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Noodle Shop Mystery #11
The Chow Maniac: A Noodle Shop Mystery
Asia Village is in peril when Private detective Lydia Shephard returns to enlist the help of Lana Lee to solve a rash of unsolved murders and thefts.
When Lydia brings Lana onto the case, three of the members of an elite Asian order known as the Eight Immortals have already been murdered. Each member of the order holds one item that represents their immortal counterpart, and someone is dying to get their hands on them all. Lydia's client insists he—and only he—knows who will be next and wants the murderer captured before there is another victim.
Riding below the line of three cities of law enforcement and Lana’s own boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, the two women must tread lightly as they infiltrate a secret organization that even the Mahjong Matrons know nothing about. And somehow protect the next victim without letting on that she’s in danger.
As they dig deeper into the case, Lana finds there are unexpected associations within Asia Village and potential ties to her own family that could be devastating. With the stakes raised on the toughest case she’s ever worked, will Lana be able to keep her own emotions out of the investigation? And will the murderer be found before they become the ultimate “immortal”?
When Lydia brings Lana onto the case, three of the members of an elite Asian order known as the Eight Immortals have already been murdered. Each member of the order holds one item that represents their immortal counterpart, and someone is dying to get their hands on them all. Lydia's client insists he—and only he—knows who will be next and wants the murderer captured before there is another victim.
Riding below the line of three cities of law enforcement and Lana’s own boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, the two women must tread lightly as they infiltrate a secret organization that even the Mahjong Matrons know nothing about. And somehow protect the next victim without letting on that she’s in danger.
As they dig deeper into the case, Lana finds there are unexpected associations within Asia Village and potential ties to her own family that could be devastating. With the stakes raised on the toughest case she’s ever worked, will Lana be able to keep her own emotions out of the investigation? And will the murderer be found before they become the ultimate “immortal”?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2025
106 people are currently reading
5263 people want to read
About the author
Vivien Chien
24 books1,671 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.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 172 reviews
December 24, 2024
Lana's friend Lydia the private eye requests Lana's assistance with a case. Three Asian men have died under suspicious circumstances, and all were members of an Asian secret society. Lana makes some questionable decisions, but ultimately she is able to help Lydia solve the case. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
February 10, 2025
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Great installment in the "Noodle Shop Mystery" series. I think that Chien has hit their stride. At this point you should know all of the key players and how things work. Reading this series at this point is like taking a nice warm bath. I liked this one much better because Chien included some Chinese mythology and it seemed to be more "serious" I think than previous installments. I thought it was really good. Only reason why I didn't do 5 stars was that the back and forth between Lana and Kimmy was beyond annoying. I just don't think Kimmy adds much to the series IMHO, and I get why Lana includes Megan into her investigations, but at this point, she has two assistants and then of course her boyfriend Adam, who is on the police force. It just felt a bit hamfisted to me at one point.
"The Chow Maniac" follows Lana as she is asked to assist on Lydia's PI case looking into who may be murdering some of the local Chinese business people who have ties to a clandestine organization called "The Eight Immortals." Lana is reluctant because Lydia's boss has offered her a job before. She wants to keep working at her parents restaurant and that's about it, she doesn't want to do a PI job full time.
I thought this was much better than the adventures in CA that Chien did two books ago. Lana and Lydia were a great duo and I liked how they worked in tandem with each other. I wonder if Chien plans to do that in future books, which would work.
The flow of the book worked really well I thought. No slow points.
I enjoyed the ending, how we get even more information about characters we have known for a while, and this leaves things in a good place with Lana I think.
Great installment in the "Noodle Shop Mystery" series. I think that Chien has hit their stride. At this point you should know all of the key players and how things work. Reading this series at this point is like taking a nice warm bath. I liked this one much better because Chien included some Chinese mythology and it seemed to be more "serious" I think than previous installments. I thought it was really good. Only reason why I didn't do 5 stars was that the back and forth between Lana and Kimmy was beyond annoying. I just don't think Kimmy adds much to the series IMHO, and I get why Lana includes Megan into her investigations, but at this point, she has two assistants and then of course her boyfriend Adam, who is on the police force. It just felt a bit hamfisted to me at one point.
