Death by Dumpling
by Vivien Chien
Series: Noodle Shop Mystery #1
Series Rating:
Published by St. Martin's Press on March 27, 2018
Genres: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Book Depository
Also in this series: Dim Sum of All Fears, Murder Lo Mein, Wonton Terror, Egg Drop Dead, Killer Kung Pao, Fatal Fried Rice, Hot and Sour Suspects
Welcome to the Ho-Lee Noodle House, where the Chinese food is to die for. . .
The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family’s restaurant. But after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that a return to the Cleveland area to help wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband.
Lana’s love life soon becomes yesterday’s news once the restaurant’s property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead―after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee. But how could this have happened when everyone on staff knew about Mr. Feng’s severe, life-threatening shellfish allergy? Now, with the whole restaurant under suspicion for murder and the local media in a feeding frenzy―to say nothing of the gorgeous police detective who keeps turning up for take-out―it’s up to Lana to find out who is behind Feng’s killer order. . . before her own number is up.
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien is a fantastic first book to this great series. Ms. Chien did an outstanding job.
Can Lana figure out who killed Mr. Feng?
Lana Lee
Lana Lee is our sleuth and only point of view character. She is an excellent sleuth, and I am amazed to read about a 27-year-old sleuth as that is the same age as me. Lana is still living with her roommate and best friend Megan but is sadly working at her parent’s restaurant because she needs a job. She is also still dealing with a recent breakup, but she is getting over it. Lana is a strong character, and I loved reading from her point of view. The way she goes about solving the mystery was pretty great.
The Mystery
Thomas Feng was the property manager of Asia Village in Fairview Park, Ohio, and he died from an allergic reaction to shrimp dumplings. Lana and their cook, Peter, are the police’s prime suspects. So, of course, Lana decides to clear their names by solving the mystery of who would kill Mr. Feng. Wow was there a lot of red herrings and a lot of different clues. I missed the culprit by a lot until Lana remembered something, and then it clicked in mine as well. Be careful of those red herrings; they are everywhere!
5 Stars
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien was a great book and kept me guessing the entire time. I swear all those suspects were good. Ms. Chien did a fantastic job, and I can’t wait to read more from her. She has a great first book in her hands for this series. I am giving this book five stars and recommending it to everyone that loves to read cozy mysteries. I am still happy to see a sleuth that is the same age as me, as it makes it even cooler to read for me.
Other Books in the Series
Coming out March 9, 2021
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien. Look for my interview with her sometime Wednesday!
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Vivien Chien
Vivien Chien was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she grew up in a mixed-race home, making for some very interesting cultural experiences. She found her love of books and the written word at an early age while writing short stories about her classmates in elementary school. Currently, she writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier who refuses to sit anywhere else. When she’s not writing, Vivien enjoys frequenting local Asian restaurants, frolicking in the bookstore, and searching for her next donut.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2020 Cloak and Dagger Challenge
- 2020 Craving For Cozies Reading Challenge
- 2020 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge
- 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge
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