Felicity Jin works with her mom at the family bakery. Her mom infuses her baked goods with happiness and joy. Lisa has yet to find her magical gift or even how to bake. When she is inspired to make a fortune cookie, the fortunes she writes begin to come true. When a rival cookie maker is found dead in their dumpster with his fortune from Lissa in his pocket, she becomes the prime suspect. It will take all her magic and her best friend, Kelvin to solve the puzzle. This is a good beginning to a new series. I love learning about cultures and adaptation to the world around them. This story gives a small taste of this. Loved the setting and new characters. Looking forward to more to come!

In the first in her newest series, food is magic. Not just metaphorically but literally. Felicity Jin’s family has infused magic into their baked goods; her mom owns a bakery in Pixie, California where she weaves joy into her pineapple puns and egg tarts. For most of her life, Felicity or “Lissa” feels left out, after showing no evidence of magic or ability to bake. But one day, Lissa discovers she can make handmade fortune cookies that make people happy when they eat them. Not only that, but she also realizes that she can give personalized fortunes to people…that come true. When a customer turns up dead in their alley with his daunting fortune in his hand, Lissa has to clear her name.

Chow got the idea from her life-long love of fortune cookies. She remembers going on a special field trip to a fortune cookie factory in Chinatown in elementary school. She was so excited to watch them make the cookies and slip in the fortunes. “I kinda identified with the fortune cookie. It's kind of my life as a mix of identities, because I'm Chinese American. So it kind of resonated with me that way. It was interesting to research the origin of fortune cookies…that there's Japanese roots,” Chow said.

When asked about food being magical, Chow explained, “the love of making the food and also this idea of creating food, it's magical in itself because you're taking all these ingredients and Poof! You’ve made it into something else… I also want to explore the world. The reader is finding out the magic along with Felicity.”

Plus Chow loves focusing on the mother-daughter relationship as well as the fact that Lissa is third generation. “It’s not quite a typical immigrant story or second generation,” Chow pointed out, “What does that look like for her and her family?” Plus Chow wanted to pay homage to Miss Marple with her small community in St. Mary Mead.

This is the first book in a new series. The Jin family runs Gold Bakery in the small town of Pixie, California. Felicity Jin's mother is known for pineapple buns and egg tarts, both bringing joy to the eaters. Alas, Felicity does not seem to have her mother's magical baking touch until she tries making some handmade fortune cookies with customized handwritten fortunes. But when a male customer’s is found dead in the dumpster near the bakery, his ill-fated fortune puts Felicity in the cross-hairs of the police. With the help of flower shop owner & BFF Kelvin as well as getting advice from a new bunny friend, Felicity looks at staff working at Fresno’s Foo Fusion restaurant & rival Smiley Fortunes as possible suspects. This is a promising debut with a set of interesting characters.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun start to a new cozy series set in a little corner of a little town in California that has more than its share of magic. Felicity is struggling to come to terms with her talent and where she fits in her family's legacy as well as figure out just what she wants and how she wants to live her life. This could easily her into an angsty or immature main character but while she is definitely young and a bit impulsive she keeps on the right sign of that character line. I couldn't help but sympathize and root for her. The magic element is strong in the bakery and in the other areas in Felicity's life which I really enjoyed.

I enjoyed the mystery. The victim was a dreadful man and figuring out who disliked him enough to want him dead was an entertaining read. I loved the bits about baking though it did want me to go find a homemade fortune cookie and get a pineapple bun and an egg tart!

I've been wanting to read this author's mysteries for awhile and I'm glad I picked up the first book in this series. It was a fun mystery with a likable cast and a unique twist. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The Jin family is thrilled with the success of their magical bakery. Felicity Jin’s mother bakes pineapple buns and egg tarts filled with happiness and joy. Her customers love every bite. Although hesitant, Felicity joins the fun by baking fortune cookies filled with magic and fortune’s she personally creates for each customer. Everything is going well for them in the small town of Pixie, California until tragedy strikes. One of her customers dies after eating her cookie which included a fortune that is suspiciously accurate about his demise.

