In this completely charming cozy mystery, when a dead body turns up in Vera Wong’s “World Famous Teahouse” it upends Vera’s regimented and rather small life, opening up new horizons for her.

Vera is an older Chinese woman who has lost her purpose in life: her son is not interested in her advice and her tea shop only has one customer. So when the police fail to swing into full CSI-action over the body of Marshall Chen, Vera takes it upon herself to investigate. As everyone knows, the murderer always returns to the scene of the crime, and, would you believe, four people come to the tea shop the next day. Whodunnit?

Vera is a peach: she marches through life utterly confident in her knowledge and abilities, though with just enough of a pinch of self awareness to make her appealing rather than grating, and there are moments of absolute hilarity as she pushes through, oblivious.

We also get to know the four “suspects” - Julia, Marshall’s widow; Oliver, his brother; Sana, an Indian American artist; and Riki, an Indonesian techie - and they indeed all have strong motives for wanting to get rid of Marshall. As we get to know the backstories of these four, it becomes increasingly clear that Marshall was an exceedingly unpleasant man and nobody is shedding any tears over his death.

The coze really sets in once Vera’s tea shop is broken into and Vera well and truly integrates herself into the lives of the others, forcing them out into the world to fulfill their dreams, brushing aside any qualms or perceived barriers they might have. But as love in all its forms is blossoming, a betrayal throws everybody, but especially Vera, for a loop. Can this newly formed family survive and thrive once again? (You know the answer but it was delightful getting there).

Reading the author’s note, it appears that Ms. Sutano is absolutely prolific and publishes books in different genres and for different age groups (I recently read Well, That was Unexpected, a YA romance), so I’m hoping she’ll find time for more Vera Wong and her investigative skills.

A couple of quibbles: The novel is set in San Francisco and has trams running to places they just don’t run to; Vera is meant to be sixty but really that’s not what elderly means these days (Ms Sutano looks pretty young herself so 60 probably seems really old to her but I can assure her it isn’t).

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

This charming, hilarious, sweet and beautiful book is a real breath of fresh air. Vera Wong owns a little and underappreciated tea store in San Francisco. She’s a widow, and her son is a busy professional, but that does not stop Vera from texting him instructions about sleep, food, and anything else she feels is important. The tea shop is dusty and lonely and most days Vera just has one customer, an older man who leaves after 10 minutes to get back to his wife with Alzheimer’s.

Then one morning (very very early, as Vera likes to get up at 4:30), Vera comes downstairs – she lives above the shop – to start out on her morning walk when she discovers a dead man in the middle of her shop. She calls the police but as she waits she decides to make tea for them and to trace the outline of the body with a sharpie. The police really don’t want her help and don’t seem to take the dead man too seriously. As Vera is sure it’s murder, she decides to investigate on her own.

Before long, Vera has assembled her suspects – also known as the charming cast of characters for this novel. The dead man turns out to have richly deserved his fate, however it came to him, and it’s not long before Vera is not only cooking delicious feasts for the man’s widow, Julia, and her toddler daughter, but she’s included Sana, a podcaster (or as Vera calls it, a pot catch), Riki, who claims to be a Buzzfeed reporter, and Oliver, the dead man’s kinder, shyer twin. Vera has also moved in with the widow and her daughter, cooking and doing the child care as Julia tries to figure out her life.

Vera is a force of nature. She doesn’t have much use for the cops, young people’s habits, sleeping in, slacking off, or failing to eat home cooked food. She’s bossy, judgy, and completely loveable, and it’s not long before all of her “suspects” are doing her bidding and slowly but surely, she makes their lives better. Happily this is accomplished not in a corny way but in a funny and really pretty believable way. We may all need a little Vera in our lives, and if she can only be accessed through the pages of this witty book, then I hope there are many more installments.

I enjoyed the characters so much I *almost* forgot about the mystery part. The suspect pool is tiny, and I couldn’t imagine whodunnit. The author does not rely on an obvious solution, though Vera, like many another classic detective before her, solves the case with an intuitive leap. And the food! This is one of those books (like Mia Manasala’s Tita Rosie’s kitchen series) where the food almost jumps off the page. I guarantee you’re going to be hungry or at the very least want one of Vera’s specially mixed teas. Long may Vera reign.

I enjoy this author and this one was good. I like the family culture and the mystery of it all. The balance of a thrilling story along with unreliable characters was so much fun! If you like Finlay Donovan, try this!

Do you enjoy vigorous morning walks, piping hot tea, and a snappy protagonist? If yes, VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS is the perfect read for you.

