What do you think?
Rate this book
Noodle Shop Mystery #10
Peking Duck and Cover
Lana Lee and friends return for a fiery Chinese New Year celebration that rattles their quaint community. After all, an Asia Village party wouldn’t be complete without an explosive finale.
Chinese New Year is supposed to be a time of fresh beginnings and celebrations of good fortune to come. Naturally, the shop owners of Asia Village jump at the chance to support property manager Ian Sung when he suggests creating a memorable holiday event that will bring positive light to the plaza, and prosperity for all those involved.
With Lana Lee as his right-hand woman and head event planner, Ian orchestrates an extravagant evening filled with music, live entertainment, and generous giveaways. But at the end of the night, during an elaborate firework show in the parking lot, a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead backstage with a single bullet hole through the heart and a red envelope in their pocket containing four one-dollar bills―an omen of death.
Ian Sung takes it upon himself, again enlisting Lana’s help, to find out who could have killed the talented dancer right under their nose.
Chinese New Year is supposed to be a time of fresh beginnings and celebrations of good fortune to come. Naturally, the shop owners of Asia Village jump at the chance to support property manager Ian Sung when he suggests creating a memorable holiday event that will bring positive light to the plaza, and prosperity for all those involved.
With Lana Lee as his right-hand woman and head event planner, Ian orchestrates an extravagant evening filled with music, live entertainment, and generous giveaways. But at the end of the night, during an elaborate firework show in the parking lot, a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead backstage with a single bullet hole through the heart and a red envelope in their pocket containing four one-dollar bills―an omen of death.
Ian Sung takes it upon himself, again enlisting Lana’s help, to find out who could have killed the talented dancer right under their nose.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2024
86 people are currently reading
4793 people want to read
About the author
Vivien Chien
24 books1,665 followersVivien 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
April 11, 2024
Lana Lee is back, managing her parents' Asian restaurant in Ohio, and helping to organize a big event. A Chinese dance troupe is scheduled to entertain, but then there is a shocking murder. Several people know of Lana's past success investigating, and ask her to help. There are so many suspects, and her search includes many people who knew the victim. Are they telling the truth? There's a sinister development with a red envelope whose significance is recognized by those in the Chinese community. Likeable characters and an interesting plot make this novel part of a series that I look forward to reading. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
December 21, 2024
pre-read: Miss. Lana Lee, I'm excited to have another adventure with you. I really hope Adam is in this book more.
post-read: Lana Lee, I always enjoy reading you and your chaotic adventures. As much as I love this series and I will continue reading it, I’m much more invested in her personal life and relationship more than the actual mysteries (although this one was one of the better ones in recent books).
post-read: Lana Lee, I always enjoy reading you and your chaotic adventures. As much as I love this series and I will continue reading it, I’m much more invested in her personal life and relationship more than the actual mysteries (although this one was one of the better ones in recent books).
June 26, 2025
Peking Duck and Cover is another entertaining read from the noodle shop series. The property manager of Asia Village wants to go big for Lunar New Year and asks Lana to be the event planner. A traditional lion dance will be the highlight along with delicious food. At the end of the evening, one of the dancers is found shot. Lana’s investigation instincts kick in right away with the encouragement of everyone but her mother (of course).Adam, Lana’s law enforcement boyfriend stands by for support. Her questions lead her back to The Garter Belt (I love the creative names of places) where secrets hide. Another murder is solved and I’m looking forward to the next in this fun series.
July 20, 2024
Dollycas's Thoughts
It's almost Chinese New Year and Asia Village manager Ian Sung has tasked Lana Lee to help him put together a lavish event to celebrate the time of new beginnings and the good fortune the day promises. The night will be filled with music, giveaways, fireworks, and live entertainment. Lana has reviewed the plans several times to be sure the holiday affair comes together as planned.
Unfortunately, the evening ends with a bang and not from the fireworks. One member of the lion dance performance team is dead with the omen of death in their pocket, a red envelope holding four one-dollar bills.
Ian along with property owner Donna Feng demands that Lana "do her thing" and find the killer as soon as possible and bring them to justice. She eventually agrees and her BFF Megan agrees to help. Adam isn't happy but they come to an understanding - Don't interfere with him directly and that if anyone asks he didn't approve of her endeavor.
______
All my favorite characters are back in this latest installment of the Noodle Shop Mysteries. Again Lana has her hands full we know she can handle it. Her relationship with Fairview Park Police Detective Adam Trudeau is moving along nicely. He knows people open up and tell her things they wouldn't tell him and that she has a great record of solving crimes so he accepts her efforts to investigate. I enjoy how they share their findings with each other, hypothetically, of course. I liked that Adam's partner Higgins was more present in this story. He is a little bit older than Adam and a really cool guy. With the holiday we are treated to more fun with the Lee family and the Mahjong Matrons are back too. Kimmy's relationship with Peter is going well but she has a secret. Megan is a stellar best friend and has Lana's back no matter what. She may also have a new love interest. The author creates such genuine characters and she allows them to develop naturally. I find myself easily getting caught up in whatever is happening in their lives.
