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 helping 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 … 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.
“Vivien Chien serves up a delicious mystery with a side order of soy sauce and sass. A tasty start to a new mystery series!” –Kylie Logan, bestselling author of Gone with the Twins
“Deathby Dumpling is a fun and sassy debut with unique flavor, local flair, and heart.” –Amanda Flower, Agatha Award–winning author of Lethal Licorice
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I enjoyed this cozy mystery series starter immensely. I listened to it on audiobook, and thought the narrator was fantastic, and would definitely recommend. In Death by Dumpling, a leader in the Cleveland Asian community dies after experiencing an allergic reaction from dumplings from Lana’s family’s restaurant… and the police suspect foul play! Lana and her roommate decide to start looking into the case, much to the chagrin of the handsome detective…
This is just a really solid cozy mystery. I didn’t see who the killer was until very late in the game, and I enjoyed the whole cast of characters and their interesting secrets. I could have used more food description (Hello! It takes place at a restaurant! I’m here for the food), but everything else was excellent. I could really relate to Lana, being the same age and single, and generally liked to attitude. Her friendship with her roommate and relationship with her parents was also fun to see.
For fans of cozy mysteries, this is definitely a winner!
5 stars – 9/10
Sometimes you want a cozy mystery, you know? And this one is cozy and set in a delightful plaza full of Asian shops. I loved the setting (warning, this book will make you hungry) and the cast of characters. I really liked how Chien showed the community of the plaza–all the relationships, history and various cultures and how they interacted. I also really enjoyed the family dynamics and the friendship between Lana and her roommate Megan. It’s great to read about characters who really care for each other, who might fight but also make up and work through their problems. I read this book in one day, staying up late to finish it, and I already bought the second. I can’t wait to see how the relationships deepen through the series.
I really enjoyed this first book. Lana is working at her mother’s noodle shop in an Asian Shopping Plaza. After delivering a lunch order to the owner of the plaza he is found dead. To clear the chef’s and her name she sets out to solve the crime herself. I really enjoyed the characters and the Noodle shop setting. The mystery was good with plenty of suspects to make it interesting. There are lots of twists and turns and the solution made sense. The writing was good and it was a quick easy read. I look for word to reading more in this series. Enjoy
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.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
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A really great read. The story was interesting and took quite a few unexpected twists and turns before arriving at the whodunnit moment. The characters are pretty well developed for the first book in a series. Warning, you will be hungry for both Chinese food and donuts when you read this book!
Entertaining cozy mystery
Not very realistic. Some 27 year-old investigating and gathering evidence that should have gone to the police.
I couldn’t finish it.
Death by Dumpling, Vivien Chien’s debut book in her Noodle Shop Mystery series, is a light, fun, and very cozy read. A book that is so well-written that by the time I’d reached the end of the first page I was already hooked, and by the end of the first chapter I was already making sure there’s a sequel in the works (there is!!!). Lana Lee, recently unemployed and currently working at her parents’ restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House in Asia Village, must step forward to solve the murder of Thomas Feng, landlord and longtime family friend, after he’s found dead in his office and someone very close to Lana is suspected of murder. A real page-turner, and I read it in one sitting. A+++, 5 stars, and highly recommended – what more can I say? 🙂
DEATH BY DUMPLING by Vivien Chien
The First Noodle Shop Mystery
It started with a nasty breakup with her boyfriend followed by quitting her job. Now Lana Lee is working at her parents’ restaurant in order to pay her bills and keep her apartment. Being back at Ho-Lee Noodle House isn’t the end of the world, but things get much worse when Mr. Feng, landlord of the Asia Village Plaza, is found dead after eating the lunch Lana brought him. To save the reputation of the restaurant as well as prove herself innocent, Lana sets out to solve the murder herself.
DEATH BY DUMPLING is a solid start to a new series. Lana Lee is a fun protagonist with a biting wit. I love seeing the family dynamics as the adult daughter has to deal with being back, if not home, at her second home, her parents’ Chinese restaurant. Her mom just wants her to find a husband and eat while her dad continues to treat her more like a child than the 27 year old woman she is. The secondary characters are fun too, from the gossipy Mahjong Matrons to the equally gossipy women from Asian Accents and the horrible Kimmy Tran! My favorite person is the enigmatic Mr. Zhang. I hope we get to read more about him in future books.
Vivien Chien brings a wonderful cultural flair to her Noodle Shop Mystery series. Loads of interesting characters, most with secrets and hidden pasts, provide interest as well as possible motives. A well plotted mystery sprinkled with humor and a light seasoning of romantic interest make DEATH BY DUMPLING a terrific debut!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien and was a delicious start to a new ethnic cozy mystery series.
Lana Lee is once again working in her parents noodle restaurant after quitting her job and then breaking up with her two-timing boyfriend. She was an independent young woman who was handling a rough time as she is now having trying to decide where she wants to go in her life. When a murder investigation ensues of the property owner where her parents noodle shop is located, Vivien is determined to help the police. I enjoyed getting to meet the other shop owners in the plaza where the noodle shop is located. I also loved Lana’s roommate. She added so much to this story, including some really funny moments for both of them during their investigation. The plot is quickly paced, there are several twists and enough suspects to keep readers turning the pages. I was not overly surprised as to who the murderer was at the reveal but it was still a “nail biting” experience. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.