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.

Loved reading this book and series. Love reading a book from my hometown. Looking forward to more books in this series.

I had no idea this was book number 11 😅 I still enjoyed the book. I found it to be a nice quick read with some good twists. I’m planning on reading the rest of the books in the series so I can get to know the characters better and understand this book better!

Thank you NetGalley, Vivien and St. Martins Press!

Publication Date: April 1st 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#NetGalley

I’m so excited to be coming back for another helping of Lana Lee’s antics! Lana is roped into another mystery by an old friend and it’s up to them to solve the murders surrounding three prominent business men. Reading these noodle shop mysteries is like seeing an old friend again. I always know what I’m going to get; a cozy little mystery book with a side of craving noodles. This was a fun quick read with some new twists to the usual story. I’m enjoying making my way around everyone at Asia Village and learning a little bit more about characters we’ve seen since the first book.

I am super bummed as I didn’t realize this was the 11th book in the series and none of the prior 10 are available at my library or through Kindle Unlimited. I am expected to have read the first 10 it seems. I would reallllllly appreciate a label that this is part of a series, as I would love to actually indulge in each book. I am quite sad.

At least I have 11 new books to add to my TBR, but PLEASE if it is a series, make it clear.

Another great mystery in the A Noodle Shop Mystery series. I loved seeing what else Lana and the gang get up to.

Great installment in the "Noodle Shop Mystery" series. I think that Chien has hit their stride. At this point you should know all of the key players and how things work. Reading this series at this point is like taking a nice warm bath. I liked this one much better because Chien included some Chinese mythology and it seemed to be more "serious" I think than previous installments. I thought it was really good. Only reason why I didn't do 5 stars was that the back and forth between Lana and Kimmy was beyond annoying. I just don't think Kimmy adds much to the series IMHO, and I get why Lana includes Megan into her investigations, but at this point, she has two assistants and then of course her boyfriend Adam, who is on the police force. It just felt a bit hamfisted to me at one point. 

"The Chow Maniac" follows Lana as she is asked to assist on Lydia's PI case looking into who may be murdering some of the local Chinese business people who have ties to a clandestine organization called "The Eight Immortals." Lana is reluctant because Lydia's boss has offered her a job before. She wants to keep working at her parents restaurant and that's about it, she doesn't want to do a PI job full time. 

I thought this was much better than the adventures in CA that Chien did two books ago. Lana and Lydia were a great duo and I liked how they worked in tandem with each other. I wonder if Chien plans to do that in future books, which would work. 

The flow of the book worked really well I thought. No slow points.

I enjoyed the ending, how we get even more information about characters we have known for a while, and this leaves things in a good place with Lana I think.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Lydia is back! This time she's working with a client from the Asian community and he's been quite tight-lipped, despite having come to Lydia for help. Lydia thinks that Lana could get him to open up to her so she hires Lana to work the case with her and Lana is in for quite a surprise. She had no idea there was a secret society of eight individuals working together to help young people in the Asian community get their start in business. But some terrible things have been happening to these civic-minded individuals and for the last few months they've been dropping like flies. Can Lana and Lydia get to the bottom of it before the killer strikes again?

I really enjoy this series. Most cozy heroines are white females between the ages of 30 and 60 so it's really nice to have a cozy heroine who's a bit younger and comes from a different ethnic background. Lana isn't really someone I can relate to necessarily because we have nothing in common and that's a big part of what makes her so interesting. I also love that she's so real. She's irreverent and sassy and she hangs out at a bar and has a friend who waitresses at a strip club. She's a breath of fresh air. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love cozies, but sometimes the same sweet woman who works at the same cozy library in the same idyllic little town and dates the same handsome guy... it can get boring. Lana complains about traffic and carries a crystal in her pocket and drinks too much and has a dog that snorts and toots. You can't help but love her.

It's hard to say too much about this book without giving anything away but I will say that anyone who is a fan of cozy mysteries, particularly someone who maybe getting a little tired of the same-old same-old storylines, should check out this series.

Thank you to Vivien Chien, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I've become quite fond of this series and all the characters that come along with it.
Lana works at her family's noodle restaurant in an Asian village, where everyone knows everybody, including all the local gossip.
When a private investigator visits Lana at the restaurant, she knows that everyone will be asking her questions, and she doesn't want anyone to know she's investigating another murder.
Before Lana can blink, it seems everyone wants to help, including one of my favorite characters, Kimmy Tran.
The author writes such believable events that I wish I could go hang out with Lana and Kimmy, as well as the Majong ladies.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Lana Lee is our bestie in this one. Let me preface, this can be read as a standalone or part of the series! This was my first time going on an adventure with Lana and the gang.

So, Lana works at her fams noodle shop in an Asia plaza with other shops. A PI that she preciously worked with pops up one day and requests her help. Lana is torn between her responsibilities and her passions. Besides life lifing, she works this case that happens to flow into her personal life ! Several twists and turns and a couple of murders later… we have figured it all out and have a satisfying conclusion.

I’d totally recommend it as a fun whodunnit with plenty of food references that will make you crave a thing or two! Nothing too heavy or scary, it’s giving cozy mystery. Thanks to #NetGalley for providing this copy for my honest review ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I love this series, and The Chow Maniac is no exception. Once again Lana has a mystery to solve in murders connected with a secret organization, helping her friend Lydia get to the bottom of who the culprit is and what they’re after. Lucky for Lana she has her adorable pug Kikkoman, bestie, and detective BF by her side to alternately help her and provide a layer of muscle (plus Kikko just sounds like an adorable stress relief). This book can be read as a standalone but as with all the others it’s an incredibly cozy mystery with great characters, the perfect balance of drama, and enough amazing food descriptions to make you hungry as you read. I hope this series continues, though I’d love to see some development in Lana’s relationships as we have witnessed her kill it with managing her family’s restaurant and with her investigative skills, but her romance hasn’t really popped up in awhile. Hopefully next time she can do this or put little Kikko at the forefront as my absolute favorite.

"As they dig deeper into the case, Lana finds there are unexpected associations within Asia Village and potential ties to her own family that could be devastating. With the stakes raised on the toughest case she’s ever worked, will Lana be able to keep her own emotions out of the investigation? And will the murderer be found before they become the ultimate “immortal”?"

I haven't read any books by Vivien Chien before, or many mysteries, but I am glad I picked this one up. I think I like some cozy mysteries and want to pick up more by this author. I liked the characters, the mystery, and all of the Asian culture and food within this book. I was a little bored at the beginning, but after just a little bit I was hooked.