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Noodle Shop Mystery #2
Dim Sum of All Fears
Welcome back to Ho-Lee Noodle House, where you can get fantastic take-out. . .unless you get taken out first.
“Vivien Chien serves up a delicious mystery with a side order of soy sauce and sass. A tasty start to a new mystery series!� —Bestselling author Kylie Logan on Death by Dumpling
Dim Sum of All Fears is the second book in a delicious new cozy series.
Lana Lee is a dutiful daughter, waiting tables at her family’s Chinese restaurant even though she’d rather be doing just about anything else. Then, just when she has a chance for a “real� job, her parents take off to Taiwan, leaving Lana in charge. Surprising everyone—including herself—she turns out to be quite capable of running the place. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who just opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead. . .and soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery.
Between running the Ho-Lee and trying to figure out whether the rock-solid Detective Adam Trudeau is actually her boyfriend, Lana knows she shouldn’t pry into the case. But the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple’s past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder. . .
“Vivien Chien serves up a delicious mystery with a side order of soy sauce and sass. A tasty start to a new mystery series!� —Bestselling author Kylie Logan on Death by Dumpling
Dim Sum of All Fears is the second book in a delicious new cozy series.
Lana Lee is a dutiful daughter, waiting tables at her family’s Chinese restaurant even though she’d rather be doing just about anything else. Then, just when she has a chance for a “real� job, her parents take off to Taiwan, leaving Lana in charge. Surprising everyone—including herself—she turns out to be quite capable of running the place. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who just opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead. . .and soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery.
Between running the Ho-Lee and trying to figure out whether the rock-solid Detective Adam Trudeau is actually her boyfriend, Lana knows she shouldn’t pry into the case. But the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple’s past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder. . .
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2018
347 people are currently reading
3123 people want to read
About the author
Vivien Chien
24Ìýbooks1,566ÌýfollowersVivien Chien first started writing simple stories about adventures with her classmates when she was in elementary school. As she grew up, her love of books and the written word increased, leading to the attempt of her first novel at age 16. After many struggled beginnings and several different genres, she found her passion in the mystery world.
When she's not writing, she can be found frolicking in the bookstore or searching for her next bowl of noodles. She has a soft spot for doughnuts, a healthy love for coffee, and an extreme need to participate in random acts of crafting.
She currently lives in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the fifth book in her Noodle Shop series, and writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier.
When she's not writing, she can be found frolicking in the bookstore or searching for her next bowl of noodles. She has a soft spot for doughnuts, a healthy love for coffee, and an extreme need to participate in random acts of crafting.
She currently lives in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the fifth book in her Noodle Shop series, and writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 785 reviews
August 31, 2021
I couldn't hold off! 😂 🤠Good thing there are (almost) 8 books in this series. On to the next one!
January 9, 2019
Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien is a 2018 St. Martin’s Press publication.
Lana Lee returns in this second intriguing installment of the Noodle Shop Mystery Series.
Lana is left in charge of the restaurant while her parents leave to visit family. This is not exactly a responsibility she wants. Lana feels she needs and wants more from her professional life than working in the noodle shop, but now she is trapped, forced to pass on a plumb opportunity.
She is also unhappy about the slow progress of her relationship with police officer, Adam Trudeau. Is he, or isn't he her boyfriend?
However, when her friend and her new husband are found dead, in what appears to be a murder/suicide, Lana’s stress levels skyrocket. Naturally, Adam insists Lana keep away from the investigation, putting even more distance between them. However, Lana still finds herself drawn into the saga as more unusual information about the murdered couple, especially about her friend’s new husband, begins to emerge.
So far, this series has been impressive and, as far as I’m concerned, is a breath of fresh air for the cozy genre. While I often lament the lack of ‘mature� characters in books, with cozies, the need for a younger protagonist along with the bright colorful blend of diversity, is long overdue.
Lana’s amateur detecting skills have improved, and the series shows positive signs of growth. The mystery was a little frenetic at times, but the pacing also kept me on my toes with ever changing developments, making it very difficult to pinpoint the murderer. The balance, however, is slightly skewed if you are tuning in just to solve the mystery. The personal, romantic, and family dramas were more in the forefront, this time around. In my experience, this not all that uncommon in cozies and as a series progresses the mysteries do tend to run more in the background.
Of course, I prefer more of an even balance, but it is certainly not a deal breaker. In fact, the more involved I become with the characters, the more I look forward to touching base with them again. Often, it’s that element, more than the mystery, that draws me to these stories in the first place. So, it's all good, as far as I'm concerned.
I am still quite excited about the future of this series and am very much looking forward to Lana’s next big adventure!!
4 stars
Lana Lee returns in this second intriguing installment of the Noodle Shop Mystery Series.
Lana is left in charge of the restaurant while her parents leave to visit family. This is not exactly a responsibility she wants. Lana feels she needs and wants more from her professional life than working in the noodle shop, but now she is trapped, forced to pass on a plumb opportunity.
She is also unhappy about the slow progress of her relationship with police officer, Adam Trudeau. Is he, or isn't he her boyfriend?
However, when her friend and her new husband are found dead, in what appears to be a murder/suicide, Lana’s stress levels skyrocket. Naturally, Adam insists Lana keep away from the investigation, putting even more distance between them. However, Lana still finds herself drawn into the saga as more unusual information about the murdered couple, especially about her friend’s new husband, begins to emerge.
So far, this series has been impressive and, as far as I’m concerned, is a breath of fresh air for the cozy genre. While I often lament the lack of ‘mature� characters in books, with cozies, the need for a younger protagonist along with the bright colorful blend of diversity, is long overdue.
