Sutanto manages to strike gold twice with this excellent and spot-on sequel in her Vera Wong series. In fact, it’s hard to imagine that it was only meant to be a standalone at first because this follow-up fits so well, with an excellent cozy mystery formula and leading lady that just bursts off the page with future possibilities. The heart, humor, and characters continue to deliver.

In this new story we get a whole new group of characters for Vera to meddle with and help. New personalities and problems but still charming and brimming with secrets. And don’t worry, the characters from the last book are still around to provide back-up.

Of course there is also a murder to solve, though the murderer is obvious this time around. It’s the puzzle pieces - characters and social media players - that provide the sole mystery to this plot. And it’s a tense and thrilling ending.

Vera, her food and gumption, barreling through the book, collecting stray people and fans, creates another fantastic story. I definitely recommend.

I adore Vera Wong and I hope we see a lot more of her in the future. What a brilliant, funny, kind, smart, and clever character Sutanto has created. The mystery in both books really takes a backseat to just how lovely the characters are and I loved seeing several from the first book make a comeback.

In this sequel to Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Vera finds herself solving the mystery of a missing social media influencer named Xander Lin. With the help of her son's girlfriend, Officer Selena Gray, Vera uncovers secrets and connections that reveal the truth behind Xander's murder. Despite her meddling ways, Vera is determined to solve the case and do a favor for Selena.

I was absolutely thrilled to snag this ARC! Let me tell you, Vera Wong is the breath of fresh air we all desperately need in our lives. This woman is a riot - funny, sassy, and sharp as a tack. She's always got a trick up her sleeve and a heart of gold to match. Since her debut book, Vera's family has grown exponentially, along with her ambition to take the internet by storm. She's a master at going viral, cracking cases, expanding her brood, and putting the bad guys where they belong - behind bars.

When I grow up (if I ever do), I aspire to have just a smidge of Vera Wong's awesomeness running through my veins. If you're a fan of feel-good mysteries and in need of a good laugh, this book is a must-read! Set aside an afternoon, pour yourself a glass of wine, and immerse yourself in Vera Wong's world. Trust me, you won't regret it!

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fabulous mystery by the always hilarious Vera Wong! The next book with Vera is a fascinating story about the victims of human trafficking. Sutanto creates a suspenseful story about Vera's next investigation. I enjoy her cast of characters and the various point of views that shape the story. Vera suspects a social media celebrity has been murdered. She insists on investigating the death and dangerous elements threaten Vera. Her friends form a team to help solve the crime. I loved this book! The plot was absorbing and eventful. The writing was exceptional for bringing together poignancy and humor. I enjoy Vera because she is so feisty and funny. The characters come together with a woven tapestry of stories that highlight Asian American experience and the power of social media to harm and help people. Truly a heroine that I hope continues to appear in Sutanto's books. I love Vera and her sagacity and spirit!

4 stars for the sequel - "Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)"!! Loved the first one a lot and this follow up is just as cozy, quaint and heart-warming!! Vera is such a hoot & so is her mostly young Posse! Just what I needed & loads of fun! My sincere thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for my advance reader's copy - my most sincere pleasure to review it!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC!

We’re following Vera Wong (not the famous designer), the famous tea house owner in San Francisco, Chinatown, a 61-year-old lady who likes snooping around.

We meet Vera’s found family and some new characters. Our tea maker turned investigator collects new friends like those Pokémons. The book had a lot of references to pop culture, and I got the impression that it was targeted at younger readers.

Although, this book was not my cup of tea (sorry, Vera, no pun intended), it could’ve been yours. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery in a modern setting, and you’re a fan of Chinese/Indonesian cuisine - it might be your next vacation read! And, careful, it can make you nostalgic about the places you’ve never been before.

Vera Wong is fast becoming one of my favorite fictional characters. She is witty and smart. She is hilarious and this installation of her story is no different. I highly recommend this book!

Vera Wong is back, and her life is looking pretty sweet. Her tea shop is booming, she’s surrounded by her found family, and her son Tilly is now dating Officer Selena Gray—you know, the poor officer Vera tormented during her last sleuthing adventure. But, of course, Vera can’t help but miss the excitement of solving a good mystery.

When she hears about a missing social media influencer who turns up dead, Vera dives right into the investigation with her signature mix of nosy questions, hilarious antics, and sheer determination. The case leads her deep into the influencer world (which is just as chaotic as you’d expect), and Vera does what she does best: uncovering secrets, bending rules, and making me laugh at the ridiculous of it all.

