Lana Lee is nervous about the Chinese New Year celebration in Asia Village – she’s the one running it and wants all to go smoothly. Her hopes are quickly dashed when one of the participants is murdered during the celebration. The police, including her boyfriend, are investigating, but Lana has solved a few murders in the past and quickly starts helping the police. But she needs to be careful she doesn’t become the next victim.

“Peking Duck and Cover” is the nicely done tenth book in Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series. I really like this series – not only the characters who have grown throughout the series but the restaurant setting (which reminds me of a Chinese restaurant that I used to frequent until COVID shut it permanently down). Each book brings something special to the plate (pun not intended) – in this book I really enjoyed reading about the Chinese New Year celebrations and superstitions. The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects – just like Lana I was trying to figure out who the killer was until the very end. And the part where she did figure it out was nicely done with just the right amount of suspense. All in all a great book to read!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

The Noodle Shop mysteries are getting better and better with each new story. Peking Duck and Cover is set during the Lunar New Year celebration in the Cleveland area. I am a sucker for all of the local references to my city. Vivien Chien crafts a solid mystery and while I did pick up on the who-dun-it aspect, this kept my attention focused.

As always, I recommend you supply yourself with your favorite Chinese food dishes while you settle down to this cozy mystery.

Im officially obsessed with Lana and the Noodle Shop!! I am such a sucker for a cozy mystery and this was giving all the right vibes. Rhonda and the dance troupe were hysterical, Kimmy and Megan add such funny and needed banter to the conversation. I cant wait to read the rest of the noodle shop series, maybe order some dimsum to eat whilst I read. While I did find some of the elements predictable, I still enjoyed the eclectic characters!

Another great cozy mystery from Vivien Chien. I love how Lana always gets roped into helping plan/run every event that happens in Asia Village and despite her initial protests always gets roped into investigating; although I am not sure she actually minds that part. I wasn't able to guess who the killer was before the reveal.

Looking forward to reading Gone to Hot Pot next, just have to go and get me a copy. :)

Happy Chinese New Year! In Peking Duck and Cover, it’s that time of year again for Chinese restaurant manager, Lana Lee. She is coordinating an Asian Village, her restaurant’s outdoor mall, party complete with a dance troop and fireworks. Little does she suspect, though regular series readers will be anticipating, that a murder will occur during the festivities. It’s Lana, her roommate/best friend Megan, and Lana’s detective boyfriend Adam who must bust the killer. However, there are plenty of suspects so it will be a challenge. Can you beat them to finding the murderer?

I always enjoy spending time with Lana and her family and friends. They are multifaceted and just fun to be around. This time the mystery was more of a challenge than usual. I barely beat Lana to the reveal after being sidelined a bit by a very believable red herring. Overall, I found Peking Duck and Cover to be a fun and enjoyable cozy mystery with a great mystery to puzzle out. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance review copy.

Ian, property manager for Asia Village shopping center, once again involves Lana Lee in a case when a performer is found dead during a holiday event at the plaza.

Before we dive in, would anyone else like to see a full-length Mahjongg Matrons or Megan spin-off? There are a couple good short stories out there, but I really think they could hold their own in a longer work. The realness of all the characters is one of the things that makes this series so enjoyable. They don't just exist as satellites to Lana. They have histories and interests and are interesting on their own.

Lana still struggles with finding her place, and making her peace with the way her life has diverged from what she intended, but she seems to be finding contentment, and appreciates her friends and family more than ever.

Why you should read this book: Lana is growing as a person, a business owner, and a detective. The plot was a good cozy plot, and Lana uncovered clues in a more logical fashion than in previous books. There was also less of her jumping to conclusions based on a single piece of evidence.

Why you might not want to read it: Ian is especially annoying in this one, and honestly, Lana needs to set some boundaries with him. Still, it's a minor quibble, and it doesn't take away much from enjoying the book.

I received an advance copy from Minotaur Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Peking Duck and Cover is the tenth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. This time, the mystery takes place during the Chinese New Year. It is in this setting that Lana gets to organize an event and to investigate a murder. As with previous books, Lana is a wonderful main character. Vivien Chien's writing is really pleasant and colorful, she makes me want to visit Asia Village! The storyline is solid and gripping, and the mystery is nicely built. I highly recommend Peking Duck and Cover to both newcomers to the series and readers who are already familiar with it. Make yourself a nice cup of tea and sink into Peking Duck and Cover. Good time guaranteed!

We are back in Asia Village with Lana Lee and her crew and she is head of event planning for the Chinese new year celebration. Lana has planned a fantastic evening with live music, dancers, giveaways, and to top off the end of the celebration with a huge firework show! All is going well until one of the dancers ends up dead. Ian, the village manager, and several other business owners are looking to Lana to do her thing and solve this murder. Lana enlists the help of her hunky investigator boyfriend, Adam and her two friends Megan and Kimmy to help her with the case.

This was such a fun read. I love that everyone has accepted that Lane Lee is good at solving these mysteries and are willing to just let her do her thing!

Lana Lee has a lot on her plate. She is the manager of her family’s restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House. She is dating a local police detective. And she’s helping to organize the Lunar New Year celebration for Asia Village. She’s helped to get the restaurants on board for the food and drinks, she’s set up the raffle and gotten donations for the prizes (including a generous donation from Ho-Lee Noodle House), and she’s hired the lion dancers for the entertainment.

The Chinese New Year celebration starts out a success, with everyone in Asia Village coming together to enjoy everything Lana had worked so hard to put together. There is plenty of food and drink, and then there are fireworks. But the lion dancers don’t get a chance to go on, as the woman who was supposed to be the head of the lion has been shot.

It was Lana’s friend Kimmy that introduced her to the dancers. Kimmy knew them from her second job, working as a server at the Black Garter, a gentleman’s club. Rhonda was a dancer there, trying to save up money to open her own dance studio with another woman who worked there. Rhonda has been dancing as the head of the lion for many years, working with her brother David, who ran the troupe. But his new fiancée had been wanting a chance to be the head of the lion, and he decided to give Angela a chance to do just that.

But after the fireworks, they find that someone used the noise to cover up their gunshots, and Rhonda is laying on the ground. Lana’s boyfriend Adam takes over, sending the guests away and making sure no one touches the crime scene. David is distraught, and Lana, no stranger to crime-solving, immediately finds her brain trying to put together all the pieces of the murder to make a complete picture.

David says that he and Rhonda had just had a fight, so Lana has to consider him a suspect. But since it was Angela who was originally supposed to be the head of the lion, Lana can’t be sure if she or Rhonda had been the target. Kimmy had seen a customer from the Black Garter who had seemed overly interested in Rhonda, and she’d been concerned. But she’d also seen David’s ex-girlfriend, who could have been upset that he was engaged to someone new already and aiming for Angela.

The next few days, as Lana has to clean up from the celebration, she also wants to figure out who was the target of the killer and why. And as she tries to find out who the killer is, she finds that the target is no longer on Rhonda or Angela. It’s turned in Lana’s direction, and she has to find out who is behind the murder or she might very well be next.

Peking Duck and Cover is the tenth book in Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series. These books combine family, Chinese food, and crime-solving. There is a lot of love (and a fair amount of arguing) as Lana tries to live her best life in Cleveland. She sometimes has to fight the cold, she has to take care of her dog Kikkoman, and she has to solve the murders, but she always tries to stay true to herself and look great. And she always gets her man.

I have been a big fan of this series for many years now, and Peking Duck and Cover does not disappoint. Chien has been dealing with some serious health issues over the last few years (see her social media for more info on that if you want the details), but she has kept her readers in mind and tried her best to keep giving us Ho-Lee adventures. I think some of her personal growth has been reflected in Lana’s maturity over these last few books, and I am loving that. It keeps these books from being one-note, which is a challenge in a series like this. I think Lana’s stories are just getting better, and I am already looking forward to the next one in the series.

Egalleys for Peking Duck and Cover were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of PEKING DUCK AND COVER (Book 10 of the Noodle Shop mystery series) by Vivien Chien in exchange for an honest review. Ian Sung, the property manager for Asia Village, has organized an event for the Chinese New Year. As usual, he has involved Lana Lee in his plans; this time, she’s supposed to appear before the crowd to present awards. However, the party derails mid-event when Lana finds one of the lion dance team dead from a gunshot masked by the fireworks show. Having found the body, Lana is once again sneaking off to investigate the case while balancing her family life, sister drama, girlfriend responsibilities, and work schedule. It’s a good thing her friends, the aunties, and the Asia Village elders are all willing help!

I liked the book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book and series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring retail environments, special events, old/new world clashes, and family expectations.

#PekingDuckandCoverANoodleShopMystery #NetGalley

PEKING DUCK AND COVER was another quick and delightful addition to the Noodle Shop series. It’s always fun to catch up with Lana and her friends/family, and hear what new mystery she’s become embroiled with. This was another fun read, with a simple but compelling mystery, and continued developing depth of characters and relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review PEKING DUCK AND COVER.

Each book gets better and better but this one is extra special.
I like several of the new vibes I picked up beginning with Lana no longer apologizing for her sleuthing and more confidence in herself.
I really enjoyed the deepening relationship between Adam and Lana. They’re in the same groove and not at cross purposes anymore. I swooned every time he called her doll.
I also liked Chien’s use of cultures habits and traditions.
I adore Mr. Zhang and the Mahjong Mavens.
As usual I want to devour a huge plat of lo mein after reading!

It's so wild that we're already on book ten of the Noodle Shop Mystery series. I've been following these books since the beginning, and I've loved seeing how the characters have grown and expanded. It seems fitting that this book is based in the lunar new year, a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. This book feels like a new chapter in Lana Lee's story. She's established herself not just as a restaurant manager, but also as a leader in her local community. There seem to hints as the younger generation at the Asian village are aging, that they'll be taking over as innovators for the local Ohio citizens.
Along with the series' plotline, I also loved the book's individual mystery. What begins as a classic lover's drama unfolds to involve more people and their pasts together. All in all, this book was everything I was looking for in the series addition.

Congrats to this series on reaching the big number 10! I really enjoyed this series entry, with a nice focus on all the characters that have really made this series what it is, a solid mystery that is satisfying, and still some threads in longer storylines that can still be built on. Lana is a fantastic, smart, interesting character that has carried this series well, and I always enjoy spending time with her.

Peking Duck and Cover is the newest entry in one of my favorite cozy series! Lana is back from her trip to LA and is getting ready for Chinese New Year. Unfortunately, murder once again hits Asia Village. While this wasn't my favorite in the series, I still loved being around all the characters again. I felt the development of the mystery was lacking, but Chien wrapped it up nicely. Looking forward to the next one!

Another great book in this wonderful series. Lana Lee is investigating a murder at Asia Village during the Chinese New Year celebration.

Another delightful book in this series! There will never be enough Lana Lee for me. As always, the mystery was well done and I so enjoyed my trip to Asia Village. I love all of the romantic developments in this book and I am already excited for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the tenth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien. I am a big fan of this series and Ms. Chien delivers another delicious episode.

Lana Lee has plenty on her plate but nothing she can’t handle. She manages her family’s Chinese restaurant, is helping to stage the upcoming village’s festival, and spends time with her BFF Megan, and Adam Trudeau, Fairview Park Police Detective and boyfriend.

I like how Adam isn’t crazy about Lana’s involvement in investigations but he has realized people will talk to her so he grudgingly accepts her help in order to keep her safe. They constantly share information on the cases Lana is guilted by friends to investigate.
This one is interesting when a member of the dance troop is killed during the Chinese New Year celebration. Since it happened in the village, Lana is expected to solve it.

Can’t wait to see a resolution with Henry and Anna May, as it is I’m a bit bored with it.

Netgalley provided me an advanced reader’s copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Dollycas's Thoughts 

It's almost Chinese New Year and Asia Village manager Ian Sung has tasked Lana Lee to help him put together a lavish event to celebrate the time of new beginnings and the good fortune the day promises. The night will be filled with music, giveaways, fireworks, and live entertainment. Lana has reviewed the plans several times to be sure the holiday affair comes together as planned.

Unfortunately, the evening ends with a bang and not from the fireworks. One member of the lion dance performance team is dead with the omen of death in their pocket, a red envelope holding four one-dollar bills.

Ian along with property owner Donna Feng demands that Lana "do her thing" and find the killer as soon as possible and bring them to justice. She eventually agrees and her BFF Megan agrees to help. Adam isn't happy but they come to an understanding - Don't interfere with him directly and that if anyone asks he didn't approve of her endeavor.

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All my favorite characters are back in this latest installment of the Noodle Shop Mysteries. Again Lana has her hands full we know she can handle it. Her relationship with Fairview Park Police Detective Adam Trudeau is moving along nicely. He knows people open up and tell her things they wouldn't tell him and that she has a great record of solving crimes so he accepts her efforts to investigate. I enjoy how they share their findings with each other, hypothetically, of course. I liked that Adam's partner Higgins was more present in this story. He is a little bit older than Adam and a really cool guy.  With the holiday we are treated to more fun with the Lee family and the Mahjong Matrons are back too. Kimmy's relationship with Peter is going well but she has a secret. Megan is a stellar best friend and has Lana's back no matter what. She may also have a new love interest. The author creates such genuine characters and she allows them to develop naturally. I find myself easily getting caught up in whatever is happening in their lives.

Right now, their lives include a shocking murder. Lana is more confident and I enjoyed following her follow the clues. The pieces of Chinese traditions and customs played well in the mystery and the story as a whole. I found them very interesting. There were several suspects but the clues lined up for me a short time before they did for Lana. Her idea to flush out the killer was a great one. One statement told her exactly what she needed to know but the showdown didn't go exactly as planned. Lana found herself in the middle of a dire situation and excitement ensued. I loved every minute of the sensational takedown. Thank goodness for the eyeball dance!

I can't forget that Lana's cute little pug Kikkoman (Kikko) is back too fresh off his adventures in Gone to Hot Pot where Kikko was at the Plaza. It's a secret, so don't tell Lana.

Peking Duck and Cover is a fun, entertaining, and at times tense cozy mystery and a magnificent addition to this wonderful series. I highly recommend it to all cozy mystery lovers. Vivien Chien grabbed me with her first book, Death by Dumpling, and each book after has been a must-read. I am thrilled that The Chow Maniac will be released on April 1, 2025, and that is no April Fool!

This is the tenth book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series featuring Lana Lee who manages her family's restaurant in Cleveland's Asia Village. Lana is in charge of planning a Chinese New Year celebration, which will be the largest party ever held at Asia Village. All her hard work pays off and the event gets off to a great start...until someone is killed. Lana is determined to find the killer to save the reputation of the Village and get justice for the victim.

The information the author shares about the customs and traditions associated with Chinese New Year really elevated this book for me. I learned a lot while being entertained from the details of the public celebration as well as Lana's family dinner. There was awkwardness between Lana and her sister Anna May over a secret Anna seems to be keeping. Anna has always been my least favorite character in this series and this unresolved subplot did nothing for the story.

Overall, this series just keeps going strong with Lana becoming more and more confident as a woman as well as an amateur sleuth. The investigation kept my interest with Lana getting the assist from both her roommate Megan and her childhood friend, Kimmy. I enjoy Lana's friendships and have always liked Megan. Kimmy has really grown on me as the series has progressed and I appreciated her contributions to the story. I am liking Lana's relationship with her police detective boyfriend, Adam Trudeau, since he worries about her but also supports her investigations. I love Adam's involvement in the book's dramatic and satisfying ending. 4.5 stars

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