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. . .[summary via Amazon]
After reading a string of cozy mysteries that fit into the library/bookstore sub-genre, I'm taking a change of scenery with a culinary cozy mystery. First up is the second book in the Noodle Shop Mysteries, Dim Sum of All Fears.
Lana Lee is trying to start her own life, away from her family's restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House. However, her parents have their own ideas when they visit Taiwan, leaving Lana Lee in charge of Ho-Lee. If it's not enough to manage the restaurant and avoid arguments with her sister, Lana Lee becomes embroiled in a murder investigation, when the owners of the shop next door are found dead.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Death by Dumpling. Vivien Chien brings a new voice to the world of cozy mysteries, with her series being set in a Chinese restaurant, in Cleveland, with a Chinese amateur sleuth.
I love the atmosphere at Ho-Lee. There is absolutely always something going on! If it's not the Majong Matrons gossiping, then its Lana and Anna May having one of their legendary arguments! It feels like the kind of place that you could sit, eat noodles and people watch all day!!
The mystery is filled with a lot of drama. It involves neighbours, Brandon and Isabelle. Lana was becoming friends with newcomer, Isabelle, and the death of her friend hits her hard. Despite her best intentions she can't resist getting involved in the investigation. There is a lot Lana didn't know about her neighbours, and it is interesting as she untangles the mystery and finds out more from their past.
From beginning to end, Dim Sum of All Fears was an enjoyable to read. It's easy to get caught up in the gossip and drama that surround both the mystery and Asia Village. I highly recommend this series for fans of culinary cozies, and new readers to the genre. It is best described as Crazy Rich Asians meets Miss Marple, and the result is the best cozy mystery ever.
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