Death By Dumpling is everything you expect, and maybe a little more. The first in the Noodle Shop Mysteries series, Death By Dumpling is a murder mystery that tows the line between the seriousness of a capital offense without taking itself too seriously.

Like balancing flavours in delicious Asian cuisine, there's enough subterfuge and drama to go with messy interpersonal affairs and fun twists without feeling like turning the page is an emotional burden.

The central character isn't the first-person protagonist, but rather, the community she is in. Death By Dumpling creates a little insular world that makes all the secrets under the surface come to life in a way that just wouldn't land without it. Everyone is a distinct personality, even for those whose appearances are limited.

There's nothing revolutionary about the approach, but if you call up the Noodle Shop for a serving of interpersonal intrigue that is about the complexities of humans, community, and culture, then Death By Dumpling delivers.