Lana’s amateur detecting skills have improved, and the series shows positive signs of growth. The mystery was a little frenetic at times, but the pacing also kept me on my toes with ever changing developments, making it very difficult to pinpoint the murderer. The balance, however, is slightly skewed if you are tuning in just to solve the mystery. The personal, romantic, and family dramas were more in the forefront, this time around. In my experience, this not all that uncommon in cozies and as a series progresses the mysteries do tend to run more in the background.
Of course, I prefer more of an even balance, but it is certainly not a deal breaker. In fact, the more involved I become with the characters, the more I look forward to touching base with them again. Often, it’s that element, more than the mystery, that draws me to these stories in the first place. So, it's all good, as far as I'm concerned.
I am still quite excited about the future of this series and am very much looking forward to Lana’s next big adventure!!
4 stars
October 15, 2022
I'm already on book 3 but I'm almost screaming in reading panic as my book app do not have any more books after book three. So I thought this was a short one. Need to see if I can find it in my library app to continue. This is a really enjoyable series as well and I so want to be able to read the whole series
March 25, 2019
Another great cozy from the author of Death by Dumpling. This is the second book in the Noodle Shop MysteryÌýseries and one that is becoming a favorite of mine.
In this installment, Lana continues working on her family's restaurant Ho-Lee Noodle House and has become friends with Isabelle, the owner of the new business next door. They get together every week after work and go to the bookstore to pick up new books.
Unexpectedly, Isabelle and her husband turn up dead and Lana starts investigating who could have committed the murder.
The novel has a little bit of everything, mystery, humor, and I throughly enjoyed it. The covers are lovely and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
I recommend it to readers of mysteries and contemporary fiction.
In this installment, Lana continues working on her family's restaurant Ho-Lee Noodle House and has become friends with Isabelle, the owner of the new business next door. They get together every week after work and go to the bookstore to pick up new books.
Unexpectedly, Isabelle and her husband turn up dead and Lana starts investigating who could have committed the murder.
The novel has a little bit of everything, mystery, humor, and I throughly enjoyed it. The covers are lovely and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
I recommend it to readers of mysteries and contemporary fiction.
September 14, 2020
There is something compulsively readable about this cozy series, set in a Chinese noodle restaurant in the suburbs of Cleveland, that makes me keep reading despite the gaps in logic that frequently plague mysteries (suspects who are inexplicably chatty, an abundance of coincidence, the main character making a series of poor decisions that endanger her life, etc.) This goes for cozies in particular since there's often no sensible reason for the main character to be investigating murders in the first place. BUT, then again, as a reader you know that's the deal going in.
This is the second book in Chien's Noodle Shop series. In this one, Lana Lee, who waits tables at her parents' restaurant while she figures her life out, is left in charge when they take an extended holiday in Taiwan. Lana has no sooner dropped them off at the airport when there is a double murder in the shop next door and Lana finds herself pulled into the investigation once again, much to the displeasure of the police detective who is sort of, maybe her boyfriend.
The mystery is fun, if not incredibly mysterious, and the romance is enjoyable but kept in the background which suits me fine. I mostly like this series because the cast of eccentric characters are so likeable (although Lana continually hiding details about a murder from her cop boyfriend gets a little grating.)
This is the second time someone at Asian Village has been murdered, this place is really unlucky! Fortunately, it looks like the third one does branch out and finally kill someone besides a shop owner.
This is the second book in Chien's Noodle Shop series. In this one, Lana Lee, who waits tables at her parents' restaurant while she figures her life out, is left in charge when they take an extended holiday in Taiwan. Lana has no sooner dropped them off at the airport when there is a double murder in the shop next door and Lana finds herself pulled into the investigation once again, much to the displeasure of the police detective who is sort of, maybe her boyfriend.
The mystery is fun, if not incredibly mysterious, and the romance is enjoyable but kept in the background which suits me fine. I mostly like this series because the cast of eccentric characters are so likeable (although Lana continually hiding details about a murder from her cop boyfriend gets a little grating.)
This is the second time someone at Asian Village has been murdered, this place is really unlucky! Fortunately, it looks like the third one does branch out and finally kill someone besides a shop owner.
October 5, 2022
Am I allowed to give a book a higher rating just based on how much I like the title? I don't even like puns all that much but "Dim Sum of All Fears" is fantastic. Unfortunately, the second installment of Lana Lee, part-time noodle shop waitress and part-time detective, isn't nearly as good as I wanted it to be.
The setting of these mysteries remains the series' biggest strength: by setting most of the action within an Asian shopping center, Vivien Chien can perfectly replicate the small-town, everyone-knows-everyone's-business atmosphere that's such a foundational part of cozy mysteries - and the fact that said shopping center is located within a large city means that new characters can be introduced and then dismissed from the series as the plot requires.
Case in point: this time, Lana's amateur detective skills are needed when a young couple opens a new souvenir shop near the noodle restaurant that Lana's family owns, and then both husband and wife are swiftly and violently murdered by persons unknown. Catching the culprit will mean ramifications not just for Lana and her family's restaurant, but for the shopping center as a whole.
It's uneven, to say the least. The suspects include two victims' sisters and two ex-wives, and not only was it sometimes difficult to remember who was who, I felt like each pair could have been combined into one person without too much trouble. Lana remains a very inconsistent detective, alternating between flashes of brilliant introspection and being so uncommonly dense I can't believe she manages to tie her shoes in the morning. Also at one point she makes a joke about "millennials and social media" and it's a) hacky and not funny, and b) confusing, because based on Vivien Chien's author photo she is a millennial, so all the moments where Lana acted more like a fussy middle-aged woman seemed like a misguided attempt to appeal to older audiences.
