Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Death by Dumpling
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.vivienchien.com/
CITY: Cleveland
STATE: OH
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and novelist.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Vivien Chien is a writer and mystery novelist living in Cleveland, Ohio. She traces her interest in writing to elementary school, when she “first started writing simple stories about adventures with her classmates,” reported a writer on the Vivien Chien website. After reading Anne Rice’s novel Interview with the Vampire, “I knew writing was the only thing I wanted to do with my life. I’ve veered here and there, studying psychology, business, and even law for a short while. But, I knew deep down there was nothing else I wanted to do other than write. So I had to follow that through, no matter what it took,” Chien told an interview on the website Tea Cottage Mysteries. After trying several genres, she has become a debut novelist in the mystery genre.
Death by Dumpling
In her first book, Death by Dumpling, Chien “has put together a remarkable debut with characters to adore and a formidable foodie mystery to solve,” commented the Tea Cottage Mysteries interviewer. Protagonist Lana Lee has had a lengthy run of bad luck. She found out her boyfriend was cheating on her, which led to their breakup. She also ended up quitting her job. To make rent, she has taken on a job as a server in her parents’ Ho-Lee Noodle House in Fairview Park, Ohio. She knows the other business owners in Asia Village, the shopping center housing her parents’ restaurant, as well as the center owner himself, Mr. Feng, and his partner, Ian Sung. Lana interrupts an apparent argument between Mr. Feng and Kimmy Tran when she delivers the man’s lunch. Later in the day, however, Mr. Feng is found dead, the victim of a severe shellfish allergy. The businesses who served Mr. Feng knew of his allergy, so it is unknown how a dangerous amount of shrimp could have been included in his food.
The investigating detective, Adam Trudeau, believes the death is no accident, and suspicion falls on Peter Huang, a chef at the noodle house. Encouraged by her roommate Megan to look into the case, Lana starts her own amateur investigation. While the possibility of romance looms in Lana’s background (both Trudeau and Sung are potential suitors), she has to find out who put the shrimp-based dumplings in Feng’s lunch and stole his life-saving epi-pen. More importantly, why someone would want to kill him?
“The Asian culture in Cleveland was different and fun to explore. Chien writes with exceptional knowledge, probably because she lives there, so reading about the setting was almost like being there myself,” commented a reviewer on the Lit Bitch website. A reviewer on the website Criminal Element remarked, “Chien has created a very relatable heroine in Lana Lee, who—like many other cozy heroines (and readers!)—is a voracious bibliophile. Determined not to be rushed into a relationship by her mom or anyone else, she seeks solace in the same way so many of us do, single or otherwise,” by turning to books.
“Death by Dumpling is a promising debut in a market that often seems to be saturated with interchangeable heroines,” remarked the Criminal Element website contributor. A Kirkus Reviews writer called the book a “charming debut with plenty of red herrings,” and concluded, “The Heroine’s future looks bright.”
Dim Sum of All Fears
Lana is back again in Dim Sum of All Fears, She is still working at her parents’ restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House, though she’d rather be doing something else to make her living. When her parents decide to take a trip to Taiwan, they leave Lana in charge of the restaurant. Surprisingly, she shows a good aptitude for restaurant management in her parents’ absence.
Lana gets involved in another murder investigation in Asia Village when the newlywed couple who recently opened the nearby souvenir shop is found dead. As she investigates, what looked at first looked like a case of murder/suicide begins to resemble a double killing.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2018, review of Death by Dumpling.
ONLINE
Criminal Element, https://www.criminalelement.com/ (March 22, 2018), review of Death by Dumpling.
Lit Bitch, https://www.thelitbitch.com/ (March 20, 2018), review of Death by Dumpling.
Tea Cottage Mysteries, http://www.teacottagemysteries.com/ (March 28, 2018), “Tea with Vivien Chien,” interview with Vivien Chien.
Vivien Chien website, http://www.vivienchien.com (June 3, 2018).
