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The Chow Maniac: A Noodle Shop Mystery
Cozy Mystery
11th in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (April 1, 2025)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250338832
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250338839
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D12STWZ6

Asia Village is in peril when Private detective Lydia Shepard returns to enlist the help of Lana Lee to solve a rash of unsolved murders and thefts in The Chow Maniac, the latest Noodle Shop Mystery from Vivien Chien.

When Lydia brings Lana onto the case, three of the members of an elite Asian order known as the Eight Immortals have already been murdered. Each member of the order holds one item that represents their immortal counterpart, and someone is dying to get their hands on them all. Lydia’s client insists he—and only he—knows who will be next and wants the murderer captured before there is another victim.

Riding below the line of three cities of law enforcement and Lana’s own boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, the two women must tread lightly as they infiltrate a secret organization that even the Mahjong Matrons know nothing about. And somehow protect the next victim without letting on that she’s in danger.

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”?

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Who are the Eight Immortals? Three have been murdered when Private Investigator Lydia Shepard asks Lana to help her with the case in order to find who is killing members of the exclusive Asian order. Each member has an item that represents their “immortal counterpart,” and the working theory is that the killer wants all of the items. Lydia’s client is a member, and he thinks he is going to be the next victim.

Lana is surprised that the Mahjong Matrons are clueless about the Eight Immortals, but she does find others at the Asia Village who could be right in the middle of the case. In fact, members of her own family may be connected.

Will Lana be able to help Lydia catch the killer? Or will her investigation make her the next victim?

Ms. Chien uses a bit of Chinese history/mythology as the theme for this Noodle Shop Mystery. We have learned about many Chinese traditions reading this series, but with the Eight Immortals being the prominent plotline was very interesting.

The author has created a wonderful cast of characters, some of my cozy favorites. Lana continues to grow stronger and independent. She was offered a job with Lydia’s PI firm but turned it down to continue to manage the family’s noodle shop. I was happy to see that an offer to consult on the case allowed her to continue her sleuthing. She and Lydia make a great team, but they had a few hiccups this time. Of course, that adds to the drama and suspense. Lana continues to use her friend Megan as a sounding board, but her friend Kimmy goes a little off the rails when she feels she is being left out. Head chef Peter doesn’t like Lana involved in these cases, and if his girlfriend Kimmy gets involved, he is beyond upset. Lana was away from the restaurant a lot in this story, so he gave her a difficult time.

The mystery was very well-plotted and had a brisk pace. Lana had connections in the Asian community that Lydia needed, but had difficulty keeping confidential information confidential. This was a tough case, and I had a great time following Lana as she worked to find the truth. She led with her heart in questioning some individuals. As all the clues fell into place and secrets were revealed, Lana found herself in mortal danger when caught snooping for the proof needed. This led to a fantastic takedown.

Ms. Chien always finds the perfect balance of suspense, humor, and daily life. Because this story takes place in a short time span, we only get to experience one weekly family dim sum meal where all the details of the case was wrapped up. I always enjoy these family get-togethers.

The Chow Maniac felt a little more serious than previous installments, but I loved the Eight Immortals theme. Ms. Chien’s core characters are strong and continue to develop as the series continues. This is a “Must-Read” series for me, and I recommend you read them all in order for maximum enjoyment. I can’t wait for Book 12!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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About the Author

VIVIEN CHIEN was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where she grew up in a mixed-race home, making for some very interesting cultural experiences. She found her love of books and the written word at an early age while writing short stories about her classmates in elementary school. Currently, she writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier who refuses to sit anywhere else. When she’s not writing, Vivien enjoys frequenting local Asian restaurants, frolicking in the bookstore, and searching for her next donut. (From Amazon)

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