Noodle Shop Mystery
9 primary works • 11 total works
Book 1
Lana Lee never thought she'd be stuck working at the family restaurant in her late twenties, but here she is, wiping down tables sticky with the remnants of General Tso's chicken. But after a messy breakup and a dead-end job, she figured working at the Ho-Lee Noodle House wouldn't be too bad, right? The charming shopping plaza, Asia Village, is where Lana spent most of her childhood and although she'd rather avoid it for that specific reason; she agrees to work full-time at the restaurant until a better prospect of employment comes along.
Things seem to be going smoothly enough until one of the property managers of the shopping plaza, Thomas Feng, is found dead in his office. Unfortunately, for Lana and the restaurant's head chef, the death looks like murder, and the murder weapon looks like dumplings from none other than the Ho-Lee Noodle House. While the dumplings look innocent enough, it's what's on the inside that counts, which is pork and shrimp, a deadly combination for Thomas, who everyone knows suffers from a severe shellfish allergy. The police immediately suspect Lana's family, and now, with her parents' restaurant at stake, she sees no other option but to figure out what really happened to Thomas, and why.
Things seem to be going smoothly enough until one of the property managers of the shopping plaza, Thomas Feng, is found dead in his office. Unfortunately, for Lana and the restaurant's head chef, the death looks like murder, and the murder weapon looks like dumplings from none other than the Ho-Lee Noodle House. While the dumplings look innocent enough, it's what's on the inside that counts, which is pork and shrimp, a deadly combination for Thomas, who everyone knows suffers from a severe shellfish allergy. The police immediately suspect Lana's family, and now, with her parents' restaurant at stake, she sees no other option but to figure out what really happened to Thomas, and why.
Book 3
Book 4
Book 6
Book 7
Fed up with her sister picking on her lack of culinary skills, Lana Lee decides to secretly take a cooking class in order to prove she has what it takes in the kitchen. It seems harmless enough until the course instructor - Margo Chan - is found murdered after class with one of the utensils used in her demonstration earlier that evening.
The attention of the police is immediately directed at the school’s staff members and students, including Lana, who was unfortunate enough to discover the body. In an effort to clear her own name, she decides to begin her own investigation - starting with the same group the police have under suspicion. When Lana’s line of questioning leads her on a wild goose chase back and forth between the school and Margo’s personal life, Lana begins to wonder if the guilty party is closer than she thinks.
Then as odd, threatening packages start showing up at Ho-Lee Noodle House, Lana fears that the killer knows what’s she’s up to, and if she can’t put the pieces together fast enough, it might be her that’s next on the chopping block.
The attention of the police is immediately directed at the school’s staff members and students, including Lana, who was unfortunate enough to discover the body. In an effort to clear her own name, she decides to begin her own investigation - starting with the same group the police have under suspicion. When Lana’s line of questioning leads her on a wild goose chase back and forth between the school and Margo’s personal life, Lana begins to wonder if the guilty party is closer than she thinks.
Then as odd, threatening packages start showing up at Ho-Lee Noodle House, Lana fears that the killer knows what’s she’s up to, and if she can’t put the pieces together fast enough, it might be her that’s next on the chopping block.
Book 8
Book 9
Despite Lana’s protests, Betty Lee signs her daughter up to attend a restaurant convention being held in sunny Irvine, California. To make matters worse, her sister, Anna May, invites herself along to escape the dating woes of her new relationship. Lana is apprehensive about the whole trip, including the “quality time” with her older sister, but she resolves to make the best of it, hoping the getaway from daily restaurant life will do her some good.
Luckily, Irvine is the home to their mother’s very Americanized sister, Grace Richardson, and sisters happily agree to stay in her posh rental on the exclusive Balboa Island when the offer is extended. As the trip begins, it seems to be just what they both needed and despite the fact that Lana is stuck attending the restaurant convention every day, it proves to be worthwhile and entertaining. Especially when she witnesses a dramatic cat fight between a fortune cookie vendor and a journalist who’s covering the convention.
Lana and Anna May can’t imagine things getting any better until they learn their aunt has yet another surprise in store for them—a swanky cocktail party hosted for the freelancers of Southern California at the newly renovated, historical Hotel Laguna. But on the night of the party, things go south when a close journalist friend of Grace’s mysteriously plunges from the roof top of the hotel. Even more suspicious is the fact that Aunt Grace’s friend is the same journalist Lana saw getting into a screaming match with the fortune cookie vendor at the convention.
The police rule the death a gruesome accident, but Aunt Grace refuses to accept that explanation and begs Lana for her help uncovering the truth. Lana, Anna May, and Aunt Grace attempt to keep up appearances as they search for answers, but unwanted attention from suspicious colleagues and convention attendees start to surface, causing Lana to wonder if they’ll find the killer in time…or if they’ll be the next ones pushed over the edge.