Bio
Vivien Chien first started writing simple stories about adventures with her classmates when she was in elementary school. As she grew up, her love of books and the written word increased, leading to the attempt of her first novel at age 16. After many struggled beginnings and several different genres, she found her passion in the mystery world.
When she’s not writing, she can be found frolicking in the bookstore or searching for her next bowl of noodles. She has a soft spot for doughnuts, a healthy love for coffee, and an extreme need to participate in random acts of crafting.
She currently lives in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the third book in her Noodle Shop series and writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier.
March 28, 2018
TEA WITH VIVIEN CHIEN
Tea with Vivien Chien
I’m thrilled to be sitting down with Vivien Chien today, author of Death by Dumpling, her debut novel. Vivien has put together a remarkable debut with characters to adore and a formidable foodie mystery to solve. And today I’m finding out that we are both lovers of Sue Grafton and Kinsey Millhone. Thanks for stopping by Vivien, it’s a pleasure to have you here!
WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER YOUR LOVE OF MYSTERY?
It kind of snuck up on me actually. My grandmother got me into Nancy Drew books when I was little, but I didn’t realize how much I loved mystery until much later. In college, I took a fiction writing class that was based solely on mystery novels. During that class, I learned a great deal and it made me realize how much I was enamored with the genre. Looking back at the books I had enjoyed more than others, it then became obvious that mysteries had always been my favorite. It was a very “duh” moment. How I had never noticed is beyond me.
WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO WRITE YOUR FIRST BOOK AND WHAT MADE YOU GO FOR IT?
I started writing when I was pretty young, so the interest was always there. But, my first attempt at an actual novel was when I was around sixteen. I had just read Interview with the Vampire and it blew me away. That’s when I knew I figured it out …I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to take people on this amazing journey, entertain them, maybe make them think, and show them something new. Reading that book and the rest of the Vampire Chronicles was such an amazing experience. Anne Rice includes so much food for thought in her writing. The description and attention to detail that she provides in all of her writing is so powerful that it makes you feel like you’ve been there and that you’ve lived it.
From then on, I knew writing was the only thing I wanted to do with my life. I’ve veered here and there, studying psychology, business, and even law for a short while. But, I knew deep down there was nothing else I wanted to do other than write. So I had to follow that through, no matter what it took.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL RITUALS YOU HAVE OR PLACES YOU GO THAT INSPIRE YOUR WRITING?
I write the best at home so I don’t often go farther than the dining room table. My dog likes to sit with me, so I make up a chair with a blanket and plop her down next to me.
WHERE DO YOUR PLOT IDEAS COME FROM?
Everywhere and everything. Usually, they are character-driven, though. I’ll come up with a person first and think about what they would do if they were put in a certain situation. How people react differently to the same scenario has always intrigued me, so I find myself fascinated with the different possibilities of personality and circumstance and that triggers the plot.
WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?
I’ve gotten myself into somewhat of a love affair with Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars series. I first started with the show and was so completely swept away by it, that I had to see how the books were in comparison. As they say, the books are always better. I devoured the first one in a few days and am currently reading Flawless. I have to say, this is an incredible young adult series. The concept is clever and keeps you guessing all the way to the end.
WHAT’S IN YOUR TBR PILE?
My TBR pile has morphed into a bookcase! (I have a book buying addiction.) Currently, the top five on my list are:
Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice and Christopher Rice
Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE DETECTIVE CHARACTER (BOOK, TV, OR MOVIE) AND WHY?
Definitely Kinsey Millhone. My favorite thing about her is that she is a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails kind of woman. She’s a realist who is not afraid to tell you how it is. I love a person who can level with you, there’s no pomp and circumstance, it’s all laid out on the table plain as day. And that’s who Kinsey is. She’s that friend who is just going to give it to you straight.
And most importantly, she gets the job done. There’s no question she’s going to get the answers she’s looking for. If I ever had to hire a P.I., I want it to be someone like Kinsey.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MYSTERY AUTHOR AND WHY?
