Where to Start Reading Ed Lin
If you are new to Ed Lin's gritty, witty, and culturally immersive mysteries, your best starting point depends on the setting you want to explore. For readers who want a modern, sensory journey through the neon-lit food stalls of Taiwan, begin with Ghost Month, the first book in the Taipei Night Market series. If you prefer a historical, hard-boiled crime noir set in the United States, start with This Is a Bust, which kicks off the Detective Robert Chow trilogy in 1970s Manhattan Chinatown.
While Lin's standalone novels can be read at any time, his two core series are best experienced in publication order. The character arcs, local political developments, and relationship dynamics build sequentially from book to book, making a chronological read highly rewarding.
The Taipei Night Market Series
Set against the backdrop of Taipei's famous Shilin Night Market, this series features Jing-nan, a sarcastic but good-hearted young man who operates a food stall selling wild boar sausage. While frying food and dealing with local colorful characters, Jing-nan repeatedly finds himself dragged into dangerous criminal investigations. The series is celebrated for its deep dive into Taiwanese traditions, food culture, political tensions, and social class differences.
1. Ghost Month (2014)
We meet Jing-nan during the Hungry Ghost Month, a time when spirits are believed to roam the living world. When his ex-fiancee is murdered under suspicious circumstances, Jing-nan refuses to accept the official police report. His investigation leads him deep into Taipei's dark underbelly, exposing high-stakes betting rings and deep-seated family secrets. This book establishes the vivid, sensory-heavy tone of the series, detailing everything from night market dynamics to traditional Taiwanese superstitions.
2. Incensed (2016)
In the second installment, Jing-nan is hired by his uncle, a local politician, to protect his rebellious teenage daughter, who has gotten involved with a dangerous gang. As Jing-nan tries to keep her safe, he is forced to navigate the corrupt intersection of Taiwanese politics, organized crime, and corporate interests. The book offers a sharp critique of economic inequality and cultural shifts in modern Taiwan.
3. 99 Ways to Die (2018)
A kidnapping case takes center stage when a wealthy businessman and family friend of Jing-nan's girlfriend, Nancy, is abducted. Jing-nan is drawn into the search, which takes him from the upscale corporate boardrooms of Taipei to the rural outskirts of the island. The plot dives into Taiwan's complicated relationship with mainland China and the long-lasting impact of historic political events on modern families.
4. Death Doesn't Forget (2022)
Jing-nan gets caught in a turf war and a murder mystery when a prominent local gangster is killed. As the police and rival gang members circle, Jing-nan must clear his own name while dealing with his complicated personal life. This installment leans heavily into the changing landscape of Taipei's historic neighborhoods and the evolving social realities of its working-class residents.
5. The Dead Can't Make a Living (2026)
The fifth book finds Jing-nan taking a college-level business class to improve his stall's efficiency. His studies are interrupted when he discovers the body of a Filipino migrant worker in the night market. The investigation exposes systemic corruption, the exploitation of undocumented labor in Taiwan, and the stark divisions within the local criminal underworld, continuing Lin's hallmark blend of lighthearted night-market culture and serious social commentary.
The Detective Robert Chow Trilogy
This historical crime trilogy is set in New York City's Chinatown during the mid-1970s. It stars Robert Chow, a Chinese-American NYPD officer and traumatized Vietnam War veteran. Chow must navigate the rampant prejudice within the police force, the rising tensions among Chinatown's youth gangs, and his own personal demons.
1. This Is a Bust (2007)
Set in 1976, this debut novel of the trilogy introduces Robert Chow, who is relegated to token policing duties in Chinatown. When a local businessman is murdered, Chow decides to investigate on his own, uncovering a web of gang activity, police corruption, and community mistrust. The novel won the Asian American Literary Award for its authentic and atmospheric portrayal of 1970s Manhattan.
2. Snakes Can't Run (2010)
Set shortly after the events of the first book, Chow investigates the murders of two undocumented Chinese immigrants (often referred to as 'snakes'). His search for the killers leads him to a human smuggling ring operating out of the neighborhood, highlighting the human cost of illegal immigration and the challenges faced by new arrivals trying to survive in New York.
3. One Red Bastard (2012)
Set in the fall of 1976, the final book in the trilogy takes place during a period of massive political upheaval following the death of Mao Zedong. Tensions boil over in Chinatown when Mao's daughter reportedly seeks asylum in the United States. Chow is caught in the middle of a proxy war between pro-Beijing and pro-Taiwan factions, transforming a local murder investigation into an international diplomatic crisis.
Standalone and Young Adult Novels
Waylaid (2002)
Ed Lin's debut literary novel is a gritty, raw coming-of-age story. It follows a Taiwanese-American teenager growing up in the 1980s while working at his parents' seedy motel on the Jersey Shore. The book deals with themes of puberty, isolation, cultural alienation, and the harsh realities of the American Dream, showcasing the emotional depth that Lin would later bring to his crime fiction.
David Tung Can't Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College (2020)
This young adult novel is a comedic, satirical look at the pressures faced by Asian-American high school students. David Tung is a high-achieving student navigating the intense expectations of his traditional family, the social hierarchy of his NYC prep school, and the weekend culture of Chinatown's test-prep centers. It is a lighthearted departure from Lin's crime series but maintains his sharp social observations.
What to Know Before You Start
- Tone and Setting: Lin's crime novels are heavily atmospheric. The Robert Chow trilogy is a dark, gritty historical noir, whereas the Taipei Night Market series is more contemporary, combining suspense with dark humor and food descriptions.
- Standalone Potential: While each mystery in both series is self-contained and resolved by the end of the book, the underlying character relationships and overarching plotlines develop sequentially. Reading them out of order will spoil major personal developments.
- Co-authored and Companion Works: Ed Lin is the sole author of his novels, but he has also contributed short stories to notable anthologies such as The Usual Santas (featuring a holiday-themed Taipei Night Market short story) and Charlie Chan Is Dead 2.