The police investigate and all the attention turns to Felicity being responsible for the man’s death. Naturally, their bakery suffers when customers are afraid to eat there. Plus, the joy is gone from baking and the taste of their baked goods reflects the sadness and hurt.

Felicity, and her best friend Kelvin, are determined to discover the truth and clear Felicity’s name. Not to mention it will save the bakery’s reputation.

This is the first book in a new series. It’s off to a solid start. The idea of personalized fortune cookies is quite an interesting concept. Felicity, her mother and Kelvin are all well written and make a great team.

The author keeps you guessing as to “whodunit”. There are several legitimate suspects. I sort of figured it out, but I didn’t figure out the specific “whys” and “hows”. The book moves at a steady pace. There were a couple of spots that were a bit slow, but overall, a good start to a new series.

I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series.





FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

lll-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow is the first book in the new Magical Fortune Cookie series. Felicity Jin lives in Pixie, California and helps her mom run a bakery. Felicity's mom has the gift of transferring the joy she is feeling into her baked goods. Felicity has always felt she didn't have anything to offer their customers, but discovers she has the ability to make custom-written fortunes that come true for the customers. However, when one of Felicity's fortunes seems to predict the suspicious death of the recipient, she is accused of killing him!

I enjoyed seeing Felicity and her best friend Kelvin investigate the death to find the real killer and the ending of the book is touching, especially between Felicity and her mother. Kelvin, who runs a floral shop, is a likable character. It seems like there could be more than friendship between Felicity and Kelvin in the future. They are great friends and I think they could be an even greater couple since they care about each other and support each other. Overall, I'm not sure this is the series for me, (I would rate the book 3.5 stars), but I am still looking forward to reading Chow's LA Night Market series.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

3.5 stars rounded up. This is a very solid start to a new cozy mystery series. Felicity, or Lissa as she is known to her best friend Kelvin, and her mom own a bakery where the items are made with the secret ingredient - joy. As Lissa finds her magic in baking, she becomes a suspect in a rival’s death. I liked the unique story of magical baking and the story felt original enough to make a full series interesting. I look forward to seeing how Lissa grows in her baking confidence while protecting her loved ones in Pixie.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

Ill-Fated Fortune is book #1 in the Magical Fortune Cookie series by Jennifer J. Chow.

This is a promising start to a new series. I like the magic infused baking. Felicity finally comes into the magic that flows from her mother’s side of the family. The pacing seemed off in some places. I enjoyed the investigation and look forward to the next book. I rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was precisely what I needed to counterbalance a very sad book that I was reading; a cozy mystery where I got in on the ground floor. I was drawn in by the words "Magical Fortune Cookie"). It was a solid first book; about a young woman who makes fortune cookies that, when she is "feeling it" actually predict the future. It was a great concept and I liked the main character. I think the series needs a little time to develop and grow. It was a bit slow in parts but I did not guess who did it. I really long for these fortune cookies because they sound delicious. If the author can pick up the pace a little, it will be a great series. I like the relationship between the main character and her mother (I would like to see more of the mother) and between the main character and her male friend who owns a florist shop. I would give this book 3.5 stars and I will stay tuned.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

ILL-FATED FORTUNE by Jennifer J. Chow
The First Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery

At Gold Bakery Mrs. Jin bakes traditional Chinese baked goods and infuses them with joy...literally. Her daughter Felicity, try as she might, has never shown a glimpse of the Jin magick, until the day she made her own fortune cookies. Not only are her delicious treats are a hit with customers, she's finally come into her own power, writing eerily accurate fortunes. When a too accurate fortune is found on the dead body found in the Jin's dumpster Felicity comes under suspicion. Felicity will try to understand her power and promote the family business all while investigating the death of the Fortune Cookie King.

Fitting in is a major theme of the first Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery. As close as she is to her mom, Felicity felt she never fit in with her own family as she didn't appear to have the Jin gift. But she's not the only one facing this struggle. Employees at the Smiley Fortunes factory, her best friend, Kelvin, Detective Sun, and several other characters are all looking to fit in and be accepted.

