Reviews with content warning for Murder - Death by Dumpling

I have recently turned to cozy mysteries as a way to lighten up the humdrum of the world. Just a little bit of an escape (I mean, the plot is still about murder…so not a total leaving the world behind sort of thing). This was just what I was looking for, and is the first in a series I definitely want to stick with!

Content Warnings

twisterella's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Content Warnings

mlwe's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

My Review:
While the story follows twenty-seven-year-old Lana's experiences working for her parents and investigating a murder within her community, the plot feels like a high schooler's representation of "being an adult." The story is extremely slow-paced, and the author often over-explains the characters' habits, preferences, and opinions. The plot was not predictable, but it was difficult to invest myself in the characters.

I did enjoy the variety of characters and various stages of assimilation between the immigrant parents and first-generation children. Towards the end of the novel, the pace picks up, and as Lana races to name the murderer, the excessive commentary is replaced by witty puns and misdirects. The latter half of the novel is a great read!

Content Warnings

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I read this book in audiobook format and I think my rating and review should be taken with a grain of salt as, after four or five attempts at audiobooks, I think I've concluded that I am not an audiobook person. Half this story went in one ear and immediately out the other, which is not a great thing when it comes to whodunnit mysteries and I think I would've enjoyed it more had I read it in physical form.

Anyway, onto the book itself. The plot was simple but interesting, and the resolution wasn't super shocking but not completely obvious. The dialogue wasn't completely natural and felt a bit clunky at times, though. It was enjoyable enough to read, but definitely had some ups and downs.

The characters felt a little two dimensional but were interesting and kept my interest in the story, though the main character Lana did feel whiny at times and I didn't particularly feel anything for the detective as a love interest.

I would be interested in reading the sequel, and I think I will read it in a different format to see if I follow the story in that a bit more than I did here.

Content Warnings

onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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