I gave this one a solid 4.5 stars. While it does touch on some darker topics—just a heads-up—it’s Vera’s humor and unique charm that keep it light and fun. I really enjoyed how Sutanto balanced the mystery with all the silly moments and heartwarming scenes that make this series so special. Vera's ability to bring diverse groups of people together is so fun. While I didn't love all of the food details the first book, for some reason, it worked for this one! It's like Vera touches people's sole with her cooking.

New favorite series. Will always recommend Vera. Clever and authentic characters. I would also watch this as a series.

Following Vera's mischeif via solving a murder in the first book of this series, we follow Vera again as a body has just been fished out of the bay. I love Vera, she is a wild ride and pure chaos! You will not get enough of this sassy mother and her "crime solving knowledge." Read thi sif you love mysteries and a good laugh!

I’ll admit, I missed the first installment of the Vera Wong Series (but you can bet it’s already in my Amazon cart because of how much I adored this book) and some of the familiar personalities are mentioned here briefly in passing, but the main mystery is largely self-contained. We do hear a bit about, Ollie, Julia and the gang, but the we meet a whole new cast of characters.

The case begins when Vera is scammed out of her credit card number by a telephone fraudster. As she is leaving the police station, she runs into an anxiety riddled Millie who tells her about her good friend Thomas who turns out to be our latest murder victim. It turns out that Thomas Smith is the nom de plume of the famous influencer Xander Lin, who someone very clearly wanted dead. Vera is on the case because, let’s face it, life without solving murders is just downright boring!

What a gem of a book! Right off the bat I began to adore our plucky heroine Vera, whose crotchety personality belies the warmth and giving nature of her heart. Sutano captures Vera’s authentic voice delivering a character with depth and many layers leading the reader to believe she may be modeled on a real persib. I was particularly tickled by Vera’s voiceovers which were so well done I could almost hear them. In fact, most of the characters presented her are equally as believable making this book light up with warmth and good humor. The author has a strong grasp on all of the characters, making the full range from Gen Zers to seniors jump off the page. As an aside, I particularly enjoyed scenes between Vera and French Patisserie owner Winifred. Their bickering was hilarious.

In terms of the story, this is scathing look at influencer culture. In the novel, characters constantly present themselves one way, when in fact their real lives are completely different, except of course for Vera. Like in reality, what you see on the ‘gram is often a heavily filtered, glossy representation of life, when reality is much blander. The interactions between these characters are a wonderful example of a cozy mystery. This is one book I wholeheartedly recommend.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Ahhhh Vera, my favorite cozy mystery sleuth. There's just something about how Vera is able to find those people in her community that truly need someone to care about them and to care FOR them ... I'm not sure if I want to BE Vera or if I want to be found by Vera.
This story begins with Vera getting scammed over the phone (please, don't ever give anyone your info on the phone - trust nobody). We're then led through a wild, fabulous ride with Instagram stars, scammers and criminals alongside average people that live in the community who've come together through Vera and make each others worlds a better place. While solving a crime, of course.
And then there's the food. Ohhhhh the food. I don't even like kimchi but I would love one of those cream cheese and kimchi stuffed croissants!!!
But the best thing about this book is the hope that it gives me that there are real-life Vera Wongs out there in the world. Not necessarily solving crimes, of course, but solving the problem of loneliness within the community. And that is why I love this series - it's a reminder that, no matter what is going on in the world, each of us can make this a much better, safer, friendlier place to be. So take a deep breath, make a cup of tea and go be fierce. 📚💙

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love this mystery series. Somehow despite what feels like a silly premise, the books are completely enjoyable, heart warming, funny, and just full of interesting people stories. Vera Wong is one of those special characters that just makes you happy. In this book, Influencers, human trafficking, and food all play a big part. As an aside, I'm not much into reading about food but this book got it just right and my craving for Chinese food (and dumplings in particular) was high throughout.

Vera Wong is back and as hilarious as ever. As an amateur sleuth, Vera has a knack for getting to the bottom of mysteries - she'd say it is because she is a Chinese Mother and they are relentless. If you enjoyed the first in the series, you will like this one too. Vera expands her adoptive family while investigating the apparent suicide of a young influencer. She discovers a far more sinister array of crimes and become an IG sensation in her own right!

