This book was laugh out loud funny with an enthralling plot (lots of clues!) and had lovable, realistic characters whose adventures in restaurants and murder kept me entertained.

I’ve only read the first noodleshop mystery, Death By Dumpling, and then this one. There were some references to the other books but the first chapter pretty much caught me up to speed, without many spoilers. This was a good book to jump in on, because Lana Lee is visiting California and that gives us a little break from the other subplots with the other main characters.

Lana Lee sleuthing in California was a fun change to the usual Ohio noodle shop setting! At first I missed the Ohio characters, but Aunt Grace was such a fun character, and we got to know Anna May better which I really liked. I liked Aunt Grace’s character she was so fun and I was excited for another strong female character to join the series. Lana Lee, Anna May, and Aunt Grace make a fun team of detectives, with a lot of witty banter. The character development between these 3 women was very entertaining to read.

The mystery itself was very twisty and complex, which I loved! I like my cozy mysteries with good characters, cozy details, and plots that keep me interested, and this one delivered on all 3.
I loved Aunt Grace and I hope she makes some more appearances in the series. And sending Lana Lee to different cities is pretty fun for the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

I adore this series and was so glad to see another one out! Chien did a great job switching up locations - I’m sure Asia Village needed a break. Despite being in a new city for a conference, Lana can’t help but get involved in a mystery. It was really fun to see Lana and Anna May interact more in this book. I feel like we haven’t delved as deep into the sibling relationship. The mystery is, of course, well plotted and paced. I’d expect nothing less and can’t wait to read more!

Even though the Mahjong Matron’s were not part of this book, I believe it is one of the best in the series. Maybe because it takes place in my old stomping grounds, maybe it is because Lana Lee isn’t always trying to stay one step ahead of her detective boyfriend, or maybe it is because she is connecting with her sister Anna May and their Aunt Grace. Whatever it was, there was something different and more engaging in this ninth book of the Noodle Shop Mystery series.

Lana can’t help it when bodies are literally falling out of the sky, but when the reasons are hitting too close to home for Aunt Grace, Lana must step in to protect her family. When she does, more of Grace’s story comes out and the girls, Lana and Anna, must decide when to push and when to sit back and let Grace reveal her own secrets. As long as the girls can keep Grace safe, the rest will have to wait for another day.

This was a wonderful addition to the Noodle Shop Mysteries! This is one of the favorite cozy mystery series and I always have a pleasant time reading. It's great to see Lana's character development continue to grow throughout the series.

I really enjoyed the one and only other Lana Lee mystery that I read. One thing mystery writers have trouble with as series go one is finding ways to have their amateur detective get involved (the Cabot Cove effect). In this entry, the author solves that problem by having Lana sent by her mother to attend a restaurant convention in California. Since her auntie lives there, Lana's sister comes with her and the two hope to have a mini reunion with their aunt. They are attending a convention party when someone dies. It looks like suicide, but did Lana really see a shadowy figure up on the roof? The previous book I read was laugh out loud funny, and I think that was because Lana's roommate was a big part of that mystery, while her sister, while present and an important part of a subplot, was not prominent. I enjoyed the sister dynamic, and while the mystery was pretty easy to figure out, it was still enjoyable. A well written summer escape. Recommended

While not my favorite of the series. I did enjoy the change from Cleveland for LA. And it is not a fact trouble finds Lana no matter where she goes. And while I loved the slight bonding between Lana and Anna May and spending more time with their aunt Grace. I miss the Cleveland crew and I hope the next one in the series is back in Cleveland. But this one was a fun vacation mystery.

Misfortune Cookie is the ninth Noodle Shop mystery by Vivien Chien. Released 27th June 2023 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 336 pages and available in ebook and paperback formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

Protagonist Lana is refreshingly modern, fairly snarky, honest, loyal, and has a lovely solid healthy relationship with her bff Megan, and tries to get along with her too-perfect sister Anna May (usually unsuccessfully). She has a knack of getting entangled in and solving crimes along with her adorable pug Kikkoman. Lana and Anna May are on work/vacation in this book, so Kikkoman just gets one mention. Hopefully she'll be back in book 10.

The language and writing are clean; nothing worse than an occasional "damn". No on-page violence or abuse, and nothing which is NSFW at all. It would make a good commute or work break read.

Four and a half stars, delightfully fun light cozy mystery series. Although this is book 9, it works perfectly well as a standalone, with the understanding that the characters and their interrelationships have developed over the course of the books. If read out of order, some spoilers should be expected. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition, mystery book club selection, or binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an electronic-ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

Misfortune Cookie is a great installment in Chien's Noodle House mystery series. Lana's in California with her sister, visiting their aunt and attending a restaurant convention. But trouble doesn't take long to show up in the form of her aunt's friend dying mysteriously at a party. This book is a bit of a crossroads for Lana - she has to really think about why she keeps solving mysteries despite herself and what she wants out of the future. She doesn't have her usual support system in place this time which also gives the story a new feeling amongst the series with the different setting.
I liked how the mystery was done and how Lana's growth continues throughout the series. I look forward to seeing more.

In this next installment in the Noodle Shop mystery series, Lana Lee and her sister Anna May take a break from the wintry weather in Ohio. Their vacation to visit Aunt Grace in California turns into an investigation into the death of Aunt Grace's friend Nora. Many suspects abound, and Lana is determined to get to the bottom of things.

The addition of Asian-themed food and the development of the relationship between the two sisters were the best parts of the story for me. The action moves along quickly and keeps the reader involved. The characters are realistic and the book can be read as a standalone novel. The author includes enough detail and references to past cases and settings so readers do not feel lost if they have not read past installments. This book can be classified as a "cozy" mystery since there it lacks descriptive violence, strong language, or adult intimacy scenes. The mystery takes center stage.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely mine.

Misfortune Cookie is the 9th book in A Noodle Shop Mystery Series by Vivien Chien.

Lana Lee and her sister, Anna May, are headed to sunny California for Lana to attend a restaurant convention now that she is the manger of her family's restaurant! The girl's Aunt Grace has asked them to stay at her nice rental instead of getting a hotel. This little vacation seems to be exactly what Lana and her sister need.

While there, their Aunt has invited them to a cocktail party to meet some of her coworkers. Of course, all plans go out the door when a friend of Aunt Grace "jumps" to her death from the rooftop of the cocktail party venue. Aunt Grace is beside herself and knowing how well Lana is at investigating, enlists her help in finding out the truth of what has happened to her friend.

This installment was different than the others in this series but in a GOOD way! We have a new setting and new characters! Another thing I enjoyed about this story is that we get to see Lana and Anna May really talk to each other and work on their relationship. I really hope we get to see that grow moving forward!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this story in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own!

I loved this book!! The Noodle Shop series is one of my favorites! This book was amazing, I love The characters and the storyline was interesting in this one! Another great and entertaining addition to the Noodle Shop series!!

"Lana, now officially manager of her family’s restaurant, the Ho-Lee Noodle House, is headed to sunny Irvine, California to attend a restaurant convention with her sister, Anna May, along for the ride. The girls’ very Americanized Aunt Grace has asked them to stay in her posh rental, and as the trip begins, it seems to be just what they both needed. Even the restaurant convention proves to be worthwhile and entertaining, especially when Lana witnesses a dramatic cat fight between a fortune cookie vendor and a journalist."
This is a good mystery. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

I was given Misfortune Cookie in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. I have read other titles in this series, but you don’t have to be familiar with the previous books in order to read this. I tend to read mystery series, but the rehashing of what has come before can be tiring and none of that repetition is found in this book.

A refreshing plot of a California vacation with touch of family dynamics and murder, what more could you ask for? Lana is a likable character who has a penchant for solving crimes, while her sister, Anna May, is your typical over achieving first born lawyer. I also liked Aunt Grace as a character.

The mystery itself was unexpected, but echoed touches of classic murder mysteries. I recommend this book as a fun summer read.

Although this is the ninth book in the series, I had no problem following along.

Lana and her sister, Anna May, go to California to stay with their Aunt Gracie. Lana's visit is work-oriented since she has a restaurant convention to attend. Anna May tagged along for a vacation and to nurse her broken heart.

On the first day at the convention, Lana witnesses a heated exchange between a vendor and another woman.

Both sisters attend a cocktail party with their aunt, where a woman, Nora Blackwell, falls from the top of a building to her death, the same one involved in the altercation witnessed by Lana. Nora is also Gracie's friend. Gracie asks Lana to do what she does. Lana already has one suspect in mind, but her sleuthing uncovers more suspects and surprises. Time is running out, and she must find the missing information to nail the killer.

I enjoyed the mystery and was pleasantly surprised that my guess was correct.

I received an arc and voluntarily reviewed this book.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Lana Lee's life is in a good place. She is managing the family business, the Ho-Lee Noodle House and her love life with Detective Adam Trudeau is moving in the right direction. Now with her job as manager, her mother insists Lana attend a restaurant convention in California, and surprisingly her sister Anna May has decided to join her. They do have family there. The girls’ very Americanized Aunt Grace could be more different from her sister.  She is a prominent writer for SoCalSun Publishing who had married well but that went awry. She also has a luxe rental property and has invited her nieces to stay there.

While Lana attends the conference Anna May and Grace do some fun things around town. The conference is okay and even entertaining as a fortune cookie vendor and a journalist treat everyone to a war of words and threats. After her interesting day, Lana meets up with her sister and aunt to attend a ritzy party Grace had been invited to. The night turns ugly when one of Grace's friends falls to her death from the roof of the hotel. Lana is shocked when she recognizes the woman as the journalist from the convention.

After the authorities rule the death a tragic accident Aunt Grace decides Lana needs to investigate because she cannot believe there was anything accidental. Anna May doesn't think investigating on their own is a good idea but soon all three were asking questions, snooping around, and putting themselves in danger. Will they catch the killer or will Lana and Anna May's Californian vacation end very badly?

____

It was fun to see Lana and Anna May out of their element and away from the restaurant. I really enjoyed meeting Aunt Grace too. She is another strong woman and a great addition to this series. I did miss the characters left back in Ohio though and the humor they bring to the story but soon I was caught up in everything Lana was doing while trying to figure out how to investigate without her usual resources. I was surprised and happy to see Lana and Anna May's relationship grow in a new direction but will it last when they get back home? We shall see. Ms. Chien does an excellent job of character development and her characters are very true to life. The focus of these three women in this story was very pleasing.

The change in setting brought a real freshness to the series. I mean who wouldn't want to be in California instead of Ohio in the middle of winter? Ms. Chien's descriptive style takes her readers inside every place her characters visit with a bird's eye view of everything going on.

The mystery was very complicated with a plethora of suspects, twists, and turns. Anna May's objections at how Lana wanted to investigate were true to form but even she didn't want to be left out. I loved how the story was plotted out. I was kept guessing the whole way. The big reveal was so exciting. Lana really has to think on her feet and Anna May was right there with her.

At the very end, Lana and Adam had a wonderful telephone conversation and it was the perfect ending.

Misfortune Cookie is a terrific addition to the Noodle Shop Mystery Series. Lana has grown so much since the first book, Death by Dumpling. I do recommend reading them all in order for maximum enjoyment. Fans of the series will love this story! I am already looking forward to the next book and catching up with the Mahjong Matrons and the rest of Lana's family and friends.

When Lana Lee has the chance to trade in her slushy Cleveland winter for a week in sunny California, she jumps at it. There is a convention for restaurant owners and managers, and her mother signs Lana up, now that she is officially the manager of the family’s Ho-Lee Noodle Shop. And her sister Anna May tags along for a week of sunshine and lazy days by the pool as well.

They are spending the week at their aunt’s rental on Balboa Island, a luxurious place where Lana and Anna May can be more than comfortable. It’s an amazing place to stay, but Lana has to leave it the next morning to head to her convention. She takes in all eh booths, the products, the demonstrations, and finds herself in an area with Asian specialties. Lana takes in a booth for Fortune Cookies, thinking to herself how much she hates how fortune cookies have become more philosophy than fortune telling, and she considers saying something to the woman at the booth about it.

Before she has a chance to say anything, the woman looks up and angrily says, “What are you doing here?” Lana doesn’t know what to say—she’d never seen the woman before—but then she realized the vendor was talking to someone standing behind her. Lana turns to see another woman there, who clearly knew what the vendor was talking about. Lana finds out that the woman behind her was a journalist named Nora Blackwell, and she had written an unflattering article about the woman’s fortune cookies.

Lana walks away, wondering if drama really does follow her wherever she goes, like her sister likes to tell her. But the rest of her day at the convention was uneventful, so maybe it was just a fluke. That night, their aunt was taking them to a cocktail party. She’d had dresses made specifically for them, and the three of them were going to meet Aunt Grace’s friends and colleagues. As soon as they walk in, there is champagne, and Aunt Grace proceeds to introduce the sisters to her coworkers. However, the party gets cut short when there is a loud scream.

Lana and Anna May go to see what happened, and they find that a woman had jumped from the roof. But when Lana looks up, she thinks she sees someone else still up there. Aunt Grace sees who the woman is and realizes that it was her friend that she was wanting to introduce to her nieces. Lana recognizes her as the journalist who had been yelled at by the fortune cookie vendor earlier that day. She tells that to the local detective, of course, but they seem to think it was just a tragic accident.

But Lana can’t figure out why the woman had been on the roof instead of at the party. And despite have a few drinks, she truly believed that she had seen someone on that roof. And when the police find a note in the dead woman’s pocket, asking her to meet them on the rood, Aunt Grace is certain that her friend had been killed. She begs Lana to help find the person responsible. Lana wants to say no, as she had made promises about not getting involved as much in murder investigations. But this is a friend of Aunt Grace, and Lana finds herself wanting to find the answers as much as Grace wants her to. But will saying yes to helping Aunt Grace put Lana in danger? Or worse, will it put Grace in danger as Lana gets closer to the truth?

Misfortune Cookie is book number 9 in Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series. This series follows Lana and her close friends in Cleveland’s Asian community, and focuses on her relationships with her family, roommate, and boyfriend as she runs the family restaurant and solves a mystery or two on the side.

I have been a fan of Vivien Chien and her mysteries for many years now. And while I love how she uses Cleveland to create a real sense of place in her stories, having this one set in California made for a nice change, especially since it’s winter, and Cleveland in winter is just not as inviting. And while the mystery is well plotted and interesting, I especially liked the parts of the story where Lana got a different perspective on her relationship with her sister, as her sister is like their mother and Lana is like her Aunt Grace, their mother’s younger sister. Seeing those dynamics being echoed through generations is one of the reasons I like these books so much. There is a depth to Lana’s family relationships that really draws me in and makes me care about these characters. I loved Misfortune Cookie, and while it can be read as a stand-alone, seeing Lana with her sister and aunt means more if you’ve spent some time with Lana and her family already.

Egalleys for Misfortune Cookie were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

MISFORTUNE COOKIE by Vivien Chien
The Ninth Noodle Shop Mystery

After coming too close to a killer for comfort Noodle House Manager Lana Lee has agreed to stop her sleuthing. To remove herself even more, Lana is headed to California. Her mother has paid for her to attend a restaurant convention and her sister, Anna May has decided to come along. The sisters also get to hang out with their Aunt Grace and stay at one of her rental properties. Grace is happy to show off her nieces at a work cocktail party, but a crash and screams pierce the night. A woman has fallen off the roof to her death. The woman happens to be Grace's good friend and the woman Lana saw involved in a confrontation at the convention. Much to Anna May's dismay Lana Lee is once again involved in murder.

It's fun to see characters out of their usual environs, and I don't blame Lana and Anna May for leaving the December cold of Cleveland behind them to enjoy sunny California. It was also nice to see Lana more as a business professional...kind of...and getting to see Anna May cook, showcasing a skill we don't usually see from her. While I miss the Mahjong Mavens and the other regulars, MISFORTUNE COOKIE was a golden opportunity to explore the relationship between the sisters. I love how Lana and Anna May's relationship mirrors that of Grace and Mrs. Lee. Indeed, sisters make up the heart of the ninth Noodle Shop Mystery. Differences, similarities, bickering, and the complex relationship sisters share all play a part in this mystery.

I really enjoyed the complex mystery found in MISFORTUNE COOKIE and how Lana brings her investigatory skills to a new place, going so far as stopping at CVS to get a notebook! While I may be missing the Mahjong Matrons there are a lot of volatile characters in their place. That fortune cookie woman is a piece of work and it was fascinating to watch the characters interact, from suspicious co-workers to the "better than thou" husband, and more. And as for volatile, the final confrontation scene was a dramatic, pulse pounding thrill!

Fortune cookies, bubble tea, and sisters, MISFORTUNE COOKIE brings Cleveland to California in an exciting murder mystery.

In Misfortune Cookie, Lana is now the manager of her family’s noodle house in Cleveland, Ohio. She and her sister, Anna May, go to a restaurant convention in Irvine, California. They are also visiting their Aunt Grace, who lives nearby.

During the conference, Lana overhears an altercation between a fortune cookie vendor and a female journalist. The next evening Lana, Anna May and Aunt Grace attend a cocktail party, where the journalist either falls or is shoved from the roof to her death. Because the journalist is a friend of Aunt Grace, the three relatives investigate the incident. Although the police rule the death an accident, Lana is convinced that something suspicious is going on.

While I liked the change of scenery, I really missed the uniqueness of Asia Village and the girls’ family and friends. The mystery was enjoyable. The red herrings and twists were fun and made a compelling read for this armchair detective. Overall, Misfortune Cookie is an entertaining cozy mystery. 4 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Misfortune Cookie is the ninth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. This time Lana Lee, who manages her family's restaurant, leaves Cleveland to attend a restaurant convention in California. For that reason, I think it would work well even if you haven't read prior books in the series. Even though they don't get along, Lana's sister Anna May insists on going with her and they'll be staying with their mom's sister, Grace. Even though Lana has promised her best friend and her boyfriend that she will take a break from her amateur sleuthing, she can't help but get involved in another case when a friend of their aunt is killed.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about the change in setting for this story, but I liked it. I enjoyed getting to know Aunt Grace and without the rest of the family around, Anna Lee toned down her criticisms and complaints a bit and actually worked well with Lana as she tried to get to the truth of the murder. It was interesting seeing Lana investigate the murder outside the familiar territory of her hometown and she proved that she was up for the challenge. I really liked this book, especially the dramatic ending. I'm hoping Lana and Anna Lee can continue their truce once they return to Cleveland. I would rate the book 4.5 stars.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of MISFORTUNE COOKIE (Book 9 of the Noodle Shop Mysteries) by Vivien Chien in exchange for an honest review. Things have settled down for Lana Lee. It’s been awhile since she’s been involved in a mystery, so she’s all healed up from her last dalliance with danger. Without consulting Lana, her mom registers Lana for a restaurant vendor convention on the west coast, so with little notice, Lana finds herself winging her way toward Irvine, California. Thankfully, Lana’s Aunt Grace is willing to play hostess and save Lana some money on housing. Lana’s intrigued to get a glimpse of how Aunt Grace is when not interacting with Lana’s mother. When one of Aunt Grace’s best friends dies in an apparent suicide following a contretemps at the convention, Aunt Grace implores Lana to figure out what actually happened. As it turns out, no matter how far Lana flies from home, she just can’t outrun trouble.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series and the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring tightly-knit ethnic communities and small businesses.