Death by Dumpling

A fun palate cleanser, though I found some of the dialogue and characterization a bit cheesy. (We live in the modern era, why is everyone - including the best friend and roommate - so pushy about dating?) That said, I'll probably continue on with the series. Be sure to have some tasty noodles on hand while reading.

This was the first in the Noodle Shop Mysteries and I really enjoyed it. The characters were interesting, there were lots of twists, red herrings and secrets. The Plaza where it all takes place is quirky and like many good cozies; there is a lovable best friend, a pet and a potential love interest.

Vivien Chien started out strong and I think she is now on her 9th Noodle Shop Mystery. I would definitely read more of them.

This one involves Lana Lee who has come home to her parents noodle shop after a bad break up. She settles into a routine and is working, hanging out with her dog, chatting with her roommate and watching too much Netflix.

When a murder happens in the Plaza she is determined to find out who's behind it and begins to uncover the many secrets that have been hidden by the owners of the local shops. Any one of them could be the murderer.

2.5/5

Full disclosure, I mostly read this book because I was curious about cozy mysteries and the character is half Asian with an ethnic mom and a white dad, just like me.

I don't feel fair criticizing the things I want to be critical about in this book because most of them are staples of cozy mystery books. I don't want to sound like I'm shaming people for liking the things that these books are known for.

So, I'll just leave my short and simple thoughts right here: as cute and relatable as this book was, I unfortunately don't think it was for me. It followed what I perceived to be the usual cozy mystery formula with all of the usual cliches and tropes you can expect. There's nothing in this book that surprises or shakes things up. I think the main thing that makes it stand out is the fact that it's Asian. But there's nothing wrong with that! This is a funny, light-hearted, and easy read, and if that's what you're looking for, you'll enjoy this book.

I gave the book an extra half-star for how relatable the main character is to me and the fact that we share the same opinion on the word “oriental.”

There was something missing here for me. The MC reads a little young, she’s 27 and maybe I have forgotten how young that is or she’s a bit immature.

Her mother really wants her to get a boyfriend (I’m so over this trope) and even the MCs best friend wants her to find a boyfriend. Because men solves all problems.

The love interest is detective Trudeau so my brain flashed an image of Justin Trudeau every time he was on the page and it was not good. I found him annoying and obsessive and treated her as a child, they’ve just met a few times and of course he has treated her as a suspect at first and then he’s just telling her what to do and gets angry she doesn’t. One times he catches her and her best friend sleuthing and starts yelling at the MC and when her best friend tells him off, “Don’t even get me started on you, young lady.” Half expected her to shout back, “You’re not my dad, you can’t tell me what to do!” but luckily that didn’t happen.

Not much of a mystery or sleuthing and what I want from a cozy mystery, is a mystery, I’m always looking for a puzzle.