First off, I want to wish everyone a happy holiday! I’m having a good holiday myself – definitely enjoying my daughter’s visit. (I don’t have time to read much around the holidays, so this is actually a post I wrote a few weeks ago. So I might still be a bit slower on approving comments for a while longer.)
So, the Cozy I read this month was the first entry in Vivien Chien‘s Noodle Shop Mystery Series, titled Death by Dumpling.
In many ways, I would call this a very traditional modern-style Cozy. Half-Taiwanese, half-English Lana Lee has recently come off of a bad breakup, as well as quitting her job that she wasn’t happy at, and is spending time working at her family’s noodle house until she can pull her life back together. Though she hadn’t seen herself working there in her late twenties, she’s making the best of things until the area’s landlord is found dead – apparently killed by an allergic reaction caused by the dumplings she brought to him for his regular lunch delivery.
Naturally, there’s an irritating-but-hunky detective investigating the case, many neighbors all with their own theories (and varying levels of eccentricity), and unusual behavior on the part of the bereaved family and many others in the community.
So far, no doubt this all sounds like very familiar ground. Fortunately, what really helps make this book feel different from the many other Cozies like it is the interesting and unusual backdrop for a Cozy in Cleveland’s Asian Village.
While I still love the traditional quaint villages of England and New England alike, every so often it is nice to see a slightly different backdrop for otherwise comfortable Cozy elements, and setting the story in an area that feels culturally different feels like something of a breath of fresh air.
At the same time, many of the useful conventions of the Cozy genre can still apply – while the community might be part of a “big city” like Cleveland, the residents of the Asia Village have their own distinct community that an outsider (like the police, investigating the death of one of the residents) might find harder to penetrate.
Altogether, Death by Dumpling brings together a mystery that has a unique setting for the Cozy genre, one that (at least to me) feels as authentic as the Amish villages, New England fishing towns, and English countryside communities that are more often the hallmark of the Cozy subgenre. At the same time, it retains enough of the “Cozy” elements that I know we’re all looking for to help relax with a good book. If you’re looking for a familiar Cozy with an interestingly different sort of backdrop from the usual Cozy village, then I think that you’ll find something to like in Death by Dumpling.
If you want to read some of the other entries about highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can see them on the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page.
Marsha Bly says
I’ve read the available books in this series, and enjoy them. I also recommend them!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marsha, I’m glad to hear someone else has been enjoying this series!
Ellie says
This has become of one my favorite new series and one I purchase straight out rather than wait for a sale or check out from the library. I haven’t had much time to read lately so I’m only just getting through her latest (Wonton Terror). I really like the author’s writing style (engaging, not too repetitive, no multipage soliloquy about every single bite of food taking away from moving the plot forward) and I think it treads in to some areas of diversity that is lacking in the cozy genre (biracial struggles, balancing traditional vs. modern, being 2nd generation born to an immigrant parent).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellie, I’m glad to hear that the series continues on such a strong note!
Barbara Walters says
I enjoy this cozy mystery series!
Ellen Byron says
So glad you’re sharing about Vivien’s series. She’s a doll and the Noodle Shop mysteries offer a fresh, charming cozy addition to the cozy genre.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellen, I certainly agree – I’m always glad to see a new spin on Cozies!
Spyder fairy says
I’ve read all the books in this series and I really love them. I too like the series location especially since I live near Cleveland. Give this series a try. It won’t disappoint you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Spyder, it’s certainly always nice when a piece of media like a book series or movie feature locations you’re familiar with.
Derek says
It is my favorite cozy mystery series currently. I appreciate the different backdrop as well. And I like how the animal (in this case the dog) is in the story but not a major part of the story. To me, there are too many cozies that spend too many pages talking about the animal or its interactions when they should be focusing on plot or character development. I am looking forward to Egg Drop Dead in less than two months.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Derek, I’m glad to hear from more people who have been enjoying this series so far! I hope the new entry keeps up the high quality.
Bek says
This one is already on my list, and you’ve whetted my appetite even more!
Enjoy your holidays AND your family!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bek, thank you, and I hope you enjoy the holidays as well!
CECILE says
I recently bought copies of the whole series to date! I plan to binge read as soon as I finish my current batch of library books!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cecile, that certainly sounds like a good plan!
Karla says
This will be fun. Different from bakeries and bookstores! Looking forward to reading!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karla, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Tina Kashian says
I enjoy her series and the diversity in her books. Thank you for sharing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tina, you’re welcome!
Janice G says
I’ve been reading and recommending this series since the first book came out. I especially appreciate the diversity and location of the books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janice, I know – you and several others have recommended this series multiple times. It’s much appreciated – those recommendations are one of the main ways I choose what books I read for the site.
John Ellis says
Thank you for giving me a new series to relax and unwind with after a hard day.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
John, you’re welcome!