And of course, we must discuss the cop.
(If you're new here: hi, I'm Madeline, and I really fucking hate mysteries where the detective dates a cop! Now that you're caught up, let's press on.)
Lana is dating the cop (Adam something) from the previous book, and their relationship remains as baffling as it is devoid of chemistry. Lana mentions at one point that she and Adam have gone on something like eight dates, but she still isn't sure if he likes her that way. And no wonder she's confused, since the only physical affection Adam shows her is kissing her on the forehead like he's her aunt or something. They had absolutely no spark, and multiple times I had to ask the pages, "Do you two even like each other?"
Also Chien tries to inject some intrigue into Boring Bland Adam by hinting at possible dark secrets in his past - during one dud of a date, Lana tries to ask him about his work as a cop and Adam replies that he's "not ready to share that part of my life." Well, buddy, you'd better hurry up and get ready, because so far your \only two character traits are "patronizing" and "is a cop," so either get interesting or spill your tragic past already.
(In any case, if Lana should be dating anyone, it's Peter, the hot chef at her family's restaurant. That I would like to see.)
In my review of the first Lana Lee mystery, I praised Chien's detective for being good at what she does, and a compelling fictional detective. I still think this series has great potential, but there's a lot of work to be done first.
The setting of these mysteries remains the series' biggest strength: by setting most of the action within an Asian shopping center, Vivien Chien can perfectly replicate the small-town, everyone-knows-everyone's-business atmosphere that's such a foundational part of cozy mysteries - and the fact that said shopping center is located within a large city means that new characters can be introduced and then dismissed from the series as the plot requires.
Case in point: this time, Lana's amateur detective skills are needed when a young couple opens a new souvenir shop near the noodle restaurant that Lana's family owns, and then both husband and wife are swiftly and violently murdered by persons unknown. Catching the culprit will mean ramifications not just for Lana and her family's restaurant, but for the shopping center as a whole.
It's uneven, to say the least. The suspects include two victims' sisters and two ex-wives, and not only was it sometimes difficult to remember who was who, I felt like each pair could have been combined into one person without too much trouble. Lana remains a very inconsistent detective, alternating between flashes of brilliant introspection and being so uncommonly dense I can't believe she manages to tie her shoes in the morning. Also at one point she makes a joke about "millennials and social media" and it's a) hacky and not funny, and b) confusing, because based on Vivien Chien's author photo she is a millennial, so all the moments where Lana acted more like a fussy middle-aged woman seemed like a misguided attempt to appeal to older audiences.
And of course, we must discuss the cop.
(If you're new here: hi, I'm Madeline, and I really fucking hate mysteries where the detective dates a cop! Now that you're caught up, let's press on.)
Lana is dating the cop (Adam something) from the previous book, and their relationship remains as baffling as it is devoid of chemistry. Lana mentions at one point that she and Adam have gone on something like eight dates, but she still isn't sure if he likes her that way. And no wonder she's confused, since the only physical affection Adam shows her is kissing her on the forehead like he's her aunt or something. They had absolutely no spark, and multiple times I had to ask the pages, "Do you two even like each other?"
Also Chien tries to inject some intrigue into Boring Bland Adam by hinting at possible dark secrets in his past - during one dud of a date, Lana tries to ask him about his work as a cop and Adam replies that he's "not ready to share that part of my life." Well, buddy, you'd better hurry up and get ready, because so far your \only two character traits are "patronizing" and "is a cop," so either get interesting or spill your tragic past already.
(In any case, if Lana should be dating anyone, it's Peter, the hot chef at her family's restaurant. That I would like to see.)
In my review of the first Lana Lee mystery, I praised Chien's detective for being good at what she does, and a compelling fictional detective. I still think this series has great potential, but there's a lot of work to be done first.
July 21, 2022
"I´m telling you, that store is bad luck."
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Lana.
I still really like the name Lana Lee, it somehow reminds me so much of a comic book character. I liked Lana´s investigative and curious nature in this book, but I feel like some issues, especially with Adam and her parents, could have been avoided if she would have just talked about it. I feel like she really needs to learn how to communicate in regard to her own problems.
Absolutely love Megan, she is such an amazing best friend. Always there for Lana and always helping her with everything and supporting her in any way. There were no newly added side characters in comparion to the first book, although Adam seems to become more of an love interest.
That brings me right to the plot. I feel like if you are already dating the investigating detective on the case and are trying to solve the murder yourself, you would somehow try and work together with your boyfriend or at least get information out of him. Instead Lana just goes off completely on her own (Megans help sometimes). I must say I also feel like the murderer was a bit obvious this time, I guessed it way before Lana did and when it was revealed it sadly wasn´t that much of a surprise. I liked that the murder was staged as a suicide and I feel like the author could´ve worked a bit more with that instead of revealing so quickly that it was just staged. I also felt like the ending was a bit repetitive, because it was almost the exact ending from the first book.
Overall it was still a fun and quick read that just had a few quirks.
trigger warnings: suicide, murder, gambling/addiction, cheating (mentioned)
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Lana.
I still really like the name Lana Lee, it somehow reminds me so much of a comic book character. I liked Lana´s investigative and curious nature in this book, but I feel like some issues, especially with Adam and her parents, could have been avoided if she would have just talked about it. I feel like she really needs to learn how to communicate in regard to her own problems.
