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bickleyhouse's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I will say that the only reason that I read this book was to fill a reading challenge category. That being said, I did enjoy it to some degree. I don't know if this should be classified as a "cozy mystery" or not. I'm not familiar enough with the genre to fully understand what makes a mystery "cozy." One site does refer to this one as cozy, so I guess it is.
The best part of the book is the second half of it. The first half is filled with way to much talk about cooking Chinese (or really "fake" Chinese) food, as the main character, Madeline Bean (this is the fourth in a series about her), runs a catering business that specializes in that kind of food. There is also much talk about remodeling and design in homes, because Ms. Bean's partner in the catering business, Wes, also buys and restores/remodels homes. In the case of Dim Sum Dead, he is remodeling the home of someone who figures heavily into the plot.
Oh, and lest I forget, there is an almost equal amount of discussion around the Chinese game of Mahjong, which I know little to nothing about. It sounds like a very complicated game to me. But the plot does involve a set of Mahjong tiles in a fancy box, and the fancy box has a hidden drawer that contains the item that causes all the trouble in this tale.
The actual murder that launches the mystery doesn't occur until page 117, almost halfway through the book. That's a lot talk about Chinese food and home design. But once the death happens, things really begin to take off, and I did enjoy the second half of the book. Probably not enough to read any more of these, though.
One thing I did learn, to my surprise, is that the fortune cookie is an American invention. Huh.
The best part of the book is the second half of it. The first half is filled with way to much talk about cooking Chinese (or really "fake" Chinese) food, as the main character, Madeline Bean (this is the fourth in a series about her), runs a catering business that specializes in that kind of food. There is also much talk about remodeling and design in homes, because Ms. Bean's partner in the catering business, Wes, also buys and restores/remodels homes. In the case of Dim Sum Dead, he is remodeling the home of someone who figures heavily into the plot.
Oh, and lest I forget, there is an almost equal amount of discussion around the Chinese game of Mahjong, which I know little to nothing about. It sounds like a very complicated game to me. But the plot does involve a set of Mahjong tiles in a fancy box, and the fancy box has a hidden drawer that contains the item that causes all the trouble in this tale.
The actual murder that launches the mystery doesn't occur until page 117, almost halfway through the book. That's a lot talk about Chinese food and home design. But once the death happens, things really begin to take off, and I did enjoy the second half of the book. Probably not enough to read any more of these, though.
One thing I did learn, to my surprise, is that the fortune cookie is an American invention. Huh.
avigail's review
3.0
DIM SUM DEAD is an entertaining Madeline Bean catering mystery that showcases the abilities of author Jerrilyn Farmer. Madeline's personal life is realistic without detracting from the story, and the story is interesting right away and paced well. The mystery is well-integrated but not transparent. The dialogue is fun, and the characters are likeable. This is a lively mix of Hollywood dish, mouth-watering recipes. I also enjoyed the references to the menus Madeline and Wes were serving at the Mahjong parties. Overall, an enjoyable book, with plenty of action, with very little actual violence. A palatable and satisfying reading experience
adavelos's review
4.0
Enjoyable read. Rich descriptions and well-developed characters. Will definitely read more in this series.
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