Right now, their lives include a shocking murder. Lana is more confident and I enjoyed following her follow the clues. The pieces of Chinese traditions and customs played well in the mystery and the story as a whole. I found them very interesting. There were several suspects but the clues lined up for me a short time before they did for Lana. Her idea to flush out the killer was a great one. One statement told her exactly what she needed to know but the showdown didn't go exactly as planned. Lana found herself in the middle of a dire situation and excitement ensued. I loved every minute of the sensational takedown. Thank goodness for the eyeball dance!
I can't forget that Lana's cute little pug Kikkoman (Kikko) is back too fresh off his adventures in Gone to Hot Pot where Kikko was at the Plaza. It's a secret, so don't tell Lana.
Peking Duck and Cover is a fun, entertaining, and at times tense cozy mystery and a magnificent addition to this wonderful series. I highly recommend it to all cozy mystery lovers. Vivien Chien grabbed me with her first book, Death by Dumpling, and each book after has been a must-read. I am thrilled that The Chow Maniac will be released on April 1, 2025, and that is no April Fool!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
It's almost Chinese New Year and Asia Village manager Ian Sung has tasked Lana Lee to help him put together a lavish event to celebrate the time of new beginnings and the good fortune the day promises. The night will be filled with music, giveaways, fireworks, and live entertainment. Lana has reviewed the plans several times to be sure the holiday affair comes together as planned.
Unfortunately, the evening ends with a bang and not from the fireworks. One member of the lion dance performance team is dead with the omen of death in their pocket, a red envelope holding four one-dollar bills.
Ian along with property owner Donna Feng demands that Lana "do her thing" and find the killer as soon as possible and bring them to justice. She eventually agrees and her BFF Megan agrees to help. Adam isn't happy but they come to an understanding - Don't interfere with him directly and that if anyone asks he didn't approve of her endeavor.
______
All my favorite characters are back in this latest installment of the Noodle Shop Mysteries. Again Lana has her hands full we know she can handle it. Her relationship with Fairview Park Police Detective Adam Trudeau is moving along nicely. He knows people open up and tell her things they wouldn't tell him and that she has a great record of solving crimes so he accepts her efforts to investigate. I enjoy how they share their findings with each other, hypothetically, of course. I liked that Adam's partner Higgins was more present in this story. He is a little bit older than Adam and a really cool guy. With the holiday we are treated to more fun with the Lee family and the Mahjong Matrons are back too. Kimmy's relationship with Peter is going well but she has a secret. Megan is a stellar best friend and has Lana's back no matter what. She may also have a new love interest. The author creates such genuine characters and she allows them to develop naturally. I find myself easily getting caught up in whatever is happening in their lives.
Right now, their lives include a shocking murder. Lana is more confident and I enjoyed following her follow the clues. The pieces of Chinese traditions and customs played well in the mystery and the story as a whole. I found them very interesting. There were several suspects but the clues lined up for me a short time before they did for Lana. Her idea to flush out the killer was a great one. One statement told her exactly what she needed to know but the showdown didn't go exactly as planned. Lana found herself in the middle of a dire situation and excitement ensued. I loved every minute of the sensational takedown. Thank goodness for the eyeball dance!
I can't forget that Lana's cute little pug Kikkoman (Kikko) is back too fresh off his adventures in Gone to Hot Pot where Kikko was at the Plaza. It's a secret, so don't tell Lana.
Peking Duck and Cover is a fun, entertaining, and at times tense cozy mystery and a magnificent addition to this wonderful series. I highly recommend it to all cozy mystery lovers. Vivien Chien grabbed me with her first book, Death by Dumpling, and each book after has been a must-read. I am thrilled that The Chow Maniac will be released on April 1, 2025, and that is no April Fool!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
August 31, 2024
One of my favorite cozy series has another entry. Lana Lee is mostly in charge of the big Chinese New Year celebration at the Asian Plaza. There's a lion dance combo that is having some problems, but not that big of problems, but someone gets murdered anyway.
There are functionaries and the press at the event, so everybody wants Lana to investigate, and everybody wants to "help."
Lana has to navigate through this new "helpful" environment to find the killer.
Pretty good. The subplot with her sister is moving along a little, too.
There are functionaries and the press at the event, so everybody wants Lana to investigate, and everybody wants to "help."
Lana has to navigate through this new "helpful" environment to find the killer.
Pretty good. The subplot with her sister is moving along a little, too.
June 15, 2024
"Peking Duck and Cover (Noodle Shop Mystery #10)" by Vivien Chien had Lana helping to organize a Lunar New Year celebration at the Asian Village. I really don't get why they let her organize anything anymore, there's always a disaster. True, none are her fault but she sure has some bad juju following her around. At least one cop says she probably shouldn't throw anymore events.