Absolutely love Megan, she is such an amazing best friend. Always there for Lana and always helping her with everything and supporting her in any way. There were no newly added side characters in comparion to the first book, although Adam seems to become more of an love interest.
That brings me right to the plot. I feel like if you are already dating the investigating detective on the case and are trying to solve the murder yourself, you would somehow try and work together with your boyfriend or at least get information out of him. Instead Lana just goes off completely on her own (Megans help sometimes). I must say I also feel like the murderer was a bit obvious this time, I guessed it way before Lana did and when it was revealed it sadly wasn´t that much of a surprise. I liked that the murder was staged as a suicide and I feel like the author could´ve worked a bit more with that instead of revealing so quickly that it was just staged. I also felt like the ending was a bit repetitive, because it was almost the exact ending from the first book.
Overall it was still a fun and quick read that just had a few quirks.
trigger warnings: suicide, murder, gambling/addiction, cheating (mentioned)
November 7, 2018
3.75*
In between two minds. This was a very easy, entertaining read. I’ve come to care for Lana and Megan (and Kikko), and this is where the book’s strength lies - the characters and their interactions. That whole little Asia Village, with all its idiosyncrasies, is weirdly charming. Also, what is the deal with Adam?! Questions questions... The murder mystery on the other hand paled a little in comparison. It still worked and kept me interested but something was missing, and I’m not sure what. Still, I more than likely shall read the next instalment.
In between two minds. This was a very easy, entertaining read. I’ve come to care for Lana and Megan (and Kikko), and this is where the book’s strength lies - the characters and their interactions. That whole little Asia Village, with all its idiosyncrasies, is weirdly charming. Also, what is the deal with Adam?! Questions questions... The murder mystery on the other hand paled a little in comparison. It still worked and kept me interested but something was missing, and I’m not sure what. Still, I more than likely shall read the next instalment.
April 7, 2021
Fun cozy mystery set in Cleveland, Ohio in an Asian strip mall. Lana Lee works for her family in their noodle shop Ho-Lee Noodle and ends up trying to solve a case. Tidbits of Chinese culture spice up this murder mystery; plus after this read, I am starving for some good noodle soup!
October 2, 2018
I definitely enjoyed this one more. Mostly because with Lana being forced to run her family's restaurant, we get to see her take charge more. She and her sister still squabble a lot, but you can see where they are both coming from while reading. Due to the murder of two of the owners (Isabelle and her husband Brandon) in Asia Village, many customers and owners are starting to think that one of the storefronts is unlucky. Lana was close with Isabelle and is determined to identify her murderer. Will say there seems to be a hard pause in Lana's barely there relationship with Detective Adam Trudeau. I got to read an excerpt of the next book, and there may be another love interest that I hope we see Lana get excited about. She and Adam have zero chemistry.
"Dim Sum of All Fears" has Lana dealing with her parents leaving her in charge of the noodle shop while they fly back to Taiwan to see about her grandmother. Though Lana has an opportunity to interview for a new job, she realizes she won't be able to have both. To make matters a little worse, her sister is bent of out shape she's been put in charge, there is a lot of things going on since Chinese New Year is around the corner, and oh yeah, two people were found murdered in their store. These new murders touch Lana a lot more than the last one since she was close to one of the victims, Isabelle. Lana felt ambivalent about Brandon since the guy was never around. And even Isabelle started to notice it. I really loved the twists and turns this book takes with finding out about Brandon's past.
I did like Lana and Megan more in this one. They really are becoming a fascinating duo of amateur sleuthing. Lana I think felt more sure of herself in this one, even with her blue hair. I do wish that she and her sister would quit fighting. I think Lana's sister is jealous of her, though I get why Lana is annoyed her sister keeps making snide remarks.
Also Lana's relationship with Detective Trudeau seems to be cooling. They have zero chemistry. Lana at one point asks him why did he become a cop and he refuses to tell her. I was fed up with him. I also didn't like Megan saying she would investigate him to find out what is going on. Just ignore the guy if he isn't interested in having a real relationship. Their dates sounded lame too.
The writing was good and so was the flow. I do think there wasn't any problems that I could see off the top off my head.
I am friends with a lot of Taiwanese people and I know that Chinese New Year is a very big deal. I wish that Ms. Chien had gone into that more. I know that you are supposed to clean I think three days before the start of Chinese New Year. I think you are supposed to cook the day before. Things like that would have made the book more interesting to a lot of people.
I do hope that we don't always get someone pulling a weapon on Lana, that kind of stuff will get old in a series really quick.
"Dim Sum of All Fears" has Lana dealing with her parents leaving her in charge of the noodle shop while they fly back to Taiwan to see about her grandmother. Though Lana has an opportunity to interview for a new job, she realizes she won't be able to have both. To make matters a little worse, her sister is bent of out shape she's been put in charge, there is a lot of things going on since Chinese New Year is around the corner, and oh yeah, two people were found murdered in their store. These new murders touch Lana a lot more than the last one since she was close to one of the victims, Isabelle. Lana felt ambivalent about Brandon since the guy was never around. And even Isabelle started to notice it. I really loved the twists and turns this book takes with finding out about Brandon's past.
I did like Lana and Megan more in this one. They really are becoming a fascinating duo of amateur sleuthing. Lana I think felt more sure of herself in this one, even with her blue hair. I do wish that she and her sister would quit fighting. I think Lana's sister is jealous of her, though I get why Lana is annoyed her sister keeps making snide remarks.