Luckily, Irvine is the home to their mother’s very Americanized sister, Grace Richardson, and sisters happily agree to stay in her posh rental on the exclusive Balboa Island when the offer is extended. As the trip begins, it seems to be just what they both needed and despite the fact that Lana is stuck attending the restaurant convention every day, it proves to be worthwhile and entertaining. Especially when she witnesses a dramatic cat fight between a fortune cookie vendor and a journalist who’s covering the convention.
Lana and Anna May can’t imagine things getting any better until they learn their aunt has yet another surprise in store for them—a swanky cocktail party hosted for the freelancers of Southern California at the newly renovated, historical Hotel Laguna. But on the night of the party, things go south when a close journalist friend of Grace’s mysteriously plunges from the roof top of the hotel. Even more suspicious is the fact that Aunt Grace’s friend is the same journalist Lana saw getting into a screaming match with the fortune cookie vendor at the convention.
The police rule the death a gruesome accident, but Aunt Grace refuses to accept that explanation and begs Lana for her help uncovering the truth. Lana, Anna May, and Aunt Grace attempt to keep up appearances as they search for answers, but unwanted attention from suspicious colleagues and convention attendees start to surface, causing Lana to wonder if they’ll find the killer in time…or if they’ll be the next ones pushed over the edge.
Book 10
Chinese New Year is supposed to be a time of fresh beginnings and celebrations of good fortune to come. Naturally, the shop owners of Asia Village jump at the chance to support property manager Ian Sung when he suggests creating a memorable holiday event that will bring positive light to the plaza, and prosperity for all those involved.
With Lana Lee as his right-hand woman, Ian orchestrates an extravagant evening. But at the end of the night, during an elaborate firework show, a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead backstage with a red envelope in their pocket containing four one-dollar bills - an omen of death.
Ian Sung takes it upon himself, again enlisting Lana’s help, to find out who could have killed the talented dancer.
With Lana Lee as his right-hand woman, Ian orchestrates an extravagant evening. But at the end of the night, during an elaborate firework show, a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead backstage with a red envelope in their pocket containing four one-dollar bills - an omen of death.
Ian Sung takes it upon himself, again enlisting Lana’s help, to find out who could have killed the talented dancer.
Book 11
When Donna Feng enlists Lana Lee and the rest of Ho-Lee Noodle House to cater a dinner party at her home for some of her family and prestigious friends, Lana is happy to accept. The summer months can be slow at Asia Village, so this will bring a much-needed boost to the budget.
The dinner party goes off without a hitch - though there is a strange moment when Donna explodes at her live-in nanny. The next day the nanny is found dead, and Donna Feng - along with some of her guests - is suspected of foul play. Before the police arrived, however, Donna found a piece of evidence at the crime scene that causes her to believe the nanny's murder was a message for her: a mysterious thumb-drive shaped like a terracotta soldier. Donna entrusts the evidence to Lana, along with the secrets it contains. Once again, it's up to Lana to catch a killer.
Then, a fire at the Feng residence puts Donna and her family in the hospital, and tensions rise for the amateur sleuth and her best friend, Megan Riley. Lana and Megan ping pong back and forth between the guests at the party, a potential hit man, or the possibility that Donna Feng has truly lost her mind.
The dinner party goes off without a hitch - though there is a strange moment when Donna explodes at her live-in nanny. The next day the nanny is found dead, and Donna Feng - along with some of her guests - is suspected of foul play. Before the police arrived, however, Donna found a piece of evidence at the crime scene that causes her to believe the nanny's murder was a message for her: a mysterious thumb-drive shaped like a terracotta soldier. Donna entrusts the evidence to Lana, along with the secrets it contains. Once again, it's up to Lana to catch a killer.
Then, a fire at the Feng residence puts Donna and her family in the hospital, and tensions rise for the amateur sleuth and her best friend, Megan Riley. Lana and Megan ping pong back and forth between the guests at the party, a potential hit man, or the possibility that Donna Feng has truly lost her mind.
Lana Lee is a dutiful daughter, waiting tables at her family's Chinese restaurant even though she'd rather be doing just about anything else. Then, just when she has a chance for a "real" job, her parents take off to Taiwan, leaving Lana in charge. Surprising everyone including herself she turns out to be quite capable of running the place. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who just opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead and soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery.
Between running the Ho-Lee and trying to figure out whether the rock-solid Detective Adam Trudeau is actually her boyfriend, Lana knows she shouldn't pry into the case. But the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple's past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder.
Between running the Ho-Lee and trying to figure out whether the rock-solid Detective Adam Trudeau is actually her boyfriend, Lana knows she shouldn't pry into the case. But the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple's past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder.