I. Love. Vera.

She's found a new dead man to investigate and a few new suspects. Vera brings everything to her search for the truth about Xander and, again, finds that she is adding to her family. She also brings her food along. I kept wishing Vera would drop off some for me too! I found myself laughing, crying a little, and more than willing to go beat up some bad guys at the end.

A hilarious romp through San Francisco with Vera Wong and her ragtag friends. I could not get enough of this book and didn't want it to end. It also makes me hungry for all the delicious food that Vera makes. Once again Vera decides to take on a case, even though everyone asks her not to meddle. She wants to find out who Xander Lin, who also went by Thomas is and why/if he committed suicide. Along the way, she picks up more friends, who she stuffs with food to get them to talk. It's Vera at her finest, and dare I say, better than the first book.

Oh My Goodness...Vera is back with a vengenance! I love Vera, I want her in my family...and not only because the food she makes sounds divine! It was great to reconnect with these characters and get to know Vera's son better. I really hope Sutanto continues with Vera!

Vera Wong is back, not only dispensing tea and grandmotherly warmth, but also solving murders in her San Francisco tea shop. Her last adventures brought her not only a new found family, but also notoriety as an amateur sleuth. She wants nothing more than to keep feeding everyone she encounters delicious home cooked feasts, but also a nice murder to solve would be wonderful. After leaving the police station where her soon-to-be daughter-in-law works as a detective (she'd brought food, of course), Vera notices a young woman pacing outside the building who appears nervous. She, in her most Vera way, bossily persuades the young woman to tell her what's making her so upset. It turns out the young woman, Millie, is upset about the disappearance of her boyfriend, Thomas. It soon transpires that a young man matching Thomas's description has been found dead, an apparent suicide. Vera, longing for a mysterious death to investigate, thinks this is just what she's been waiting for. Before long, she finds other distraught people who were connected to the young man. As Vera attempts to get to the bottom of it all, she also starts her own TikTok channel, combining her two passions of making tea and investigation, and becomes an immediate viral sensation. Unfortunately, her popularity also brings her to the attention of people who'd rather she stick to brewing tea.

I loved the second adventures of Vera and her self-assured, bossy manner. In the first book she started out lonely and depressed, so it's exciting to see how she's built a faithful community of lost souls into a rag-tag family. It's been a while since I read the first book, so it was a bit difficult to sort out all the people who kept dropping in and out of the story. Most were just vaguely mentioned as to how they had come to be friends with Vera. Other than her ever expanding circle of admirers confusing me, this was a fun visit with Vera with a serious, dark undertone. The ending sets Vera up for more adventures, so I can't wait to see what she gets into next!

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

Vera Wong is back and raring to find a good murder to solve! Lucky for her, a case just happens to fall into her lap, when she comes across a distressed woman looking for her missing friend.

I absolutely adore Vera. I'm not saying I want someone around me to die, but I would be quite happy to be suspected of a crime and have her adopt me as one of her new "person of interests" children. I love how she captures a person, forcefully adopts them, and they all just go along with it.

I spent the entire book craving literally all of the food she was making for those around here. I would love it if the author included some of her recipes in these! (Can we have a cookbook??)

The only thing about this book I didn't love is we didn't see the growth of the found family quite as strongly as we did in the first book. However, it was such a small detail, it didn't really affect my love of the book.

This book (and series) is perfect for fans of cozy mystery, and I will absolutely read every single Vera Wong book ever published, until the end of time.

I enjoyed the first Vera Wong book and was pleased to see another. Vera is again is surrounded by a cast of fallible lovable characters as she fills her quiet days solving another crime. I liked how the author used social media and addressed social isolation throughout the story. The plot is interesting, timely and original. Kudos to the author for drawing attention to yet another social issue through the mystery.

The story is filled with a smattering of humour and mouthwatering food descriptions among the suspense. But what makes this book so delightful is how Vera brings the people around her into her life and creates a family. This one has all the elements of an enjoyable cozy mystery and a terrific read

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy to read and review.