This one does have mention of public shootings, if that's something that may bother you. The mystery in this one revolves around the passing of one of the lion dancers. Lana is asked by pretty everyone but her family to investigate because they're worried about the impact on the Asian Village. I have to say, in the short period of time that Lana has been working at her family's restaurant again and back at the Asian Village their reputation has got to be pretty bad already with all the death that's been going on, this one isn't going to change where that's headed already.
This one does have mention of public shootings, if that's something that may bother you. The mystery in this one revolves around the passing of one of the lion dancers. Lana is asked by pretty everyone but her family to investigate because they're worried about the impact on the Asian Village. I have to say, in the short period of time that Lana has been working at her family's restaurant again and back at the Asian Village their reputation has got to be pretty bad already with all the death that's been going on, this one isn't going to change where that's headed already.
July 20, 2024
This is the tenth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series featuring Lana Lee who manages her family's restaurant in Cleveland's Asia Village. Lana is in charge of planning a Chinese New Year celebration, which will be the largest party ever held at Asia Village. All her hard work pays off and the event gets off to a great start...until someone is killed. Lana is determined to find the killer to save the reputation of the Village and get justice for the victim.
The information the author shares about the customs and traditions associated with Chinese New Year really elevated this book for me. I learned a lot while being entertained from the details of the public celebration as well as Lana's family dinner. There was awkwardness between Lana and her sister Anna May over a secret Anna seems to be keeping. Anna has always been my least favorite character in this series and this unresolved subplot did nothing for the story.
Overall, this series just keeps going strong with Lana becoming more and more confident as a woman as well as an amateur sleuth. The investigation kept my interest with Lana getting the assist from both her roommate Megan and her childhood friend, Kimmy. I enjoy Lana's friendships and have always liked Megan. Kimmy has really grown on me as the series has progressed and I appreciated her contributions to the story. I am liking Lana's relationship with her police detective boyfriend, Adam Trudeau, since he worries about her but also supports her investigations. I love Adam's involvement in the book's dramatic and satisfying ending. 4.5 stars
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
The information the author shares about the customs and traditions associated with Chinese New Year really elevated this book for me. I learned a lot while being entertained from the details of the public celebration as well as Lana's family dinner. There was awkwardness between Lana and her sister Anna May over a secret Anna seems to be keeping. Anna has always been my least favorite character in this series and this unresolved subplot did nothing for the story.
Overall, this series just keeps going strong with Lana becoming more and more confident as a woman as well as an amateur sleuth. The investigation kept my interest with Lana getting the assist from both her roommate Megan and her childhood friend, Kimmy. I enjoy Lana's friendships and have always liked Megan. Kimmy has really grown on me as the series has progressed and I appreciated her contributions to the story. I am liking Lana's relationship with her police detective boyfriend, Adam Trudeau, since he worries about her but also supports her investigations. I love Adam's involvement in the book's dramatic and satisfying ending. 4.5 stars
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
July 28, 2024
3.5 Lana is just not the most likeable main character. I'm tired of her body shaming herself and her kind of wishy washy towards Adam. We are on book 9 commit fully or move on. The mystery was really good. I guessed who it was early on cause I'm really good at guessing who in Cozy mysteries at this point. I !I've her bestie, peter , and I liked Kimmy in this book too. Can't wait for our new shop to open on Asian village! And I know cozy mysteries lean pro cop but it was in writing about how they try their best. No, people with guns should always do their best. Love all the food descriptions I dare you to not want Chinese by the end of the book.
December 21, 2024
I have enjoyed this series from the start. The plots are well thought out and fun to read. The characters, Lana, her family, friends, the Mahjong ladies etc are all personable and likable. Except for her Neanderthal detective boyfriend Adam. I cringe every time he calls her "doll" or "babe". For a strong Asian woman to accept such derogatory terms, while she tells Ian he "sets feminism back 30 years" is hypocritical & I took a star off my rating for it. Adam doesn't even take her out, just comes over with pizza, wings and beer & sleeps in her bed. Here's hoping she dumps him for a guy that respects and supports her. At least Ian apologizes when abrupt, then he brings her donuts!
August 19, 2024
Lana is helping plan the Lunar New Year's celebration at Asia Village when one of the lion dancers is murdered. It's an inauspicious way to start the new year and everyone is counting on Lana to solve the case before the community's reputation is ruined forever.
4.5 stars.
This book is up there with Killer Kung Pao as my favourite book in this longstanding cozy mystery series. I loved how the title of the book, Peking Duck and Cover, actually had some sort of link to the book itself. The Peking duck was presented early on when Lana's family is having dinner to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the duck and catfish dishes were supposed to be a sign of good fortune and celebrate good company. The fact that the dishes were presented before Asia Village's celebration, and therefore the impending murder, was a fun way to foreshadow that they were going to need all of the good fortune they could get.