Also Lana's relationship with Detective Trudeau seems to be cooling. They have zero chemistry. Lana at one point asks him why did he become a cop and he refuses to tell her. I was fed up with him. I also didn't like Megan saying she would investigate him to find out what is going on. Just ignore the guy if he isn't interested in having a real relationship. Their dates sounded lame too.
The writing was good and so was the flow. I do think there wasn't any problems that I could see off the top off my head.
I am friends with a lot of Taiwanese people and I know that Chinese New Year is a very big deal. I wish that Ms. Chien had gone into that more. I know that you are supposed to clean I think three days before the start of Chinese New Year. I think you are supposed to cook the day before. Things like that would have made the book more interesting to a lot of people.
I do hope that we don't always get someone pulling a weapon on Lana, that kind of stuff will get old in a series really quick.
February 8, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Just when Lana Lee is about to make a huge life change and take a chance on a job outside of the family business, her parents announce they are going to Taiwan and leave her in charge of Ho Lee Noodle House. She is not happy but takes on the job and realizes she is darn good at it. The one thing she couldn’t control though was the double murder that took place at the souvenir store next door. She had become good friends with Isabelle Yeoh who spent the day running the shop while her husband Brandon was off “running errands�.
Lana is in a new relationship with Detective Adam Trudeau and knows he can handle the case but she still finds herself investigating. So with a busy restaurant, especially with the Chinese New Year only days away, Lana loads up her plate to find out who killed her friend and why.
____
I am not a fan of Chinese food but I am a fan of this author and these characters.
Ho Lee Noodle House is open for breakfast when the Mahjong Matrons arrive through the evening. It is a family-run restaurant supplemented by long term employees. Lana usually works as a waitress/hostess daily while her sister attends college and works around her classes. Their mother is very intense and their father is pretty laid back. I think Lana did an excellent job stepping in as manager and her sister came across as petty and demanding, upset that her sister was left in charge. They did have a view arguments in front of customers and growing up around a family-run restaurant know that is a big no-no, but it happens. The restaurant is in a mall full of Asian shops and that adds its own stress and drama as Lana has to deal with management and the murder site right next door. Lana’s relationship with Detective Adam Trudeau is new and moving at a snail’s pace but it evolving. I feel all the characters are realistically written and loved where the humor was added.
The mystery itself was very interesting. At first, thought to be a murder/suicide which was quickly disproven. When classified as murders people came out of the woodwork to land on the suspect list each with motive and opportunity. The author served up a nice contingent of red herrings. Lana was a fun amateur sleuth the follow around. People really opened up to her, some even asking for her help. My thinking was twisted up several times. I enjoyed the part Lana’s roommate/best friend Megan Riley played both in helping in the investigation and pushing the romance between Lana and Adam.
Again, an animal stole my heart, Lana has a black pug named Kikko. So lovable and the perfect pet to come home to.
Dim Sum of All Fears was a marvelous cozy mystery. I was discouraged at first that Lana’s plans were all messed up by her parent’s sudden trip but by the middle of the story, I was happy to see she excelled at her tasks and was where she was meant to be.
The next book in this series, Murder Lo Mein is on my To-Be-Read shelf and I will be reading and reviewing it soon!
Just when Lana Lee is about to make a huge life change and take a chance on a job outside of the family business, her parents announce they are going to Taiwan and leave her in charge of Ho Lee Noodle House. She is not happy but takes on the job and realizes she is darn good at it. The one thing she couldn’t control though was the double murder that took place at the souvenir store next door. She had become good friends with Isabelle Yeoh who spent the day running the shop while her husband Brandon was off “running errands�.
Lana is in a new relationship with Detective Adam Trudeau and knows he can handle the case but she still finds herself investigating. So with a busy restaurant, especially with the Chinese New Year only days away, Lana loads up her plate to find out who killed her friend and why.
____
I am not a fan of Chinese food but I am a fan of this author and these characters.
Ho Lee Noodle House is open for breakfast when the Mahjong Matrons arrive through the evening. It is a family-run restaurant supplemented by long term employees. Lana usually works as a waitress/hostess daily while her sister attends college and works around her classes. Their mother is very intense and their father is pretty laid back. I think Lana did an excellent job stepping in as manager and her sister came across as petty and demanding, upset that her sister was left in charge. They did have a view arguments in front of customers and growing up around a family-run restaurant know that is a big no-no, but it happens. The restaurant is in a mall full of Asian shops and that adds its own stress and drama as Lana has to deal with management and the murder site right next door. Lana’s relationship with Detective Adam Trudeau is new and moving at a snail’s pace but it evolving. I feel all the characters are realistically written and loved where the humor was added.
The mystery itself was very interesting. At first, thought to be a murder/suicide which was quickly disproven. When classified as murders people came out of the woodwork to land on the suspect list each with motive and opportunity. The author served up a nice contingent of red herrings. Lana was a fun amateur sleuth the follow around. People really opened up to her, some even asking for her help. My thinking was twisted up several times. I enjoyed the part Lana’s roommate/best friend Megan Riley played both in helping in the investigation and pushing the romance between Lana and Adam.
Again, an animal stole my heart, Lana has a black pug named Kikko. So lovable and the perfect pet to come home to.
Dim Sum of All Fears was a marvelous cozy mystery. I was discouraged at first that Lana’s plans were all messed up by her parent’s sudden trip but by the middle of the story, I was happy to see she excelled at her tasks and was where she was meant to be.
The next book in this series, Murder Lo Mein is on my To-Be-Read shelf and I will be reading and reviewing it soon!
September 9, 2018
2.5 stars actually. I was expecting a lot from the author I guess and I was left a tad disappointed. Lana was behaving like a teenager trying to be an adult. Anna May is the so called mature, responsible older sister who bickers all the time with Lana. What is mature in that? Adam, Lana's love interest is reserved to the extent that he doesn't only stone wall Lana but also me. I fail to get involved in Lana's love problems. The mystery was never quite intriguing enough. Lana's next door shop owners, Isabelle and her husband Brandon are murdered and despite her best intentions to stay away from the investigation, Lana can't help herself. Isabelle was her friend and she wants justice.
Lana is very similar to the typical American comedy heroines - a little klutzy, a little cute, a bit dumb, a splash of toughness, wants independence, has a complicated relationship with an emotionally unavailable, handsome hunk, has a vocabulary which has 100 most used American words (overuses the word "stuffs"). You can entirely overlook her Asian ethnicity. Ok, I know all 27 year olds in the world have many things in common. But Lana is like any other cozy mystery + romantic comedy heroine. She comes from a mould, she doesn't do anything different or, she doesn't do things differently. It feels so common and commercial.
In a series I like to look at the growth of characters, changes in their personality and lives, for better or for worse. I expect the lead character to develop as they tackle life. The characters might come from reliable fiction formulas, then the Author does her own twists on that formula, so that the series starts interesting and stays interesting. Here the promise is good - an Asian-American heroine, an exotic noodle shop, a cast of Asian-American and American people, and mystery. Then it becomes another regular cozy-comedic-romantic-mystery. :(
Hopefully the next book would be better.
Lana is very similar to the typical American comedy heroines - a little klutzy, a little cute, a bit dumb, a splash of toughness, wants independence, has a complicated relationship with an emotionally unavailable, handsome hunk, has a vocabulary which has 100 most used American words (overuses the word "stuffs"). You can entirely overlook her Asian ethnicity. Ok, I know all 27 year olds in the world have many things in common. But Lana is like any other cozy mystery + romantic comedy heroine. She comes from a mould, she doesn't do anything different or, she doesn't do things differently. It feels so common and commercial.
In a series I like to look at the growth of characters, changes in their personality and lives, for better or for worse. I expect the lead character to develop as they tackle life. The characters might come from reliable fiction formulas, then the Author does her own twists on that formula, so that the series starts interesting and stays interesting. Here the promise is good - an Asian-American heroine, an exotic noodle shop, a cast of Asian-American and American people, and mystery. Then it becomes another regular cozy-comedic-romantic-mystery. :(
Hopefully the next book would be better.
August 12, 2018
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Vivien Chien delivers in her second Noodle Shop Mystery series! From the food to the murder mystery, readers are going to devour this one! I knew after reading the first book in the series that I was going to love it, I just didn't realize how much until this followup! I can't wait for the next one! If you are a fan of culinary cozies and cozies that are jam packed with delicious ethic foods, this is a must have series for you. I very much recommend it.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Vivien Chien delivers in her second Noodle Shop Mystery series! From the food to the murder mystery, readers are going to devour this one! I knew after reading the first book in the series that I was going to love it, I just didn't realize how much until this followup! I can't wait for the next one! If you are a fan of culinary cozies and cozies that are jam packed with delicious ethic foods, this is a must have series for you. I very much recommend it.
October 22, 2020
A new souvenir shop has opened next to Ho-Lee Noodles, the restaurant that Lana Lee’s parents own and where she works. Over the last few weeks, Lana has become friends with Isabelle, one half of the newlyweds who own the new store. That makes it person when Isabelle and Brandon, her husband, are found murdered in the back of their store one morning. Despite warnings to stay out of the investigation, Lana begins to poke around. Can she figure out what happened?
Too many books got in the way of me returning to this series sooner, but I’m glad I was able to revisit the characters. The plot is strong, with plenty of secrets and suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. Lana is a relatable, sympathetic heroine, and I really like her friends as well. There is some room for growth in her relationships with her family, and I hope that happens as the series progresses. There are some spoilers for the first book in the series here, so if you are interested in the series, I definitely recommend you read them in order. I’m glad I got to return to Ho-Lee Noodles, and I hope it isn’t so long before I move on to book three.
Read my full review at .
Too many books got in the way of me returning to this series sooner, but I’m glad I was able to revisit the characters. The plot is strong, with plenty of secrets and suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. Lana is a relatable, sympathetic heroine, and I really like her friends as well. There is some room for growth in her relationships with her family, and I hope that happens as the series progresses. There are some spoilers for the first book in the series here, so if you are interested in the series, I definitely recommend you read them in order. I’m glad I got to return to Ho-Lee Noodles, and I hope it isn’t so long before I move on to book three.
Read my full review at .
February 25, 2020
This was an exciting and savory edition to the Noodle shop mysteries. The friendship and subsequent murder of Lana's friend Isabelle was touching and heart breaking. Lana decides to fight for her friend and catch her and her husbands killer who proves to be a very mysterious and is a problem gambler with a few ex-wives who become suspicious to Lana. Never a dull moment . Looking forward to the next books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2022
I like Lana and her lifestyle. She is a booklover and has a knack for mysteries. So when her friend is murdered (along with her husband), she THINKS ABOUT staying out of it but really doesn't. There were a lot of people involved and I couldn't figure out who I wanted to be the culprit. With all the "clues", I did think the author was going to throw a twist in and make it something else completely. I liked Lana having more responsibility with the restaurant and I hope to see more of her growing in future books!
