Member Reviews
I love this series! Lana is back at it (once again) and she's finding it harder to convince the Asian community that she is minding her own business when a food truck goes up in flames right near her! Luckily she isn't hurt, but a lot of secrets are spilled when she is on the case trying to track down the cold-blooded killer. I was half-surprised at the killer in this story, but the reasoning was more of a shocker!
I won't tell, but grab a copy of this book ASAP!
4.8 stars
I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley.
I enjoy this series so much, and this book was such a delightful continuation. It's so much fun to spend time with Lana and her friends and family, and the plot of kept me interested and engaged. I would recommend reading this series in order so that you can really enjoy how the characters change and evolve over time, but I highly recommend this cozy mystery series anyway because I love spending time in this world. Great entertainment, with just enough mystery.
“Wonton Terror” earns 5/5 Suspicious Wontons...Engaging and Clever Fun!
My first book from Vivien Chien was a “blast!” Lana Lee is excited to have her Ho-Lee’s Noodle House restaurant participating in Cleveland’s first summer Asian Night Market, but things go terribly wrong when the Wonton on Wheels food truck explodes killing Ronnie Chow, a family friend and one of the owners, and injuring many nearby...but it wasn’t an accident, and in fact, the victim may be as much of a mystery as his murder. Engaging fun! Vivien Chien has penned a very entertaining fourth book in her A Noodle Shop Mystery series. It’s a well-written clever murder mystery using a first-person narrative from Lana’s perspective sharing her inner thoughts, but also compelling is her family interactions and delightful relationship with her chef and her boyfriend/detective. The journey included several suspects, some close to home, challenging my inner Charlie Chan, descriptive language to tease the taste buds, and dialogue that illustrates well the tones and different personalities. I always feel a cozy with a culinary theme like “noodles” and all the references to Chinese food should also include a few recipes. Unfortunately none here. Despite that one flaw, I recommend that cozy fans check out this book! Just bring your own wonton soup!
When Lana Lee agreed to become manager at her parents’ noodle restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House in Cleveland, she knew that she’d have to deal with some challenges: customer who weren’t happy with their entrees, servers who can’t make it in to work, running out of favorite dishes. But she didn’t sign on for drama like this.
Lana agreed to work the booth for the restaurant at the city’s first Asian Night Market. With booths of merchandise, food trucks, and live entertainment, the night was certain to be a big hit for vendors and customers. There with her chef Peter, Lana knows that they will do well, despite being up against one of the best Asian food trucks in Cleveland, Wonton on Wheels, which is owned and run by old friends of Lana’s parents, Ronnie and Sandra Chow. But a tragic accident at the end of the night leaves Ronnie dead and Sandra in the hospital. An investigation reveals that the food truck explosion may have been on purpose, and Lana can’t figure out who would do such a thing.
As if that’s not enough for Lana to be dealing with, her Aunt Grace is coming to town. A clash of personalities has always pitted Grace against Lana’s mother, and this visit is no exception. With the family drama turned way up, Lana is determined to do anything she can to help her mother deal with everything, whether that means taking extra shifts at the restaurant or investigating the Wonton on Wheels explosion, so her mother’s friend Sandra is proven innocent. But as always, danger lurks as the amateur detective finds herself getting closer to the truth.
Wonton Terror is Vivien Chien’s fourth book in her Noodle Shop Mysteries and the first one I’ve gotten a chance to read. I had her on my TBR list, as I’ve heard great things about this series. And all those who have recommended this series to me were absolutely right. Wonton Terror is wonderful.
Some cozy mysteries, even highly recommended ones, have issues. There is something off in the writing or in the logic of the story, or the characters just come across as uninteresting or they make a lot of stupid mistakes. Wonton Terror had none of these common problems. I found the writing to flow smoothly, the characters well thought out, and the story kept moving ahead in the most compelling way.
However, I would like to add a couple of warnings. This book does talk about domestic violence, which can be difficult for some to read about. And the main character works in a restaurant, and there is a lot of talk about food that sounds mouth-watering. Expect to get hungry and plan accordingly! Devour the book, and then devour a big bowl of noodles, or maybe spring rolls, or wontons, or doughnuts. Or even a cheeseburger with a bunch of fries. Like I said, there is a lot of talk of food.
