*This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission. Thanks.”
Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet). But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer.
I had such a fun time reading Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. It is the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud even while following a murder mystery. Vera Wong herself is such a formidable character. She is nosy, bold, and completely convinced she knows better than everyone else. Her investigation skills are not from police work but from the TV shows she watches, which makes the whole process both ridiculous and oddly clever.
What really surprised me was how this story turned into one about connection. Vera inserts herself into the lives of the people she suspects of murder, but instead of pushing them away she somehow brings them closer. It was unusual to see friendship grow out of suspicion, yet it worked. By the end, you cannot help but admire the way she builds her little community around the mystery.
Reading this reminded me of Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux. Both books feature older women who are trying to figure out what life looks like after their children have moved on. Both women are tough, funny, and refuse to take any nonsense from anyone. I loved seeing that kind of unapologetic spirit shine through.
I did end up guessing the murderer correctly before the big reveal, and that did take away some of the excitement for me. Even so, I enjoyed following Vera’s wild and determined approach to solving the case.
It is the first in a series, and I think I will still pick up the next installment. If you like mysteries with humor, heart, and a main character who refuses to fade quietly into the background, Vera Wong is worth spending time with.
The Book Review Template is perfect for taking quick notes on how you feel about the characters, theme, plot, or whatever seems important to you. Additionally, there are helpful phrases and descriptors to help write your review.
Get the latest blog posts when you subscribe. Promise not to spam.
Get notified about new posts
