind this? Was it an inside job? Ed Lin sets this up to be accessible to those familiar with Taiwan and those who have no clue as to why Taipei and Beijing don't get along.
And then there are the drawbacks.
Ed Lin takes a detour partway through the book to insert thinly-veiled commentary on US politics and society. His commentary is not wrong, but it is obvious enough to distract from the plot. Some of the protagonists decisions in the second act seem a bit improbable, as well. Broadly, Ed Lin focuses a lot of his attention on the relationships between the protagonist and his circle of friends and family, which works in the case of Jing-nan's relationship with Peggy, but distracts when it comes to Jing-nan's relationship with Big Eye or Dwayne. Most of these are interesting, and encapsulate some of the more complex social dynamics in Taiwan, but ultimately distract from the mystery to be solved.
Ultimately, I am hopeful that the next book in the series irons out some of these wrinkles. Taipei is a fascinating city, but it has vanishingly few mysteries that take advantage of it. Ed Lin seems like one of only a handful of authors in English who are attempting to set stories there, and I hope that he gives Jing-nan another chance to find himself in the middle of a crime.
November 6, 2018
Very quick read. Jumped right into the whole “my father has been kidnapped” tagline right out of the gate; however, this was quickly overshadowed by the obscene amount of backstory you need to even understand the context of this statement. And that is basically the style for this 273 page word prison. There was obviously a lot going on, but I didn’t feel the grip that comes with a true edge-of-your-sear thriller. Maybe my confusion stems from the fact that this novel is labeled as the third book in this series. Lots of backstory that is just never addressed like how the main character has mob connections that only ever pop up when he’s being a self-deprecating douche? Or how he could possibly get roped into this absurdity because a former classmate the author so lovingly describes as a “friendly bully” has his phone number? Or how the quiet type former criminal working at the food stand can solve this kidnapping and identify the perps with absolutely no effort? And to top it off there is about a 60 page veer into some other ridiculous abduction. It’s honestly a tangled mess of “who’s on whose side at the moment t” and after about half of the book you lose the main premise of the boom beneath the overgrown hedge of food porn and overt racism. Again, very quick read but not a very good one.
December 17, 2018
Although I am still enjoying the Taiwan setting of the Night Market series, I found this book slower than the first entry in the series. It was also much too self-referential, talking a bit too much about the events of the first book for my taste. I expect the second book in a series to open its world up a bit more, but this book seems narrower. Even the kidnappings got a little lackluster. I hope the author can bounce back.
July 4, 2020
Three stars is a bit harsh for a book that included crazy rich and poor Asians, (in this case Taiwanese,) add fascinating street food, geopolitics re China and the various ethnic groups involved, dramatised crime with a twist, characters with much appeal.... it’s a fun read.
September 16, 2018
"99 Ways To Die" is the third book in the Taipei Night Market series. The background for this novel is Taipei, Taiwan. A mainlander billionaire has been kidnapped, along with one of his company executives. They are thrown in dog crates, and their plight streamed onto the Internet. Jing-nan is the owner/operator of a thriving foodstand in the Night Market - a market that is owned by Tong-tong, the billionaire that was kidnapped. He also went to school with Peggy Lee, the kidnapped man's daughter.
There is a high tech electronic memory chip involved - the kidnappers want the chip in exchange for the men that were kidnapped. They plan to sell it to China.Peggy Lee works in her father's organization, and bullies Jing-nan into helping her. She also bullies the two policemen assigned to protect her.
I loved the levels of thought in this book - political, the differences in the types of individuals in Taipei, what is acceptable socially, the local environment, food choices, and what is considered good living. Some of this book is serious, but there is a lot of humor thrown in. Consisent pace, along with well developed characters,
Just so you know - Tong-tong is not too well liked in some quarters, for his very outspoken anti-immigration policies. Jing-nan is complex in his own right - he had to leave college when his parents died, and he inherited the food stand from his father, who inherited it from his father. One of his employees (Dwayne, hired by his father) has an aboriginal background, while the other employee, Frankie (hired by his grandfather) at one point in time had some questionable underworld connections.