Galleys for Wonton Terror were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Another very interesting read from Vivian Chien. I was entertained the entire time and enjoyed every opportunity to read further.
Ms. Chien is particularly good at the 'who' part of 'who done it' and once again I found myself guessing all the way up to the big reveal. Though I have to say that, while it didn't seem out of character, Lana is much... Bolder... To put it nicely, than I am. There's been a number of times now that I think I would never purposefully get into that situation, it's far too dangerous. But that's probably why Lana had a series about her and I don't ...
There's an interesting balance that is attempted in that there's lot of discussion about domestic abuse and violence in this cozy. For me, it doesn't get too heavy, but that doesn't mean someone who's had to deal with that won't feel differently. It's not something I feel I see often in cozies.
Lana's boyfriend Adam seems to take more of a background roll in this story and I'm curious what the reasoning is behind that. I'm personally not super interested in romance so it wasn't a loss for me, but I had been interested in him as a character. I hope we see more of him in the next book, regardless.
Warnings:
Standard cozy murder, discussions of domestic violence and abuse. Mild abuse on page.
Vivien Chien's "Noodle Shop Mysteries" are a unique and diverse addition to the cozy mystery universe. "Wonton Terror," the fourth installment in the series, is a solid mystery, and fans of cozies will definitely want to read this series.
I stumbled upon Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery quite by accident. When I started the first book, I fell in love with Lana Lee’s charm and sass. I also loved all the various food descriptions in this series and found myself perpetually hungry for noodles.
While there are times that I have found myself wanting more romance in this series, the fun mysteries that Chien constructs are undeniable—I am hooked on her mysteries.
Each book could probably be read on their own. Chien does a great job catching new readers up to date on the most pressing back stories in the series if it pertains to the new book, but she is equally careful not to reveal too much about previous books incase readers want to go back and read them later on.
Summary
The Asian community is kicking off summer with the return of its popular Cleveland Night Market festivities, and Lana Lee is excited to represent the Ho-Lee Noodle House booth with her favorite chef, Peter Huang. Lana is confident that the evening marks the beginning of a great season to come. Not only is she looking forward to the warm temperatures, but her birthday is only weeks away, her handsome boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, is planning a romantic get-away. Life couldn’t be better.
But before she can get too accustomed to the idea of a carefree summer, an explosion involving a nearby food truck, Wonton on Wheels, kills one of the proprietors and injures several others in the nearby vicinity.
When the authorities discover that this was no accident, the family members of the dead man become the number-one suspects in a front-page murder story. Lana and her best friend, Megan Riley, fall back into detective mode. But as they uncover family secrets of abuse and angry costumers, Lana’s own family drama raises its head. Will Lana be able to juggle everything the universe is throwing at her, or has she jumped from the frying pan to the fire? (summary from Goodreads)
Review
This mystery was super fun. Even though I guessed the culprit, I couldn’t figure out the why which is what kept me reading. Like many readers, I love knowing the why of a murder mystery and this one provided a complex ‘why’ that was interesting to puzzle out.
I also liked that we saw a little more of Megan in this one. She has tended to be a little bit of a flat character in the previous books but in this one we get to see a little more of her. Adam continues to be a slow burn love interest for Lana and their relationship is definitely not the focus of the books but it adds some fun and depth to her character. In some ways I wish there was more romance between them in the books, but it’s nice that the author has spread the romance out over the books rather than trying to jam it into a few books at the very beginning.
There are so many fun quirky characters in this series. The Asian plaza is full of unique characters and I love seeing many of them as staples in this series, along with many new favorites. This series is growing and evolving and the Lee family right along with it. I love the Lee sisters and of course their mom and in this book we got to meet their auntie Grace. It was a full on family reunion that was so comical and entertaining, I couldn’t get enough.
Chien writes with such authority on the culture, plaza, and Cleveland. Her books are always solid, fast reads that I am always looking forward to. I can’t get enough of this series and every time I see a new one coming out, I am eager to pick it up and start reading and getting reacquainted with some of my favorite characters in the plaza! If you love cozy mysteries with delicious food descriptions then you don’t want to miss this series, a series that can easily be read as a stand alone.
There is Wonton Terror when the Wonton on Wheels food truck explodes at the first Asian Night Market in Cleveland.
