The Family Chao

'An insightful comedy of the American immigrant experience, and of a small town’s inner workings' JOHN IRVING

A darkly comic literary mystery about a family buckling under small-town racism and judgement, for readers of Celeste Ng, Brit Bennett and Jeffrey Eugenides.

When restaurant owner Leo 'Big' Chao is found frozen to death in the family's meat freezer, presumed murdered, a series of scandalous events force the locals of Lake Haven, Wisconsin to turn their attention to the motives of the three Chao sons.

Dagou, the oldest and most reckless, and presupposed heir to the business.

Ming, the accomplished city lawyer, determined to sever ties with Haven's Asian community once and for all.

James, the naive college student only just learning of his family's troubles.

As Dagou 'Dog Eater' Chao is held on trial and the previously overlooked Asian community is forced under the spotlight, the Chao family's turbulent history spills into the public eye while a seemingly pleasant small town looks on in disbelief...