Sue Grafton. A major reason being (and I think it’s true for a lot of female mystery writers) is that she had such an enormous impact on women breaking into a genre primarily dominated by men. It gave women the courage to go for it and know that they too could have a place.
And, another reason being, her amazing skill for storytelling. A is for Alibi was pivotal to shaping where I wanted to go with my writing. It very much had the same effect on me as reading Interview with the Vampire except this time I pulled from character. As I mentioned above, I love Kinsey Millhone. If she was a real person, I’d absolutely be her friend. I think that says a lot about a writer. They’ve created a character out of thin air and you feel as if they live and breathe just as we do. That’s powerful stuff, and I admire her ability in doing so.
ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS?
Never give up. No matter what anyone else says and no matter what you may say to yourself, never stop trying, never stop writing. I think with a lot of creative passions, people tend to be harder on themselves and assume that they won’t make it…that the competition is too tough, their writing isn’t good enough, they’ll get lost in the mix, etc. And, it’s true. It can be tough out of there, no doubt. But, if you love writing and want to pursue it…pursue it. Don’t get discouraged or bogged down with what may or not happen. Sometimes you’re going to write things that you hate. Who cares? Now you know what you don’t like and can figure out how to fix it. Keep writing.
WHAT WOULD WE FIND IN YOUR MUG FIRST THING IN THE MORNING? TEA? COFFEE? SOMETHING ELSE?
Always coffee. It is essential to my functionality.
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND TIME WITH A GOOD BOOK?
Ideally a beach with some type of adult beverage in a coconut. But, since that can’t always happen, my favorite place to be is on my couch snuggled up with my dog.
IF YOU WERE GIVEN AN ENTIRELY FREE DAY, NO RESPONSIBILITY OR TASKS, WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND THE DAY DOING?
I would spend half of it shopping the local bookstores, pit-stop for lunch or dinner at a favorite restaurant, and the last half would be spent playing video games.
ANY GUILTY PLEASURES?
Video games! I’ve been a Playstation girl since my teens, and I don’t think I’ll ever give them up. Aside from reading, I think gaming is one of the best forms of escapism from reality.
I also have a thing for hidden object games. I could play those all day!
TELL US ABOUT AN ITEM ON YOUR BUCKET LIST.
I want to visit all fifty states at least once in my life.
Vivien Chien
Vivien Chien first started writing simple stories about adventures with her classmates when she was in elementary school. As she grew up, her love of books and the written word increased, leading to the attempt of her first novel at age 16. After many struggled beginnings and several different genres, she found her passion in the mystery world.
When she’s not writing, she can be found frolicking in the bookstore or searching for her next bowl of noodles. She has a soft spot for doughnuts, a healthy love for coffee, and an extreme need to participate in random acts of crafting.
She currently lives in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the third book in her Noodle Shop series and writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier.
Website:http://www.vivienchien.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivien_chien_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivienchienauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vivien_chien
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vivienchien/
Chien, Vivien: DEATH BY DUMPLING
Kirkus Reviews. (Jan. 15, 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Chien, Vivien DEATH BY DUMPLING St. Martin's (Adult Fiction) $7.99 3, 27 ISBN: 978-1-250-12915-4
Can an amateur detective solve a case of poisoning by dumpling?
