Death by Dumpling

Author - Vivien Chien

Lana Lee reluctantly takes over her family’s noodle shop in Cleveland’s Asia Village, but when the restaurant’s property manager is found dead after eating takeout dumplings, Lana finds herself the prime suspect. To clear her name, she dives into solving the mystery while juggling quirky relatives, nosy coworkers, and plenty of neighborhood gossip.

Genre - Cozy Mysterious

Notes: Death by Dumpling

• • Lana Lee is a young woman who feels stuck in her family's dumpling shop, "The Golden Palace."
• • She dreams of a more exciting life beyond Cleveland, Ohio.
• • A prestigious food critic, Anton Dubois, is coming to review The Golden Palace.
• • Lana sees this as a chance to prove her worth and modernize the family business.
• • The night before the review, Anton Dubois is found dead in the restaurant's kitchen.
• • He choked on one of their signature dumplings.
• • The police immediately suspect foul play, and Lana's family is under scrutiny.
• • Lana is shocked and determined to clear her family's name.
• • She begins her own investigation, much to the chagrin of her parents.
• • Her parents are more concerned with the potential damage to their reputation and business.
• • Lana enlists the help of her best friend, Chloe, a tech-savvy baker.
• • They start by examining the scene of the crime and the dumpling itself.
• • They discover that the dumpling was intentionally sabotaged.
• • Lana revisits the list of people who had access to the kitchen and the dumplings.
• • She interviews disgruntled former employees and rival restaurant owners.
• • A handsome but mysterious detective, Detective Grimaldi, is also investigating.
• • Lana finds herself both annoyed by and attracted to him.
• • She uncovers a history of grudges and rivalries within the local Asian restaurant scene.
• • One potential suspect is a rival dim sum chef who had a public feud with Anton Dubois.
• • Another is a former employee who was fired by Lana's father.
• • Lana also learns that Anton Dubois had a reputation for being difficult and making enemies.
• • She discovers he was investigating a potential food fraud scheme.
• • This scheme might involve mislabeled ingredients or unsafe food practices.
• • Lana realizes her family's restaurant might be a target to cover up this larger crime.
• • She finds a hidden note from Anton Dubois hinting at his findings.
• • The note leads her to a local supplier with questionable practices.
• • Chloe uses her hacking skills to uncover financial irregularities related to the supplier.
• • Lana and Chloe brave a dangerous encounter at the supplier's warehouse.
• • They find evidence linking the supplier to the sabotaged dumpling.
• • The supplier was trying to silence Dubois before he exposed their illegal operations.
• • Lana confronts the supplier, who confesses to the murder.
• • The supplier admits to altering the dumpling's ingredients to cause a choking hazard.
• • Detective Grimaldi arrives just as Lana is in danger.
• • He arrests the supplier, saving Lana.
• • Lana's family is cleared of any wrongdoing.
• • The incident forces Lana to re-evaluate her feelings about her family and the restaurant.
• • She realizes the importance of her heritage and the business.
• • Her parents see her determination and intelligence during the investigation.
• • They begin to appreciate her desire for modernization.
• • Lana decides to stay and help her family, bringing new ideas.
• • She finds a way to blend her aspirations with her family's legacy.
• • The food critic's review, though posthumous, is ultimately positive.
• • The Golden Palace gains positive attention, partly due to the "exciting" events.
• • Lana feels a newfound sense of purpose and belonging.
• • The mystery is solved, and justice is served.
• • Lana and Detective Grimaldi share a moment, hinting at a future connection.
• • The story ends with Lana feeling more confident and excited about her future.
• • She embraces her role in the family business, but on her own terms.
• • The dumplings at The Golden Palace are now a symbol of resilience and family.
• • Lana discovers that her passion can be found closer to home than she thought.