Egg Drop Dead Read online

  I watched him from the corner of my eye, as I kept making my way toward the exit. Clever move asking to meet up at one of my favorite Asia Village establishments. The only thing better he could have said was for me to meet him at the Modern Scroll, the plaza’s bookshop.

  “I suppose I could ask Nancy to come in an hour early on Monday morning. I couldn’t meet you until ten A.M., though.” Nancy Huang was our only full-time waitress, and Peter’s mom. Peter was the head chef at our restaurant and fell into the guy best friend category.

  “That will work out perfectly,” Ian replied. “I’ll see you then.”

  “But why me?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, why me? Aren’t the particulars of the sidewalk sale something you should discuss with the entire board of directors for the plaza, and not just me?” Okay, I was part of that board, but still, I was only one member. Why did he always have to single me out?

  “Lana, I think you know the answer to that.”

  I cringed. I could guess, that’s for sure.

  “You’re the only person on the entire committee that I trust implicitly. I know that you want to get things done just as much as I do, and I don’t have to worry when I know you’re involved with something.”

  “Wait, involved?” I blanched. “What do you mean involved?”

  “Well, we can discuss all of that at our meeting on Monday morning,” he said, suddenly in a rush to get out of our conversation. We had reached the main entrance and he stepped in front of me. “Allow me to get the door.”

  As he opened the door with a big smile, we turned just in time to see a dark gray Nissan abruptly back out of one of the employee parking spots and slam into a brand-new, white Cadillac sedan. My body jerked as the two vehicles collided and the sounds of metal scraping against metal caused my teeth to clench.

  Ian stepped out on to the sidewalk in front of me, and I followed quickly behind him.

  “Hey, doesn’t that Nissan belong to June Yi?” I asked, pointing to the car.

  He held a hand up to his head and massaged his temple with his thumb. “Ugh, of course it does.”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  A zillion thank yous to my agent, Gail Fortune; my editors, Hannah Braaten and Nettie Finn; to Kayla Janas, Allison Ziegler and Mary Ann Asher. And to my publisher, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, I appreciate all of you so much.

  My gratitude and respect to the Sisters in Crime, locally and nationally. Your existence has helped me and so many others seek out our passions and not feel alone while doing it.

  Much love to my family and friends for the continuation of support and encouragement. I am lucky beyond words to have you guys in my life.

  And to all my readers … many hugs. Thank you for going on this journey with me.

  Also by

  Vivien Chien

  WONTON TERROR

  DEATH BY DUMPLING

  DIM SUM OF ALL FEARS

  MURDER LO MEIN

  Available from

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks

  Praise for the Noodle Shop mystery series

  WONTON TERROR

  “Funny, warm, and terrifying at times, Wonton Terror adds yet another delicious dish to Vivien Chien’s growing menu of enticing, cozy mysteries.”

  —Suspense magazine

  DIM SUM OF ALL FEARS

  “I am so delighted by this cozy mystery series!”

  —Book Riot

  “Provides plenty of twists and turns and a perky, albeit conflicted, sleuth.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Thoroughly entertaining … fun and delicious.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  DEATH BY DUMPLING

  “Vivien Chien serves up a delicious mystery with a side order of soy sauce and sass. A tasty start to a new mystery series!”

  —Kylie Logan, bestselling author of Gone with the Twins

  “Death by Dumpling is a fun and sassy debut with unique flavor, local flair, and heart.”

  —Amanda Flower, Agatha Award–winning author of Lethal Licorice

  “A charming debut, with plenty of red herrings. The heroine’s future looks bright.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Vivien Chien was born and raised in an ethnically diverse household in Cleveland, Ohio. She found her love of books and the written word at an early age while writing short stories about her classmates in elementary school. Currently, she writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier who refuses to sit anywhere else. When she’s not writing or frolicking in bookstores, Vivien enjoys frequenting local Asian restaurants and searching for her next donut. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Author’s Note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Vivien Chien

  Praise for the Noodle Shop Mystery Series

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.

  EGG DROP DEAD

  Copyright © 2020 by Vivien Chien.

  Excerpt from Killer Kung Pao copyright © 2020 by Vivien Chien.

  Cover illustration © Mary Ann Asher / Bernstein & Andriulli

  All rights reserved.

  For information address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

  www.stmartins.com

  eISBN: 9781250228338

  Our books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, ext. 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / March 2020

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.