It took a while for the murder to happen, but I didn't mind at all because I thought the build-up leading to the New Year's celebration was well-done. You can feel how busy the community is as they're preparing and the world felt lived-in. I truly believed there was a New Year's celebration going on and the craziness that comes along with it.
And the cast of characters in this murder felt real because they were all messy and imperfect. There wasn't a single person who seemed too good to be true so it made me really question who was the murderer, and why did they do it? The victim was Rhonda Hong and the suspects included her own brother David; David's fiancée and Rhonda's future sister-in-law Angela; Nelson, the employee supplying the tables and chairs to the event who used to be part of Rhonda's dance troupe; Christine, Rhonda's co-worker at a gentleman's club; and Jax, Rhonda's regular who was apparently obsessed with her.
So who actually did it and why?
I'm usually disappointed by the murderer's reveal and how they're arrested. This wasn't entirely the case for this book. Yet again, I think the murderer revealed themselves when they didn't have to. In this context, it kind of made more sense? And I liked how the murderer's apprehension was dragged out, rather than ending abruptly like other cozy mysteries.
However, like Killer Kung Pao, this book was so close to being perfect in my eyes, but there were little things that didn't sit well with me.
Let's start with the petty complaints first.
I pointed my chopsticks at him (pg. 65). I was surprised the author included this line because pointing at someone with your chopsticks is a huge no-no. Even raised in a mixed household, this would have been drilled into Lana as a young child.
Then I found a grammar mistake.
"So now what?" Megan asked.
The three words that Megan must have said more than anyone else I knew (pg. 87).
I read that part over and over again and didn't understand what the author intended to say until I realized it wasn't me. The sentence is off.
And this is an ongoing issue I have with this series, but I can't stand how many times different characters across each one of these books will smack their foreheads when they've realized they've forgotten/overlooked something. In Peking Duck, there were 5 instances of characters smacking their foreheads and 2 instances of people wanting to smack themselves. I feel like this is something Vivien Chien does that she's subconsciously made all of her characters do too. My only regret was not jotting each instance to prove my point, but the forehead-smacking was fairly spaced apart and when the idea of documenting came to mind, I didn't feel like going back and looking for the other previous examples. You just have to believe me on this.
Now, the three criticisms I have listed are petty and I would have given this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the real issue I had with this book. The only character in this book to bring up the unreliability of police officers, and vaguely allude to police brutality and the corrupt American legal system, is deemed unstable and a bad person for not trusting cops.
I flared my nostrils. "Why don't you trust cops? You never did give a reason."
"Have you watched the news?" [David Hong] said, stretching his arms out. "Or how about any murder documentary ever made in history of ever?"
I pursed my lips. "That's not the best reason."
"Maybe not for you," he said, lifting his chin. "But it is for me. I've seen how this kind of thing goes. You try to help the cops by telling them all this stuff, giving them the details they need. And before long, they're looking at you like you're the one that did it because they can't find anybody else. They want to wrap everything up in a neat little bow." (pg. 263)
...
[Lana Lee] couldn't tell if he was really this jaded or was putting on the best acting of his life. I wasn't naive and knew well enough that the police took a lot of flak, but I didn't think it was deserved as a whole (pg. 264).
Is Vivien Chien related to a cop? Is she dating one? I know something a character says or does doesn't reflect the author's beliefs, but David mentioned something very valid in the most tamed way possible, and Lana gets so defensive. As I've said in many other reviews: acab, acab, acab.
A perfect documentary to watch where the police were found guilty of framing an innocent man of murder is called Long Shot. And those bastards didn't suffer any consequences and are still working to this day. And then there's countless footage that's constantly being released where cops will kill unarmed citizens just because. That scene between David and Lana was too bothersome to ignore.
So close... but I'll be checking out the next book in the series in the hopes it will earn a 5-star rating.
4.5 stars.
This book is up there with Killer Kung Pao as my favourite book in this longstanding cozy mystery series. I loved how the title of the book, Peking Duck and Cover, actually had some sort of link to the book itself. The Peking duck was presented early on when Lana's family is having dinner to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the duck and catfish dishes were supposed to be a sign of good fortune and celebrate good company. The fact that the dishes were presented before Asia Village's celebration, and therefore the impending murder, was a fun way to foreshadow that they were going to need all of the good fortune they could get.
It took a while for the murder to happen, but I didn't mind at all because I thought the build-up leading to the New Year's celebration was well-done. You can feel how busy the community is as they're preparing and the world felt lived-in. I truly believed there was a New Year's celebration going on and the craziness that comes along with it.
And the cast of characters in this murder felt real because they were all messy and imperfect. There wasn't a single person who seemed too good to be true so it made me really question who was the murderer, and why did they do it? The victim was Rhonda Hong and the suspects included her own brother David; David's fiancée and Rhonda's future sister-in-law Angela; Nelson, the employee supplying the tables and chairs to the event who used to be part of Rhonda's dance troupe; Christine, Rhonda's co-worker at a gentleman's club; and Jax, Rhonda's regular who was apparently obsessed with her.