Lana Lee's rough year is about to get worse. First she split up with her cheating boyfriend, then she quit her job. In order to keep paying her share of the rent for the place she shares with Megan Riley, she's working for her parents as a hostess and waitress at Ho-Lee Noodle House in Fairview Park, Ohio. Half Taiwanese, half English, Lana's grown up with many of the neighboring shopkeepers at Asia Village, an attractive shopping center owned by Thomas Feng and his trainee partner, Ian Sung. Arriving at Feng's office to deliver his lunch, she's almost run over by a furious Kimmy Tran, who's just finished screaming at Mr. Feng. Later that day, Mr. Feng is found dead, possibly from an allergic reaction to shrimp, something he's usually careful to avoid. Handsome Detective Adam Trudeau suspects that his death was no accident, and his prime suspect is noodle house chef Peter Huang. The new widow, Donna Feng, also seems to suspect Peter, though she says little and acts with quiet dignity. Tired of Lana's moping around, Megan encourages her to investigate the death, even splurging for a book on how to become a detective. Lana's mother, who only wants to see her happily married, is delighted that Lana finds Trudeau attractive and has been asked out by Ian Sung, who, backed by Mrs. Feng, plans to take over the operation of Asia Village. If Peter really is innocent, Lana must figure out who else switched the dumplings and removed Feng's EpiPen. Her snooping uncovers many hidden secrets, but determining which one was enough to kill for proves both difficult and dangerous.
A charming debut with plenty of red herrings. The heroine's future looks bright.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Chien, Vivien: DEATH BY DUMPLING." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522643086/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a78d756b. Accessed 17 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A522643086
Review: Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
BY CRIME HQ
March 22, 2018
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien is the first book in the new Noodle Shop Mystery series (available March 27, 2018).
Take a visual tour of Death by Dumpling with GIFnotes!
Lana Lee is 27 years old and, after a cascade of poor life choices, has found herself working as a server in her family’s restaurant to make ends meet. Ho-Lee Noodle House is one of the most prosperous shops in Asia Village, a charming Asian-themed plaza located on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio. Asia Village is the brainchild and baby of Thomas Feng, the 50-something property owner with an allergy to shrimp so deadly that he carries an Epi-pen with him at all times. It seems like business as usual when Lana delivers a take-out order to Mr. Feng’s office after the cook who usually doubles as the delivery man begs off due to other pressing orders. Everyone at Ho-Lee Noodle House knows about the allergy, so Mr. Feng being found dead soon after seems like tragic happenstance—until the coroner rules that he died from a reaction to shrimp dumplings, with his Epi-pen nowhere to be found.
Lana is stunned to discover that she’s the prime suspect given that she was the last person to handle his food. She’s even more astonished when the death brings out not only the ugly side of some of her neighbors but also deep, dark secrets from Asia Village’s past. Unwilling to sit idly by while her character is besmirched, she proceeds to methodically investigate—despite the stern warnings of the detective in charge, the dreamy Adam Trudeau (and with a last name like that, I keep envisioning him as a certain good-looking Prime Minister. I don’t think anyone can blame me).
There were so many things to like about this Own Voices novel. It’s really great to read a cozy written from the perspective of an Asian-American woman, especially since it’s set so lovingly within a Chinatown-like enclave. Vivien Chien wryly highlights the pleasures and perils of being an Asian-American woman in the Midwest, especially one who is single and works for parents who may be overly concerned about her marital status.
After Ian Sung—Mr. Feng’s socially awkward younger business partner—asks Lana to meet him regarding a proposition that turns out to be more than strictly business, Lana’s mom is eager to learn more, never mind the fact that Detective Trudeau has shown up at the restaurant to ask Lana and her parents several follow-up questions:
“Lana, answer me,” my mother said, interrupting the detective. “What did he say?”
I huffed. “It’s nothing Mom. He asked me out to dinner.”
“What?” all three asked in unison.
“It’s no big deal, don’t make it a thing.” I could feel the redness spreading in my cheeks.
“Oh, Lana.” My mother beamed, clapping her hands together. “This is good for you. You need a boyfriend so you’re not lonely anymore. Ian Sung is perfect for you.”
Detective Trudeau scoffed in the background.
“I thought you said you didn’t like—”
She waved her hand at me. “Forget about that. He will be an important man now. Maybe he will ask you to marry him and then you will own the plaza one day too.”
But Death by Dumpling isn’t just about solving mysteries while Asian. Ms. Chien has created a very relatable heroine in Lana Lee, who—like many other cozy heroines (and readers!)—is a voracious bibliophile. Determined not to be rushed into a relationship by her mom or anyone else, she seeks solace in the same way so many of us do, single or otherwise:
Instead of finding a boyfriend [as] instructed, I decided I would hit up the next best thing. The bookstore. I needed books to add to my “to be read” pile, and while I was there, I could question [the shopkeeper] about the day she found Mr. Feng’s body. Hopefully she would prove to be more informative than [the last person I’d spoken to].
As I stepped inside, I stopped and took a deep breath, closing my eyes and taking in the intoxicating smell that is the Modern Scroll. This was my favorite store of all. It was a small slice of heaven, and I came in any chance I got just to be around the books. Books were my solace, my escape.
Death by Dumpling is a promising debut in a market that often seems to be saturated with interchangeable heroines. Lana Lee stands out not just for her ethnicity but also in her resourcefulness, humor, and practical approach to investigation. I really enjoyed her relationship with her best friend and roommate, Megan, and I look forward to finding out more about both the romantic breakup and the workplace meltdown that brought her to this pass—two events that are alluded to in only the barest of sketches for this first entry in the series. Dreamy resemblances to a certain political figure aside, Detective Trudeau isn’t necessarily my favorite cozy mystery love interest, but I’m definitely interested in seeing how Lana’s relationship with him grows and am eagerly looking forward to the sequel.
Review: Death by Dumpling (A Noodle Shop Mystery #1) by Vivien Chien
I love getting in on a new mystery series from the ground up. This book was not only a new series but it also had an intriguing title…..a noodle shop mystery??? Yes please!
When I first saw that cover I was totally sold. Not only did it sound like an interesting read but I also immediately wanted Chinese take out to commemorate the reading of this book!
Welcome to the Ho-Lee Noodle House, where the Chinese food is to die for. . .
The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family’s restaurant. But after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that a return to the Cleveland area to help wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband.
Lana’s love life soon becomes yesterday’s news once the restaurant’s property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead―after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee. But how could this have happened when everyone on staff knew about Mr. Feng’s severe, life-threatening shellfish allergy? Now, with the whole restaurant under suspicion for murder and the local media in a feeding frenzy―to say nothing of the gorgeous police detective who keeps turning up for take-out―it’s up to Lana to find out who is behind Feng’s killer order. . . before her own number is up (summary from Goodreads).
So not going to lie, I got a little stalled reading this book. Not because it wasn’t good but life got in the way and I had to set it down for a few days. But after picking it back up, I read it rather quickly. I love how this book took a new approach for me with it’s Asian flare. A lot of cozy mysteries etc are full of quaint English villages with a basic heroine that would easily be someone else. In this book, the cultural exception was refreshing and interesting for me. I don’t necessarily think ‘Asian’ when I hear Cleveland…..full disclosure I was expecting this book to be set in San Francisco or LA, some place with a large Asian culture so I was worries that the author would have to do a lot to convince me of the setting. However that wasn’t the case at all!
The Asian culture in Cleveland was different and fun to explore. Chien writes with exceptional knowledge, probably because she lives there, so reading about the setting was almost like being there myself. Well done!
I also loved Lana, she was a unique heroine and in her late twenties so I think this cozy as well as the heroine, would appeal to younger readers (20 somethings) as well as older readers (as in the 30s-40s demographic). Lana has a wide range of appeal not just for the age demographics, but the cultural ranges as well. Lana was well developed and I found the little bits of humor and romance delightful.
On the whole, this book was a pleasure to read and I was thrilled to get in on it before it hit shelves! I am excited to see what’s in store for Lana next! If you are looking for a pleasant cozy read that has a unique approach and culture to it, then read this book! It’s a wonderfully rich and developed cozy….and I’m sorry but who can resist that title and cover?!? Order some Chinese food or whip up some Ramen while you enjoy the flavors of the Orient in this great mystery!