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A review by rebelbelle13
Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I often judge a cozy series by how easily a new reader can enter at any point and have a good time- they understand the setting, bond with the characters and can easily follow the episodic mystery. Woton Terror did all these things. The setting (Cleveland, OH) is a unique place for a cozy. I enjoyed reading from a different perspective than my own; Lana is Chinese. There were enough pages spent in the family restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House, for me to get the lay of the land, meet the characters and understand the family dynamics. There was enough time spent on Lana and Adam's relationship, but not too much. The food truck aspect mixed things up as well.
As for the mystery, there were plenty of potential suspects for Lana to investigate, and secrets to uncover that ultimately led her to the killer. Lana is very clearly an amateur detective, and is still finding the right way to ask questions, and the right words. It doesn't rake too much on the nerves though, and I could learn to like Lana over time. The book ended up stalling around the 3/4 mark, and it really could have been about 50 pages shorter. On the plus side, for most of the story I was invested and having a good time. I would definitely read more of this series in the future!
As for the mystery, there were plenty of potential suspects for Lana to investigate, and secrets to uncover that ultimately led her to the killer. Lana is very clearly an amateur detective, and is still finding the right way to ask questions, and the right words. It doesn't rake too much on the nerves though, and I could learn to like Lana over time. The book ended up stalling around the 3/4 mark, and it really could have been about 50 pages shorter. On the plus side, for most of the story I was invested and having a good time. I would definitely read more of this series in the future!