So who actually did it and why?
I'm usually disappointed by the murderer's reveal and how they're arrested. This wasn't entirely the case for this book. Yet again, I think the murderer revealed themselves when they didn't have to. In this context, it kind of made more sense? And I liked how the murderer's apprehension was dragged out, rather than ending abruptly like other cozy mysteries.
However, like Killer Kung Pao, this book was so close to being perfect in my eyes, but there were little things that didn't sit well with me.
Let's start with the petty complaints first.
I pointed my chopsticks at him (pg. 65). I was surprised the author included this line because pointing at someone with your chopsticks is a huge no-no. Even raised in a mixed household, this would have been drilled into Lana as a young child.
Then I found a grammar mistake.
"So now what?" Megan asked.
The three words that Megan must have said more than anyone else I knew (pg. 87).
I read that part over and over again and didn't understand what the author intended to say until I realized it wasn't me. The sentence is off.
And this is an ongoing issue I have with this series, but I can't stand how many times different characters across each one of these books will smack their foreheads when they've realized they've forgotten/overlooked something. In Peking Duck, there were 5 instances of characters smacking their foreheads and 2 instances of people wanting to smack themselves. I feel like this is something Vivien Chien does that she's subconsciously made all of her characters do too. My only regret was not jotting each instance to prove my point, but the forehead-smacking was fairly spaced apart and when the idea of documenting came to mind, I didn't feel like going back and looking for the other previous examples. You just have to believe me on this.
Now, the three criticisms I have listed are petty and I would have given this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the real issue I had with this book. The only character in this book to bring up the unreliability of police officers, and vaguely allude to police brutality and the corrupt American legal system, is deemed unstable and a bad person for not trusting cops.
I flared my nostrils. "Why don't you trust cops? You never did give a reason."
"Have you watched the news?" [David Hong] said, stretching his arms out. "Or how about any murder documentary ever made in history of ever?"
I pursed my lips. "That's not the best reason."
"Maybe not for you," he said, lifting his chin. "But it is for me. I've seen how this kind of thing goes. You try to help the cops by telling them all this stuff, giving them the details they need. And before long, they're looking at you like you're the one that did it because they can't find anybody else. They want to wrap everything up in a neat little bow." (pg. 263)
...
[Lana Lee] couldn't tell if he was really this jaded or was putting on the best acting of his life. I wasn't naive and knew well enough that the police took a lot of flak, but I didn't think it was deserved as a whole (pg. 264).
Is Vivien Chien related to a cop? Is she dating one? I know something a character says or does doesn't reflect the author's beliefs, but David mentioned something very valid in the most tamed way possible, and Lana gets so defensive. As I've said in many other reviews: acab, acab, acab.
A perfect documentary to watch where the police were found guilty of framing an innocent man of murder is called Long Shot. And those bastards didn't suffer any consequences and are still working to this day. And then there's countless footage that's constantly being released where cops will kill unarmed citizens just because. That scene between David and Lana was too bothersome to ignore.
So close... but I'll be checking out the next book in the series in the hopes it will earn a 5-star rating.
August 21, 2024
It's Chinese New Year and Lana Lee has been extremely busy managing Ho-Lee Noodle House and organizing a celebration to take place at Asian Village. The head event planner, Ian Sung, has decided there will be music, a lion dance performance and a raffle. Lana, as his second in command, is eager for the day of the event, but also a little annoyed with Ian, who often leaves Lana with most of the less interesting part of the project, as well as constantly pestering her about the schedule.
Lana is more grounded and confident in this novel, especially after her experience at the food conference and her relationship with Anna May (both in the previous book in this series), so when calamity strikes, and one of the lion dancers is shot dead, she's thinking about investigating, and except for her mother, others in her life support her in her efforts.
She unearths a mess of relationships, resentments, and secrets surrounding the dead woman, her brother, and various past and current partners. That someone threatened Lana as she got closer to the solution shocked her, but also was extra motivation to find the actual killer through clues and her conversations with everyone surrounding the dead woman.
I really enjoy this series, and Vivien Chien's writing, which does a great job of making me love Lana, telling us what we need to know about the other characters, and also reveals clues in such a way that we have fun following along with Lana, but also allows us to solve the murder with her. Lana continues to be a fun character, and I love her investigative team of Megan and Kimmy, and Kikkoman, or Kikko, continues to be a cutie.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Lana is more grounded and confident in this novel, especially after her experience at the food conference and her relationship with Anna May (both in the previous book in this series), so when calamity strikes, and one of the lion dancers is shot dead, she's thinking about investigating, and except for her mother, others in her life support her in her efforts.
She unearths a mess of relationships, resentments, and secrets surrounding the dead woman, her brother, and various past and current partners. That someone threatened Lana as she got closer to the solution shocked her, but also was extra motivation to find the actual killer through clues and her conversations with everyone surrounding the dead woman.