When a dead body is found in Vera Wong’s infamous tea shop in San Francisco's Chinatown, she embarks on her own investigation to solve the peculiar crime. Vera is a boisterous older woman who blatantly disregards social niceties on her quest to find the truth. Her amateur sleuthing leads her to various suspects who take on an unexpected role in her life.

Well done, Jesse Q Sutanto! This was lighthearted murderous fun! Readers who enjoyed Cara Romero’s antics from HOW NOT TO DROWN IN A GLASS OF WATER will be eager to meet Vera Wong. I came for Vera’s quirkiness but stayed for the found family and unexpected community these characters discovered.

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: March 14, 2023

Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks in advance of publication date.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto was a lovely cozy mystery following Vera Wong, a 60-year-old Chinese woman who is down on her luck as her tea shop is failing, her husband has passed, and her son is too busy working to make much time for her. One day when she goes downstairs to open her tea shop, she finds a dead body and decides she will investigate what happened to the man.

I loved this book. It was humorous, heartwarming, and fun. I found myself falling in love with most of the characters and really felt their hurt and their happiness throughout the book. I found myself wishing I had someone like Vera in my life for support, a good cup of tea, and a kick in the butt when needed! The friendships that were made throughout the book were very sweet, and I liked how the book brought together several different age groups in an unlikely way.

Also, the descriptions of the food and different tea concoctions that Vera made were lovely and made the book feel all the more comforting.

Though the book deals with some heavy topics, it does so with a light touch, which made it fall squarely in the cozy mystery category for me.

I did have some small issues with the plot and characterization, but they were minor and didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the book. Just know you may need to suspend a little bit of disbelief while reading.

All in all, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a funny and heartwarming story with a mystery at its center. Perfect for cozy mystery lovers as well as those who enjoyed books like Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree or The Guncle by Steven Rowley!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

"A lonely shopkeeper takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way in this captivating mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.

Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady - ah, lady of a certain age - who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco's Chinatown. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, oh no. She likes nothing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy detective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to.

Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing - a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn't know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like any good citizen would, she sort of...swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she would 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 knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do is watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which one among them is the killer.

What Vera does not expect is to form friendships with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them. As a protective mother hen, will she end up having to give one of her newfound chicks to the police?"

Because sometimes you need a lighthearted mystery that takes place in San Francisco and you've read The Spellman Files a million times already.

Everybody needs a Vera Wong in their life! Her take charge attitude, bossiness and nosiness coupled with her big heartedness makes her such an endearing character ( for those not related to her!). I love that Sutanto includes Vera’s relationship with her son as a secondary story it adds a depth to the book. Fun romp through a mysterious death in Vera’s tea shop. I hope this will be the first in a series. Everyone is going to want more of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited advice!

Thanks Net Galley for the ARC

I find Jesse’s books so much fun to read and listen to. The nuances of the older characters are hysterical and I do enjoy their “wit and wisdom”. Vera was no exception here. Opposite from the Dial A for Aunties series, their are many more younger characters in this story with Vera being the older mother/grandmother figure.

I laughed my way through this book and did not want it to end. It also had a sweet element to it and really made the reader connect to the characters.

Vera Wong is a lonely 60-year-old lady living in SF's Chinatown who owns a failing teahouse business downstairs. Despite living alone, Vera is independent, disciplined, and always up for learning new things. One morning, she discovers a dead man holding a flash drive in the middle of her shop; Vera calls the police only after swiping the USB drive. Now, as a responsible and concerned citizen, not to mention someone who might've gravely interfered with the investigation, Vera must find the killer on her own.

VERA WONG is a cozy mystery filled with humor, twists, and, even better, references to tea and lots of food—I was drooling half the time reading this book! Vera is a quirky and relatable character, and I love her no-nonsense and sometimes pushy demeanor. Other characters are similarly lovable, and I find myself rooting for them even though they are suspects!

Through Vera's quest to solve the mystery, she develops friendships with the young people around her. I adore the heartwarming message that underscores the importance of elders developing new relationships. And Vera's advice cracks me up every time 🙈

VERA WONG is a heartwarming story with many references to Chinese culture and food, as well as a nod to meddling Chinese moms 🤣 For those that enjoyed the humor in THE MAID (Nita Prose) and HOW NOT TO DROWN IN A GLASS OF WATER (Angie Cruz), this is the perfect book for you!

When I began to dive into Vera Wong I was really concerned that maybe the magic that was Dial A For Aunties was gone, maybe I just wasn't ready to say goodby to the Aunties and Meddy. However, about half way into Vera- I wanted to adopt her as my own. Jesse Q. Stanto has brought us a quirky, hilarious, and heartwarming story that will leave you wanting more. And wanting some tea.

3.5 Stars

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers has, first of all, a super catchy title. I don't know if it 100% actually fits the story but that's okay.

Vera, a 60-ish year old Chinese woman, is a force to be reckoned with. She's a woman of strict routines and, perhaps, some grand delusions. There are multiple POVs throughout the novel, which makes it a different sort of mystery. It's not quite a cozy mystery and has a unique contemporary atmosphere. It takes place in Chinatown, San Francisco. I loved Vera's teashop, reading about her blends, and seeing how she began to flourish while getting up to some serious sleuthing antics.

While I overall enjoyed the premise, I struggled with the choice of third person, present tense (this is probably a personal thing) but it made it read more like 'telling' than 'showing'. I also felt a few characterizations were off. Emma is supposedly 2 years old but is able to draw mermaid tails and hearts and speak in extremely well-formulated sentences. I'm around a lot of 2 year olds and found this characterization to be off by at least a year and a half (I don't know if the author leaned in so hard to the 2-year old thing just because of the small breastfeeding plot aspect but I would say it would be better edited as a slightly older child). Also - Vera is characterized as so old... but she's only 60. It reads like she should be at least 75. Those are little things but they did pull me out of the story a bit.

Overall, this was a fun read but I felt those few things detracted for me. 3.5 stars rounded up for here.

Enjoyable and quick read, but the writing was a bit stilted by trying to relate a stereotypical accent and cultural references. The characters are interesting and well developed, the plot is cute, and it ends on all the feel-good notes with everyone in a good place.

I absolutely loved Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers! Vera Wong is such an endearing character and each side character quickly found a place in my heart. This is the perfect found family cozy mystery. It definitely was a comfort read for me! I read Dial A for Aunties when it came out and had a hard time getting into the plot, so I was curious if I would like this book. I'm so glad I picked it up because it was a total win for me! If you're the same and couldn't get into Dial A for Aunties, I recommend giving Vera's story a try. It's full of food descriptions and an unexpected group of people becoming family. Thanks Berkley for the ARC!

I love this trend of older adults causing trouble and trying to fix it. A really fun & quick read, a second purchase for most libraries

I read the two Auntie books that are already out and was excited to see another book from Jesse Sutanto. I was not disappointed! Vera Wong is 60, still ready to take on the world and is dealing with a declining tea business, an ungrateful son and way too much time on her hands. One morning she wakes up to a dead body in her tea shop. Being a connoisseur of crime TV, Vera is determined to solve the case. She collects four suspects and what ensures is some hilarity but also a whole lot of heart. I hope Vera returns for more adventures!

This is a great cozy mystery. Reading it was so comforting, and the characters felt like friends. Vera is a lonely older widow whose grown son doesn't visit very often. When a dead body is appears in her tea house, she decides to solve the mystery herself. She comes up with 4 suspects and begins to insinuate herself into their lives. As Vera and the suspects spend more time together, they become like a family. But is one of them really a killer?

The mystery kept me guessing. There are several suspects, but the final reveal made sense. This was a wonderful read and I had a good time reading it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Funny and sassy with a great character and mystery how can you go wrong? Not to mention the cover and tittle!
Thanks Netgalley and publisher.

This is the easiest 5 stars I'll give. I barely had to read it to know it was going to be an absolute winner! Jesse Q. Sutanto writes the BEST mysteries with amazing humor! I can't wait for more.

Everybody needs a little Vera Wong in their life. Is Vera abrupt and sometimes rude? Absolutely, but she's also usually right, and she has everyone's best interests at heart, even though it's sometimes hard for her friends and family to hear. What's not to hard to hear/read is this book though. There are so many spots throughout Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers that make laugh and go back and read them again. I was also fortunate enough to have an early audio copy, and the narration is fantastic! This book is not only funny, but it's also heartwarming and a great reminder that family isn't always the people that you're related to by blood. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read early.

A must-read! I loved this book and couldn't help chuckling at so many places because Vera Wong, the protagonist is so unabashedly funny and honest.
Vera Wong lives above her teashop in Chinatown at San Francisco. She has strong opinions about everything and loves to stay active.
She gets a rude shock one morning when she finds a dead man in the middle of her teashop. Her quiet teashop is suddenly bustling with police officers and Vera finds herself meeting many new people. She gets them all to try her tea and starts penning down her suspect list.
She decides to investigate the death and finds herself growing closer to her suspects. As any Chinese mother, she is constantly feeding and advising them while also trying to play matchmaker.
But when the time comes, will she be ready to pronounce one of them guilty?
This is a heartwarming read that will make you love Vera Wong and wish you could eat her delicious food!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for my ARC.