The fourth book in the delectable noodle shop mysteries introduces us to Lana's Aunt Grace along with business owners new to the area. Lana, who manages the family's noodle shop is looking forward to participating in the night market being held each Friday over the course of the summer. However the explosion of the wonton on wheels food truck and the subsequent death of the food truck owner may derail these plans. The wife of the victim quickly becomes the top suspect. Lana, who has a natural talent for solving mysteries in the past feels compelled to investigate once again. With the help of her roommate she sets out to find some answers.
Wonton Terror just might be my favorite of the noodle shop mysteries. The dynamics of Lana's family with the addition of her aunt Grace bring an extra level of enjoyment to the story. The contentious relationship between Lana's mother and her sister Grace was highly comical. The family is close however they are also not afraid to speak their minds and banter affectionately. The mystery was fast paced and engrossing, with plenty of suspects and false leads. Adam is not featured predominately in this story, as the crime falls outside of his jurisdiction however this allows his interactions with Lana to feel more relaxed and genuine in this story. I highly recommend this series and Wonton Terror in particular to cozy mystery lovers as it was highly enjoyable.

The latest in the fun cozy mystery series that continues the adventure of Lana Lee and her family. Perfect for people looking for a light read with quirky characters who remind you of people you know. A bonus for me is it is set around where I live so I love the local references!

This series just keeps getting better and better with every new installment. The author's writing makes it so easy to get lost in the lives of the characters. The location of the series is something that is near and dear to my heart as well, as its in my home state. The entire premise is so unique yet familiar and I really feel that is a huge part of why this book is such an amazing read. I cannot wait to dive into the next installment.

Wonton Terror is the fourth installment of the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Our amateur sleuth here is Lana, whose daytime job is managing her family's restaurant Ho-Lee Noodle House. She lives with her bartender friend Megan, and is dating a police officer, who she presumably met on a previous case.

This addition to the series opens with Lana and her chef Peter Huang running a booth for the Ho-Lee Noodle House at Cleveland's Night Market. During a lull in business Lana notices the son of her mother's old friend arguing with his father at their food truck; shortly afterward the food truck explodes, killing the proprietor, Ronnie, and injuring several others. Ronnie's wife Sandra quickly becomes the top suspect in the explosion, so Lana begins to investigate to try to clear her mother's friend's name. The mystery here is okay, but I found the resolution rushed and the ending problematic.

What was most interesting about this book were the subplots. Adam (the boyfriend) doesn't appear in the book much, but Lana's birthday is a few weeks away, and as a present he is taking her on a trip (would like to read a mystery set at their destination!). Additionally, Lana's Aunt Grace is visiting, and her contentious relationship with Lana's mother provides some interest.

Overall this mystery was fine, but I probably won't be adding the series to my list of must-buy cozies.

Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien 4 stars

This is book #4 of the Noodle Shop Mystery. I have been reading since "Death by Dumplings" and the series has grown on me. I am glad I hung in there since I thought Death by Dumplings was just an OK book. I loved the last book Murder Lo Mein, and Wonton Terror does not disappoint. The scene is set at an Asian night market and Ho-Lee Noodle is represented in the food section. There is plenty of drama to observe near Wonton on Wheels another food truck owned by Ronnie and Sandra Chow. The night market is getting ready to close when an explosion happens on the Wonton on Wheels truck - People are hurt and Ronnie Chow is dead. Foul play is soon suspected and Lana Lee is on the case. In between there is internal family drama with Lana's aunt visiting Ohio and the friction between Aunt Grace and Lana's Mom.

Again, the supporting characters are key and they make the book more enjoyable. Megan, Lana's BFF is an able sidekick. The character of Detective Adam Truedeau has evolved from "stay out of police business" to "I understand your curiosity and please be careful when you are poking around" I not sure it is totally realistic, but I like the relationship between Adam and Lana.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

*BOOK REVIEW*

3.5 / 5

I had the privilege to sit in on an author’s chat with Vivien Chien a while ago and she was gracious and kind. So I was very excited when I had the opportunity from @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress to read an ARC of her latest mystery, Wonton Terror.

This is the fourth in Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series. I’m going to be honest here, this is the first of her books I have read. The good news is that I found this story fully capable of standing alone. Chien brings you up to speed with the characters and surroundings just enough so that you don’t feel lost. In fact you will smell the wontons and noodles cooking.

In this cozy mystery, amateur sleuth, Lana Lee is at it again. Lana finds herself not only working at her family’s restaurant, The Ho-Lee Noodle House, but being in charge. And this summer Lana and her chef have decided to put up a booth and join other vendors at The Night Market festivities. It would seem Lana is leaving the sleuthing to her hunky detective boyfriend, Adam. Even her big sister, the one studying to be a lawyer, wonders what has gotten into her.

On the opening night of The Night Market everything changes. An explosion rocks the market. When the chaos calms, Lana finds that people she cares about are injured, even worse one of the owners of the food truck, Wonton on Wheels, is dead. While the authorities are on it, Lana cannot leave this one alone. She begins to nose around for clues, asking a lot of questions, and making a list of suspects. In doing so she brings to light some ugly secrets about spouse abuse within their close knit community. If Lana isn’t careful, she could put herself in harm’s way.

This is a fun, quick read. I loved Lana’s family. They are close, meeting for dim sum each week, but they have their issues. The sisters are competitive, but they love each other. They find their mom overprotective and irritating, but will defend her to the end. And Grandma’s just lost because she can’t speak English. Chien writes relatable and quirky characters for this light mystery. And if you’re a foodie, you may find yourself ordering take out.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free advance copy of this book in return for an honest review! I never read any of Vivien Chien's book prior to this and I am now looking forward to reading all she has written. An enjoyable mystery book featuring Lana Lee whose family owns a restaurant business and who apparently has a knack for solving crimes/mysteries involving the Asian community in Cleveland. Love that she sets the book in Cleveland and uses the Asian community in her works. A fast-paced and well-written book that begins with an explosion of a food truck and death of its owner and devolves into a lot more issues and hidden mysteries within the Asian community. I like the character and her roommate, not much depth on the police who are investigating things but other than an initial suspicion seem to be out of the loop in terms of solving the murder/explosion. My only issue is that I think the killer was too obvious from the start but the reasoning was very understandable in a twisted sort of way. While I rate this a 4**** book I actually round it to 4.5**** due to the authors use and acknowledgement of one of the greatest detective shows ever, one that should still be on TV, BURN NOTICE!
Very enjoyable read with a lot more depth and insights than in cozy mysteries. Not sure if this would be considered a cozy, but whatever, it is a good book!

I absolutely ADORE the Noodle Shop mystery series. I am always eagerly awaiting the next installment and never want it it to end. Wonton Terror is the 4th book and it's just as scrumptious as it's predecessors. I highly recommend this entire series. Not only are the covers gorgeous but the stories have a unique quality I haven't seen in any other cozy mystery.

Lana Lee manages her family's Chinese restaurant near Cleveland, Ohio. She's excited the restaurant will have a booth at the area night market being held every Friday during the summer with local businesses selling food, jewelry, and other items. The festivities turn tragic when the "Wonton on Wheels" food truck explodes and the owner is killed. The victim and the main suspects were friends of Lana's family years ago, so Lana can't help but be curious about what really happened. She soon cooks up an investigation of her own, but before she can learn the truth, she may be the killer's next victim.

"Wonton Terror" is my favorite so far in this series. I have read the prior books, but anyone looking for a well-written cozy with an appealing main character in an interesting setting will enjoy the book. Lana didn't plan on working at her family restaurant, but has settled into the job as manager and is enjoying it much more. Her relationship with Detective Adam Trudeau is also going better and since this murder isn't in his jurisdiction, her sleuthing doesn't interfere in his official investigation. Since she is happier at work and in her personal like, Lana is much more likable character. Lana's best friend and roommate Megan helps her again, which is good news for fans of that character. I love the realistic dialogue between the two friends and the way they joke around and tease each other, but are always there for each other in serious situations.

The subplot with Lana's aunt coming to town and the arguments she and Lana's mother get in are also entertaining. Lana's mom and sister have never been m favorite characters. Lana's mom is bossy and opinionated and Lana's sister always seems to think she is better than Lana. However, in this story, Lana and Anna Lee see themselves in their mother and aunt and make an effort to get along better. They won't ever be best friends, but I hope that trend continues in subsequent books.

There are a few different possible suspects in the murder of the food truck owner and Lana does a great job getting suspects and witnesses to talk to her. Like Lana, I had a few different ideas about who the killer might be, but I wasn't able to figure it out in the end like she did! There are some tragic events in the story, but things end on a hopeful note. I really enjoy this series and would rate this installment 4.5 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of St. Martin's. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Vivien Chien always delivers healthy doses of humor, family, and mystery in her cozy mysteries series featuring the Ho-Lee Noodle House. Wonton Terror is no exception. When a food truck owner is killed in an explosion next to Lana, she dons her investigative hat and proceeds to poke around to solve the mystery of whodunit. The writing is well paced, and Chien again does a great job of balancing both the mystery and the personal plots in this novel.

Highly recommend!

Wonton Terror is a great cozy mystery with wonderful characters and storyline. A fun series that is well written.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the free review copy of this book. All opinions are mine,

I love this series so much; it keeps getting better and better! This fourth installment was a great one. I love seeing Lana mature and grow throughout these books. She's really coming into her own and I love her!

It's summertime in Cleveland and Lana and chef Peter Huang are representing Ho-Lee Noodle House at the outdoor Cleveland Night Market. What's supposed to be a fun celebration turns sour when a nearby food truck explodes - killing one of its owners, and injuring several bystanders. Of course Lana can't help herself and, with her best friend Megan's encouragement, starts to investigate matters on her own. In addition to a new mystery to investigate, Lana and her boyfriend Adam are planning their first getaway for her upcoming birthday, AND her aunt is visiting, and her Aunt and Lana's mother DO NOT get along! Family drama at its finest! Lana soon finds that her not-so-subtle investigations are making people mad. Will she figure out who the culprit is before she puts herself in danger?

Like I said, another winner from cozy mystery writer Vivien Chien. Fantastic setting (the meal descriptions make my mouth water! I called a friend after reading this and said we have to make a date for Dim Sum!), wonderful characters (I love Lana's whole dysfunctional family), and a taut mystery that keeps you turning the page. I already can't wait to see what Lana gets up to next!

Vivien Chien just keeps getting better and better! Full disclosure - she is my friend, and I remember her talking about blowing up the food truck on Facebook, so I was really excited about this one! In this installment, Lana Lee is at Cleveland's Asian Night Market when said food truck blows up. At first, it looks to be a tragic accident - but when the police confirm that there was foul play involved, Lana can't help investigating. I love the character development in this series, particularly between Lana and her boyfriend, Adam. Adam's a detective in Fairview Park, and since this case is out of his jurisdiction, it gives the poor guy a chance to relax. I also love Lana's best friend, Megan, who seems to be sniffing around more and more - she needs her own series! This would also be a good entry point into the series for new readers, since there aren't as many spoilers as in previous novels.

Wonton Terror is the latest explosive instalment in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. The dreaded visit from Lana’s Aunt Grace combined with the explosion of a Wonton food truck delves into the themes of fraught family relationships, domestic violence and of course, delicious food.


I love and recommend every book in this series. Just don’t read them on an empty stomach.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

I adore this series. Each book just gets better and better. In Wonton Terror a food truck explosion sets Lana on the trail of a killer. She uncovers old secrets and old history that's better left in the past. Adding to the drama is her aunt's visit, which grates on her mother's nerves and leads to amusing restaurant scenes. Boyfriend Adam takes a backseat role in this book, but roommate Megan assist in the investigation. The author had me guessing who the killer was until almost the end. Great mystery and great cover!

Lana Lee decides to investigate another murder, this one involving a food truck at her neighborhood's Asian Night Market. The mystery is interesting, and I'm happy to report that I guessed the wrong whodunnit. More importantly, I love the way Lana interacts with her family, especially when her aunt arrives for a visit. Lana's mother and aunt do NOT get along, and there's a lot of uncomfortable dim sum Sunday gatherings.

What didn't work for me how a very serious subject matter (domestic violence) was thrown into the story line this time around. We all know that cozy mysteries are just that - cozy and light, with a cheerful ending. But because domestic violence did become part of this story, it felt wrong to treat it in that same cozy, frivolous manner. Lana did acknowledge how lucky she was to not have abusive fathers or partners in her life, but otherwise glossing over it made me uncomfortable. Maybe an afterword about domestic abuse and IRL hotline numbers would help make this subject a bit less jarring.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Lana Lee and Peter Huang are representing the Ho-Lee Noodle Shop at the Cleveland Night Market for the Summer season and the first night goes out with a bang, literally! When a neighboring food truck explodes at the end of the evening, Lana and Peter escape with minor injuries, while the truck owner is killed and Peter’s mother and the truck owner’s wife suffer some serious burns. When the wife of the truck owner is named as the primary suspect, Lana’s mother is upset and worried about her old friend. Thus begin’s Lana’s investigation into the explosion.

As Lana digs around, she finds that some friendships her Mother and some of the other women have changed over the years. But what caused the rift in old friendships and why would a woman kill her own husband? From her initial findings, Lana can’t be certain, but she seems to be going in a circle where she can see both side of the coin for each of her own suspects having set the explosion to kill the man and why they didn’t do it. Lana better work quickly because the killer set off another smaller explosion to warn her and next time it may not be just a warning.

I absolutely adore this series. I knew the moment I read the first book and saw the humor in the Ho-Lee name. The whodunit is well crafted and if you follow the clues throughout the story, you will guess who the killer is and have the reasons you suspected confirmed towards the end. Every time I read a book from this series I need some noodles and dumplings because you are completely drawn in and immersed in the setting and characters. Another wonderful serving in this series!

I am totally in love with this smart, fast paced and fun mystery. It has it all - a complicated plot, quirky characters and an unusual setting with Lana managing the family restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodles, in an Asian themed shopping mall but what I most love about it are the relationships - the sass of Lana Lee and her relationships with her family, her sister, the Mah jong Matrons, and the visiting Aunt Grace, to name a few. Lana and her friend, the restaurant's chef, Peter, are participating in Asisan Market Night along with a host of other businesses when the food truck owned by former family friends, Ronnie and Sandra Chow, explodes, killing Ronnie. While the police first think it was an accident, they later suspect foul play and blame Sandra, thinking she did it for the insurance money. That leads Lana and her intrepid roommate Megan to once more investigate and once more to figure out who did it. I can't wait for Lana's next adventure!