August 31, 2018
I had some really high hopes for this book because the first one blew me away. So I was really excited to finally read the second book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. What makes this book stand out is the fact that it features an Asian cast as well as a lot of traditions and cultural activities that celebrates Asian culture.
However, what made this book unique in the first place is also its biggest weakness here. Chien still writes a fun story however I felt like the focus of the book wasn’t the mystery. It was more of Lena’s personal struggles as well as anything and everything Asian that she could fit in.
As an Asian person, I greatly appreciate this focus. But so much time had to pass before the real plot of the story began. I really like Lena and can relate to a lot of her personal issues. But she comes across as very immature in this novel. It was to the point where I actually thought I was reading a Young Adult novel instead. All those internal struggles are wonderful to have in a book to accentuate the main storyline, but the mystery felt buried beneath all that and never got a chance to shine. Things took too long to progress and as a result, the book really disappointed me.
I am hoping a tighter pace will happen for the next book or even just a greater focus on the actual mystery of the story because I can see a lot of potential. But without the right kind of attention being made in all the important parts, sadly this book won’t shine with mystery readers.
August 25, 2023
This series is just too good.
October 13, 2022
Lana Lee’s parents take off to Taiwan, leaving her in charge of her family’s Chinese restaurant. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead. Soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery. And, the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple’s past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder.
This was a great cozy mystery with a wonderfully written main character who is a joy to read about. The plot was very intricate, with different clues that confounded me, and I was surprised with the solution in the end. I recommend this story to all cozy mystery lovers.
This was a great cozy mystery with a wonderfully written main character who is a joy to read about. The plot was very intricate, with different clues that confounded me, and I was surprised with the solution in the end. I recommend this story to all cozy mystery lovers.
May 2, 2021
Lana Lee wants too find a job in the office instead of working with her family mom, dad and older sister. But her mom and dad decided they were going to take a visit Tawain to help out with Lana's ailing grandma. So they wanted Lana to be over the restaurant Ho-Lee Noodle House. Anna Mae Lana older did did not like that idea and neither did Lana. The Chinese New Year is about to come up and Lana will have to be the one to trys to keep it together. Brandon and Isabelle are next to Ho -Lee Noodle House a trinket shop. Brandon keeps on leaving his wife Issabelle to do the work all by herself. Brandon keeps on disappearing a whole lot. Something happens and everyone in plaza finds out 30 year old Brandon had already 2 ex wives. I love Mama's mother she is very over protective of Lana but Lana mom knows that she has a head on her shoulder. She just thinks of Lana as young girl. Lana has put named Kikko. This book I pretty good.
October 10, 2024
i really liked this book a lot!! however……�. i was disappointed that isabelle didn’t get much personality in my opinion. half the book i was kinda hoping that there would be some kind of plot twist that showed she could’ve caused this, but there wasn’t. she seemed very flat to me and i think she could’ve been more interesting. that’s just me though!! great book i love this series and have already requested that my library buy the next book 💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2018
Earlier this year I got in on the ground floor of this sweet and sour mystery series and I loved it. The Noodle Shop Mysteries offer something on the exotic side when it comes to cozy mysteries as they have a distinct Asian flare�-if you couldn’t tell from the title!
What I love about Chien’s writing style is that she is to the point and brisk but not so brisk that she’s impersonal. This was just the light murder mystery that I needed as the summer days become shorter.
Obviously this is the second in a series and there are references/spoilers about book one in this latest installment. If that bothers you, read the first book, it was a solid opener and read quickly. If you don’t care about spoiling the first book then read this one, you won’t be lost in the subplots because Chien does a great job orientating her readers in the plot and introducing them to the characters.
I read this book easily in a day. It was light reading and the mystery kept me interested and I loved seeing the different angles and possibilities in this plot. I love Lana as a protagonist. She’s smart, sassy, and I love that her life is basically falling apart in various ways but yet she preservers and keeps on keeping on. I love her and I love how she goes about solving cases.
What I don’t love is the romance between her and Adam. I feel like Adam is indifferent to her and I am just not in love with his character. To be honest, I feel more chemistry between Lana and Ian. Adam just seems to absorbed in his own world, bland, and he doesn’t interact with Lana enough in the story to justify anything other than a basic friendship/budding romance. I get it, their romance is in fact budding, but unless they have some serious time and interaction in the next book, in my opinion Lana needs to move on. I am just not buying them as a couple.
As with the first book, I love the Asian angle of this book. I think it brings a unique niche to a genre saturated with quaint English villages and crumpets. While the culture isn’t the focus of the book, I love how seamlessly it’s woven into the plot. I was craving Chinese food throughout this novel as well…again food isn’t the focus of this book but it plays a large roll and I love it!
This book still hit a solid four stars from me, I just wish the romance had progressed or heated up a little or just went in a new direction all together. I am eager to see what happens to Lana in the next book, hurry up March 2019!
What I love about Chien’s writing style is that she is to the point and brisk but not so brisk that she’s impersonal. This was just the light murder mystery that I needed as the summer days become shorter.
Obviously this is the second in a series and there are references/spoilers about book one in this latest installment. If that bothers you, read the first book, it was a solid opener and read quickly. If you don’t care about spoiling the first book then read this one, you won’t be lost in the subplots because Chien does a great job orientating her readers in the plot and introducing them to the characters.
I read this book easily in a day. It was light reading and the mystery kept me interested and I loved seeing the different angles and possibilities in this plot. I love Lana as a protagonist. She’s smart, sassy, and I love that her life is basically falling apart in various ways but yet she preservers and keeps on keeping on. I love her and I love how she goes about solving cases.