"The Chow Maniac" follows Lana as she is asked to assist on Lydia's PI case looking into who may be murdering some of the local Chinese business people who have ties to a clandestine organization called "The Eight Immortals." Lana is reluctant because Lydia's boss has offered her a job before. She wants to keep working at her parents restaurant and that's about it, she doesn't want to do a PI job full time.
I thought this was much better than the adventures in CA that Chien did two books ago. Lana and Lydia were a great duo and I liked how they worked in tandem with each other. I wonder if Chien plans to do that in future books, which would work.
The flow of the book worked really well I thought. No slow points.
I enjoyed the ending, how we get even more information about characters we have known for a while, and this leaves things in a good place with Lana I think.
March 27, 2025
Lana Lee, manager of her family's Ohio restaurant, is reunited with PI Lydia Shepard in this book. Lydia reached out to Lana for help with several unexplained deaths that may be related to a secret Asian group called the Eight Immortals. Lydia's client wants her to catch the killer before there is another victim, but who can Lana and Lydia trust?
These mysteries usually make me hungry, but this time Lana has less time to spend in the restaurant so there aren't as many descriptions of delicious-sounding meals. Lana is kept busy with the investigation while trying to keep her sleuthing secret since nobody is supposed to know about the Eight Immortals organization. I was happy to see the character of Lydia return, and I love that she respects Lana's talent for investigating and requested her help. I didn't love that Lana told several people the details of their case that were supposed to be confidential. However, this allows her best friend Megan to help a little and also her childhood friend, Kimmy. I was surprised by some of the other decisions Lana makes, but it shows her determination to get to the truth of this case.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and how the plot is tied to an Asian legend. It was clever how the author worked into the current mystery, as well as various characters in Asia Village where Lana's family has their restaurant. All the clues were there as to who the killer is, but there are a few red herrings to keep things interesting. The story wraps up nicely after a dramatic showdown. From the way things end, it looks like we could hear more about the "Immortals" in future books.
I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
These mysteries usually make me hungry, but this time Lana has less time to spend in the restaurant so there aren't as many descriptions of delicious-sounding meals. Lana is kept busy with the investigation while trying to keep her sleuthing secret since nobody is supposed to know about the Eight Immortals organization. I was happy to see the character of Lydia return, and I love that she respects Lana's talent for investigating and requested her help. I didn't love that Lana told several people the details of their case that were supposed to be confidential. However, this allows her best friend Megan to help a little and also her childhood friend, Kimmy. I was surprised by some of the other decisions Lana makes, but it shows her determination to get to the truth of this case.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and how the plot is tied to an Asian legend. It was clever how the author worked into the current mystery, as well as various characters in Asia Village where Lana's family has their restaurant. All the clues were there as to who the killer is, but there are a few red herrings to keep things interesting. The story wraps up nicely after a dramatic showdown. From the way things end, it looks like we could hear more about the "Immortals" in future books.
I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
March 19, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others in the series. This story's plot was about an Asian order, The Eight Immortials, which I was not interested in. While I enjoyed the connection it had to the Asian Village, where Lana the amateur sleuth works and has connections. Though I did guess the killer, which is rare and still enjoyable, I enjoyed the story's fast pacing and seeing Lana and all the characters again.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others in the series. This story's plot was about an Asian order, The Eight Immortials, which I was not interested in. While I enjoyed the connection it had to the Asian Village, where Lana the amateur sleuth works and has connections. Though I did guess the killer, which is rare and still enjoyable, I enjoyed the story's fast pacing and seeing Lana and all the characters again.
April 1, 2025
"The Chow Maniac (Noodle Shop Mystery #11)" by Vivien Chien is a bit different than the other books in the series, a least from the ones I've read so far and I haven't read all of them. Which means that most are fairly standalone. Knowing some of the character development from the other books does help a little. Back to how this one is different. Lana does a little fourth wall breaking at the very beginning and she's more officially investigating.
Lana gets asked to help investigate the odd deaths of a a few people who seem to only have being Asian as a connection. Lydia, the private detective, officially hires Lana to help her out since she has better connections within the local Asian community. Lana soon learns there are more secrets in the community than just Kimmy's night job. It takes you in a bit of a circle of suspects before the culprit is revealed.
