Death by Dumpling

I had pleasure of having Vivien Chien speak at the library's "Mystery and May-hem" event on May 19th, so I think it's only fair I post my review of Death by Dumpling

Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A charming cozy featuring Lana Lee, a young and curious protagonist who is currently underemployed waiting tables at her family's Chinese restaurant. Set in an Asian plaza shopping center, which is like a gossipy, unique small town on it's own - with murder. When one of the local shop owners apparently ingests a dumpling with shrimp inside, it precipitates a fatal allergic reaction. Of course, Lana is determined to prove that her family and the restaurant's staff are not the culprits.

Full of humor, a touch of romance (there has to be a handsome police detective!) and family dynamics, Death by Dumpling is a promising start to a new cozy series.

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This Didn't Go as Planned ...

As usual, this didn't go as planned! Ah, well. It is a Monday! This was supposed to link to a review on goodreads, but no such luck!  Look, I fixed it! A+ day for the blog! I also added new books, since I'm going to try to keep up with Goodreads.


Twisted Prey by John Sandford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Trying to Practice What I Preach

Hello, after a long absence, I am trying to get back into the groove of writing and blogging. The impetus comes from a work project I'm proposing for a program on blogging for writers. Once I start putting things together I'll work on adding content to a different blog on this site.

Meanwhile, writing ... I'm so, so close to getting to 80,000 words, but I'm struggling with a character that I don't like, but who I feel provides some needed conflict. I don't want to kill him, even though I could without blinking an eye, but there is another alternative that could happen, but I feel is a coward's way out of solving the problem.

So, for fun, to see if I can do this, I'm going to try to add a poll. I added a link. Have fun!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DT5VGZM