Vivien Chien
Author of Death by Dumpling
Series
Works by Vivien Chien
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Short biography
- Vivien 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 her next book in the Noodle Shop series. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Places of residence
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Members
Reviews
This is another really great cozy in the Noodle Shop series by Vivien Chien. Lana Lee, manager of Ho Lee Noodle House in the Asia Village shopping mall in Cleveland, Ohio and amateur sleuth from circumstances out of her control, finds herself with yet another murder to solve that happened too close to home. The book begins with Lana excited to be part of a book signing for her favorite author that is taking place at her favorite bookstore, The Modern Scroll, in Asia Village. She his it off show more immediately with author Charlaine "Charlie" Chan and is looking forward to getting to know her better. As per the norm, before long, a murder takes place and any pleasantries Lana was looking forward to, are no longer an option. She enlists the help of her friend and roommate, Megan, and her longtime friend, Kimmy, to help her figure out the killer's identity and see that they pay for their crime. Surprisingly, this time she doesn't need to hide her sleuthing from her police detective boyfriend, Adam. There are so many suspects since the murder happened at the busy book signing event that was packed with people anxiously waiting to have their books signed. The book has all the wonderful characters you've come to expect, including Lana's friend, the chef at the restaurant, Peter, who just so happens to also be Kimmy's boyfriend. And, of course, the Mahjong Matrons who dine every morning at the restaurant Lana's family owns and seem to know everything that takes place within Asia Village. This is probably my favorite in the series so far with a wonderfully written storyline that has twists and turns, red herrings, strong and believable characters, and so many mentions of delicious foods that your stomach will be grumbling as you place your takeout order from your favorite Chinese restaurant while you're reading .... I did ... twice ... while reading this great book! Way to go, Vivien Chien, I'm so glad you're feeling well enough to be writing such wonderful stories! Keep kicking butt, and, in case no one told you yet today ... you look absolutely amazing!! show less
amateur-sleuth, Chinese culture, Chinese customs, Cleveland, cozy-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, law-enforcement, lawyers, murder, murder-investigation, restaurant, suspense, suspicion, situational-humor, verbal-humor*****
I so much want the characters to be real and go to the Noodle Shop the next time I go to Cleveland! The characters and other descriptions are so realistic (even the nasty police detective) and the interactions are definitely true to life. And don't forget the show more laughs!
The murder happens very early and is almost locked room in nature. Lana does more due diligence than detective Grumpy Pants and that is good for us readers. This is not one of those stories where the recipes come first and the mystery is a poor second but a real cozy mystery and I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you! show less
I so much want the characters to be real and go to the Noodle Shop the next time I go to Cleveland! The characters and other descriptions are so realistic (even the nasty police detective) and the interactions are definitely true to life. And don't forget the show more laughs!
The murder happens very early and is almost locked room in nature. Lana does more due diligence than detective Grumpy Pants and that is good for us readers. This is not one of those stories where the recipes come first and the mystery is a poor second but a real cozy mystery and I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you! show less
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Best-selling author Charlene Chan will be signing her latest book, The Mystery of General Tso, at The Modern Scroll, the bookshop at Asia Village. Ms. Chan happens to be Lana Lee’s favorite author. She is thrilled that bookshop owner Cindy Kwan has asked her to be the author’s “handler” for her signing.
The day of the event arrives, and it’s a huge success. Then, Charlene Chan is found dead, holding her own book, in the mystery aisle. Her death seems to mimic show more the plot of the book she now holds. Detective Adam Trudeau, Lana’s boyfriend, knows she could really help him with the case. Lana, Kimmy, and Megan are surprised when he asks for her help, and are totally on board to help her get the information he needs, but the killer isn’t making it easy. They all team up to throw the book at the person who cut so many chapters out of the bestselling author’s life.
I totally agree with Lana Lee in that “Bookstores are the happiest places on earth”. I was moved by the entire first paragraph of the book, and that Ms. Chien used an author’s work as the basis of her murder was brilliant, making Crime Rangoon my new favorite book in this series.
Lana’s love of reading and books truly shines in this story, as does the friendship she has formed with bookshop owner Cindy Kwan. She really goes the extra mile to help her through the traumatic event. Megan isn’t acting like herself, but we find out she has a very good reason. She still helps Lana work through the clues of the case. Kimmy is over-the-top, as usual, and determined not to be left out of anything. She inserts herself into the investigation any way she can, which upsets her boyfriend, Peter. I loved that Adam realized what an asset Lana can be and figured out ways to use her knowledge and instincts while keeping his chief in the dark. The Mahjong Matrons are always fun and ready to share any local gossip. Ms. Chien also introduces a new character who was a mystery for most of the book, but when she revealed what she was dealing with, she truly touched my heart.
This book was so well-plotted, entwining the mystery with purposeful subplots. The pacing was perfect, and the theme was fabulous. There was a crowd of suspects; the store was definitely over the fire limit. A horrible scene placed a huge target on one person, but there were other sketchy individuals present. Lana was all in trying to find connections and motives, and I was totally entertained following along. Then there was an epic twist, and Lana had her A-ha moment too late as Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ serenaded her from the radio. I was surprised, too, and a little aggravated with myself, but this was a story I was totally caught up in without turning on my inner detective.
Crime Rangoon has a treasure trove of cozy elements. Wonderful, genuine, true-to-life characters, a unique setting at the Asia Village, humor, and romance balanced flawlessly with a marvelously written mystery that flowed so well it was impossible to put down. What a fantastic way to wrap up 2025! show less
Best-selling author Charlene Chan will be signing her latest book, The Mystery of General Tso, at The Modern Scroll, the bookshop at Asia Village. Ms. Chan happens to be Lana Lee’s favorite author. She is thrilled that bookshop owner Cindy Kwan has asked her to be the author’s “handler” for her signing.
The day of the event arrives, and it’s a huge success. Then, Charlene Chan is found dead, holding her own book, in the mystery aisle. Her death seems to mimic show more the plot of the book she now holds. Detective Adam Trudeau, Lana’s boyfriend, knows she could really help him with the case. Lana, Kimmy, and Megan are surprised when he asks for her help, and are totally on board to help her get the information he needs, but the killer isn’t making it easy. They all team up to throw the book at the person who cut so many chapters out of the bestselling author’s life.
I totally agree with Lana Lee in that “Bookstores are the happiest places on earth”. I was moved by the entire first paragraph of the book, and that Ms. Chien used an author’s work as the basis of her murder was brilliant, making Crime Rangoon my new favorite book in this series.
Lana’s love of reading and books truly shines in this story, as does the friendship she has formed with bookshop owner Cindy Kwan. She really goes the extra mile to help her through the traumatic event. Megan isn’t acting like herself, but we find out she has a very good reason. She still helps Lana work through the clues of the case. Kimmy is over-the-top, as usual, and determined not to be left out of anything. She inserts herself into the investigation any way she can, which upsets her boyfriend, Peter. I loved that Adam realized what an asset Lana can be and figured out ways to use her knowledge and instincts while keeping his chief in the dark. The Mahjong Matrons are always fun and ready to share any local gossip. Ms. Chien also introduces a new character who was a mystery for most of the book, but when she revealed what she was dealing with, she truly touched my heart.
This book was so well-plotted, entwining the mystery with purposeful subplots. The pacing was perfect, and the theme was fabulous. There was a crowd of suspects; the store was definitely over the fire limit. A horrible scene placed a huge target on one person, but there were other sketchy individuals present. Lana was all in trying to find connections and motives, and I was totally entertained following along. Then there was an epic twist, and Lana had her A-ha moment too late as Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ serenaded her from the radio. I was surprised, too, and a little aggravated with myself, but this was a story I was totally caught up in without turning on my inner detective.
Crime Rangoon has a treasure trove of cozy elements. Wonderful, genuine, true-to-life characters, a unique setting at the Asia Village, humor, and romance balanced flawlessly with a marvelously written mystery that flowed so well it was impossible to put down. What a fantastic way to wrap up 2025! show less
This series continues to be great fun, and exactly what I would expect from a restaurant-themed cozy mystery. I still love the mostly-Chinese cast, and that it feels like 100% natural POC rep, and not something done as a gimmick. I also loved getting to see more of the Ho-Lee family dynamics as Aunt Grace comes to town in this book.
The mystery itself unfolded in that "believable for a cozy" way that I have come to expect from this series: nothing too outlandish, with real stakes for the show more characters involved, and solvable based on clues in the conversations Lana has. (Did I solve it? No way. I was just having fun reading. But I could easily see after the fact how Lana figured it out, and I didn't feel like essential things had been left out to keep me guessing. I do appreciate that about this series.)
This is another enjoyable installment from a fun series, and I'll be continuing to read this series for sure. (Even if the covers to always make me hungry.) show less
The mystery itself unfolded in that "believable for a cozy" way that I have come to expect from this series: nothing too outlandish, with real stakes for the show more characters involved, and solvable based on clues in the conversations Lana has. (Did I solve it? No way. I was just having fun reading. But I could easily see after the fact how Lana figured it out, and I didn't feel like essential things had been left out to keep me guessing. I do appreciate that about this series.)
This is another enjoyable installment from a fun series, and I'll be continuing to read this series for sure. (Even if the covers to always make me hungry.) show less
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2025 (3)
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Statistics
- Works
- 17
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 1,768
- Popularity
- #14,561
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 123
- ISBNs
- 51
- Languages
- 1