Lana gets asked to help investigate the odd deaths of a a few people who seem to only have being Asian as a connection. Lydia, the private detective, officially hires Lana to help her out since she has better connections within the local Asian community. Lana soon learns there are more secrets in the community than just Kimmy's night job. It takes you in a bit of a circle of suspects before the culprit is revealed.
April 23, 2025
I was excited about this book reading the prologue. I thought we might get some past/present flashbacks or something interesting. Instead what we got was cliches. On nearly every page. No original thoughts, no original dialogue, and no real interaction between Lana and others like we usually get. The side characters were either more annoying than usual(Kimmy), or nearly non-existent (Adam, Megan). A bunch of stuff was set up and then never mentioned again.
Overall not the best of these
Overall not the best of these
April 26, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Who are the Eight Immortals? Three have been murdered when Private Investigator Lydia Shepard asks Lana to help her with the case in order to find who is killing members of the exclusive Asian order. Each member has an item that represents their “immortal counterpart,” and the working theory is that the killer wants all of the items. Lydia’s client is a member, and he thinks he is going to be the next victim.
Lana is surprised that the Mahjong Matrons are clueless about the Eight Immortals, but she does find others at the Asia Village who could be right in the middle of the case. In fact, members of her own family may be connected.
Will Lana be able to help Lydia catch the killer? Or will her investigation make her the next victim?
Ms. Chien uses a bit of Chinese history/mythology as the theme for this Noodle Shop Mystery. We have learned about many Chinese traditions reading this series, but with the Eight Immortals being the prominent plotline was very interesting.
The author has created a wonderful cast of characters, some of my cozy favorites. Lana continues to grow stronger and independent. She was offered a job with Lydia’s PI firm but turned it down to continue to manage the family’s noodle shop. I was happy to see that an offer to consult on the case allowed her to continue her sleuthing. She and Lydia make a great team, but they had a few hiccups this time. Of course, that adds to the drama and suspense. Lana continues to use her friend Megan as a sounding board, but her friend Kimmy goes a little off the rails when she feels she is being left out. Head chef Peter doesn’t like Lana involved in these cases, and if his girlfriend Kimmy gets involved, he is beyond upset. Lana was away from the restaurant a lot in this story, so he gave her a difficult time.
The mystery was very well-plotted and had a brisk pace. Lana had connections in the Asian community that Lydia needed, but had difficulty keeping confidential information confidential. This was a tough case, and I had a great time following Lana as she worked to find the truth. She led with her heart in questioning some individuals. As all the clues fell into place and secrets were revealed, Lana found herself in mortal danger when caught snooping for the proof needed. This led to a fantastic takedown.
Ms. Chien always finds the perfect balance of suspense, humor, and daily life. Because this story takes place in a short time span, we only get to experience one weekly family dim sum meal where all the details of the case was wrapped up. I always enjoy these family get-togethers.
The Chow Maniac felt a little more serious than previous installments, but I loved the Eight Immortals theme. Ms. Chien’s core characters are strong and continue to develop as the series continues. This is a “Must-Read” series for me, and I recommend you read them all in order for maximum enjoyment. I can’t wait for Book 12!
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 the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Who are the Eight Immortals? Three have been murdered when Private Investigator Lydia Shepard asks Lana to help her with the case in order to find who is killing members of the exclusive Asian order. Each member has an item that represents their “immortal counterpart,” and the working theory is that the killer wants all of the items. Lydia’s client is a member, and he thinks he is going to be the next victim.
Lana is surprised that the Mahjong Matrons are clueless about the Eight Immortals, but she does find others at the Asia Village who could be right in the middle of the case. In fact, members of her own family may be connected.
Will Lana be able to help Lydia catch the killer? Or will her investigation make her the next victim?
Ms. Chien uses a bit of Chinese history/mythology as the theme for this Noodle Shop Mystery. We have learned about many Chinese traditions reading this series, but with the Eight Immortals being the prominent plotline was very interesting.
