Hot and Sour Suspects: A Noodle Shop Mystery: 8 Mass Market Paperback – Import, 25 January 2022

In this edition, Lana Lee and her best friend and roommate, Megan, are hosting a speed dating night at Lana's family restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House, and all seems to be going well until one of the female participants gets into a verbal altercation with one of the male participants who just so happens to be having a nice time getting to know Lana's friend, Rina. This guy doesn't seem all that spectacular to Lana, Megan, or Lana's friend, Kimmy, but Rina certainly seems smitten with him as they leave together for the night. There is concern from Lana and her friends about something happening after the run-in with his ex at the speed dating event, but what transpires ends up being even worse than they expected and the trio of sleuthing friends finds that they have yet another murder to solve. They set out to clear their friend's name and find out the identity of the killer all while Lana tries to keep her boyfriend, police detective Adam, from knowing that she is poking her nose into his case. Chien successfully gives us another terrific cozy mystery to delve into and also a strong desire to stop by Ho-Lee Noodle House to sample some of Chef Peter or Chef Lou's wonderful food. This book has all you could want in a cozy mystery and then some and the fact that it was written while the author underwent life-altering health challenges makes it all the more special. Chien is a great writer and a determined fighter and I wish her all the best with her writing career and send many prayers her way for good health and strength.

Lana Lee and Meagan are at it again. Lana and Meagan just a speed dating event that brings out Riana, Lana’s friend. Things started off great but end in a murder that puts Lana and Meagan on the trail of a killer. There’s a good sub story her surrounding Lana’s sister. The cast of characters and suspects help make this a good read.

I’ve enthusiastically followed Vivien Chien’s noodle shop mysteries since discovering her first book on a new release table in a bookstore years ago. Hot and Sour Suspects easily rates the best of the series, and that is saying a lot. Even without reading the author’s note, Chien clearly put her heart and soul into this book - it shows.Lana Lee has grown into such a confident beloved character. This mystery takes us back to Asia Village, which is the heartbeat to the series. Lana’s Ho-Lee Noodle House proceeds to host a speed dating event but one of the guests turns up murdered later that night. Alongside her roommate Megan and frenemy Kimmy, Lana searches for the culprit to clear a friend of suspicion. Lana’s boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, heads the police department’s investigation so the trio must remain under the radar.This book has it all. We get an excellently plotted mystery, spend ample time with the characters we’ve grown to love, experience some of Cleveland’s neighborhoods, smile at the name checks to cozies (Diane Kelly) and actual bookstores, and feel Chien’s heart and passion throughout the book. Some readers may yearn for faster-paced action scenes or, unfortunately here, decide to skim read over portions lacking suspense. I think some of Chien’s beautifully written paragraphs in the first chapter and epilogue address that desire. These paragraphs teem with perspective, wisdom, gravitas and depth. The final four paragraphs of the book in particular are simply magical and make the point. Savor this.Overall rating: 5 stars.

I've read all of Vivian Chien's books and look forward to the next. Lana, Megan and Kimmy have their hands full trying to solve a murder after a speeding dating session at the Ho-Lee Noodle House that involves their good friend, Rina. Kimmy is always running on high through life with Megan the voice of reason and Lana falling between the two. I guessed wrong twice before the murderer was revealed near the end, which had me biting my nails! Lana doesn't usually get in this tight a spot! There was a mood change nearing the end of book which I account for that. I read the author's note at the beginning and her struggle with cancer as she finished the book. We love you Vivian and we know you will be writing more about the adventures of Lana Lee and her friends. Looking forward to your next book!

I wanted so much to adore this book once I read about the author's ongoing battle with serious health issues. And the book started off great. A speed-dating event at the Chinese restaurant run by the heroine, Lana Lee. Murder quickly followed. While the mystery had lots of questions, weird suspects (or hot and sour), I never warmed up to Lana. She seemed clueless for someone of 28. Never held my interest while the supporting players, like Kimmy (loud mouthed friend) and Anna May, Lana's uptight sister, were far better drawn.I enjoyed the mystery a lot. And hope that the author overcomes her terrible battle.