What I don’t love is the romance between her and Adam. I feel like Adam is indifferent to her and I am just not in love with his character. To be honest, I feel more chemistry between Lana and Ian. Adam just seems to absorbed in his own world, bland, and he doesn’t interact with Lana enough in the story to justify anything other than a basic friendship/budding romance. I get it, their romance is in fact budding, but unless they have some serious time and interaction in the next book, in my opinion Lana needs to move on. I am just not buying them as a couple.
As with the first book, I love the Asian angle of this book. I think it brings a unique niche to a genre saturated with quaint English villages and crumpets. While the culture isn’t the focus of the book, I love how seamlessly it’s woven into the plot. I was craving Chinese food throughout this novel as well…again food isn’t the focus of this book but it plays a large roll and I love it!
This book still hit a solid four stars from me, I just wish the romance had progressed or heated up a little or just went in a new direction all together. I am eager to see what happens to Lana in the next book, hurry up March 2019!
November 15, 2018
3.5 stars. Lana’s back, coming across bodies at the Asian Village, and poking her nose into the business of everyone involved in the lives of the latest murder victims, one of whom was a friend. Lana is also managing the restaurant while her parents are in Taiwan, and while grumbling at the responsibility, is doing a competent job. Also, her relationship with Detective Adam Trudeau is proceeding very slowly, much to Lana’s frustration.
Vivian Chien’s second Lana Lee mystery flowed more smoothly and the plot felt more cohesive than book one. I felt like I was hanging out with a friend as soon as I rejoined Lana at the beginning of this book, and I think that, her relationship with her best friend Megan, and her duck-toting pug Kikko, are why I want to read book 3.
Vivian Chien’s second Lana Lee mystery flowed more smoothly and the plot felt more cohesive than book one. I felt like I was hanging out with a friend as soon as I rejoined Lana at the beginning of this book, and I think that, her relationship with her best friend Megan, and her duck-toting pug Kikko, are why I want to read book 3.
May 29, 2019
This is such a great series! I love the setting, the characters and the plots. Lana is starting to grow up and is adulting hard in this one when she's put in charge of Ho-Lee Noodles while her parents travel to China to visit relatives. Granted, she was a bit petulant but in the end, she managed to do a great job at the restaurant while tracking down the person responsible for murdering her friend. A great follow up to the debut, this is definitely a series to watch and I recommend it to all cozy lovers.
October 2, 2022
I’ve had a fun time reading this one, but I wasn’t blown away. I found the ending to be rather obvious and predictable, but I’m curious to see whether the next installment will have some more surprises.
May 21, 2023
I am enjoying this series! I do struggle a bit with the heroine getting shoved into a career she claims not to want but we're probably also moving towards her realizing this type of thing IS what she wants, so I'm willing to roll with it. Also am liking the slow burn romance aspect of it.
February 25, 2021
I enjoy this author very much. Her writing holds your attention from page one. The story is good with a bit of romance .
December 9, 2020
For the second in a series, this book seemed odd. Off. Not any kind of development of ongoing characters. Lana’s parents aren’t around at all after they leave to go to visit Grandmother in Taiwan. Sister Anna May seems to be in professional student mode, still going to college, only appearing as a part time server at the restaurant. Other characters introduced in the first book do make appearances but mostly as filler. Lana’s roommate, Megan, has a fairly consistent presence as both sidekick in investigating and confidante but we still don’t know much about her. Other people working in, or customers of, Asia Village are not much more than one dimensional. With the first novel I was willing to overlook that as everything is often glossed over as characters are introduced. I expected to learn a bit more about fellow business owners this time. The only one given much background is Ian, owner/manager of Asia Village, and he is depicted as more of a villain than a co-worker with personality. Actually, that word may sum up the problem, very few characters have “personality�. They’re the equivalent of cardboard cutouts.
The victims are the couple who run the store next to the Noodle House. The wife is a friend of Lana’s. Using that as the only justification, she dives in to solve the crime. As is often the case with the cozy genre, Lana’s life and problems are as much a part of the story as the murder. These problems include her detective boyfriend seems smitten but has a wall built up to prevent getting close. We can only hope that may be resolved in the next book. It’s not the kind of thing that can realistically drag on.
For a series that started with a lot of potential for me it’s become quite a disappointment. Asia Village is a more prominent “character� than any of the human ones. Not sure that’s the best way to entice readers to pick up the next release.
The victims are the couple who run the store next to the Noodle House. The wife is a friend of Lana’s. Using that as the only justification, she dives in to solve the crime. As is often the case with the cozy genre, Lana’s life and problems are as much a part of the story as the murder. These problems include her detective boyfriend seems smitten but has a wall built up to prevent getting close. We can only hope that may be resolved in the next book. It’s not the kind of thing that can realistically drag on.
For a series that started with a lot of potential for me it’s become quite a disappointment. Asia Village is a more prominent “character� than any of the human ones. Not sure that’s the best way to entice readers to pick up the next release.
August 15, 2019
I enjoyed Dim Sum of All Fears and have been loving the Noodle Shop series as a whole. If you love food, cozy mysteries, and are in the mood for a light, but engaging read, I’d recommend this one! Read
January 5, 2022
3.5
I’m really enjoying the plot/mystery and the interpersonal relationships around the plaza. The only downside is that Lana is still so incredibly immature. I’m hoping that for some character development as a continue in the series
I’m really enjoying the plot/mystery and the interpersonal relationships around the plaza. The only downside is that Lana is still so incredibly immature. I’m hoping that for some character development as a continue in the series
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