The author has created a wonderful cast of characters, some of my cozy favorites. Lana continues to grow stronger and independent. She was offered a job with Lydia’s PI firm but turned it down to continue to manage the family’s noodle shop. I was happy to see that an offer to consult on the case allowed her to continue her sleuthing. She and Lydia make a great team, but they had a few hiccups this time. Of course, that adds to the drama and suspense. Lana continues to use her friend Megan as a sounding board, but her friend Kimmy goes a little off the rails when she feels she is being left out. Head chef Peter doesn’t like Lana involved in these cases, and if his girlfriend Kimmy gets involved, he is beyond upset. Lana was away from the restaurant a lot in this story, so he gave her a difficult time.
The mystery was very well-plotted and had a brisk pace. Lana had connections in the Asian community that Lydia needed, but had difficulty keeping confidential information confidential. This was a tough case, and I had a great time following Lana as she worked to find the truth. She led with her heart in questioning some individuals. As all the clues fell into place and secrets were revealed, Lana found herself in mortal danger when caught snooping for the proof needed. This led to a fantastic takedown.
Ms. Chien always finds the perfect balance of suspense, humor, and daily life. Because this story takes place in a short time span, we only get to experience one weekly family dim sum meal where all the details of the case was wrapped up. I always enjoy these family get-togethers.
The Chow Maniac felt a little more serious than previous installments, but I loved the Eight Immortals theme. Ms. Chien’s core characters are strong and continue to develop as the series continues. This is a “Must-Read” series for me, and I recommend you read them all in order for maximum enjoyment. I can’t wait for Book 12!
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 the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
June 30, 2025
Lana Li is thinking of becoming a PI on the side, when a real PI comes with a case. It seems there's a secret benevolent society of Chinese active in Cleveland, and the members are being murdered. It's a lot different when there are a bunch of rules in play interfering with what Lana normally does.
She prefers to keep her amateur status.
On the whole, another worthy addition to the series.
She prefers to keep her amateur status.
On the whole, another worthy addition to the series.
April 23, 2025
A secret society andsome of my favorite characters from the past, yes please! I really enjoyed this installment in the series! Learning more about Mr. Zhang was the information I didn’t know I needed but I’m here for it -and looking forward to, potentially, expanding on him!
April 23, 2025
Excellent cozy mystery with an intricate plot. Protagonist, Lana Lee, aids a PI in solving the murder mysteries of several Asians belonging to a secret society. The story moves swiftly and is constantly entertaining. There is humor, surprise plot twists, and a great cast of main characters, plus the villains. An enjoyable escape! I recommend.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you.
May 4, 2025
Three stars because I’m tired of Lana’s modus operandi. 11 books may have been one too many for me.
Lana is hired as a consultant by a private detective. She has to sign non-disclosure agreements. Apparently Lana thinks NDA’s are merely suggestions, because she talks as much as ever does, spilling secrets and sharing documents. Aargh.
I also missed the side characters, with the exception of Kimmy who added nothing to the plot. There was no interaction with Lana’s family. Megan was barely involved. And I’ve just about given up on any growth in Lana’s relationship with Adam.
There’s nothing wrong with this as a cozy mystery. But there’s also nothing to make me keep reading.
Lana is hired as a consultant by a private detective. She has to sign non-disclosure agreements. Apparently Lana thinks NDA’s are merely suggestions, because she talks as much as ever does, spilling secrets and sharing documents. Aargh.
I also missed the side characters, with the exception of Kimmy who added nothing to the plot. There was no interaction with Lana’s family. Megan was barely involved. And I’ve just about given up on any growth in Lana’s relationship with Adam.
There’s nothing wrong with this as a cozy mystery. But there’s also nothing to make me keep reading.
June 23, 2025
Lana has had a few months of “normal” life, but with the arrival of spring comes P.I. Lydia Shepard with a case she wants Lana to help her with. A client has approached her with claims that 3 recent deaths were not accidents or suicides they appear to be, but murders to eliminate members of a secret society called the Eight Immortals. Since the case involves the Asian American community in Cleveland, Lydia felt like Lana could get her information only an insider could dig up. Lana has never heard of the Eight Immortals, and the first connotation of a secret society has her shocked that people she thought she knew well could be involved. But as she learns more about the group and its origins, she starts to realize it isn’t what she first assumed. She’s also really struggling to keep the nondisclosure agreement she signed with Lydia. How can she not talk to Megan or Adam about the case? Especially when Adam is also investigating the most recent victim. The client is pointing the finger at her grandmother’s boyfriend, but Lana refuses to believe he could hurt a fly. Who is really targeting these people and why?
I liked the historical background provided for this case. It was a new spin for a Noodle Shop mystery, and added some depth to the plot. Lana really is awful about not talking to her usual co-investigators about the case, so it is a good thing Lydia knew what she was doing when she signed Lana up to help. The story further fleshes out back stories for some of the Asia Village characters and introduces a new shop owner, Talia Sun. It was fun to see Lana and Adam actually working together on a case since each of them has information the other can use. I had a guess about the culprit pretty early, but wasn’t exactly sure why, and I definitely didn’t see all the secrets revealed coming. Another fun mystery with Lana that kept me turning pages.
Notes on content:
Language: A very few minor swears. It mentions some characters swear more, but doesn’t spell out what they say exactly.
Sexual content: Nothing beyond a kiss. It mentions a man and woman share a bed, but nothing more than that.
Violence: 3 past murders, Lana stumbles across another one, and there’s 2 more attempted but foiled. The murderer goes for poison so nothing is very gory. (One death is staged as a fall down stairs and another as asphyxiation in a car, but those are cover ups.) One person is knocked out and tied up by the murderer.
Ethnic diversity: Lana is half Taiwanese American half white. Most of the people in the Asia Village community are Taiwanese or Chinese American.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Talia Sun sells trinkets that she claims provide protection from negative energy; Lana isn’t sure she buys it or not but is pretty skeptical.
I liked the historical background provided for this case. It was a new spin for a Noodle Shop mystery, and added some depth to the plot. Lana really is awful about not talking to her usual co-investigators about the case, so it is a good thing Lydia knew what she was doing when she signed Lana up to help. The story further fleshes out back stories for some of the Asia Village characters and introduces a new shop owner, Talia Sun. It was fun to see Lana and Adam actually working together on a case since each of them has information the other can use. I had a guess about the culprit pretty early, but wasn’t exactly sure why, and I definitely didn’t see all the secrets revealed coming. Another fun mystery with Lana that kept me turning pages.
Notes on content:
Language: A very few minor swears. It mentions some characters swear more, but doesn’t spell out what they say exactly.
Sexual content: Nothing beyond a kiss. It mentions a man and woman share a bed, but nothing more than that.
Violence: 3 past murders, Lana stumbles across another one, and there’s 2 more attempted but foiled. The murderer goes for poison so nothing is very gory. (One death is staged as a fall down stairs and another as asphyxiation in a car, but those are cover ups.) One person is knocked out and tied up by the murderer.
Ethnic diversity: Lana is half Taiwanese American half white. Most of the people in the Asia Village community are Taiwanese or Chinese American.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Talia Sun sells trinkets that she claims provide protection from negative energy; Lana isn’t sure she buys it or not but is pretty skeptical.
December 31, 2025
3.5 stars!
This book was slightly different from previous books in this series because it dealt with a slightly more fantastical element (not magical, just a lowkey secret society type of thing) and also touched on topics like racism and hate crimes against Asians, which I appreciated. While this is still a cozy mystery series, so none of those topics are talked about to the point where it brings the mood down, I was glad that the book acknowledged a very real problem (although it did so moreso in the context of the past like 100 years ago rather than the present). It was also different because in this book, Lana was actually officially asked to investigate something rather than get involved on her own.
As always, I really enjoyed the mystery and overall plot. It was a very quick but satisfying read, and I am always left content by how much this series basically focuses on an almost purely Chinese cast without hitting the readers over the head with it or making it only about being Chinese. I'm glad we got some of our favorite side characters back, although I wish that a lot of them had had more screen time, particularly Adam and Megan...and also Lana's sister, who basically didn't feature in this book at all, especially since she's one of my favorite side characters in this book.
Lana isn't my favorite person ever (she's too brash, too headstrong, too quick to act without thinking), but she's a good protagonist to follow through this series, and she's definitely developed and changed over the last 11 books. I was surprised that I didn't get annoyed at Lana for telling everyone about the case even though she promised the PI she was working with that she would not do so. Normally, that kind of character annoys me, but I guess since I already know and love all these side characters to whom she told all the info, I was okay with it.
Anyway I guess the next book comes out in December 2025, so I'll be back to this series then!
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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
This book was slightly different from previous books in this series because it dealt with a slightly more fantastical element (not magical, just a lowkey secret society type of thing) and also touched on topics like racism and hate crimes against Asians, which I appreciated. While this is still a cozy mystery series, so none of those topics are talked about to the point where it brings the mood down, I was glad that the book acknowledged a very real problem (although it did so moreso in the context of the past like 100 years ago rather than the present). It was also different because in this book, Lana was actually officially asked to investigate something rather than get involved on her own.
As always, I really enjoyed the mystery and overall plot. It was a very quick but satisfying read, and I am always left content by how much this series basically focuses on an almost purely Chinese cast without hitting the readers over the head with it or making it only about being Chinese. I'm glad we got some of our favorite side characters back, although I wish that a lot of them had had more screen time, particularly Adam and Megan...and also Lana's sister, who basically didn't feature in this book at all, especially since she's one of my favorite side characters in this book.
Lana isn't my favorite person ever (she's too brash, too headstrong, too quick to act without thinking), but she's a good protagonist to follow through this series, and she's definitely developed and changed over the last 11 books. I was surprised that I didn't get annoyed at Lana for telling everyone about the case even though she promised the PI she was working with that she would not do so. Normally, that kind of character annoys me, but I guess since I already know and love all these side characters to whom she told all the info, I was okay with it.
Anyway I guess the next book comes out in December 2025, so I'll be back to this series then!
--------
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
January 14, 2026
After reading 11 Noodle Shop mysteries, dare I say that this has been my favorite!? I loved the use of mythology to center the story. I loved the way that Lana worked alongside Lydia. And I loved the development of characters that we have known from the beginning. This made me excited to see what Chien does in the next installment - now I just have to wait for it to be available at my library 😅
December 16, 2024
For Lana's eleventh mystery, she finds herself consulting with a private investigator on some seemingly unconnected deaths that might have secret society connections. Chine's newest cozy mystery is every bit as entertaining as the previous ten, filled with crazy characters, an engaging mystery, and plenty of Asian culture and food.
Overall, I liked this one, but the mystery was a little complicated. Some of the speculations on the how and why seemed to come out of thin air.
Overall, I liked this one, but the mystery was a little complicated. Some of the speculations on the how and why seemed to come out of thin air.
May 11, 2025
4.5 stars
November 11, 2025
My thanks to the author for the message at the end of this book. I didn’t know I needed a pep talk until you gave all of us readers a nod. That brought your rating up from 4.50 stars to 5.0 stars. You rock!
I love this series and all the characters. I’m limiting myself to one book from this series every month. What a great time I’m having with this series.
Highly recommend.
I love this series and all the characters. I’m limiting myself to one book from this series every month. What a great time I’m having with this series.
Highly recommend.
April 1, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Vivien Chien for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Chow Maniac coming out April 1, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
When Lydia brings Lana onto the case, three of the members of an elite Asian order known as the Eight Immortals have already been murdered. Each member of the order holds one item that represents their immortal counterpart, and someone is dying to get their hands on them all. Lydia's client insists he―and only he―knows who will be next and wants the murderer captured before there is another victim.
Riding below the line of three cities of law enforcement and Lana’s own boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, the two women must tread lightly as they infiltrate a secret organization that even the Mahjong Matrons know nothing about. And somehow protect the next victim without letting on that she’s in danger.