I really enjoy this series, and Vivien Chien's writing, which does a great job of making me love Lana, telling us what we need to know about the other characters, and also reveals clues in such a way that we have fun following along with Lana, but also allows us to solve the murder with her. Lana continues to be a fun character, and I love her investigative team of Megan and Kimmy, and Kikkoman, or Kikko, continues to be a cutie.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 21, 2025
For Chinese New Year, Asia Village is creating a memorable holiday event that will bring positive light to the plaza, and prosperity for all those involved. But during the celebration, a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead backstage with a single bullet hole through the heart and a red envelope in their pocket containing four one-dollar bills, an omen of death. Lana Lee is asked to help find the murderer before someone else dies.
This was a great installment to a wonderful series that always makes me crave Chinese food. All of the characters are wonderful to read about, and the plot is twisty enough to keep me guessing and I never figure out who the culprit is until the big reveal in the end. I can't wait to read the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
This was a great installment to a wonderful series that always makes me crave Chinese food. All of the characters are wonderful to read about, and the plot is twisty enough to keep me guessing and I never figure out who the culprit is until the big reveal in the end. I can't wait to read the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
December 29, 2024
Solid entry in a good series. My favorite thing? That Lana embraces her inner detective and makes no apologies for wanting to investigate. This seems to be a recent trend in cozies and I'm all for it. I also enjoyed the information about Lunar New Year. Wonderful series.
December 21, 2024
Oh, this book just didn't wow me for several reasons. The mystery is too predictable, and they were not predictable early on in the series. I'm very much over Adam calling protagonist, Lana, "doll" in this series. I find it creepy - not romantic. And I don't know what other readers think, but as their relationship progresses, it seems Lana is becoming more dependent on Adam for a feeling of security or protection, to the point where we see Adam basically turn into an angry ball of aggression towards another male character. I'd be concerned seeing that behaviour from a police detective. Are we not yet past the point where women need some sort of angry guy by their side to feel secure? Lastly, the police procedure in this book is basically a joke. I know cosy mysteries often play fast and loose with police procedure, but if a major crime occurs, the police are not going to leave the scene overnight before investigating it. Talk about crime scene management.
In this book, and the previous book, Lana's character development has gone backwards. And that's not a good thing for a series.
What I did like is the book returns to the Asia Village shopping centre. We have familiar characters, who are more consistent than the protagonist, and I think the books work better in this setting. I also think the protagonist needs those characters to bounce off in the scenes.
Still, this didn't wow me. I still like the series overall, and I will definitely read every book in the series, but I hope the author finds a way to return Lana into a strong and independent character.
In this book, and the previous book, Lana's character development has gone backwards. And that's not a good thing for a series.
What I did like is the book returns to the Asia Village shopping centre. We have familiar characters, who are more consistent than the protagonist, and I think the books work better in this setting. I also think the protagonist needs those characters to bounce off in the scenes.
Still, this didn't wow me. I still like the series overall, and I will definitely read every book in the series, but I hope the author finds a way to return Lana into a strong and independent character.
April 19, 2024
Lana has solved nine murders already, so why not make it an even ten? This time, she's been roped into organizing the Asian Village's Chinese New Year celebration and things are looking up. She's come to a new understanding with herself and her cop boyfriend about her sleuthing, but hopes she doesn't have to put it into practice. But when the lion dance troop show is interrupted, she and her boyfriend rush back to find that one member has been murdered. So, Lana is on the case again. This delightful series never fails to entertain! I'm already looking forward to the next one!
I did absolutely love this. But what's with Joe calling Lana "doll" all of the sudden and so often? It was weird. Has he done that before and I just missed it? And Lana needs to tell Ian where to stuff it. Ug. But I loved the rest and can't wait for a resolution with Anna May.
I did absolutely love this. But what's with Joe calling Lana "doll" all of the sudden and so often? It was weird. Has he done that before and I just missed it? And Lana needs to tell Ian where to stuff it. Ug. But I loved the rest and can't wait for a resolution with Anna May.
August 6, 2024
Still going strong!
I love this series from the food mentioned to the murders. I can always guarantee I am in for a good read when I open a Vivien Chien book.
I love this series from the food mentioned to the murders. I can always guarantee I am in for a good read when I open a Vivien Chien book.
September 13, 2024
These books have got me in a chokehold I don’t mind dying from.
August 7, 2024
'Peking Duck and Cover' is book 10 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien. This is the series that hooked me on cozy mysteries! Lana Lee, her family, and friends stumble onto trouble while planning a holiday event in the plaza where their family restaurant is located. Throw in the holidays, murder, and messy family dynamics, and Lana quickly finds herself searching for a killer.
.
