What do you think?
Rate this book
Noodle Shop Mystery #6
Killer Kung Pao
Vivien Chen's Lana Lee returns for Killer Kung Pao, another delectable cozy set in a Chinese restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio!
Is life at the Ho-Lee Noodle House becoming too hot to handle?
Lana Lee’s plate is already plenty full. Running her family’s Chinese restaurant in Cleveland’s Asia Village is challenging on the best of days. But just when Lana thinks she might be able to catch her breath before the weekend—which she’s eager to spend with her equally overworked boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau—Lana witnesses a car accident in the parking lot. And now she has no choice but to get involved.
June Yi, of Yi’s Tea and Bakery, is a serious businesswoman well-known for her heartlessness. But June meets her match when she rear-ends the Cadillac belonging to Mah Jong lover Mildred “Millie” Mao. As each woman curses—and threatens—the other, it becomes clear to Lana that trouble lies ahead. Still, who could have imagined that Millie would end up dead at the beauty salon? The evidence suggests that she was electrocuted while having a foot bath, and all eyes are on June. Can Lana find a way to solve this case before another fatality occurs in Asia Village?
Is life at the Ho-Lee Noodle House becoming too hot to handle?
Lana Lee’s plate is already plenty full. Running her family’s Chinese restaurant in Cleveland’s Asia Village is challenging on the best of days. But just when Lana thinks she might be able to catch her breath before the weekend—which she’s eager to spend with her equally overworked boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau—Lana witnesses a car accident in the parking lot. And now she has no choice but to get involved.
June Yi, of Yi’s Tea and Bakery, is a serious businesswoman well-known for her heartlessness. But June meets her match when she rear-ends the Cadillac belonging to Mah Jong lover Mildred “Millie” Mao. As each woman curses—and threatens—the other, it becomes clear to Lana that trouble lies ahead. Still, who could have imagined that Millie would end up dead at the beauty salon? The evidence suggests that she was electrocuted while having a foot bath, and all eyes are on June. Can Lana find a way to solve this case before another fatality occurs in Asia Village?
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 25, 2020
157 people are currently reading
2407 people want to read
About the author
Vivien Chien
23 books1,678 followersVivien Chien first started writing simple stories about adventures with her classmates when she was in elementary school. As she grew up, her love of books and the written word increased, leading to the attempt of her first novel at age 16. After many struggled beginnings and several different genres, she found her passion in the mystery world.
When she's not writing, she can be found frolicking in the bookstore or searching for her next bowl of noodles. She has a soft spot for doughnuts, a healthy love for coffee, and an extreme need to participate in random acts of crafting.
She currently lives in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the fifth book in her Noodle Shop series, and writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier.
When she's not writing, she can be found frolicking in the bookstore or searching for her next bowl of noodles. She has a soft spot for doughnuts, a healthy love for coffee, and an extreme need to participate in random acts of crafting.
She currently lives in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the fifth book in her Noodle Shop series, and writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
August 21, 2020
Lana Lee is the manager of her family's Chinese restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House, which is located in an Asian shopping center in the Cleveland, Ohio area. In this sixth installment in Vivien Chien's A Noodle House Mystery series, Lana is having her hair dyed at her favorite salon when a client is electrocuted. The victim, Mildred Mao, was not well-liked in the community. She was known for cheating at Mah Jong and being sue-happy. Everyone immediately points the fingers at her most recent enemy, June Yi, but Lana has her doubts and is determined to uncover the truth.
This is a fun, engaging series, with witty writing, relatable family relationships, and mouthwatering descriptions of Chinese food that will leave you craving some dumplings and noodles. Spending time in Asia Village with Lana and the gang feels like catching up with old friends. Lana is one of my favorite cozy mystery heroines. She's relatable, down to earth, and has a great sense of humor. She's a bit reckless in her sleuthing, however, it makes for some hilarious interactions with the suspects. The author has done a wonderful job of bringing her characters to life and making the reader become invested in not only Lana's story but also in the stories of those around her. This installment focuses on Jasmine from the beauty salon and the Mahjong Matrons. It was fun learning more about them.
The mystery was well-crafted, with plenty of clues, false leads, and suspects to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I was unable to solve the mystery and was surprised by the reveal. All in all, this is a fantastic addition to the series, and I eagerly await the next book. Anna May is hiding something and I can't wait for Lana to uncover her secret.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fun, engaging series, with witty writing, relatable family relationships, and mouthwatering descriptions of Chinese food that will leave you craving some dumplings and noodles. Spending time in Asia Village with Lana and the gang feels like catching up with old friends. Lana is one of my favorite cozy mystery heroines. She's relatable, down to earth, and has a great sense of humor. She's a bit reckless in her sleuthing, however, it makes for some hilarious interactions with the suspects. The author has done a wonderful job of bringing her characters to life and making the reader become invested in not only Lana's story but also in the stories of those around her. This installment focuses on Jasmine from the beauty salon and the Mahjong Matrons. It was fun learning more about them.
The mystery was well-crafted, with plenty of clues, false leads, and suspects to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I was unable to solve the mystery and was surprised by the reveal. All in all, this is a fantastic addition to the series, and I eagerly await the next book. Anna May is hiding something and I can't wait for Lana to uncover her secret.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2023
I’ll be honest, I thought to myself “Wouldn’t it be great if she made so-and-so the murderer” and by golly, she did!
August 20, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and St. Martin Press in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 25 Aug 2020
This is your average cozy mystery series. The main character is very likable and the plot followed the normal cozy mystery outline. There wasn’t anything too exciting or thrilling about this book. It wasn’t a bad read just a bit on the average side. It just didn’t have a big draw for me.
June 6, 2020
I loved being back at Asia Village again. Lana Lee,who works at her parents restaurant has a lot on her plate,including finding a killer.The connections between the suspects were very complex but fun to read and very convincing. The killer was surprisingly simple in the end.
September 1, 2020
I have to be honest, I have only read the first book in the series, and I was horribly disappointed.
I’ve seen friends promoting other books in this series, so when I saw Killer Kung Pao on NetGalley, I decided to give it a try.
I’m very glad I did!
I absolutely loved this book and Lana Lee is a great character. There are times I will read a book that’s further into the series, because reading a first book in a new series can be overwhelming.
I’m looking forward to reading the other books I’ve missed, and I’m really glad I tried another book by this author.
I’ve seen friends promoting other books in this series, so when I saw Killer Kung Pao on NetGalley, I decided to give it a try.
I’m very glad I did!
I absolutely loved this book and Lana Lee is a great character. There are times I will read a book that’s further into the series, because reading a first book in a new series can be overwhelming.
I’m looking forward to reading the other books I’ve missed, and I’m really glad I tried another book by this author.
August 30, 2020
How is it that we are already on the 6th book in this series? It feels like I just started reading it a few months ago….but I haven’t. I read the very first book before it came out and fell in love with this series.
I adore Lana Lee and all the murdery goodness of the Asia Village not to mention every book I read leaves me craving Chinese food and I don’t even like Chinese food but I would kill for some noodles about three chapters in to every single book!
Every time I see that Vivien Chien has a new Lana book coming out, I just automatically add it to my TBR and my review calendar because they are quick easy reads with a good mystery and a fun heroine, how could I not read them?
One of the things I love most about this series is it has a small town feel to it. Sure it’s set in Cleveland but the Asia Village truly feels like it’s own little world separate from the hustle and bustle of the ‘big city’. I wish I could go to this shopping center in real life and just people watch and wait for murder to happen, because there is always a murder just waiting to happen in Asia Village or at the very least some serious drama.
I think that’s one of the things that I love most about this series, is the crazy little Asia Village and all the drama with the shop owners. It totally draws me in every time and plays to my nosiness and I am 100% ok with that.
The characters are memorable and just quirky enough to be lovable and to stand out in your mind. I can easily recall Lana Lee the second I see the name and can start to see her crazy hair colors appear in my mind from the very beginning. I just love her and it’s been so fun seeing her evolve throughout the books. I am so glad this series has continued and I will definitely be sad when it comes to an end but for now I think we have a few more Lana books to look forward to.
This mystery was of course another fun installment to the series. Though I was able to figure out who the killer was early on, it was still fun trying to discover the motive and the evidence with Lana. Throughout the series I have really loved the Mah Jong Matrons. They are in every book and yet we haven’t really explored their characters beyond them being the Asia Village town gossips. In this book we get to see more of them and explore their characters a little more and I enjoyed that quite a bit.
Once again this was a great installment to a beloved series with great characters. I never read a Lana novel and feel disappointed. They are quick reads and a nice escape from mundane life. You can definitely jump around in the series do if you haven’t read some of the other books that’s ok, each book focuses on a new mystery and the author does a great job catching new readers up!
See my full review here
I adore Lana Lee and all the murdery goodness of the Asia Village not to mention every book I read leaves me craving Chinese food and I don’t even like Chinese food but I would kill for some noodles about three chapters in to every single book!
Every time I see that Vivien Chien has a new Lana book coming out, I just automatically add it to my TBR and my review calendar because they are quick easy reads with a good mystery and a fun heroine, how could I not read them?
One of the things I love most about this series is it has a small town feel to it. Sure it’s set in Cleveland but the Asia Village truly feels like it’s own little world separate from the hustle and bustle of the ‘big city’. I wish I could go to this shopping center in real life and just people watch and wait for murder to happen, because there is always a murder just waiting to happen in Asia Village or at the very least some serious drama.
I think that’s one of the things that I love most about this series, is the crazy little Asia Village and all the drama with the shop owners. It totally draws me in every time and plays to my nosiness and I am 100% ok with that.
The characters are memorable and just quirky enough to be lovable and to stand out in your mind. I can easily recall Lana Lee the second I see the name and can start to see her crazy hair colors appear in my mind from the very beginning. I just love her and it’s been so fun seeing her evolve throughout the books. I am so glad this series has continued and I will definitely be sad when it comes to an end but for now I think we have a few more Lana books to look forward to.
This mystery was of course another fun installment to the series. Though I was able to figure out who the killer was early on, it was still fun trying to discover the motive and the evidence with Lana. Throughout the series I have really loved the Mah Jong Matrons. They are in every book and yet we haven’t really explored their characters beyond them being the Asia Village town gossips. In this book we get to see more of them and explore their characters a little more and I enjoyed that quite a bit.
Once again this was a great installment to a beloved series with great characters. I never read a Lana novel and feel disappointed. They are quick reads and a nice escape from mundane life. You can definitely jump around in the series do if you haven’t read some of the other books that’s ok, each book focuses on a new mystery and the author does a great job catching new readers up!
See my full review here
January 25, 2021
Not a bad installment in the "A Noodle Shop Mystery" but I definitely thought after a while that this was a bit of a filler book. Probably because there was no real mystery to who dun it in this one and I think the only surprise is that Lana was wrong. I liked how strong Lana's relationship is with Adam and her stepping up more to be the manager of the restaurant. I did think that some things (Lana's sister's secret relationship and re-decoration of the restaurant) are set to matter more in subsequent books though.
"Killer Kung Pao" follows Lana when she is at her hair dresser's and one of the women that she knows and doesn't care for too much ends up being electrocuted and dies. Lana is reluctant (for once) to get involved in the investigation and her boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau says it is looking cut and dried that a woman she knows, June Yi, is probably the responsible party. When June's sister asks Lana to investigate, she does, and starts finding out more information than she ever wanted to know about the Mahjong Matrons and June Yi.
I thought the writing was fine, but the flow of the book just got too slow after a while. You are just waiting for things to move along. I think that for once this one had too much going on with it. Peter had his relationship issues. Lana's sister is hiding something. There's the sidewalk sale, etc. I think that some of this could have waited for other books. I just thought that the ending when it came, just came fast and didn't make a lot of sense after a while. I just went with it though.
"Killer Kung Pao" follows Lana when she is at her hair dresser's and one of the women that she knows and doesn't care for too much ends up being electrocuted and dies. Lana is reluctant (for once) to get involved in the investigation and her boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau says it is looking cut and dried that a woman she knows, June Yi, is probably the responsible party. When June's sister asks Lana to investigate, she does, and starts finding out more information than she ever wanted to know about the Mahjong Matrons and June Yi.
I thought the writing was fine, but the flow of the book just got too slow after a while. You are just waiting for things to move along. I think that for once this one had too much going on with it. Peter had his relationship issues. Lana's sister is hiding something. There's the sidewalk sale, etc. I think that some of this could have waited for other books. I just thought that the ending when it came, just came fast and didn't make a lot of sense after a while. I just went with it though.
May 26, 2020
A manager of a Cleveland Chinese restaurant seems like an unlikely investigator, but Lana Lee often finds herself in the middle of a mystery. When she is having her hair done by Jasmine, her favorite stylist at Asian Accents, there is a shocking death in the salon. Is it murder or an accident? The woman who died was abrasive, but is there someone who hated her enough to kill? If you are looking for a well written cozy mystery with likable characters, I recommend Killer Kung Pao. Thanks to the publisher and to Edelweiss for this ARC.
December 22, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
What starts with a crash ends with a sizzle and Lana Lee finds herself involved in another murder mystery.
Headed home for a quiet weekend with her handsome detective Lana witnesses an accident in the parking lot of Cleveland’s Asia Village. There is no love lost between June Yi, of Yi’s Tea and Bakery, and Lana, in fact, she tries to avoid June at all costs so when she sees June back straight into Mildred “Millie” Mao Cadillac she tries to make herself invisible. When their argument escalates and the police arrive Lama is going to have at least give a statement about what she saw. She just hopes that the end of her involvement.
But then both women show up at the hair salon at the same time as Lana. Praying the women stay separated and oblivious to each other’s presence isn’t too much to ask, is it? But it is not meant to be. Shortly after they see each other, the lights go out and when they come back on, Millie is dead and June is the prime suspect. When June’s sister asks Lana to help clear her sister of the crime Lana is forced to say yes, even though she thinks June really could be the killer.
This series continues to be a favorite. I really enjoy the characters. This time we get to know the Majong Matrons that come to the Ho-Lee Noodle House every morning for breakfast. They always seem to know the latest gossip but this time two of the matrons were at the salon right before the murder occurred. Again Lana teams up with her roommate Megan to do a little sleuthing. I really enjoy their relationship and how well they know each other. I also love the way Lana’s relationship with boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau continues to grow. Ms. Chien has created a strong cast of core characters that continue to develop more in each story plus she gives us truly interesting new characters in each book for us to like and dislike too.
The mystery this time was quite puzzling, especially because anyone present in the salon could have done the deed. The investigation takes Lana from one end of town to the other and she ruffles a few feathers along the way. I was totally twisted up in my thinking by the time everything was revealed.
Killer Kung Pao was a fun read. The current mystery wrapped up but there are lingering threads yet to be addressed. You know Lana is going to stumble into another mystery so I am very excited about Fatal Fried Rice hitting my Kindle in March. I recommend the entire series to all cozy mystery lovers.
What starts with a crash ends with a sizzle and Lana Lee finds herself involved in another murder mystery.
Headed home for a quiet weekend with her handsome detective Lana witnesses an accident in the parking lot of Cleveland’s Asia Village. There is no love lost between June Yi, of Yi’s Tea and Bakery, and Lana, in fact, she tries to avoid June at all costs so when she sees June back straight into Mildred “Millie” Mao Cadillac she tries to make herself invisible. When their argument escalates and the police arrive Lama is going to have at least give a statement about what she saw. She just hopes that the end of her involvement.
But then both women show up at the hair salon at the same time as Lana. Praying the women stay separated and oblivious to each other’s presence isn’t too much to ask, is it? But it is not meant to be. Shortly after they see each other, the lights go out and when they come back on, Millie is dead and June is the prime suspect. When June’s sister asks Lana to help clear her sister of the crime Lana is forced to say yes, even though she thinks June really could be the killer.
This series continues to be a favorite. I really enjoy the characters. This time we get to know the Majong Matrons that come to the Ho-Lee Noodle House every morning for breakfast. They always seem to know the latest gossip but this time two of the matrons were at the salon right before the murder occurred. Again Lana teams up with her roommate Megan to do a little sleuthing. I really enjoy their relationship and how well they know each other. I also love the way Lana’s relationship with boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau continues to grow. Ms. Chien has created a strong cast of core characters that continue to develop more in each story plus she gives us truly interesting new characters in each book for us to like and dislike too.
The mystery this time was quite puzzling, especially because anyone present in the salon could have done the deed. The investigation takes Lana from one end of town to the other and she ruffles a few feathers along the way. I was totally twisted up in my thinking by the time everything was revealed.
Killer Kung Pao was a fun read. The current mystery wrapped up but there are lingering threads yet to be addressed. You know Lana is going to stumble into another mystery so I am very excited about Fatal Fried Rice hitting my Kindle in March. I recommend the entire series to all cozy mystery lovers.
December 15, 2020
Killer Kung Pao
By Vivien Chien
I absolutely love this series and each one just keeps getting better and better. In this installment of A NOODLE SHOP MYSTERY Book #6, Lana Lee witnesses the murder of Mildred Mao known for her indiscretions at Mah Jong and fingers start to point to June Yi, the owner of Yi's Tea and Bakery. Lana Lee knows better and our sleuth goes to work to find the real culprit. As always, the characters are a delight to read about and the story is full of wit, humor, and of course red herrings. I enjoy Vivien Chien's cozy mystery series for a quick and wonderful escape read. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series too!!
By Vivien Chien
I absolutely love this series and each one just keeps getting better and better. In this installment of A NOODLE SHOP MYSTERY Book #6, Lana Lee witnesses the murder of Mildred Mao known for her indiscretions at Mah Jong and fingers start to point to June Yi, the owner of Yi's Tea and Bakery. Lana Lee knows better and our sleuth goes to work to find the real culprit. As always, the characters are a delight to read about and the story is full of wit, humor, and of course red herrings. I enjoy Vivien Chien's cozy mystery series for a quick and wonderful escape read. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series too!!
May 14, 2021
Lana Lee, Cleveland restaurant manager and amateur sleuth is minding her own business when she sees a car accident between two of the nastiest women in her community. One is going to sue the other out of sheer meanness. The next day, everyone is getting their hair done at the hair salon, when the litigious one winds up dead.
The sleuth starts poking around, even though her super cop boy friend tells her to lay off this one, she is in charge of a sidewalk sale, and her mother wants her to redecorate the restaurant.
I found it very entertaining.
The sleuth starts poking around, even though her super cop boy friend tells her to lay off this one, she is in charge of a sidewalk sale, and her mother wants her to redecorate the restaurant.
I found it very entertaining.
May 14, 2022
I needed this serotonin boost so badly after a load of meh reads.
Miss. Lana Lee, oh how I’ve missed you. I missed you, your hot boyfriend, your colourful hair, your cute and dare I say quirky personality. I swear, I read this book for Lana and Adam, and her family and friends more so than the actual mystery.
The amounts of times I smiled while reading this book are up there.
Miss. Lana Lee, oh how I’ve missed you. I missed you, your hot boyfriend, your colourful hair, your cute and dare I say quirky personality. I swear, I read this book for Lana and Adam, and her family and friends more so than the actual mystery.
The amounts of times I smiled while reading this book are up there.
September 25, 2020
3.5 Stars
It’s always fun to jump back into the world that Vivien Chien’s world and after enjoying the last book of the series, I was definitely looking forward to reading his new book. KILLER KUNG PAO is the sixth book of the Noodle Shop Mystery series.
When someone that Lana doesn’t really get along with is killed, this sets Lana Lee into a mental tailspin. She’s already got a lot on her plate with managing Ho-Lee Noodle House, but her amateur sleuth skills are once again put to the test to figure out what really happened.
I enjoyed this book, but probably not as much as the previous one. I think that the mystery was done well. However, it doesn’t necessarily spark a lot of inspiration if you’re an avid Cozy Mystery reader. So I would say it’s a good book to read if you’re not very familiar with the genre or just want something very light. Still, it isn’t a bad book. It’s just a bit on the lighter side.
I would like to see more character development happen for Lana’s character. Much like her sister and family complains, I do feel like she is very immature for her age. I don’t mind the crazy hairstyle and all that, but her thinking does seem a bit elementary in some cases. We’re the same age, but I definitely feel like she could grow up a bit more. Starting out the series like that is completely fine, but we’re six books in already and I would like to see Lana grow and mature, taking what she learned over the course of the series and become a stronger woman.
Reviewed by Ann❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
It’s always fun to jump back into the world that Vivien Chien’s world and after enjoying the last book of the series, I was definitely looking forward to reading his new book. KILLER KUNG PAO is the sixth book of the Noodle Shop Mystery series.
When someone that Lana doesn’t really get along with is killed, this sets Lana Lee into a mental tailspin. She’s already got a lot on her plate with managing Ho-Lee Noodle House, but her amateur sleuth skills are once again put to the test to figure out what really happened.
I enjoyed this book, but probably not as much as the previous one. I think that the mystery was done well. However, it doesn’t necessarily spark a lot of inspiration if you’re an avid Cozy Mystery reader. So I would say it’s a good book to read if you’re not very familiar with the genre or just want something very light. Still, it isn’t a bad book. It’s just a bit on the lighter side.
I would like to see more character development happen for Lana’s character. Much like her sister and family complains, I do feel like she is very immature for her age. I don’t mind the crazy hairstyle and all that, but her thinking does seem a bit elementary in some cases. We’re the same age, but I definitely feel like she could grow up a bit more. Starting out the series like that is completely fine, but we’re six books in already and I would like to see Lana grow and mature, taking what she learned over the course of the series and become a stronger woman.
Reviewed by Ann❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
August 19, 2021
Wow! I loved this one!! Maybe my favorite so far... Vivien Chien did a great job with the story and I loved finding out who the killer was and how it was revealed. This series is a must read!!
January 22, 2024
This series continues apace where I enjoy reading it and immediately forget about it and that is mostly what I want from a cozy mystery.
August 15, 2020
Lana Lee is back and once again she finds herself trying to solve another murder at Asia Village. I have to say, for such a small shopping complex, there is a lot of shenanigans going on. For me, this is a really fun series which all starts with the main character Lana Lee. She has personality galore and it just jumps off the page. Add in her family, boyfriend, and all the other shop owners and employees at the Asia Village and you have a rich, diverse, quirky, fun group of characters. The various relationships in this series keep me entertained. Lana and Adam are in a good place. He's not overly fond of her penchant for investigating the murders and crimes that occur at Asia Village but he has come around to the fact that he is basically dating the resident busy body and has adjusted. Her best friend Megan is her partner in crime and enabler. She is always up for investigating. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get more of Mama Lee in this book, but I'm sure she has something up her sleeve.
The mystery centers around the murder of a woman who is not well-liked and cheats at Mah Jong. As a result, when she is murder at the local hair salon the obvious suspect is her most recent nemesis. But for Lana Lee, something just doesn't add up. The author does a great job of laying out suspects and complex connections that Lana has to dig to uncover, but in the end, the resolution was a relatively simple one.
This is a terrific series and I love all the characters and the setting. I'm in this for the long run and will be back for the next installment. I need to find out what color Lana Lee's hair will be then and what trouble she can dig up next time.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
The mystery centers around the murder of a woman who is not well-liked and cheats at Mah Jong. As a result, when she is murder at the local hair salon the obvious suspect is her most recent nemesis. But for Lana Lee, something just doesn't add up. The author does a great job of laying out suspects and complex connections that Lana has to dig to uncover, but in the end, the resolution was a relatively simple one.
This is a terrific series and I love all the characters and the setting. I'm in this for the long run and will be back for the next installment. I need to find out what color Lana Lee's hair will be then and what trouble she can dig up next time.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 10, 2023
I love this series and hope it goes on forever!
June 12, 2025
3hrs35mins
June 12, 2020
Another murder in Asia Village? It's getting downright dangerous there! No worries, though, because once again Lana Lee is on the case. While getting her hair done, a murder occurs in the salon in the Village. Saying that she is not getting involved in the case, Lana gets pulled in by the most likely suspect's sister, asking her to prove her sister didn't commit the murder.
I really love this series and always am disappointed when the current book ends. Most of the characters are well develop by this book, but it can still be read as a stand-alone. As it looks, maybe Lana's sister, Anna May, might be highlighted in the next book with her own mystery? Recommended for mystery lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for making this digital ARC available.
I really love this series and always am disappointed when the current book ends. Most of the characters are well develop by this book, but it can still be read as a stand-alone. As it looks, maybe Lana's sister, Anna May, might be highlighted in the next book with her own mystery? Recommended for mystery lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for making this digital ARC available.
June 24, 2022
There's no getting around it, Lana (and most of the other characters, but especially Lana) needs to mature and quickly. There was not one second of this book where I found myself enjoying time with her. Between her lack of critical thinking—again, just wandering around and questioning people is not good practice—and her judgmental tone with every person, it is too much. Plus, she does things like accuse her hairdresser's grandmother of the crime and is surprised when her hairdresser/friend is upset by it!
The actual crime itself was actually intriguing and
The actual crime itself was actually intriguing and
January 3, 2021
I always enjoy my visits to the Asian Village and Ho Lee Noodle Shop. Lana Lee is constantly busy but makes time for everyone else. The mystery was a little different this time because the victim hates her but she goes about trying to clear her name, nonetheless. This was another great addition to the series and I look forward to the next one.
January 2, 2026
Another great noodle shop mystery. I really enjoy the characters in this series. The mystery in this one was good and I enjoyed the exciting ending.
August 26, 2020
Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien is the 6th A Noodle Shop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series or have skipped a book. Lana Lee is the manager of her family’s restaurant, Ho Lee Noodle House in Asia Village in Fairview Park, Ohio. She is also on the board of directors for the village. Lana is twenty-eight years old, shares an apartment with her best friend, and likes to frequently change her hair color. She is dating Detective Adam Trudeau when their schedules allow. Lana is looking forward to spending Friday evening with her roommate and boyfriend. Before she can leave the restaurant, Ian Sung approaches her. He wants Lana to coordinate the upcoming sidewalk sale for Asia Village. Then Lana witnesses a fender bender between the toxic June Yi and rude Millie Mao. Lana’s plan for Saturday morning is getting her hair colored at Asian Accents. Unfortunately, Millie and June happen to have appointments scheduled at the same time. Millie ends up dead and June is at the top of the suspect list. Despite Lana’s intentions to stay out of this investigation, she gets roped in by June’s twin sister, Shirley. The suspect list consists of people who were at the salon that morning which leads to some uncomfortable questioning since Lana knows them. No one likes to be suspected of murder by someone they know, or watch grow up. There are several viable suspects, good clues, and misdirection. I like how the crime was committed. I found this whodunit a cinch to solve. I thought the pacing was a little slow. I had a hard time staying engaged which is a shame because I really enjoyed the last A Noodle Shop Mystery. I like Lana Lee and the other characters in this series as well as Asia Village and the close-knit Asian community. I just think the series needs a little more oomph to take it from okay to wow. I like how Lana’s roommate knows when something is upsetting Lana by how many donuts she brings home. All of us who stress eat can relate. There is humor sprinkled throughout the story that will have you chuckling. The food descriptions had me craving my favorite Chinese food plus glazed munchkins. Killer Kung Pao is a charming cozy mystery with a desperate dye job, a fender bender, a sidewalk sale, delectable donuts, fiery foes, a scolding sister, and the Mahjong Matrons.
July 25, 2023
This one was once again very enjoyable and I didn't quite see the ending coming. I'm curious to find out what's going on with Anna May.
December 25, 2024
I'd forgotten how much I'd enjoyed this series ☺️
February 20, 2024
Swiftly becoming my favorite series!
October 4, 2024
This is the first book I have read in this series. I like Lana and the Asia Village setting. I thought making ??? the murderer was a good twist.
March 4, 2024
I love this series more and more as I read. Lana supported by Megan and Adam is one of my favorite cozy sleuths; I just feel like her determination, her belief in herself and the goodness of others (even others who have been ruthlessly mean to her), and her take no crap attitude are the perfect combination. I would be friends with Lana in a heartbeat and I love spending these pages with her. This mystery took many interesting turns and I was quite shocked by the ending!! I cannot wait to continue.
July 13, 2020
I've enjoyed this series from the beginning and although this current addition is not quite as good as the earlier ones, reading it is still like meeting up with old friends. The mystery this time seemed a little bit too contrived. Adam's involvement was minimal and his character has morphed from sexy, intense detective to cardboard standby. I would like to see more character development and relationship growth in this series. This could not be a stand alone since readers would need to read prior books in the series to get any sense of the characters.
July 1, 2020
I wanted to like this book because I love the idea of a Chinese restaurant theme. But the book was so vacuous that it didn't satisfy me at all. I've tried other books in this series and had the same reaction. More depth, please!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews