Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Published: April 1, 2025 by Berkley
Format: Kindle, Paperback 325 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Vera Wong #2
Blurb: Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.
Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.
Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.
Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.
My Opinion: As a fan of the first Vera Wong novel, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, I was happy to see that the author has expanded this tea shop-owning sleuth’s adventures into a series. What caught me by surprise, though, was the depth of the themes explored in this installment. While cozy mysteries often tread lightly, this book weaves in poignant social issues, adding layers of substance to its narrative.
Vera remains a force of nature—a humorous, fiercely caring, and unconventional matriarch whose worldview is as refreshing as her brewed teas. In this second installment, readers are drawn deeper into the lives of Vera’s eclectic found family, a group of misfits whose connections to her are both quirky and heartwarming. The storytelling web ensures that even newcomers can piece together the relationships, but I would still recommend that new readers start with the first book.
It’s impossible not to appreciate Vera’s duality—she’s someone you absolutely don’t want to cross, yet her generosity knows no bounds. Her unwavering loyalty shows in countless acts of kindness, often accompanied by mouthwatering food. Vera’s ability to forgive and nurture, even when wronged, exemplifies the themes running through the series: the power of belonging, the quest for justice, the strength of perseverance, and the legacies we leave behind.
Ultimately, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man reminds us that cozy mysteries don’t always shy away from gravity and meaning. Vera may humorously claim she’s an old woman with limited time, but her determined spirit suggests otherwise. With her wisdom, wit, and willpower, Vera Wong is destined to remain a guiding light for many more years—and mysteries—to come.
Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.
Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.
Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.
My Opinion: As a fan of the first Vera Wong novel, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, I was happy to see that the author has expanded this tea shop-owning sleuth’s adventures into a series. What caught me by surprise, though, was the depth of the themes explored in this installment. While cozy mysteries often tread lightly, this book weaves in poignant social issues, adding layers of substance to its narrative.
Vera remains a force of nature—a humorous, fiercely caring, and unconventional matriarch whose worldview is as refreshing as her brewed teas. In this second installment, readers are drawn deeper into the lives of Vera’s eclectic found family, a group of misfits whose connections to her are both quirky and heartwarming. The storytelling web ensures that even newcomers can piece together the relationships, but I would still recommend that new readers start with the first book.
It’s impossible not to appreciate Vera’s duality—she’s someone you absolutely don’t want to cross, yet her generosity knows no bounds. Her unwavering loyalty shows in countless acts of kindness, often accompanied by mouthwatering food. Vera’s ability to forgive and nurture, even when wronged, exemplifies the themes running through the series: the power of belonging, the quest for justice, the strength of perseverance, and the legacies we leave behind.
Ultimately, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man reminds us that cozy mysteries don’t always shy away from gravity and meaning. Vera may humorously claim she’s an old woman with limited time, but her determined spirit suggests otherwise. With her wisdom, wit, and willpower, Vera Wong is destined to remain a guiding light for many more years—and mysteries—to come.
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