I really wanted to like this book, but just really didn't. I love the premise of the plot surrounding the mystery: the main character is the manager of her family's Chinese restaurant but can't cook, so she sneaks off to take cooking lessons to surprise everyone with. That part was fun, and totally relatable. But the murder part was both super predictable and less interesting than it should have been, and I found myself enjoying the side characters much less than usual for this series. ( )

Murder seems to always find poor Lana Lee and watching her try to solve the case with the help of Adam and her friends is always a joy! Loved seeing a stop at the Hooley House too which is close to my work and does have a great patio. Also, another great cover! ( )

This is the 7th book in one of my favorite cozy mystery series! This book was another fun addition to this series. One of the reasons that I love this series so much is the characters. Lana always finds herself in the middle of things (like yet another murder investigation) and her friends and family always end up helping her out. I particularly am a fan of her best friend/roommate who always encourages Lana to investigate even when she doesn't want to. This book was particularly fun because the majority of the book was set at the local community college where Lana was taking cooking classes. I just thought that it made the mystery and book feel fresh. These books always make me hungry while reading them and this book was no exception. I really can't say too much more - at seven books in I don't want to spoil anything that has happened in previous books. This is just a series that you should definitely pick up - you don't have to read them in order. It will just enhance your overall reading experience if you do start at the beginning. Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, those who enjoy books that feature food, and those readers who enjoy just fun reads definitely need to give this series a try. Recommended!

Bottom Line: Another fun addition to one of my favorite cozy mystery series!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Honest thoughts are my own. ( )

Fatal Fried Rice by Vivien Chien is a 2021 St. Martin’s Press publication.

Lana is great at managing her family’s restaurant, but embarrassingly, she does not know how to cook- a shortcoming her sister unfailingly teases her about. Lana is so self- conscious about it, she can’t bring herself to ask Peter to teach her, so she decides to secretly take a cooking class. Her plans go awry when she discovers her instructor dead…. And she becomes a person of interest…

This was another fun installment in the Noodle Shop series. I always love touching base with Lana, her family, and friends. This episode expanded Kimmy’s role a little, and she really brought some humor to the story. Things were a little more tense than usual because Lana is working from a defensive angle, not only trying to find the murderer, but to clear her own name, as well.

Overall, this installment was just the kind of entertaining, comfort read it is supposed to be and is why we all keep coming back for more!

Unfortunately, I am now all caught up with the series and must wait until next year for the next installment. ( )

Lana Lee is such a likable heroine and this was a cute, quick mystery to read. Even though she runs the family Chinese restaurant in the busy Asia Village shopping area, she doesn't actually know how to cook. She decides to take a community ed class in a different part of town, so no one will be the wiser. But when the instructor, Margo Han turns up as a body, naturally Lana discovers it when she heads back to the classroom for handout and is a top suspect. Although her boyfriend is a detective, he has no pull in that jurisdiction, so Lana scopes out most the clues on her own, along with help from her friends Megan and Kimmy. ( )