Lana Lee, her friends, and family are getting ready for a big Chinese New Year celebration at Asia Village. All the shop owners plan on participating to bring positive light, prosperity, and good fortune to all those who own businesses and those who plan on visiting. Ian Sung, the manager of Asia Village, has big plans full of giveaways, entertainment, and music, which is of course capped off with a firework show paired with a local lion dance performance group. Lana Lee is roped in as the head event planner, leaving her busting to fill all of Ian's requirements.
.
Lana can't shake the feeling of dread that follows her in the days leading up to the festival. When all that's left is the fireworks and lion dance performance, she believes that all is well. Her hopes crash when a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead backstage. Rumors run rampant through Asia Village, confusing Lana and her friends as they try to find motive and the killer.
.
I enjoyed watching Lana and her friends grow throughout this book. They have found their stride, working together, and searching for the person putting their community at risk. I can't wait for the next book!
- Stephanie, Information Services
.
Lana Lee, her friends, and family are getting ready for a big Chinese New Year celebration at Asia Village. All the shop owners plan on participating to bring positive light, prosperity, and good fortune to all those who own businesses and those who plan on visiting. Ian Sung, the manager of Asia Village, has big plans full of giveaways, entertainment, and music, which is of course capped off with a firework show paired with a local lion dance performance group. Lana Lee is roped in as the head event planner, leaving her busting to fill all of Ian's requirements.
.
Lana can't shake the feeling of dread that follows her in the days leading up to the festival. When all that's left is the fireworks and lion dance performance, she believes that all is well. Her hopes crash when a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead backstage. Rumors run rampant through Asia Village, confusing Lana and her friends as they try to find motive and the killer.
.
I enjoyed watching Lana and her friends grow throughout this book. They have found their stride, working together, and searching for the person putting their community at risk. I can't wait for the next book!
- Stephanie, Information Services
May 14, 2024
There are fireworks in more than one way when Lana Lee helps host Chinese New Year celebrations in Cleveland's Asia Village.
The cast of the delightful Noodle Shop Mysteries is back at it again with another stellar addition, expanding the universe of characters even further with this book. I genuinely wish that I could be a fly on the wall at the Zodiac Bar while Megan bartends with Kimmy and Lana in the crowd.
When the newest murder threatens the livelihood of Asia Village itself, Lana knows that it's up to her to get the stories that people wouldn't otherwise tell cops like her boyfriend Adam. I adore the fact that the author never shies away from the reality of life, with Lana's boyfriend often spending the night and the characters indulging in more than just one drink.
Without spoiling much, I am beyond happy that Megan now has a potential love interest too.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book for free and provide my honest opinion.
The cast of the delightful Noodle Shop Mysteries is back at it again with another stellar addition, expanding the universe of characters even further with this book. I genuinely wish that I could be a fly on the wall at the Zodiac Bar while Megan bartends with Kimmy and Lana in the crowd.
When the newest murder threatens the livelihood of Asia Village itself, Lana knows that it's up to her to get the stories that people wouldn't otherwise tell cops like her boyfriend Adam. I adore the fact that the author never shies away from the reality of life, with Lana's boyfriend often spending the night and the characters indulging in more than just one drink.
Without spoiling much, I am beyond happy that Megan now has a potential love interest too.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book for free and provide my honest opinion.
January 14, 2025
I loved this book, just like the last 9 from this author. The story line, the characters everything about this book was spot on. My only thing is that I can not wait until Adam finally pops the question, and if Lana would finally say yes. But I can only dream that the next books in this series bring them to that point. I just love this series and I can not wait to continue to read the ones that come after this book. The best part about this book, like the others, is the killer is never who you think it will be and that makes this series so fun to read. It is legit a great page turner, and one of the best series of books I've ever read.
July 24, 2024
I love, love, love this mystery and this author's writing style! The mystery was intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat. The Lunar New Year theme, cultural additions, and superstition had me glued to this book not wanting to put it down! It also took me down a rabbit hole on the Internet. The ending reveal was surprising and action packed. And perhaps the best part of the book was the acknowledgements. I highly recommend this book and series! I can't wait for the next book in the series on 4/1/2025!
December 8, 2024
The mystery in this entry wasn’t as strong as previous books. But the relationships were much stronger! I absolutely loved the new confidence Lana has, the acceptance Adam is bringing to the table, and the closeness Lana is trying to build with her family. She’s more mature now. She’s always been a good person, but she thinks of others sometimes first.
I figured this one out well before the end but continued reading to see what would happen as Lana solved the crime.
*It’s really a 3.5 rounded up.
I figured this one out well before the end but continued reading to see what would happen as Lana solved the crime.
*It’s really a 3.5 rounded up.
December 31, 2025
My review of this book is very similar to my reviews of the other books in this series, since they are all pretty similar overall in terms of plot, tone, and characterization. I am glad that all the side characters have once again come back (since the last one took place out of town, so none of the side characters were really around other than Lana's sister), as they are one of the reasons I love this series so much. I adore Lana's relationship with everyone around her - and I'm so glad that we got more scenes with Adam and Lana as well. Protective Adam is 100% my jam, and I need more protective Adam in my life. I do wish we'd gotten more with Anna May though; we had so much development between Lana and her sister in the last book, and in this one, they have like one scene that lasted half a page together.
