This book was a pleasant surprise - cozy mysteries are not my genre, but the writing was refreshing and the characters were wonderfully humorous. The plot was fast paced and kept me guessing. I would read other books in the series in the future.

Elderly Shopkeeper Solves Murder

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers centers around Vera Wong, a 60-year-old Chinese widow who owns a quaint tea house. Her life is upended when she discovers a dead body in her tea shop one morning. Convinced that she can solve the murder better than the police, Vera takes it upon herself to investigate. Using her sharp intuition and unconventional methods, she begins her amateur sleuthing journey, putting out an obituary to draw the murderer back to the scene of the crime and compiling a suspect list.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is a charming and humorous cozy mystery that offers a delightful escape. Its strengths lie in its quirky characters and the humorous narrative voice of Vera Wong. However, the book's weaknesses include a somewhat predictable plot and occasional flat character arcs. Despite these flaws, it provides a heartwarming and entertaining read, making it a worthwhile pick for fans of cozy mysteries and lighthearted detective stories.

This book was super charming and I liked it a lot! It’s a cozy mystery that’s also got a good dose of humor, found family, and enough seriousness here and there to make it have some substance. The characters were mostly great, and I enjoyed the plot and did not guess the twist. I thought it was really well balanced and just an enjoyable read all around and I’ll definitely consider picking up the second Vera Wong book when it comes out in 2025!

Short synopsis: Vera wakes up to a dead man in her tea shop, so she does what any 60 year old woman does, starts to investigate.

My thoughts: As with all this authors other books, you can expect humor, fun characters, and a bit of ridiculousness.
I love Vera! What a fun character

Read if you love:
- Cozy mysteries
- Tea
- Chinese Grandmothers
- Comedy

Thank you Gloss Book Club for providing me a copy of the book to read for July’s meeting.

Vera owns a tea shop in Chinatown and wakes up one morning to discover someone dead in her shop. She decides to call the police but, being a nosy parker and not overly confident in the police, she decides to solve the murder on her own. Her tea shop isn't overly busy, giving her the time to investigate.

I enjoyed the book and thought the story was cute and a fun cozy mystery. The backstory of several characters is revealed throughout the book.
I would recommend this book and would rate it 3.5 out of 5. However, I felt that the description of Vera's personality didn't quite reflect someone who is 60 years old; her behavior seemed more like that of someone much older, which I found a bit off-putting

Set aside the time to sit down and read this book cover-to-cover. The characters are flawed but charming, , the Chinatown location is a little bit exotic and and mystery engaging with a twist at the end.

I loved the depiction of the Chinese auntie-type protagonist who is overbearing and strict but deep down funny and loving.

Making one of the characters out to be pure evil didn't sit well with me. Would have enjoyed more nuance

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for this ecopy

**Review: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5 out of 5 stars)

Jesse Q. Sutanto’s *Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers* is a wickedly entertaining and darkly comedic mystery that captivates from beginning to end. With its sharp wit, clever plotting, and unforgettable protagonist, this novel is a standout in the genre, offering readers a thrilling ride filled with twists and laughs.

The story follows Vera Wong, a snarky and irreverent advice columnist who finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation when her ex-boyfriend is accused of killing his new girlfriend. Determined to clear his name, Vera dives headfirst into the case, armed with her sharp intellect and biting humor. What unfolds is a rollercoaster of suspense, humor, and unexpected revelations that keeps readers guessing until the final page.

Sutanto’s writing is a delight, blending humor and suspense with effortless skill. The narrative crackles with wit and sarcasm, making Vera a truly memorable and refreshing protagonist. Her voice leaps off the page, drawing readers into her world with its blend of chaos and charm. The pacing is brisk, with each chapter ending on a tantalizing cliffhanger that propels the story forward.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its intricate plotting. Sutanto weaves a complex web of secrets and lies, expertly leading readers down unexpected paths while still delivering a satisfying resolution. The mystery unfolds with precision, with every clue and revelation adding to the suspense and intrigue.

But what truly sets *Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers* apart is its irreverent humor and biting social commentary. Sutanto deftly skewers everything from relationships to social media culture, infusing the narrative with sharp observations and laugh-out-loud moments.

In summary, *Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers* is a must-read for fans of mystery and dark comedy alike. With its unforgettable protagonist, clever plotting, and razor-sharp humor, it’s a book that will leave you eagerly awaiting Jesse Q. Sutanto’s next literary offering.

This novel earns a resounding 4.5 stars and comes highly recommended for anyone seeking a fresh and engaging read that defies expectations.

I hope she writes cozy mysteries forever. These are some of her best work! Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review!

This book was hilarious! I absolutely loved it and it was nothing like I have read before. Cute journey and fast paced. I miss Vera!

This book is hilarious. I loved every page. Vera is the epitome of my perfect character. Funny and brash yet kind and loving.

I very much enjoyed this cozy mystery! I appreciated the multiple POVs as well as the found family aspect! Jesse included some lovely and quirky characters in this book that really added to the humor in the story! Vera was a great female main character and a really fun amateur detective!


4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5/5 stars

Vera Wong is SO funny! I was smiling and giggling right from the start of this one. An unsuspecting grandmother is determined to help the police solve the murder of a man who was found dead in her tea shop - she even goes so far as to draw the chalk line around his body. This is a great story - Jesse Sutanto is hilarious!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I love Vera. I mean, honestly, she is wha made this book of me. Her POV was heartwarming and hilarious. Her character jumped through the page. Vera finds herself to be an amateur sleuth when she finds a dead man in her struggling cafe one morning. Given that her son is ungrateful and rarely texts her back, and that the police are inept and think it’s a freak accident, Vera has to take it upon her self to solve the murder. And she already has a list of suspects to start!

I love Vera’s attitude. She is a fierce old lady who doesn’t take no for an answer. I laughed out loud a lot of times as Vera pushes her way into the investigation and into each one of the suspect’s hearts. She is menacing in a nosy aunt sort of way, and I love how each character responded to her, and then eventually came to the conclusion we all had - there’s not stopping Vera!

The murder mystery was okay. I thought the ending wrapped everything up nicely and I really hope that somehow, there’s a second Vera book! But the mystery itself wasn’t what propelled me through the story and the big reveal was more okay than earth-shattering.

Overall, a delightful book and one that I would happily recommend. I really do hope Vera comes back for another mystery. The possibilities are endless.

Oh my goodness! I loved this story! My all-time favorite trope is found family and this had all of that with a mix of cozy mystery surrounding a Chinese senior citizen lady, who owns a tea shop. It is so cute and will recommend it to all my reader friends.

Wow this is super late but I wrote this book and I enjoyed writing it and I'm not sure why I requested my own book on Netgalley, but there it is.

4.5 stars. I loved this sweet, cozy mystery. It’s primarily a story of lonely characters creating a found family, which was not what I expected going in - in a good way! I loved all the characters so much and it was wonderful to see them bond and open up and support each other. I also found the mystery satisfying — the way it all tied up in the end worked for me. The narrator was excellent and I’m glad I listened to it.

VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS is the book that got me out of my reading slump, a book I didn’t know I needed. Thanks to @prhaudio , I read the book through audio, and Eunice Wong brought the story to life with her narration!

The book follows Vera, a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point, and overzealous Chinese lady in her sixties who runs a tea shop (that rarely sees customers) in San Francisco’s Chinatown. More than anything, Vera is very lonely. Her late husband has passed, and her son, is too busy. With too much time on her hands and only with the best of intentions, of course, she loves to meddle in others’ businesses.

One day, she stumbles upon a dead man in the middle of her tea shop and calls the police, only after she snatches a flash drive from the body, just in case. When the police show very little interest in the crime, Vera sets out to solve the murder herself.

❤️I LOVED this book! At first, I was worried that Vera (like some of the aunties in her previous books) would be too outlandish/outrageous and a bit too stereotyped. But she quickly won me over. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments mixed with heartwarming moments as Vera befriends some of the very people she thinks of as suspects.

Compared to her Dial A series, this book is a touch darker, giving it a more mature feel. I like that the characters had more depth to them. The core theme of this book, I think, is family. Each had complicated family relationships (whether that be too many exceptions, rivalry, cultural differences, etc.). It pushed me to think about my own family, our strengths, and things that might strengthen us even more. Each character also served a purpose, which I loved. There’s also so much mentioning of Chinese food; I texted my husband and asked that he pick up a few dishes.

I love books about found family. And when I finished this book, I wanted to hug Vera for finding and forming her own family. But my favorite thing about the book? Definitely Vera! I loved VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS and cannot recommend it enough🤎

This is such an amazing book, a sheer delight, I loved every page and have been telling everyone to read it. Jesse Sutanto can do no wrong!