This is the ninth book in Vivien Chien's popular Noodle Shop Mysteries, and it's a fun addition to the well-written and entertaining series!
Lana is now officially the manager of her family's restaurant, the Ho-Lee Noodle House. However, that doesn't stop her from investigating murders, nor will a working trip to California, as trouble seems to follow Lana. Lana and her sister, Anna May, head to CA to visit their Aunt Grace while Lana attends a restaurant convention. When a journalist Lana witnessed arguing with a fortune cookie vendor at the convention is murdered, Lana winds up in the center of the investigation.
I binged the first eight books in this series last year and loved them! This latest one is no exception. This time we get a change of scenery and an introduction to a glamorous and delightful new character in Aunt Grace! While Lana might be separated from her regular support system in Cleveland, it was nice to have her doing some family bonding as she, her aunt, and her sister come together to solve the murder. I love Chien's writing style, and this book is a well-plotted, witty, and entertaining whodunnit that flows well, introducing several suspects with various motives, a few surprises, and delicious food references. Lana is charming, intelligent, and energetic and comes across as very relatable. She has sharpened her investigative skills across the series, and I enjoy spending time sleuthing alongside her! I look forward to the next book and am hoping we see Aunt Grace again soon!
Highly recommended to cozy mystery fans—and because it's self-contained in a different location, this works well as a stand-alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this ARC. I loved it!
Comments