The plot/mystery was fine - I was able to guess who the murderer was, so I was proud of myself since that doesn't often happen. Okay well, at first I wasn't sure if the guy was the murderer or another potential victim, but once he showed up again, I was like SUS at him. Overall, enjoyable plot, but nothing to write home about.
While I was reading this book though, I was thinking about what made this particular series so appealing to me even though I normally prefer darker stuff, and I definitely think it's what I've talked about before: The fact that Chinese characters and culture are so prominently highlighted throughout the series, but in a way that doesn't feel like it's done for diversity brownie points. The fact that Lana is Chinese is brought up, but only in relevant ways that flesh out her character, her family, and her setting. Her Asian heritage feels real and a core part of her while other parts are also acknowledged. I love all the information about Chinese culture that came up in this book particularly, given that this takes place over Chinese New Year. An amateur detective can also be Chinese-American with a life that I can relate to - who knew?
I'll definitely be continuing this series when it comes out...I'm in too deep to quit now!
--------
See my Noodle Shop Mystery series reviews:
Death by Dumpling (#1) | here
Dim Sum of All Fears (#2) | here
Murder Lo Mein (#3) | here
Wonton Terror (#4) | here
Egg Drop Dead (#5) | here
Killer Kung Pao (#6) | here
Fatal Fried Rice (#7) | here
Hot and Sour Suspects (#8) | here
Misfortune Cookie (#9) | here
Peking Duck and Cover (#10) | here
The Chow Maniac (#11) | here
Crime Rangoon (#12) | coming soon
The plot/mystery was fine - I was able to guess who the murderer was, so I was proud of myself since that doesn't often happen. Okay well, at first I wasn't sure if the guy was the murderer or another potential victim, but once he showed up again, I was like SUS at him. Overall, enjoyable plot, but nothing to write home about.
While I was reading this book though, I was thinking about what made this particular series so appealing to me even though I normally prefer darker stuff, and I definitely think it's what I've talked about before: The fact that Chinese characters and culture are so prominently highlighted throughout the series, but in a way that doesn't feel like it's done for diversity brownie points. The fact that Lana is Chinese is brought up, but only in relevant ways that flesh out her character, her family, and her setting. Her Asian heritage feels real and a core part of her while other parts are also acknowledged. I love all the information about Chinese culture that came up in this book particularly, given that this takes place over Chinese New Year. An amateur detective can also be Chinese-American with a life that I can relate to - who knew?
I'll definitely be continuing this series when it comes out...I'm in too deep to quit now!
--------
See my Noodle Shop Mystery series reviews:
Death by Dumpling (#1) | here
Dim Sum of All Fears (#2) | here
Murder Lo Mein (#3) | here
Wonton Terror (#4) | here
Egg Drop Dead (#5) | here
Killer Kung Pao (#6) | here
Fatal Fried Rice (#7) | here
Hot and Sour Suspects (#8) | here
Misfortune Cookie (#9) | here
Peking Duck and Cover (#10) | here
The Chow Maniac (#11) | here
Crime Rangoon (#12) | coming soon
July 3, 2025
As always, it was a joy to be back with Lana and the crew in another Noodle Shop Mystery story. I've had some trouble reading books in print this year and it took me a while to finish this book. But I definitely hit a point that I didn't want to put it down. This was probably not Vivien Chien's best mystery plotting but I never wanted to give up on it. This is a series I will always continue and I'm excited to pick up the next!
August 12, 2025
Not my favorite in the series although still a fun read. It just felt like the mystery aspect wasn't given the attention it normally was. Like they didn't even start talking to suspects until the last 1/3 of the book... made it less fun to try and solve when there weren't suspects and the person who did do it hadn't even been mentioned until right before the big reveal.
August 15, 2024
3.75
I like Vivien Chien's books and this is no exception. Her writing style is great and generally fast paced. However, this one lagged a bit and maybe I'm a genius but I figured out who did it pretty early on. Still recommend and I look forward to the next in series.
I like Vivien Chien's books and this is no exception. Her writing style is great and generally fast paced. However, this one lagged a bit and maybe I'm a genius but I figured out who did it pretty early on. Still recommend and I look forward to the next in series.
dnf
September 9, 2024DNF. I wanted to like this book, but it came up dry 80 pages into a book that is only 280 pages long. I wish I could have finished it, but it was taking too long for me to get through chapters that were only 2 pages long
August 2, 2024
I loved this book! I've read all of Vivien's books and loved them all.
August 28, 2024
one of her best! a quick read that keeps moving the whole way thru ..
November 30, 2024
This book was so boring. It read like it was written by a high school student. If it was her first book ok maybe I’d give her a pass but it’s her 10th? Who is publishing these?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews