Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed The Chow Maniac: A Noodle Shop Mystery (A Noodle Shop Mystery, 11) on + 752 more book reviews
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 âimmortal counterpart,â 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 âMust-Readâ series for me, and I recommend you read them all in order for maximum enjoyment. I can't wait for Book 12!
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 âimmortal counterpart,â 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 âMust-Readâ series for me, and I recommend you read them all in order for maximum enjoyment. I can't wait for Book 12!
