New book in the series - I found it extremely entertaining. It is a perfect example of why I love this cozy series. The book surprised with the ending. It kept me guessing throughout. I always love the cozy mystery series theme.

Vivien Chien never disappoints! I love reading about Lana Lee and the Asian Plaza crew! Such a fun series, can't wait to read the next one!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Business is slow at the Ho-Lee Noodle House so Lana Lee has decided to branch out into catering. Her first client is a family friend, Donna Feng who hires Lana to cater her birthday party. The party is interrupted when the nanny fails to keep Donna’s two teenage daughters busy and out of sight. Donna loudly voices her displeasure. When the nanny is later found dead in the pool Donna becomes the prime suspect. This isn’t Donna’s first entanglement with the police. She was also on the suspect list recently when her husband was murdered (Death By Dumpling). Donna entrusts Lana with a unique thumb drive and asks her to find the real killer.

I like Lana Lee more and more as I read each story. She is smart, and her sleuthing skills are improving, but she is still a little wishy-washy at times. She needs to think a little more before she leaps into what can turn out to be dangerous situations. This time boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau is not in charge of the murder case but that doesn’t deter her determination. She is aided by friend/roommate Megan and when the killer turns up the heat, a private investigator is hired at Lana’s request. The secondary characters are all well developed too while still giving them room to grow. I love the family dynamic of the Lee family.

The mystery is full of twists. Being linked back to Donna’s life in China gave the story more depth. Donna had theories she wanted Lana to investigate and while reading I had some theories of my own. The story wrapped up surprising me and with plenty of excitement. Ms. Chien takes us on a wild ride.

Egg Drop Dead has a great cast of characters, a very intriguing mystery, with a bit of romance and humor in all the right places. This is such an entertaining series. I hope to buy, read, and review Killer Kung Pao soon so I am ready when Fatal Fried Rice releases on March 9, 2021.

Lana Lee's first catering job for her parent's noodle shop ends with a murdered nanny. Anxious to help her friend, Lana runs into her ex, a female P.I. And a full slate of potential suspects. As in the others in this series, the characters are engaging and the tone is light and breezy.

Excellent as usual! Vivian Chien has created a cozy mystery series that I am happy to return to over and over again.

EGG DROP DEAD is the fifth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien. It’s Lana Lee’s first catering gig, so she wants to make a good impression. However, when one of the domestic helpers drowns in the pool, Donna Feng, the party’s host is suspected. When Donna asks Lana to help her figure out what really happened, a slew of other suspects and clues unfold.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than some of the other books in the series. It just felt a little more complete in terms of the pace and execution, so this has quickly become my favorite of the series so far. I felt like Lana’s character has kind of matured a bit and isn’t just complaining about minial things anymore through the book. She has more drive and purpose, which makes me admire her more as an amateur sleuth.

After this engaging read, I am hoping that Chien can stick to this style in her books because I think they offer a lot more to the reader and keeps them engaged. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Lana Lee runs her family’s noodle restaurant Ho-Lee Noodle House, and she thought it would be a good idea to expand into catering. Their first job is to provide the food for Donna Feng’s party. While her teenaged daughters are upstairs with their friends and nanny, the adults are downstairs enjoying the delicious food, some drinks, and the DJ. Donna and her Cleveland society friends are having a great time. But when the nanny turns up floating in the pool, the gossip quickly turns against Donna.

Lana is heart-broken when the party-goers seem to think that Donna could have hurt anyone, much less killed them, and decides to try to figure out who at the party could have killed the nanny. And then, when a thumb drive with Donna’s secrets shows up in her house, Lana wonders if someone had been trying to blackmail the woman and if the nanny had been tied to the blackmail attempt.

As Lana and her friends try to figure out who might have motive to blackmail Donna, and who would have access to those secrets, she finds herself going in circles with Donna’s friends, trying to separate the gossip from the truth and hoping to find a motive somewhere on that party guest list. But then a fire at Donna’s house puts her and her daughters in even more danger, and Lana knows that she needs to put together the pieces even more quickly if she’s going to keep Donna, her family, and her secrets safe.

Egg Drop Dead is the latest in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Author Vivien Chien writes fun cozies set in Cleveland’s Asian community. The characters are lots of fun, the mysteries are interesting, and the writing is compelling. This is the fifth in the series, and the more you read, the more these characters come to life and feel like old friends. Egg Drop Dead is pure fun that leaves you hungry for more!

Egalleys for Egg Drop Dead were provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien is a 2020 St. Martin’s Press publication.

Fantastic! This series just keeps getting better!

Lana’s first catering job is for a fancy dinner party, hosted by Donna Feng. But things go horribly awry when Donna’s Nanny is found dead. Donna once again becomes a prime suspect, and is counting on Lana to solve the mystery, while somehow managing to keep her secrets from coming to light. Lana promises to help, but soon finds herself in way over her head …

If you have been following this series, you’ll remember Donna from the previous installment. She’s an intriguing character and I was happy to see her character return. I’m loving the way Lana is progressing with her sleuthing skills and how realistically she approaches this case, knowing she won’t be able to work this one all on her own.

While part of the charm of cozy mysteries is in touching base with the recurring characters, often times the mystery elements run in the background, and can be a little thin. That’s not the case with this series though. This mystery was very well plotted and almost had the tone of an old-fashioned crime drama. It was really good!

Chein creates a nice balance between the Lana’s sleuthing and her personal life, which complements the series’ fresh contemporary approach to the cozy genre.

Overall, I enjoyed this latest installment and am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

Once again, there’s another winner in the Noodle Shop Mystery series, this being the fifth in the series. I love this cozy mystery series not only because the characters are so lovable, but the mysteries are just complex and serious enough to make readers think, while not getting too gruesome.

I’ve said it before, but if you’re a fan of chick lit or cozies, you need to check this series out.

In this installment, Lana is catering a party for Donna Feng, who has a strange outburst at the party just hours before her nanny is found dead in the family swimming pool. It doesn’t look good for the widow, whose background, if you remember, is filled with secrets. Are the murder and Donna’s past related? Or did the killer specifically target Alice, the nanny, whom no one seems to know very well?

I liked the return to a previous plot point, Donna’s past, which we learn a little bit more about. We also see more of Donna herself, who is often in the background of the stories, but we don’t get to know too well. I liked that she really took center stage with this one.

The mystery itself was good, with plenty of suspects to keep Lana digging around. Once again, her and Megan play detective, but this time they get a real private detective involved, and there’s hints that she could make more appearances in the future, which I think would be fun.

Once again, I don’t know that I’m totally feeling the Adam-Lana relationship, but I think maybe it will grow on me. I think we need to see more of Adam’s human side, rather than his uptight cop side, It seems like he’s always so stiff, when we get to see Lana in all her emotions and moods. But i like that he seems to adore Lana, so I can’t complain there.

Overall this is another winner in this series, which I continue to highly recommend.

Another hit in a fun cozy mystery series. Lana is on the case again, with her great support team. Highly recommend this book and author.

Egg Drop Dead was a interesting and entertaining read. I feel like the author does a really good job of fleshing this series out with the characters and the story lines. This fifth installment gives the reader just the right amount of mystery and some slight humor.

I also like Lana Lee as the main character. Here helping out her family and friends (this time, here a close friend) solving the murders they find themselves involved in. And the recipes...love it!

This is a great series and becoming a fast favorite of mines.

Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chen takes us to Fairview Park, Ohio in July. Lana Lee has added catering services to the Ho-Lee Noodle House and their first job is for the owner of Asia Village, Donna Feng. Lana and head chef, Peter Huang arrive to find the normally unflappable Donna extremely agitated and on edge. The party is in full swing when a scream comes from the patio. Lana rushes out to find the nanny dead in the pool. Donna entrusts a thumb drive with Lana that contains sensitive information. Donna wants Lana to don her sleuthing cap once again and locate the killer. Egg Drop Dead is the fifth A Noodle Shop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series (or if you missed a book or two along the way). I like that this series features a Chinese American community outside Cleveland, Ohio. It is unique for cozy mysteries. The author provided vivid descriptions that bring the scenes to life. Lana Lee is managing the family restaurant and putting her own stamp on the place. When Donna asks Lana to investigate the murder of her nanny, she is happy to dive into the case. Lana gets assistance from her roommate, Megan Riley (who is equally inquisitive). After a fire at Donna’s house, Lana gets her to agree to hire a PI. Lana tags along with the private investigator. There are various suspects and well-done clues. I enjoyed Donna’s backstory which was intriguing. I was delighted with the takedown scene and appreciated the epilogue. I would like to see Lana begin to mature. She can be impulsive and make poor decisions that puts her life in jeopardy (frequently). I am surprised that Lana’s boyfriend, Adam is still with her considering how much she lies to him. The author does need to stop repeating case details (we got it the first time). In addition to investigating the murder and managing the restaurant, Lana is dealing with a bothersome ex-boyfriend. Lana will need a stiff backbone to deal with this pesky old beau. Egg Drop Dead is a cute cozy mystery that will have you craving your favorite Chinese delicacy (Pepper Steak for me). Egg Drop Dead is an upbeat story where it is night night for the nanny, a troubling terracotta thumb drive, catering chaos, little lies, and a bothersome old beau.

I was hungry and I wanted Chinese food, but I was in pandemic social isolation, so the next best thing was this book. While not as tasty, it was fun candy for my brain, easy and sweet to read and satisfying. I enjoyed Lana having her own style with pink hair. Not what I’d typically expect from a Chinese restaurant manager. Her off and on-again romance with a police detective comes in handy. I’ll be looking for the other books in this series when I need a quick and fun book to read.

This is. a fun mystery with some humor and a few good twists. Cute story, quirky characters — a very easy and entertaining read.

Title: Egg Drop Dead

Author: Vivien Chien

Series: A Noodle Shop Mystery book 5

Chapters: 34

Pages: 320

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin's

Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien is the 5th book in the A Noodle Shop Mystery series. I love reading what new mystery Lana Lee finds herself involved in. Though this one wasn't my favorite of the series I did enjoy reading this one. I enjoy the puny titles in which part of the titles are Chinese dishes as Lana runs her family's Chinese restaurant. If you like cozy mysteries set around food and restaurants then this is the cozy mystery series for you.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

In the fifth in Vivien Chien's Noodle Shop delectable mystery series, Egg Drop Dead, the Ho-Lee Noodle House takes its business to the next level—only to end up in hot water.

It was supposed to be a fancy, intimate dinner party by the pool. Instead, a domestic worker is found dead. Lana needs to do some amateur sleuthing to find out who’s to blame and her plate is already plenty full with running the restaurant, pleasing her often-disapproving mother, and fretting over her occasionally-serious boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau.

I enjoyed this book very much. It was a good cozy mystery. I liked the characters and there were many. I enjoyed reading about the Noodle House and the different Chinese dishes. There were many twists and turns and this was an enjoyable read. Thank you to Net Galley for sending an advanced reader’s copy for review.

*I received an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I really enjoyed this read! I haven't actually read the ones that came before this one but I didn't feel lost on anything. This was fun, quick and enjoyable, everything I love in a cozy! I will definitely be going back and reading the first four now.

This was such a cute and fun to read mystery. I just loved the characters. The story was easy to read and a few pages had my heart beating fast. I was really caught up in the mystery of it all. This is definitely a book I would recommend to friends.

Egg Drop Dead is the fifth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series and, like all the books in this series, was lots of fun. I did miss that there wasn't as much interaction with side characters as there has been in other books, but I liked the scenes that did feature favourite like Megan, Adam, and Lana's family. The mystery itself wasn't my favourite in the series, but I liked the twist this story took in terms of where Lana's future may lead, in terms of solving crimes, as well as her relationship with Adam. A series where I know I'll be reading the next book when it comes out.

I love Lana and the cast of characters in this mystery series. This book had a bit of a slow start, but it really picked up at the end. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series.