Dim Sum of All Fears

A Noodle Shop Mystery

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Vivien Chien: Dim Sum of All Fears (2018, St. Martin's Press)

English language

Published Dec. 7, 2018 by St. Martin's Press.

ISBN:
978-1-250-12918-5
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"Lana Lee is a dutiful daughter, waiting tables at her family's Chinese restaurant even though she'd rather be doing just about anything else. Then, just when she has a chance for a "real" job, her parents take off to Taiwan, leaving Lana in charge. Surprising everyone--including herself--she turns out to be quite capable of running the place. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who just opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead. . .and soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery." --

3 editions

A Smattering of Salacious Slayings

The second of the Noodle Shop Mysteries series, Dim Sum of All Fears effectively takes what worked in the first entry and runs with it. More gossip, more intrigue, more questions about whether the protagonist is even actually helping.

Should you be interested in the series, I would recommend starting with the first book. The value is in the characters and social dynamics, and those are best introduced in Death By Dumpling.

There's nothing revolutionary about the book, but it delivers what it promises. Not too heavy, not too silly, plenty of sauce. It's unclear how the series continues from here -- there are only so many murders you can have at a single plaza -- but I look forward to finding out.

Review of 'Dim Sum of All Fears' on 'Goodreads'

Lana's mother and father need to take an emergency trip overseas to take care of Lana's grandmother. Lana is left in charge of the family noodle shop as Lana's older sister Anna May is busy with law school.

Lana becomes friends with the couple who occupy the empty store next to the noodle shop and greatly enjoys Isabell's company (they both enjoy mystery books) but Lana is devastated when Isabell is found dead next to her husband in the shop. Despite being warned against sticking her nose into the mystery by her police detective boyfriend, Lana is determined to discover who murdered her friend.

This was a great read with excellent characters and a good plot; this book is highly recommended.

Subjects

  • Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths