Wonton Terror

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 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 show more 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

This is one of those series for me that delivers exactly what’s expected, entertains, but doesn’t get deep or mind-blowing or otherwise wow me. My “low” rating isn’t reflective of anything except it was neither great nor terrible. I still like this series a lot, still plan to read everything in it, am still reccing it, etc.

I did like that Chien is still finding interesting and creative ways for Lana to get involved in the sleuthing, and developing her character and detective skills without for a moment dropping her penchant for making poor and impulsive decisions. (Honestly, half the reason I read cozies is to yell at the character for their life choices. Why, if you think he’s the killer, do you go to his home without show more telling anyone, why.)

I also appreciated that the crime took place within the wider Chinese community this time instead of the “mall family” and that Chien’s tackling some serious issues in character backstories/potential motives, albeit in a cozy sort of way. She’s matured quite a bit from her first book too, I think. The story seems a little more balanced between A and B plot, detection and day job, even if the side characters are still a little flat, and there’s an ineffable sense of stronger structure.

That said, I don’t think this is my personal favourite in the series to date. (I think it’s because I ended up skimming some of the “is he or isn’t he? what if I’m wrong?” passages, and because I couldn’t quite buy the motive of the killer.) It’s solid, it’s good, it’s fun, it’s diverse, I enjoyed seeing more of Lana and her community, all that jazz—but I didn’t personally connect with it as much as some of the others. We’re going to blame a book slump, though. Coming off the couple books before this was … kind of bumpy.

To bear in mind: Discussions of spousal abuse. Some weird, possibly fictitious mental troubles. Dysfunctional families. Like the rest of the series, may cause cravings for Chinese food.

6/10 show less

Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien is the fourth novel in A Noodle Shop Mystery series. Each book in this series can be read on its own. I like this unique cozy mystery series that has readers enjoying Asian food and culture in Ohio. Lana Lee is rocking purple hair while busy managing the family restaurant, working at the Asian Night Market, attending mandatory family dinners and spending time with her boyfriend. With her Aunt Grace in town, her mother is tense (putting is mildly). Grace Richardson is a free spirit who writes for a travel magazine. The two sisters have conflicting opinions. I felt bad for Adam who got dragged into some of the family dinners and drama. The family eats at different Asian restaurants around town. The food show more descriptions had me craving my favorite Chinese dishes. I thought the story progressed at steady pace with interesting characters and revelations. The mystery touches upon the sensitive topic of domestic abuse. I did not have a hard time pinpointing the guilty party, but others might find it challenging (depends upon your amateur sleuth status). I hope Lana’s grandmother gets some help in understanding English soon (por thing). Lana needs to be cued in that there is an app for that. The Lee family has their issues, but they love each other. Wonton Terror is a lighthearted cozy mystery with nummy noodles, kin commotion, a big boom, vacation vacillation, and murder mayhem. show less

Another terrific noodle shop mystery from Vivien Chien. This edition has Lana trying to solve yet another murder ... one that took place right by her at the night market!
Could the killer really be one of her mother's friends or is that just the obvious suspect? Join Lana, Megan, Adam, Peter. Kimmy, Anna May, her parents, grandmother, and even her aunt for a bit of mystery, a bit of fun, and a bit of family fueding and togetherness in this terrific read.

Not too much to say except this one was a more convoluted cozy mystery than what came before. I also didn't like the why behind the murders because this definitely moved things into a more darker side of cozy mysteries I have to say. I also didn't want the guilty party caught. What was really surprising is that Lana actually got on my nerves in this one. She really didn't have a reason like she did in the other books to investigate what happened here. The subplot with her mom and aunt didn't work either. We had been hearing about this visit for 2 books now and the whole thing was a let down and very annoying to read about.

"Wonton Terror" is the 4th book in "A Noodle Shop Mystery" series. Lana Lee is now more comfortable as manager of show more her family's restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House. She and the restaurant's cook, Peter, are working out of a food truck at the Cleveland Night Market festival. Lana is debating where to go on vacation with her boyfriend and about her aunt's upcoming visit. Things turn dark though when one of the food trucks, Wonton on Wheels blows up killing one of the owners. Lana and her roommate and best friend, Megan decide to investigate, cause reasons.

I don't know what to say really. I have enjoyed Lana and Megan in other books, but this time they annoyed me with the play detective thing. Especially when they hear about one of the men who died and his relationship with his wife. I feel like that side of things was discussed, but not really thought through enough. I can't really applaud the resolution in this one cause I went eh through most of the book. The only good thing was that at least Lana isn't hiding her investigations from her boyfriend anymore, Detective Adam Trudeau. Adam and Lana seem much more solid as a couple and I hope the love triangle or rectangle that seemed to be popping up in the previous books just dies out.

The writing was okay, just the flow of the book didn't really work after a while. I think that it would have worked better to have Lana's aunt visit in another standalone and have that visit tied up with a murder. That would have given Lana more reason to investigate, but also we would have been more focused on the family dynamics in that one. There was just too much happening in this one that felt shoehorned in.

Onto the next one! show less