My favorite elderly sleuth is back at it! I was thrilled to see that the author has decided to make this a series! YAY!! Such a fun read. Vera makes me laugh out loud. Highly recommend this one and of course the first one in the series. A huge thank you to the publisher and to Net galley for this ARC.

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The next installment of Vera Wong’s nosy antics!
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Just as charming, clever, and funny as the original (though perhaps not as cozy since the stakes are raised and sh*t gets real this time around)! What happens when a social media star with a mysterious past dies unexpectedly? Vera’s help is sought after, of course! This sequel is a fun romp alongside Vera’s sleuthing, and I highly recommend this pleasant escape read to anyone who enjoyed the first one.
[Content warnings at the end]

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Because it has a new ensemble of characters PLUS the original cohort of suspects, this iteration feels bloated with side characters that don’t feel fresh or sparkly. Yet, Vera continues to be one of the best written characters of this genre I’ve ever read. Susanto breathes life into Vera with a lot of tact and humor, and it makes it so easy to want to dig into more of her adventures.

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hilarious. Full of clever quips and cheeky dialogue. The mystery element is a bit more spicy, the characters a tad dicier. But in all it has the enjoyable and lighthearted feel of a cozy mystery.
Also, I found the third person limited POC (altering foci each chapter) works very well, and highlighting the ills and benefits of social media was a nice choice.

Recommended to fans of humorous mysteries.
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[Content warnings: abuse; discussions of suicide]

Yes. Yes. Yes. I absolutely adored the first book in this series and gave it a 5 star, so when I saw this book on here I immediately knew I had to read it.

While I still enjoyed Vera's amusing way of going about things, her snooping, and her love for everyone around her, I was absolutely not expecting this to be so hard and have such heavy themes. While yes the first one still did involve murder, this one took a sharp left turn away from cozy mystery into something that is truly devastating and gut wrenching. I still loved reading about Vera and the growing found family she has. and there still was a lot of humorous moments (that did make me actually laugh out loud) it just wasn't what I was expecting in any way.

The side characters are all really lovely and I loved learning about each and every one of them and expanding the Wong family. Each of them felt real and fleshed out and all added something to the narrative. Having each person have a different POV was also really enjoyable.

Really looking forward to see where Vera goes next, which looks like Paris, and I just KNOW that is also going to be an incredible time.

This wasn't AS good as the first, but only because I was expecting something a lot lighter than what i ended up getting.

senior-sleuths, Asian Americans, widow, tea-house, verbal-humor, situational-humor, law-enforcement, investigations, amateur-sleuth, Asian-cultures, meddling, Chinese-customs, Chinese-culture, Chinatown, laugh-out-loud, laugh-riot, murder, missing-persons, multigenerational, multicultural, multiple-perspectives, threats, vandalism, suspense, danger, influencer, scam-artist*****

If you came for the mystery investigation you are not at CSI. But if you came for escape reading that will have you laughing your sox of almost constantly, THIS IS THE PLACE. Vera Wong is a widow in her sixties who lives to meddle and make muddles. Vera meets a young woman outside the police station and the tale begins. Vera says a lot of things that sound like wisdom: Sun Tsu says "fake it until you make it." She also serves pastries that her neighbor makes: kimchee cheese croissants. She lives the life lessons she gives, and we all learn some terrible things about some people we disdain. In between we have a good laugh at some influencers and Tik Tok.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected ebook file from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail Apr 01, 2025 #VeraWongsGuidetoSnoopingonaDeadMan by Jesse Q. Sutanto @thewritinghippo #VeraWongBk2 @BerkleyPub @penguinrandom #NetGalley

As always Vera is getting herself into sticky situations lol! This one was a lot of fun to read. Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for a copy.

Vera Wong is back and just as before, she will wear you down until you hope she comes to your house and lovingly bosses you around.

Our new story takes place shortly at the end of the first book (but can be read easily as a stand alone). Vera has stayed in touch with the motley group of friends and her son has a wonderful girlfriend. Vera is happy, but a bit bored. This all ends when her own mistake brings her to the police station and she meets a young Asian woman. Millie is under distress and Vera knows that it's likely that only she can help her. Before long there are influencer stories, vandalism, a murder and some threats to Vera and her family.

It all turns out as a fabulous cozy mystery with some very real threads of a an important story. Pick this book up now! #verawong #wongnotwang #jesseqsutanto #verawongsguidetosnoopingonadeadman #berkley