As they dig deeper into the case, Lana finds there are unexpected associations within Asia Village and potential ties to her own family that could be devastating. With the stakes raised on the toughest case she’s ever worked, will Lana be able to keep her own emotions out of the investigation? And will the murderer be found before they become the ultimate “immortal”?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author! I’m obsessed with cozy mysteries! I definitely need to go back and read the other books. I think Lana is an old soul. Sometimes it felt like the story was set in a different time. I loved that Lana was really interesting and intelligent. I loved the mixed race representation in Lana. I could really relate to that. I think she and Adam work well together. I loved their interactions. I would definitely read more books by this author!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
When Lydia brings Lana onto the case, three of the members of an elite Asian order known as the Eight Immortals have already been murdered. Each member of the order holds one item that represents their immortal counterpart, and someone is dying to get their hands on them all. Lydia's client insists he―and only he―knows who will be next and wants the murderer captured before there is another victim.
Riding below the line of three cities of law enforcement and Lana’s own boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, the two women must tread lightly as they infiltrate a secret organization that even the Mahjong Matrons know nothing about. And somehow protect the next victim without letting on that she’s in danger.
As they dig deeper into the case, Lana finds there are unexpected associations within Asia Village and potential ties to her own family that could be devastating. With the stakes raised on the toughest case she’s ever worked, will Lana be able to keep her own emotions out of the investigation? And will the murderer be found before they become the ultimate “immortal”?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author! I’m obsessed with cozy mysteries! I definitely need to go back and read the other books. I think Lana is an old soul. Sometimes it felt like the story was set in a different time. I loved that Lana was really interesting and intelligent. I loved the mixed race representation in Lana. I could really relate to that. I think she and Adam work well together. I loved their interactions. I would definitely read more books by this author!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
May 15, 2025
The Chow Maniac is the 11th book in Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series and it is a great addition to the series. Lana Lee manages her family’s noodle shop in Asia Village. She is dating Detective Adam Trudeau and her best friends are Meghan and Kimmie. PI Lydia Shepherd needs Lana’s help with a case having to do with a secret Asian group known as the Eight Immortals. A couple of their members have died recently under suspicious circumstances. The book begins with the history of the Eight Immortals. Lydia asks Lana to meet with her client. Lana signs a confidentiality agreement but tells Adam, Kimmie and Meghan everything but it helps the storyline. The cozy mystery kept me guessing. I had the audiobook which is well done and very enjoyable!
#TheChowManiac #NoodleShopMystery #MinotaurBooks #VivienChien #cozymystery
#TheChowManiac #NoodleShopMystery #MinotaurBooks #VivienChien #cozymystery
March 8, 2025
Lana Lee is brought into her eleventh case when Private Investigator Lydia Shepard asks for her help since Lana knows so much about the Asian community. Three members of a secret Asian society designed to help people have recently died in a variety of ways. All seem accidental, but Lydia's client feels that they were murders.
Since one of the client's suspects is Mr. Zhang who is a long-time family friend of the Lee's and who is dating Lana's grandmother, Lana agrees to get involved in the investigation. It seems that someone is trying to influence the membership of the secret organization by murdering members who don't have a child to pass the membership to.
While Lana investigates, she manages to learn a number of secrets about the organization and the secretive Mr. Zhang. She also finds herself investigating the murders on a parallel course with her police detective boyfriend.
This was an engaging, first-person mystery told in Lana's distinctive voice. Fans of he series will enjoy this latest episode.
Since one of the client's suspects is Mr. Zhang who is a long-time family friend of the Lee's and who is dating Lana's grandmother, Lana agrees to get involved in the investigation. It seems that someone is trying to influence the membership of the secret organization by murdering members who don't have a child to pass the membership to.
While Lana investigates, she manages to learn a number of secrets about the organization and the secretive Mr. Zhang. She also finds herself investigating the murders on a parallel course with her police detective boyfriend.
This was an engaging, first-person mystery told in Lana's distinctive voice. Fans of he series will enjoy this latest episode.
March 28, 2025
This is my favorite book so far in the series. One of her best for sure. I am so thankful for the ARC (and I already ordered my copy!).
Lana Lee is approached by a PI friend whom she owes a favor and the PI has come to collect. She has an Asian client who is part of a secret society whose members are being picked off one by one, seemingly with no rhyme or reason behind it. She agrees to get involved because there are some suspicious things going on around the Plaza and her grandmother's boyfriend, Mr. Zhang, appears to have a connection to the case. Lana does not believe her fellow shopkeeper could be involved in such dark dealings and puts her nose to the ground to find out the real culprit.