The friendships, the family, sticking together, and staying true to yourself all give the book more heart. I loved the traditional Chinese aspects to the story, not only the pineapple buns, but Whiskers the bunny bringing Chinese mythology to life. The mystery is intriguing and I enjoyed the various paths Felicity explored, combining her business and her personal power as she searched for the truth.

With a great cast of diverse characters and a sprinkling of magick ILL-FATED FORTUNE is a great new twist on a culinary mystery.

This is the first in a new series by Jennifer Chow. Felicity Jin and her mother work together in the family bakery. The secret ingredient that keeps customers coming back for more - magic. Felicity, who goes by Lissa to her friends, has been waiting for the day that she too has the magic inside her. When she begins to make fortune cookies, she realizes she has the ability to predict the future as she creates customized fortunes for her customers.

However, one of her first fortunes predicts death. A customer is found dead near the bakery, still clutching the paper with the promise of his demise. Lissa becomes the number one suspect when a detective from the larger city near by gets involved.

Lissa realizes she needs to solve this case as the stress of the murder begins to affect her life, and the bakery’s business. With the help of her best friend, Kelvin, she uses her detective skills, and a little magic, to find the real killer.

This is a sweet cozy mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

Jennifer J. Chow has done it again folks!
If you love her Sassy Cat or L.A. Night Market series, you will love the way Chow has combined food, family, and a bit of the fantastic into this latest series!
In Ill Fated Fortune, we're introduced to the Jin family who have had a long history of infusing joy and positive feelings into their baking. After some bad take out cookies, Felicity Jin decides to try her hand at homemade fortune cookies...only to realize that she has a knack for more than just baking. Her fortunes are beginning to come true, including an "ill-fated" prediction of death for a cookie competitor.
This book was such a solid series start, and it really reflected Jennifer J. Chow's skill and experience in writing and mystery crafting. The characters were memorable and fun. The food descriptions made me hungry the whole time. The mystery elements had me guessing up until the end. And, most important for me, there were story elements planted in this book that makes me want to read future books in the series to see how this will play out for our characters and their futures.
I finished this book in a day; it was such a fun, energizing read. I absolutely recommend it and others from this amazing author!

Ill-fated Fortune is the first in a new series called A Magical Fortune Cookie. It is filled with a tight knit family and friends, and a magical rabbit. Felicity Jin works in a bakery with her mother in Pixie, California. She learns she has the family magic but is a late bloomer. She has great friends and a community that supports her.

This story wasn’t my cup of tea but was well-written and plotted.

I was given an advanced readers copy and these are my own opinions.

Ill-Fated Fortune is the first book in the Magical Fortune Cookie series. I wanted to like this book, but I struggled with it. The characters didn’t really hold my interest, and the mystery didn’t keep me guessing. The magical elements were in the book, but they didn’t hold my interest either.
Having said all of that, though, I would read a second book. Many times, I’ve read a second book in a series that was far stronger than the first.
If this sounds like book you want to read, but are hesitant to buy, borrow it from the library and give it a try.
3/5 stars

I’m always a sucker for a food centered cozy mystery, but Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow really resonated with me as an Asian American.

Felicity Jin and her mom run a magical bakery selling pineapple buns, egg custard tarts, and fortune cookies (all of my childhood favorites) that are literally infused with the joy the Jins feel when baking. When a customer dies after reading his fortune, Felicity and her best friend, Kelvin, start to investigate.

This was a good start to a new series. I loved the relationship that Felicity had with her mom and Kelvin was a great sidekick. I loved the character development and seeing Felicity grow more confident in herself and her baking. She was also a believable amateur detective, inserting herself conversationally instead of forcing it. The motive for the murder was surprising and the details were quite interesting. There is also a touch of magical realism and the cutest rabbit named Whiskers, who I absolutely adored.

This was a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me. The premise sounded so cute so I'm bummed this one didn't work out for me. I love a cozy food based mystery, especially if its got magical realism. I could read those all day. But alas, something about the writing style, which wasn't bad, mind you, just didn't click for me. Maybe next time!

Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel
By Jennifer J. Chow
Minotaur Books
February 20, 2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

Felicity Jin is both excited and a little nervous to have finally inherited her matrilineal gift of baking joy into the tasty treats that come out of her oven. The 3rd generation Chinese American runs their family’s Gold Bakery in Pixie, California along with her mother, who carefully bakes her own special pineapple buns and egg tarts. What is unexpected is when Felicity unconsciously begins to write out fortunes for her cookies that begin to come true, especially when her benevolent predictions turn dark and one seems to foretell a man’s death. Known as the Fortune Cookie King, Charlie Gong’s death opens up a business opportunity for Felicity that unfortunately also gives her a motive for his murder. Detective Rylan Sun isn’t shy about her suspicion of Felicity, but Felicity is not about to let a chance to keep Gold Bakery prosperous. So that means that she will push herself to the limit to create hand-crafted, very tasty fortune cookies for Fresno’s Foo Fusion restaurant even though it could make her an enemy of Gong’s Smiley Fortune’s struggling business partners. When not writing up a suspect list that includes business owners and a woman poisoned by the Fortune Cookie King’s questionable treats, Felicity deals with the inability to control her gifts and then the sudden loss of them.

This first in a brand-new series by author Jennifer J. Chow is essentially two different mysteries and both are equally compelling. The first is the question of who is responsible for the murder of the Fortune Cookie King, while the second follows Felicity’s quest to explore her inherited gifts and how she can control them. Her very protective mother wants Felicity to keep her head down and not cause trouble, but her best friend Kevin and godmother Alma support her efforts to perfect her talents while solving a murder. Perhaps aiding her the most is an adorable white bunny who seems to embody the Moon Rabbit legend honoring sacrifice, and the found rabbit she names Whiskers magically provides hints on the secrets of Felicity’s gifts. The setting is unique as it takes place in Pixie, a mostly White small town near Fresno and its artist-filled Tower District. Readers will immediately feel drawn into Felicity’s insecurity about her talent and be rooting for her to become confident and in charge of her fate. This is an intriguing debut that blends a strong mystery with a touch of the paranormal, and it leaves readers wanting to see how Felicity and the rest of Pixie succeed in their community. As someone who is a 3rd generation Chinese American on one side and with generations of family from Fresno on the other, I found so much to relate to and adore about this series and it’s definitely going to be one of my favorites. This charming, very well-written novel will appeal to all readers though, as it quickly develops an array of entertaining and very engaging characters. Fortune cookies have never been depicted with so much nuance and love, with Felicity introducing specialty ube and pandon-flavored cookies along with her traditional quality treats. This is another outstanding read from an increasingly popular author.

I haven't read a cozy mystery in awhile so I was due and Ill-Fated Fortune was perfect. I think what I liked the most is that the author wrote a story with such a likeable main character but also had crime and mystery weaved into a sweet mother-daughter story. Anyone who's unsure whether cozy mysteries would appeal to them should try out this cute story. ( well as cute as it can be with a side of murder)
Felicity Jin works along side her mother in the bakery making magical treats. No really, they are actually magical. Felicity decides to make her special fortune cookies to sell to customers and hopefully bring in additional income. The cookies are the best out there but what's special is the messages inside the cookie. They somehow seem to predict the future, and that can be good or bad.
When a customer turns up dead with a message in his pocket that spelled out exactly how he would die all eyes turn to Felicity. She can't explain how these messages come to her but unless she figures out who the murder is, she will remain the main suspect.

I enjoy reading books by this author and this one was almost as good as the rest. I expected it to be a bit more lively, but it was a little slow in parts. Also, it was a bit of a challenge to connect to the main character. Other than that, it was a nicely written whodunnit. Interesting secondary characters, especially Kelvin and the grandma.

A nice start to a new paranormal cozy series! Felicity and her mom have a bakery where the treats are more than just delicious but the death of a man who has one of her fortunes in his pocket brings trouble and sours the sweet for a bit. Luckily, Felicity has a terrific BFF in Kelvin who runs the flower shop next door as well as a rabbit which - well- is special. Detective Sun has a soft spot for Felicity, even though she's the main suspect in the murder. All of this is fairly familiar cozy stuff but it's nicely diverse and the paranormal aspect doesn't get too woo woo. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one. Oh- and recipes!