Book Review: The Case of the Goblin Pearls

Laurence Yep, a multi-award winning writer, has created a series of mysteries featuring the famous movie star Tiger Lil, and her very young sidekick Lily. Their adventures take place in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and each book has a wonderful mix of cast and characters, both good and bad.

As an out of work actress, Tiger Lil is quite the businesswoman. But never overlook her commitment to her community. She does PR, fixes problems, and solves some of the mysteries that occur in Chinatown. Lily is her young niece, a bundle of energy who seems likely to follow in her Aunt’s footsteps.

Yep’s first mystery begins with Lily about to meet her aunt for the first time. Tiger Lil is coming to Chinatown for the Chinese New Year and she will be responsible for one of the floats in the parade. Lily’s introduction to her aunt is also our introduction. Unknown to Lily, her mother has been keeping a scrapbook that was begun by her own mother, and Lily’s grandmother. It is filled with reviews of Tiger Lil and her movies.

This intrigues Lily, and she sets out to see her aunt’s film work for the first time. When Lily meets Tiger Lil, she is fascinated, and quickly becomes Tiger Lil’s sidekick through out all the stories. Yep depicts respect for ancestors and connection to extended families that sometimes is not a part of cultural life for some Americans.

Yep says: “Chinatown is a state of mind.” He also says he wrote these mysteries to talk about what he loves and hates…