I really liked the character interactions in this book, especially with Lana, Kimmy and Megan. I missed her family a little in this one but the delightful supporting characters provided made up for it. I think it was interesting adding the PI to this book because Lana had a lot more information than usual and she actually seems to struggle with it.
I was very happy with the ending and happy for Ms. Chien being in remission. I hope we get many more noodle shop mysteries.
My thanks to Minotaur books and Netgalley for this ARC.
Lana Lee is approached by a PI friend whom she owes a favor and the PI has come to collect. She has an Asian client who is part of a secret society whose members are being picked off one by one, seemingly with no rhyme or reason behind it. She agrees to get involved because there are some suspicious things going on around the Plaza and her grandmother's boyfriend, Mr. Zhang, appears to have a connection to the case. Lana does not believe her fellow shopkeeper could be involved in such dark dealings and puts her nose to the ground to find out the real culprit.
I really liked the character interactions in this book, especially with Lana, Kimmy and Megan. I missed her family a little in this one but the delightful supporting characters provided made up for it. I think it was interesting adding the PI to this book because Lana had a lot more information than usual and she actually seems to struggle with it.
I was very happy with the ending and happy for Ms. Chien being in remission. I hope we get many more noodle shop mysteries.
My thanks to Minotaur books and Netgalley for this ARC.
May 20, 2025
Another wonderful book in this series. I love Lana so much, she feels like such a good friend and the Noodle House feels like home. This book involves a secret society (based on folklore) which was really cool and added an extra layer of secrecy and importance to everything. I was absolutely stumped and loved following Lana (and Megan and Kimi) sleuthing (with the full support of her detective boyfriend yay!) Of course it made me hungry and I couldn't put it down until the grand reveal (shock!) There were a lot of surprises along the way and my only complaint is that we didn't see much of Lana's family.
I already cannot wait for more; this is my ultimate comfort series.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was wonderfully done!
I already cannot wait for more; this is my ultimate comfort series.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was wonderfully done!
September 21, 2025
The latest of the Noodle Shop mysteries featuring restaurant manager Lana Lee has a disappointing plot which also leads to a cast of characters that skips such favorites as Lana's sister. Lana is asked to repay a favor by a private investigator whose client needs someone with connections within the local Chinese community. The investigator just needs background, but that's not Lana's way. Members of a powerful secret society are dying, and Lana's grandmother's beau is one the suspects, but the client is keeping a lot of secrets about why he is so sure the deaths are not natural. Lana is obligated to keep everything confidential (spoiler: she doesn't) and can't indulge in her usual detection technique of telling too much to everyone she questions.
March 26, 2025
Lana finds herself as a consultant on one of Lydia's cases involving a secret group within the Asian community. When members of the group are murdered and artifacts go missing, Lana's help with insider knowledge can help solve the case. This book had a different pace than the previous books, but it was really enjoyable. As always, it takes all of Lana's village to help get to the answers and find the killer. A great read. I never tire of these characters and their adventures.
April 10, 2025
Look! I read this book instead of waiting 2 years! Like I did after finishing book 3. It's also only been a few months since reading the last book in this series, plus this book just came out early this month
Inner voice: How are you doing with those other series you're behind on? Have you started the book for your book club?
Shhhh
Inner voice: How are you doing with those other series you're behind on? Have you started the book for your book club?
Shhhh
March 31, 2025
Wonderful continuation of this cozy mystery series with amateur detective Lana Lee pairing up with PI Lydia to solve a series of mysterious deaths in the Asian community. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy for an honest review.
April 26, 2025
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I cannot wait to read more. I loved getting to see more of Lydia in this one.
April 16, 2025
Lana Lee is back! The Chow Maniac, Vivien Chien's 11th ( Wow - it seems like just yesterday Death by Dumpling was released!!!) focuses on the connection forged long-ago by businessmen who created a modern day version of the Eight Immortals whose secret existence is carried on to the present day. When members of the group begin to die by mysterious (and murderous!) circumstances, Lana is hired (a real PI gig!) to investigate. Fun to read, and definitely 5 stars from me! A+++
September 29, 2025
Good mystery. Many murders. It was a lot of suspense trying to solve all the murders.
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