Jing-nan, his girlfriend Nancy, along with Dwayne and Frankie manage to follow up on leads, and come to a conclusion that is stunning for all concerned. Quite an interesting book - one that held my interest all the way through!
There is a high tech electronic memory chip involved - the kidnappers want the chip in exchange for the men that were kidnapped. They plan to sell it to China.Peggy Lee works in her father's organization, and bullies Jing-nan into helping her. She also bullies the two policemen assigned to protect her.
I loved the levels of thought in this book - political, the differences in the types of individuals in Taipei, what is acceptable socially, the local environment, food choices, and what is considered good living. Some of this book is serious, but there is a lot of humor thrown in. Consisent pace, along with well developed characters,
Just so you know - Tong-tong is not too well liked in some quarters, for his very outspoken anti-immigration policies. Jing-nan is complex in his own right - he had to leave college when his parents died, and he inherited the food stand from his father, who inherited it from his father. One of his employees (Dwayne, hired by his father) has an aboriginal background, while the other employee, Frankie (hired by his grandfather) at one point in time had some questionable underworld connections.
Jing-nan, his girlfriend Nancy, along with Dwayne and Frankie manage to follow up on leads, and come to a conclusion that is stunning for all concerned. Quite an interesting book - one that held my interest all the way through!
October 5, 2020
A stronger finish to the trilogy after the somewhat lackluster mystery of the second installation. Our third adventure with Jing-nan fins his childhood friend Peggy Lee's father being mysteriously kidnapped from a fundraising banquet. The Lee's are a notoriously wealthy mainlander family with no shortage of business dealings in Taiwan, China, and elsewhere. Peggy enlists Jing-nan's aid and the kidnappers demand that Peggy hand over the blueprints for a mysterious computer chip that operates as low energy.
This was a welcome installment back to a more robust mystery. Like much of this series, we get a glimpse of 2010s Taipei culture with the backdrop of a kidnapping of an eccentric millionaire. Mr. Lin broaches upon the issue of immigration due to the large number of Southeastern Asians working menial jobs in Taiwan as the issue is exploited by some of the characters. We got to see another slow mystery unfold with more sinister underpinnings behind the various characters including Peggy's father. We got to revisit Jing-nan's uncle and utilize the multitalented Frankie in helping aid Jing-nan in discovering the kidnappers. And of course ever present in Mr. Lin's novels was showcasing the unique forms of what we would call corruption in the U.S. but helps society operate smoothly in Taiwan; in particular here the moonlighting of various military and law enforcement agents for wealthy individuals.
I think Mr. Lin definitely found his stride and a welcome continuation of what made Ghost Month such a strong entry. I hope he's got more adventures in store for Jing-nan and crew in the future.
This was a welcome installment back to a more robust mystery. Like much of this series, we get a glimpse of 2010s Taipei culture with the backdrop of a kidnapping of an eccentric millionaire. Mr. Lin broaches upon the issue of immigration due to the large number of Southeastern Asians working menial jobs in Taiwan as the issue is exploited by some of the characters. We got to see another slow mystery unfold with more sinister underpinnings behind the various characters including Peggy's father. We got to revisit Jing-nan's uncle and utilize the multitalented Frankie in helping aid Jing-nan in discovering the kidnappers. And of course ever present in Mr. Lin's novels was showcasing the unique forms of what we would call corruption in the U.S. but helps society operate smoothly in Taiwan; in particular here the moonlighting of various military and law enforcement agents for wealthy individuals.
I think Mr. Lin definitely found his stride and a welcome continuation of what made Ghost Month such a strong entry. I hope he's got more adventures in store for Jing-nan and crew in the future.
November 23, 2018
The third in Ed Lin’s Taipei Night Market series is just as funny and action-packed as the previous one I read, GHOST MONTH. I love the protagonist, Chen Jing-nan, who owns a night market in Taipei and never fails to make me laugh with his entertaining observations. In this latest, Jing-nan’s classmate Peggy Lee goes to Jing-nan for help when her wealthy tycoon father, Tong-tong, is kidnapped. The kidnappers demand a memory chip for his release. The last thing Jing-nan wants to do is get involved but Peggy can be very manipulative. The story combines Taiwanese history and descriptions of fantastic-sounding food with suspense and humor. Another winner from Lin.
July 29, 2020
This is number three in the Taipei Night Market series. I have not read the previous 2 books, but that was not a problem. There wasn't enough backstory, but I got an understanding of the characters. In this book, Jing-nan's friend, Peggy's dad has been kidnapped. Jing-nan and his friends Nancy, Dwayne, and Frankie are determined to find who kidnapped Tong-Tong. This book is set in Taipei, Taiwan. I have never read a mystery set in Taiwan, but that made it even more fun for me.
I gave this a solid 3 star. I would have liked more backstory.
I gave this a solid 3 star. I would have liked more backstory.
July 9, 2019
Unbelievable story line. I like my crime novels to at least be plausible. The handling of the case is completely against the conflict of interest code. And the dialogue is poorly written.
October 29, 2019
ok
the plot was all over the place
the plot was all over the place
January 19, 2023
I feel that "99 Ways to Die" was better than the previous installment but not as good as "Ghost Month." Having read the previous two books in this series, I thought this story was enjoyable and built well on the established characters.
(Personal nitpick) As an semiconductor engineer, who has done design work and manufacturing, I found that "Chip Design" as the central focus of the mystery a bit stretched. Design of such a chip would have been a product of a fairly large team in most cases. The processing would be another whole level larger in effort. Mentally, I had to substitute something else to remain engaged in the story. Maybe some algorithm? Neither the design nor algorithm would have been a single entity. On the other hand, the idea of stealing and selling a design could be an event. In real-life, security around such artifacts is frequently of concern.
If you liked the previous Taipei Night Market stories, you'll like this one too.
(Personal nitpick) As an semiconductor engineer, who has done design work and manufacturing, I found that "Chip Design" as the central focus of the mystery a bit stretched. Design of such a chip would have been a product of a fairly large team in most cases. The processing would be another whole level larger in effort. Mentally, I had to substitute something else to remain engaged in the story. Maybe some algorithm? Neither the design nor algorithm would have been a single entity. On the other hand, the idea of stealing and selling a design could be an event. In real-life, security around such artifacts is frequently of concern.
If you liked the previous Taipei Night Market stories, you'll like this one too.
October 7, 2018
This is terrific! Who would expect a guy who runs a food stall in a night market to be an amateur detective? Jing-nan is pressured by his old school chum Peggy to help find her father Tong-Tong, who has been kidnapped by a group which wants an electronic memory chip. Sure. Try it- the characters are great, the dialogue often amusing, and you'll learn something about Taiwan. Lin doesn't cut those of us who are not familiar with Taiwan politics any slack but that's not a big part of the story. The food, however, is. Jing-nan manages to do things others might not and he does them with panache. Peggy might seem like a brat at times but she's not. No spoilers. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. I'd read and much enjoyed Lin's other series but this one was new to me. It was fine as a standalone and now I'm looking forward to the next one.
September 3, 2023
99 Ways to Die is the third in the Taiwan Night Market series. It was my first, as I saw the book in a second hand bookstore and knew nothing about it.
This is a classic thriller involving kidnapping and espionage, based in Taipei. The protagonist is a young Taiwanese man, Jing-nan, who runs a food stall at the night market.
While I think the plot in terms of crime is a bit typical and predictable (like most crime thrillers to me), I found the prose thoroughly enjoyable. When I was asked what this novel was about, I spent 10 minutes talking about the descriptions of the night market and the meticulous laborious menu planning that Jing-nan does everyday instead of what the actual plot is.
While this book is a crime thriller, I enjoyed it a lot for its humor and descriptions of modern Taiwanese culture.
This is a classic thriller involving kidnapping and espionage, based in Taipei. The protagonist is a young Taiwanese man, Jing-nan, who runs a food stall at the night market.
While I think the plot in terms of crime is a bit typical and predictable (like most crime thrillers to me), I found the prose thoroughly enjoyable. When I was asked what this novel was about, I spent 10 minutes talking about the descriptions of the night market and the meticulous laborious menu planning that Jing-nan does everyday instead of what the actual plot is.
While this book is a crime thriller, I enjoyed it a lot for its humor and descriptions of modern Taiwanese culture.
February 24, 2019
Jing-nan is not happy to hear from his old schoolmate and frenemy Peggy Lee, but when she tells him that her father, one of the most powerful and wealthy men In Taipei has been kidnapped, he reluctantly agrees to help. Jing-nan and his buddies at the noodle shop in the night market join Peggy and her two reluctant police guards form a madcap rescue posse. They encounter blackmail, murder, high tech, betrayal and bullets as they frantically try to beat the clock. All the essentials are included in this entertaining thriller: food, the history and politics of the troubled relationship between China and Taiwan, more food, sex and/or love, a clever plot, memorable characters, with just a smattering of mayhem and murder.
January 10, 2019
A little hard to read but interesting and seem to have some history in it as well. I enjoyed the characters a d could definitely tell it aS a different culture which was one of the reasons at times it was hard to follow. Though I read other books while I read this one i was always compelled to back to it.
May 22, 2019
I've read almost all of Lin's books and I look forward to his mysteries. However, mystery writing isn't his strength. Frankly, this is a 1 to 2-star mystery - it lacks a level of suspense that masters such as Jo Nesbo can create. However, I enjoy the backstories, the history lessons about Taiwan, the social commentary and general humor. The author knows how to set a scene!
September 21, 2019
This is the third in the night market series and it was an enjoyable read! I’m always up for any book about Taiwan and this series is a fun one. This particular one had some immigration politics in which I found interesting but like the last three - the best part is the food and night market scene.
April 27, 2021
The third of Ed Lin's mystery series based in Taipei, Taiwan.
Being ethnically half-Taiwanese, I love the cultural context and the nostalgic elements to this series. Reading about the night markets, I can almost feel the energy and smell the aroma coming from the delicious food from the stands.
Fun book, but I would probably recommend the first two books of the series first over this one.
Being ethnically half-Taiwanese, I love the cultural context and the nostalgic elements to this series. Reading about the night markets, I can almost feel the energy and smell the aroma coming from the delicious food from the stands.
Fun book, but I would probably recommend the first two books of the series first over this one.
November 23, 2025
Ed Lin is so talented. His writing is visceral, not in the bloody body way, but in a way that makes me smell the night market food, see the rot and decline and renewal of streets and buildings, understand the vicious politics and corruption but also the honor of behavior and being. Re-reading the series, out of order but that's ok. Soho, your acquisitions editor is unerring.
November 30, 2025
The third book in the Taipei Night Market series.
A school friend of Jing-nan, Peggy, desperately seeks Jing-nan's help. Her father is kidnapped.
Jing-nan works his way around from working at his stall to finding information on the kidnappers.
It has a hilarious start and middle, but the ending became a little chaotic.
I enjoyed the book, and giving this a 4.5 star.
A school friend of Jing-nan, Peggy, desperately seeks Jing-nan's help. Her father is kidnapped.
Jing-nan works his way around from working at his stall to finding information on the kidnappers.
It has a hilarious start and middle, but the ending became a little chaotic.
I enjoyed the book, and giving this a 4.5 star.
April 18, 2021
This was an interesting book; it starts off slow, but then gets really exciting toward the middle and end of the book. If you like mysteries, I would recommend giving this book a read. Stick with it past the first six chapter and you will enjoy it!
January 23, 2023
I didn’t know this book was a series so this is the first time I learned about the characters. It took a long time for me to jumpstart reading this because there’s too many unlikeable characters but once I accepted it, it’s easier to finish it
February 2, 2023
Sometimes you just need a hilarious whodunit to pass the time. Bonus points if the story immerses you in the streets of Taipei with characters you wish you knew in real life. Can’t wait to read these again soon.
July 7, 2018
This series keeps getting better. I tore through this one and the plot took a few twists that I never saw coming. Plus the descriptions of food were amazing!
November 4, 2018
Great read.
December 6, 2018
A kidnapping needs solving by our night market food stand hero
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews