The Chow Maniac is the 11th book in The Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chen. While I thought the beginning (the first 10 pages or so) were a little slow, I really enjoyed the story. Being from the Cleveland area, it's nice reading a story where you recognize the area. I love this series and always look forward to the next book. Every story is like returning to old friends. I highly recommend The Chow Maniac and The Noodle Shop Mystery series.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE CHOW MANIAC (Book 11 of the Noodle Shop mystery series) by Vivien Chien in exchange for an honest review. Lana Lee has an official request for aid from private investigator Lydia Shephard, who has been hired to solve a series of murders and thefts within an Asian secret society known as the Eight Immortals. As part of her investigation, Lana has to interview prominent members in the community, one of whom the client insists is the likely murderer. As the body count rises, it is clear the members are not actually immortal. However, neither is Lana. The closer Lana gets to identifying the killer, the closer Lana is to becoming their next victim.

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 Asian-American culture and generational clashes between immigrants and their offspring.

A departure from the previous books in this series, Lana Lee helps investigate why members of a secretive group are dying and who is killing them. It was interesting to read about the lore of the Eight Immortals as Lana learned about their history and connection to her world. There are plenty of twists that I didn't expect, but once revealed, made it easy to figure out who was behind the deaths. I can't wait to read the next installment, and hopefully more of Lana's family and boyfriend.

"The Chow Maniac (Noodle Shop Mystery #11)" by Vivien Chien is a bit different than the other books in the series, a least from the ones I've read so far and I haven't read all of them. Which means that most are fairly standalone but knowing some of the character development of the other books does help a little. Back to how this one is different. Lana does a little fourth wall breaking at the very beginning and she's more officially investigating.

Lana gets asked to help investigate the odd deaths of a a few people who seem to only have being Asian as a connection. Lydia, the private detective, officially hires Lana to help her out since she has better connections within the local Asian community. Lana soon learns there are more secrets in the community than just Kimmy's night job. It takes you a bit of a circle of suspects before the culprit is revealed.

Lana Lee is brought into her eleventh case when Private Investigator Lydia Shepard asks for her help since Lana knows so much about the Asian community. Three members of a secret Asian society designed to help people have recently died in a variety of ways. All seem accidental, but Lydia's client feels that they were murders.

Since one of the client's suspects is Mr. Zhang who is a long-time family friend of the Lee's and who is dating Lana's grandmother, Lana agrees to get involved in the investigation. It seems that someone is trying to influence the membership of the secret organization by murdering members who don't have a child to pass the membership to.

While Lana investigates, she manages to learn a number of secrets about the organization and the secretive Mr. Zhang. She also finds herself investigating the murders on a parallel course with her police detective boyfriend.

This was an engaging, first-person mystery told in Lana's distinctive voice. Fans of he series will enjoy this latest episode.

Another terrific addition to the Noodle Shop Mystery series from Vivien Chien. This book takes Lana Lee into life as an actual private investigator, well, as someone assisting an actual private investigator, but that's pretty close. Lana finds herself investigating a secret Asian society that has been operating in the Cleveland community for over a century. As surprising as that may be, she's even more surprised by the identity of some of the members, and is shocked by an accusation made about one member in particular. Could someone that she knows well be a serial murderer? She, of course, decides to use all her sleuthing skills to the best of her ability to find out the truth and stop the killings before anyone else finds themselves a victim. The story has all the regulars from Lana's life, Kimmy is bossy and nosey and loud and helpful, Peter is busy being concerned about Lana and Kimmy becoming involved in another investigation as he cooks everything to perfection at Ho-Lee Noodle House, Adam is busy working on investigations of his own that just so happen to overlap with Lana's investigating, the Mahjong Matrons are ever present each morning and offer their usual wealth of knowledge, Lana's roommate, Megan, helps out as much as she can, and there are, of course moments with Ian Sung, Donna Feng, and all of Lana's family as well. This series just keeps building and gets better with each new book. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Lana Lee!

5/5 stars: This is the eleventh entry in Chien's Noodle Shop Mystery series, which is a Culinary Cozy Mystery set in Cleveland, Ohio and follows a family restaurant manager as she teams up with a private detective to look into the unsolved murders of several members of an elite Chinese secret order and the theft of the items that represent their positions in the society. As they dig deeper into the case, she finds unexpected associations to several fellow Asia Village shopkeepers and potential ties to her own family. With the stakes raised, she'll have to work fast before she's next on the killer's list. With plenty of twists and turns, Chien has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Chien's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Lana, her family, friends and colleagues at Ho-Lee Noodle House and the folks in and around Asian Village. It's lovely to see Lana and her homicide detective boyfriend Adam's relationship going strong. And of course I mustn't forget Lana's adorable pug, Kikkoman AKA Kikko. Oh and I adore how Chien weaves in Chinese cultural elements and history. Chien touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Death by Dumpling. This is a favorite series and this newest book doesn't disappoint; Highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This was such a fun and unique murder mystery! This is the first book I have read by Vivien Chien, but her books have been on my TBR for quite some time. This had all of the elements that a good murder mystery should have. There was no excessive name dropping in the beginning, characters were added as needed and had relevance to the story.

My favorite part of the story was easily Kikkoman the pug. What a clever name! The first dog I had as a child was a pug and reading about Kikko was enjoyable. I love that his name stayed on theme with the book.

The only negative thing I can really say is how the main female character Lana discusses the case with several people after instructed by Lydia the private investigator to not do such a thing. It's shocking that the whole town doesn't know what she is up to at this point.

The way that the murderer murders people is very creative and not your typical choice of weapon. I loved the thought that went behind it and how it related to the theme of the book as well. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Vivien Chien for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

The Chow Maniac is the 11th in the Noodle Shop series, but I think it could be read as a stand alone. There is no over-arching plotline to the series and although we have lots of returning characters, I think they're introduced well.

This time around, Lana, our amateur sleuth, is approached by Lydia, a private detective we've met previously, with a case that involves the Asian community. Lydia has been hired to look into a century-old Asian organization known as the Eight Immortals. Three members have already died under seemingly natural circumstances, but the client believes they were actually murdered and that he may be next.

Lana is a great character. She manages her family's restaurant, but has solved enough murders for people to notice her. She's funny and sassy and does not know how to keep a secret. Per usual cozy rules, she has an adorable dog and is dating a police detective, although neither play a huge part in this one. She's often helped in her investigations by her best friend/ roommate/ bar tender Megan. She also has Kimmy around, who always finagles her way into the investigations. I really wish Lana and she got along a little better. She's a fun character.

The plot moves along at a good pace. We have several clues and suspects. It turns out there are a few secrets in Asia Village that Lana has not uncovered yet. As usual, she makes a couple questionable decisions, but it always works out for her in the end.

I should really start matching my dinners to my reading choices. This one made me want Chinese take-out.

I liked this continuation of the noodle shop books. Lana is brought in to help Lydia, a private investigator, solve what may be three murders. We met Lydia in a previous book when Lana needed help in her investigation. I liked that we got to see her again and it added a new dynamic to Lana's snooping. It was also nice that there wasn't a random body she stumbled upon to start the story! After all, how many bodies can she find!

The Chow Maniac: A Noodle Shop Mystery by Vivien Chien is a fun cozy-mystery read. I didn’t realize that this was Book #11 in the series. I was afraid I’d be hopelessly behind, but the author did a great job of making me feel totally “at home” with the characters.

This is a very entertaining read, and it was easy to get to know the characters.
I was especially happy that this book takes place in the Cleveland suburbs and highlights many well-known places. (I live near Cleveland.)

The main character is Lana Lee, “restaurant manager, dog mom, homicide detective’s girl friend, noodle fanatic and doughnut enthusiast.” Lana is also an amateur detective. She and her friends team up to solve a mystery that involves 3 murders, and the mysterious 100 year old secret society, the “Eight Immortals”.

This is a very ingenious and entertaining mystery. Now I get to have the happy task of reading the first 10 books! Thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

This series is like an oldie but goodie for me that I keep coming back to. I love the description of food. I want shrimp and spring rolls right now with a side of noodles. I like that Lana is a little different than the MC in other cozy mysteries, she isn’t Susie homemaker and I don’t feel like she could be in the 1950s calling 19 year old nice boys when the call her M’am. Lana can be frustrating with her relationships, always has a fun color in her hair, and shares Asia village with us, which really sounds like a place I wanna go. This would probably be 3 stars but I really enjoyed the mystery in this one. It is rooted in Chinese American culture and was very interesting to me. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I will re read this book when my library gets it.

It’s always a pleasure to follow Lana Lee in her adventures.
Members of a secret order called “Eight Immortals” that have been helping the Asian community for over 100 years are dying or is it murder. One member is asked Lydia Shephard to investigate, who turns to Lana for help.
Makes me smile how “confidential” the whole adventure is

The Chow Maniac is the 11th book in the Noodle Shop mystery series by Vivien Chien. There is dissension in the ranks of a century-old Asian organization known as the Eight Immortals. Each member holds an artifact and someone is dying to own them all. Three members have already died under seemingly natural circumstances, but one of the members suspects they are actually murders and that he may be next. Enter the return of Lydia, a private investigator that enlists the help of Lana (manager of Ho-Lee Noodle House) to help solve the case with her close ties to the community.

Bookhearts may read this as a standalone or in series order. Why? Because Vivien Chien knows how to do a proper series introduction. In the first few paragraphs, readers are introduced to the main character, the setting and a brief recap. Too many other authors miss this important step by assuming all readers are familiar with the series and just jump right in. Or that existing readers of the series remember everything and everyone from previous books. So thanks to Vivien Chien for doing it right!

The Chow Maniac has all the necessary elements of a cozy mystery: a relatable amateur sleuth (Lana), food (pineapple cakes, asian noodles and pork dumplings), colorful cast of characters (Mahjong Matrons), a charming setting (Asia Village), romance (Detective Adam), a dog (pug named Kikkoman), light tone, non-gory murder, false pretenses and plenty red herrings. There is also a dose of Chinese mythology that brings intrigue to the story. Although some chapters can be wordy, Chien delivers another good read in the Noodle Shop mystery series. The Chow Maniac has my stamp of recommendation!

Happy Early Pub Day, Vivien Chien! The Chow Maniac will be available Tuesday, April 1.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

This is another fantastic book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series! It's always fun to solve a crime or two and dig up secrets with Lana Lee and her friends. As part of a series, I do recommend that you read them in order so that you get to know (and love) all of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Lana Lee, the local sleuth, often solves cases with the help of her friends, in their community. In The Chow Maniac by Vivien Chan, Lana is called upon by a local private detective to investigate a secret group known as the Eight Immortals. The group, which has existed for generations, has a mission to support the success and well-being of the local Asian community. However, someone is now systematically murdering its members. Why would someone want to kill individuals who have quietly devoted themselves to helping others? Is there a power struggle brewing within the group? Lana and her friends must race to solve the mystery before another member falls victim.
The Chow Maniac is the eleventh book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series, and this is the first book I've read in the series. One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how accessible it was for new readers. Vivien Chan does an excellent job of weaving in references to past events without overwhelming the reader with repetitive exposition, making it easy to dive in without needing prior knowledge of the earlier books. The series features a rich supporting cast with well-developed relationships that add depth to the story. This was my favorite part of the book, and it made me eager to go back and explore the earlier entries to learn more about these characters.

The mystery itself is straightforward and logical, which I found refreshing. It's a rare talent to craft a mystery that doesn't rely on extravagant plot twists or over-the-top surprises. Chan strikes a perfect balance by keeping things grounded and engaging without resorting to unnecessary complexity.

That said, my only criticism is that, due to the large supporting cast and my entry point being late in the series, I didn’t fully experience what makes Lana such an effective detective. This book feels more like a transitional story for her character, perhaps setting the stage for more high-stakes cases in the future. As a result, it seemed like her supporting cast played a larger role in solving the case. However, it was clear that Lana had solved cases independently in the past, and this one served as a test of her confidence.

Overall, The Chow Maniac is a solid read, perfect for anyone looking for a light, engaging mystery. While it doesn’t break the mold, it offers enjoyable storytelling that will keep readers hooked.

Lana Lee is back and better than ever.

When a powerful Asian secret order know as the Eight Immortals comes into question when suspicious deaths start occurring in Cleveland, P.I. Lydia Shephard enlists Lana to help her on the case. Since Lana has strong ties within Asia Village, Lydia seems to think that people will be more forthcoming about things than they would be with her. Lana is also deeply invested in the case since there has been the implication that the leader of the Eight Immortals is none other than her beloved Mr. Zhang, who also happens to be her grandmother's boyfriend.

Filled with twists and turns that explore Chinese lore, readers will be delighted to join Lana and her crew for another action-packed journey through Cleveland. This book also introduces some characters who I hope will recur in future books.

Vivien Chien has created a realistic group of characters in her Noodle Shop Mystery series, imbuing them with their own strengths and weaknesses. Lana's heart-in-the-right-place stubbornness is both her strength and Achilles heel. with readers having to see which one it will be in each book. This specific entry in the series drew me in even more with the exploration of Chinese history in Cleveland and beyond, making me want to delve into the different lore of the culture.

This time around, I was prepared to read the novel with a plate of shrimp har gow and crispy beef as Ms. Chien's books always make me hungry for some dim sum. I would go as far as to say that I would travel out of my way to visit a Lee's Noodle Shop pop-up.

I cannot wait to see what Lana and her crew have in store for them next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. I found the book to be ok. I would have liked more interaction between the people at Asia Village. One thing that I don’t understand is I thought Lydia told Lana to keep their investigation to herself and to not tell anyone. She tells Kimmie and Adam. I get that Adam was investigating the same case, but Lana was told to keep quiet.

This is one of my favorite series. I enjoyed the history lessons included in the story. Most of the regulars appear in this book, so it’s like catching up with old friends.

Lana Lee is asked by PI Lydia Shephard for help on a case related to the mysterious deaths of 3 members of the Eight Immortals. Lana has to be careful asking questions of such a secret organization without arousing suspicion of the Asia Village store owners, her family & the Mahjong Matrons. Soon, Lana finds surprising relationships & motives. Can Lana & Lydia stop the culprit from killing another Immortal?

I missed reading the previous book with Lydia & Lana. They make a good team.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.