Lana Lee is now managing her parent’s restaurant, the Ho-Lee Noodle House. While promoting the restaurant at Market night, her parent’s old friend, Ronnie, is killed in the explosion. When the police decide it was caused by a bomb, Lana decides to investigate to ease her anxiety. But there are so many suspects...
It’s always fun to return to the world of Lana Lee. Her family life intervenes once again in her amateur detective work. In Wonton Terror, Lana’s Aunt Grace is coming to visit her sister, Lana’s mother. The two sisters get along just as badly as Lana and her own sister, Anna May, do.
This particular cozy mystery was a bit too easy to solve. But the book was still fun to read due to the engaging characters and a light comedic feel. If you want a pleasant cozy read with an underlying humorous take on sibling rivalry, this is a good choice. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
WONTON TERROR by Vivien Chien
The Fourth Noodle Shop Mystery
Warm summer nights in Cleveland, Ohio mean outdoor activities and the start of the Asian Night Market. Representing the Ho-Lee Noodle House Lana Lee sees old family friends Sandra and Ronnie Chow with their new venture, the Wonton on Wheels food truck. The spectacular evening ends with a bang, literally, as an explosion rocks the night.Was this an insurance scam gone horribly wrong or did someone want Ronnie Chow dead? While her boyfriend, Detective Trudeau, is not working the case Lana feels it's her responsibility to look into things. But why doesn't anyone know much about the Chows? And why did her mother distance herself from her onetime friends? Could Sandra really be behind the plot? Between managing the restaurant and trying to keep the peace between her mother and visiting aunt, Lana hones her investigative skills. Will she uncover the truth or just get herself in hot water?
WARNING! Do not start reading if you are hungry. Within minutes I was craving noodles and I'm still dreaming of wonton soup. So get satiated or have Chinese takeaway near to hand, and then you'll be ready to join Lana on another adventure. And what an adventure it is. I can just picture the Asian Night Market and would love to hang out and enjoy the summer night with the market's casual ambiance and innovative food offerings. When the successful night shatters in violence it brings a crushing reality to the world. Truly nowhere is safe. WONTON TERROR also takes a look at domestic violence. There are no details, like reality the subject is kept behind closed doors, but still, the subject is acknowledged and plays a major role in the mystery.
Despite explosions and the reality of domestic violence WONTON TERROR remains a light-hearted, fun read. The close knit community, and ties of family and friends bring warmth and joy, despite bickering and murder. Seeing relationships develop and grow keep me invested in this series. I really love Lana's family and they had me laughing out loud in this outing. With her sister Grace in town Lana's Mom is on edge and when she finally loses it during a family dinner out it is absolutely priceless!
The fourth Noodle House mystery is perplexing mystery which kept me guessing. While I had my suspicions about the culprit I really didn't know who was behind matters. Lana and her life is infinitely engaging and I love watching her puzzle through the mystery, asking questions while maintaining her job and family obligations.
WONTON TERROR is a fun mystery that kept me absorbed from the first page. As Lana says, "It's good to be Lana Lee" and it's a joy to read about her!
"Wonton Terror" by Vivien Chien is the 4th book of the Noodle Shop Delicious Mystery Series. Lana Lee has so much to look forward to. An opening night at the highly anticipated Asian Night Market, and a Birthday Getaway week-end planned by Lana's handsome boyfriend Adam Trudeau. The Ho Lee Noodle Shop is getting ready for an amazing turnout at the night market in Cleveland with Lana's favorite chef Peter Huang. However, a new local food truck, Wonton on Wheels blows up with the business owner getting killed inside and many others injured during the explosion. Authorities soon find out that this was no accident and a murder may have been intended for the proprietor. Lana gets drawn in to this and becomes the amateur sleuth to help solve this exciting murder mystery.
I absolutely loved this cozy mystery. I have not read any of the three prior books from this series and will be picking them up as I am now a fan of Vivien Chen and the entire cast of characters in this series. Lana Lee is such a lovable character. This was a fun and enjoyable read with enough twists and turns in this murder plot mystery. This surely kept me on my toes. There is a warning trigger for spousal abuse but was handled beautifully by Chien. I am a huge fan of this series and highly recommend all the others.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion.
Summary from Goodreads:
"The Asian community is kicking off summer with the return of its popular Cleveland Night Market festivities, and Lana Lee is excited to represent the Ho-Lee Noodle House booth with her favorite chef, Peter Huang. Lana is confident that the evening marks the beginning of a great season to come. Not only is she looking forward to the warm temperatures, but her birthday is only weeks away, her handsome boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, is planning a romantic get-away. Life couldn't be better.
But before she can get too accustomed to the idea of a carefree summer, an explosion involving a nearby food truck, Wonton on Wheels, kills one of the proprietors and injures several others in the nearby vicinity.
When the authorities discover that this was no accident, the family members of the dead man become the number-one suspects in a front-page murder story. Lana and her best friend, Megan Riley, fall back into detective mode. But as they uncover family secrets of abuse and angry costumers, Lana's own family drama raises its head. Will Lana be able to juggle everything the universe is throwing at her, or has she jumped from the frying pan to the fire?"
My Thoughts:
Two books in and I'm really enjoying this cozy mystery series. To be clear though, I started earlier this year with the third book (Murder Lo Mein) and just now finished this one which is the fourth book so I'm still reading completely out of order. I enjoyed both of these books for a variety of reasons but one highlight of the series is the food featured in each book. I read both of these books constantly craving spring rolls and rice. LOL - but seriously these books made me hungry! My favorite things about cozy mysteries is that they feel like comfort reads. I don't usually read these types of books for the mystery although that is always an enjoyable part of it. I read them for the characters, and this series is no different. I really enjoy Lana's character and her inquisitive ways. I think I enjoyed this book just a tiny bit more than its' predecessor only because I really started to get a handle on all of the other characters and who they are. It's fun to see Lana navigate this new life of running her family business while also trying to solve crimes. She never means to get involved but her curiosity always gets the better of her. This book had a bit of a darker theme to it in regards to spousal abuse. If this is a trigger for you then you may want to read Murder Lo Mein instead. I thought that the author handled this topic respectfully which is all that you can really ask for. I'm excited to continue on with this series but I REALLY need to catch up with the first two books while I wait for the next book to release.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book and this series in general has moved on to my must read list. I've become attached to Lana and all of her family thanks to these two books. It's actually really nice that I've read them both this year because I remembered most of the details from Murder Lo Mein which doesn't always happen when I read books that are part of series. I would recommend this series to fans of cozy mysteries. I don't think that you have to read them in order (I sure haven't been) but I'm sure that you would also get maximum enjoyment if you did read them that way. Recommended!
Bottom Line: A great addition to what is becoming a favorite cozy mystery series for me.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Honest thoughts are my own.
Wonton Terror: A Noodle Shop Mystery
By Vivien Chien
St. Martin’s Press
September 2019
Review by Cynthia Chow
For the Asian Night Market being held in Northeast Ohio’s Asia Village, Lana Lee is helping out at a booth serving some of her family’s Ho-Lee Noodle House specialties. The event is the first of what are to be weekly summer festivities promoting Asia Village businesses and attracting new tourists. New food truck owners Ronnie and Sandra Chow seem to have a surefire winner with their popular Wonton on Wheels, but their success is horrifically cut short by an explosion that sends Sandra to the hospital and proves fatal for her husband. The rocky state of their marriage, not to mention a hefty insurance policy, have the Cleveland Police suspicious of Sandra and topping their suspect list. Lana’s parents refuse to believe that their longtime friends could have every attempted an insurance scam, must less be involved in one another’s murder, which explains how Lana finds herself once again involving herself in what she considers to be Asia Village business.
A series of road bumps in Lana Lee’s life led her back to the Asia Village, where she is the manager of the Ho-Lee Noodle House restaurant, dates Fairview Park police detective Adam Trudeau, and is getting along surprisingly well with her “perfect” sister Anna May. Much to her own surprise, Lana is happy. That’s why the Asian Night Market’s tragedy is so upsetting, especially when it happens not long before the early arrival of her Aunt Grace. She and Lana’s mother are as different as they could be, with Grace Richardson’s free spirit and career as a travel writer an affront to her sister, who is far more content raising a family without ever leaving their town in Ohio. When not keeping her mother and aunt from having verbal throwdowns during their family meals, Lana is determined to find the truth about the food truck sabotage by questioning the gossiping Matrons, visiting the center of knowledge Asian Accents hair salon, and accompanying her roommate Megan for some not-so-subtle witness questionings.
This continues to be an endlessly entertaining series that fascinatingly incorporates Asian American culture into its main mystery plot. As Lana notes through the increase of interest in the Asia Village, recent films and books have made Asian culture more popular and mainstream. Lana has always felt a little between both worlds, raised by her “big ole white guy” professor father and very traditional Taiwanese mother. Lana’s own maternal grandmother speaks a Hokkien Taiwanese dialect that Lana barely understands, so much of their communication comes through a lot of very clear facial expressions and body language. No translations are necessary in Lana’s exchanges with her boyfriend Adam, although she does wish that he didn’t give her so much leeway in choosing the destination for her weekend birthday vacation. That escape will be much needed as Lana struggles to find peace not just within her family but within the Asia Market, but readers will enjoy watching her face each new challenge. Delicious Asian cuisine, sparkling dialogue, and relatable characters all ensure for a satisfying, funny, and distinctly unique read.
Wonton Terror is the latest in Chien's Noodle House series which centers around Lana Lee, who now runs her parent's Chinese restaurant in Cleveland, OH and runs the restaurant's cart at a local weekly event which features carts and food trucks from local vendors.
During one of these events, one of the food trucks catches fire and the husband of a family friend is killed. When the police focus on the family friend as the suspect, Lana believes they are looking in the wrong direction and begins her own investigation.
I found the story and characters delightful and entertaining, particularly Lana's Aunt Grace, who is always quibbling with Lana's mother, and the Mahjong Matrons, four regular customers at the noodle shop who keep tabs on the latest gossip in Cleveland's Asian community.
As someone who reads a lot of hardboiled crime fiction, I found Chien's Wonton Terror a fun and exciting alternative, leaving me hungry for more.
Wonton Terror is the 4th in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Each one brings you back to Lana Lee and the Ho-Lee Noodle House. Lana is adorable in the way that she just can’t let things go even when they don’t directly affect her or her family. This book also brought her aunt for a visit from California. I love the interactions with her family. Lana’s mom always makes me laugh. I love that this time Lana’s best friend goes for some of the hijinks (aka recon work). A fun and light mystery and I can’t wait for #5.
Vivien Chien continues her series with Lana Lee and the Lee's Noodle House Restaurant. Lana's character is now the manager for the Noodle House, taking on this responsibility for her mother since Lana's grandmother has came for a visit and is staying with her parents. As in Ms. Chien's previous books we are allowed to feel the surrounding and activities found within Cleveland, OH and it's neighboring suburbs. The regular characters return with the addition of Lana's aunt, her mother's sister. We also meet new business owners. When Lana and Peter are working a Friday night event, a sudden explosion of a neighboring food truck and death of the husband of the couple who owned it, brings many questions. Was it just an accident or was it planned and if so who did it. Lana Lee once again feels the pull to seek out answers. With the help of her roommate she is determined to get this solved.
The twists and turns in the plot of this story will keep you turning page after page. Just when you think you have figured out who did it, someone else is brought out. We also see the relationship with Lana and her police detective boyfriend develop further.
Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien is the 4th book in A Noodle Shop Mystery series, and another exciting adventure. Lana Lee is the manager of her family's restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House located in the Cleveland Area. Lana and Peter, her head chief, are getting ready for Cleveland's Night Market festivities, where they will be serving their food from a tent. On the first night though one of the food trucks blows up and a man is killed. Lana is determined to get to the truth, but it was hard for me to understand why. Lana's family dynamites are very funny, which I enjoy. I also like Lana's relationship with her boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love fun cozy mysteries like I do, than I recommend this book/ and series.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you.
Wonton Terror is a fun addition to the Noddle Shop Mystery Series. My favorite thing about this book was the dynamics between Lana Lee and her family. Their interactions have entertained me greatly in all four books of the series.
In this one, Lana is settling well into her role as manager of the family's noodle house and looking forward to a busy summer season, when an explosion of a food truck at the local night market festivities turns out to be a murder. Lana and her best friend, Megan, step back into investigative mode, determined to solve the crime. This is to the dismay of Lana's detective boyfriend, Adam.
All of the beloved characters from the previous books of the series are back to add exuberance and depth to the story.. If you enjoyed the previous books of the series, you won't want to miss this one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy.
Wonton Terror
(A Noodle Shop Mystery #4)
by Vivien Chien
Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: August 27th 2019 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Goodreads synopsis:
Amateur sleuth Lana Lee returns for another charming cozy Noodle Shop Mystery in Vivien Chien's Wonton Terror...
The Asian community is kicking off summer with the return of its popular Cleveland Night Market festivities, and Lana Lee is excited to represent the Ho-Lee Noodle House booth with her favorite chef, Peter Huang. Lana is confident that the evening marks the beginning of a great season to come. Not only is she looking forward to the warm temperatures, but her birthday is only weeks away, her handsome boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, is planning a romantic get-away. Life couldn't be better.
But before she can get too accustomed to the idea of a carefree summer, an explosion involving a nearby food truck, Wonton on Wheels, kills one of the proprietors and injures several others in the nearby vicinity.
When the authorities discover that this was no accident, the family members of the dead man become the number-one suspects in a front-page murder story. Lana and her best friend, Megan Riley, fall back into detective mode. But as they uncover family secrets of abuse and angry costumers, Lana's own family drama raises its head. Will Lana be able to juggle everything the universe is throwing at her, or has she jumped from the frying pan to the fire?
***
4.5 Stars
This is the fourth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien.
I am not sure why I was hesitating getting into this series. I have DIM SUM OF ALL FEARS in paperback and have yet to dig into it. Since I enjoyed this one so much, I am glad to have another Vivian Chien to read once I get through the mountains of ARCs for books coming out in August and September. It is like Cozy Mystery Summer around here. So many great books being released right now.
Lana Lee works for her parents and runs the Ho-Lee Noodle House restaurant. She is attending an Asian night market where other vendors with similar themed foods are present. The Wonton on Wheels food truck is targeted and explodes killing a man and leaving a lot of the vendors standing nearby with multiple injuries.
I loved the interactions between Lana and her family. The tension between her mom, the steadfast mother who was always there for them and the care-free Aunt was palatable. I was a bit confused as to why Darren O’Neill was the detective in charge of the investigation instead of Val’s boyfriend Adam Trudeau. Makes me wonder if there might be a bit of a love triangle in the future. One can only dream, right? I felt like those two character’s parts in the story could have been merged together and no one would have been the wiser to it.
I was pleasantly surprised by this and glad to have yet another must read author to add to my growing list. Definitely check this one out if you love cozy mysteries. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
"In the fourth in Vivien Chien's Noodle Shop delicious mystery series, Ho-Lee Noodle House is ready to take the Cleveland night market by storm - until a brand-new food venue literally explodes onto the scene.
Lana Lee is all smiles when the first evening of Cleveland’s Asian Night Market kicks off the summer. The weekly festival is always good for business, packed with locals and tourists, and this year, some stiff new food-truck competition. Wonton on Wheels, run by old friends of Lana’s parents, promises to have customers lining up for their delicately wrapped delights - until the truck blows up at evening’s end.
Lana’s boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, had been planning a birthday getaway for the two of them but, lo and behold, Lana must assume the role of amateur sleuth yet again. With one proprietor of Wonton on Wheels dead, it’s beginning to look more like murder and less like an unfortunate accident. And as they begin to unwrap layers of disturbing secrets, Lana’s own family erupts into new drama. Will Lana be able to solve this crime - or has she jumped from the wok right into the fire?"
Food truck cozy to celebrate the start of fall and a new school year, AKA, the time of year I relied on food trucks as an undergrad.
Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien is the fourth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. I am hooked on this series and not just because it's set in my home state. Set in Cleveland, Ohio, Chien will have you craving noodles!
When a food truck explodes at a festival on the first night of the Asian Night Market causing the death of one of the owners, Lana is once again in the middle of tracking down clues as who caused the death of a family friend. This time though, her detective boyfriend is not assigned to the case. So it's up to Lana and her roommate, Megan, to gather all the clues before anyone else gets taken out.
Chien not only writes a great plot for the mystery but gives you a look at Lana's family life and friends. This book we meet her aunt. As in all families there is that one relative that grates on someone's nerves, this time it's the aunt and Lana's mother.
This has plenty of suspects keeping you guessing to the end, humor, romance, and her cute little dog.
Wonton Terror is an easy to read cozy, that is entertaining and can be read as a stand alone. Chein does a great job of bringing in enough of previous story lines to get you current but you will want to read them all,
I was given an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an honest review.