Death By Dumpling: A Noodle Shop Mystery

Written by Vivien Chien

Narrated by Cheryl May

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 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JournalStone Publishing
• Release date: Jan 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781987136791

Vivien Chien

VIVIEN CHIEN (she/her) 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. When she’s not writing, Vivien enjoys frequenting local Asian restaurants, frolicking in bookstores, and searching for her next donut. She is the author of the Noodle Shop Mystery series, including Death by Dumpling and Misfortune Cookie, which was nominated for the Lilian Jackson Braun Award.

Reviews for Death By Dumpling

[Taffanie Ben · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Story was okay, narration was the worst I’ve ever heard

[green thunder · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun and easy listening. I found this book after looking up books similar to Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P Manansala. Cozy mysteries are a new genre for me and I’m happy to have a new series to explore. Not a huge fan of the narrator’s voices (especially for the love interest- he sounds like he has a pack a day smoking habit) but it’s not a deal breaker. I will be moving in to the next book and would recommend to those looking for something similar to Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries.

[Doris Jarquin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was so fun! A cozy mystery and a good time

[Laura Corsi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a bit of a slow start for me, but about halfway through the action really took off and I got sucked in. I may even give Vivien Chien's second installment in this series a try. So glad Lana did not end up with Ian! Phew!

[Latika · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a proper comfort cozy mystery. The stakes are never as high as in a thriller, the plot beats are simple (I could see the plot reveals pretty much right from the beginning) and it all came together in a fairly simple and satisfying manner. This is probably not the story you remember, but it is one that'll bring comfort to readers of this genre.

[Anna · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a super fun little cozy mystery. The family at the center of the story was so fun and the support characters added a lot of good moments. As far as the mystery, it was a fun one to follow and not immediately guessable.

[Dannie Claycomb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a pallet cleanse for me. It was a good story with a straightforward plot that allowed me to enjoy it without having to keep facts and details straight about the world and characters. The main character is relatable and the mystery draws you in. It’s a good story and I appreciated getting to read her work.

[Manal Osmally · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"People will surprise you, Lana. When they are hurt, they will blame anybody for anything. Remember that.”

[Susan Terendy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this light, fun murder mystery. Although this takes place in an Asian mall in Ohio it resembled every Asian mall I've ever been in which made it feel realistic. The characters were quirky and interesting and the identity of the killer surprised me in the end. This wasn't a taxing read by any means and was a relaxing listen. I'll be continuing this series when I need a break from the darker books I usually favour. I appreciated hearing the pronunciations of the names and the different accents. I didn't love the narrator's gruff voice for the police detective. It seems like he may be a potential love interest for Lana but the voice was not sexy at all. He sounded like a grumpy old man! Despite this the overall narration was fine and I enjoyed listening to this one instead of reading a written copy.

[Deborah Rosenblum · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I bet this is a good book, but the narration made me angry. Actually angry. My theory is that Cheryl May is blackmailing Vivien Chen. That's why she keeps getting hired but doesn't feel compelled to do a good job. And the worst part is she seems talented. She does great with the dialogue, though her accents are uneven. The problem is she didn't prepare. So, there are these long pauses in the middle of sentences. My theory is that that's where the line ends and she has to find her place. Also commas. She takes very literally the idea that you pause at a comma.

I imagine that there are thousands of actresses who would have done better and would have come prepared enough to not stumble through the narrative. Unfortunately Vivien l Vien hasn't hired any of them for this book or any of the subsequent books. Which leads me to conclude that May has something on her.

[Brycen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So good. This story grabbed me from the start. Highly recommend this series.

[Faithy Dickerson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A funny mystery that will keep you guessing and laughing.