Bawal Book Club February 2026 Pick: Suspicious Activity by Nathan Cayanan

January 21, 2026

Recently nominated for the Eric Hoffer Book Award and arriving just in time for Lunar New Year, Suspicious Activity by Nathan Cayanan is our next Bawal Book Club pick.

If Interior Chinatown had a three-way with Goodfellas and Fight Club at Comic-Con, their bastard child would be Suspicious Activity.

Suspicious Activity is the debut crime novel by Filipino American writer Nathan Cayanan, a DC Comics Milestone Initiative alum. The book blends traditional prose with sequential art, creating a hybrid novel–graphic narrative that leans into noir storytelling.

Set in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley, the story follows Bingo, an accountant working for an Asian American crime syndicate run by Filipino American crime boss Marvin Andrada. Haunted by greed, violence, and paranoia, Bingo moves through a world shaped by loyalty, fear, and long-term consequences.

As Cayanan describes it, Suspicious Activity is about “identity, survival, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the choices that shape us.”

The book was recently nominated for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, a respected international literary prize that recognizes standout titles from independent and small publishers. The award shines a spotlight on books that take creative risks, push boundaries, and come from voices often overlooked by mainstream publishing.

How the Bawal Book Club Works

1. Get the Book

Choose your format:
• Physical copy from Hot Tropiks: https://hottropiks.com/products/suspicious-activity-by-nathan-cayanan

• Digital copy directly from the creator: https://stellarremnant.gumroad.com/l/hxote
(For Lunar New Year, Nathan is offering the digital edition for 50% off at $4.99.
Use code REDENVELOPE at checkout.)

2. Follow the Discussion

All official discussion prompts, updates, and livestream info will be posted on:
• Hot Tropiks Instagram
• The Bawal Book Club Facebook Group

3. Read at your own pace

Instead of rushing through the book, we’ll be sharing a small number of guided posts written in collaboration with Nathan. These prompts are designed to spark conversation, highlight specific moments in the story, and give readers a deeper look into his process.

• January 27, 2026 — Engagement Post #1 (from Nathan)
• February 3, 2026 — Engagement Post #2 (from Nathan)
• February 10, 2026 — Community question collection for Nathan
• February 17, 2026 — 7:00 PM Pacific Time livestream on the Hot Tropiks Instagram