It can be hard to follow up on a beloved first book of a new series. Jesse Q. Sutanto has managed to recapture the magic of the first book while crafting a whole new cast of lovable characters and a compelling, page turning mystery. I am thrilled to recommend this series to our library's patrons and can't wait for the third installment- in Paris!

Really enjoyed this book! I’ve had the pleasure of reading the first book as part of book club and loved coming back to Vera and her world! Look forward to reading more from this author!

One thing about this series, its going to involve “found family” and the journey there is so heartwarming. In the sequel, Vera Wong stumbles (okay, forces herself) into another crime and puts on her investigative hat after a man with many identities passes away. Vera somehow comes up with the same list of suspects as the police, but as the self proclaimed nosy grandma, she is able to form relationships with these suspects and find out what is really going on.

My favorite relationship was between Vera and TJ’s daughter Robin. Jesse Sutanto really knows how to capture the essence of feeling isolated or lonely, no matter how old someone is.

Vera’s comedic timing was written perfectly once again. And one thing about it, Miss Sutanto knows how to make you HUNGRY. All the food sounded so good. I literally took a trip to my local Chinatown this weekend I had such fierce cravings. I also loved that the characters from the first book didn’t just pop up as name drops, but actual characters who were relevant to the story.

Perfect length, hilarious dialogue, and stellar character writing. Can’t wait for Vera Wong, détective privé 🤭

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this novel!

Vera Wong is back, and I couldn’t be happier! There’s just something about her blend of humor, heart, and meddling brilliance that keeps me coming back for more. This sequel was an absolute delight, and I devoured it as quickly as Vera serves up her tea (and unsolicited advice).

This time, Vera stumbles into the mystery of Xander Lin, a glamorous influencer with a mysterious past whose death no one seems to want to talk about. Vera’s antics as she digs into his life—and meddles in everyone else’s—had me laughing out loud and cheering her on.

The food descriptions, as always, are heavenly. I could almost smell the tea and taste the dumplings! And while the side characters weren’t as strong as in the first book, Vera’s sheer charisma carried the story.

The mystery itself was engaging, though I’ll admit I figured out the murderer early on. Still, piecing together Xander’s hidden life and watching Vera charm her way through every obstacle kept me hooked. The ending was tense, thrilling, and so satisfying.

Jesse Q. Sutanto’s writing strikes a perfect balance between humor and poignancy, making this book such a feel-good read. I can’t wait to see what Vera gets up to next—she’s the cozy mystery heroine I never knew I needed!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Vera Wong is back and this time she has friends and family to help. Sutanto has created an appealing detective with a great supporting cast. The second in a series, the plot is intriguing and well executed. Overall this sequel surpasses the first book.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this novel. All opinions are honestly and my own.

This is the second book in this series (I’m calling this a series because I’m trying really hard to manifest a 3rd book) and I just need to pause and profess my love to Jesse Q Sutanto for creating Vera Wong

I gave the first book (Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers) 4 stars. I adored it, and thought it was *almost* perfect. And this one,.. this one literally IS perfect.

You do need to read book 1 before diving into this - this isn’t a series that you can read out of order. But that’s fine. Trust me, you’re going to want all the Vera you can get.

Did this book make me laugh AND cry while on the elliptical in the middle of the gym? Yes it did. And I love that for me.

I won’t give anything away, but my favorite scene involves a principal, and I hope you all love and appreciate that one as much as I did.

I desperately want Vera to be my Auntie. I’ll happily eat all the food she cooks me, and go on walks with her everyday.

And speaking of Vera’s cooking… I deeply appreciate all the delicious sounding food and tea references and descriptions that Sutanto includes.

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: tea and dumplings (pork and chive). Cheese and kimchi croissants would also be a nice pairing.

Triggers: murder, human trafficking, abuse, mentions of suicide

My review will be posted on my instagram (bedtimesandbooks) closer to publication date.

Thoughts: This was a good story and the character of Vera grew on me – though to be honest, I didn’t like her at first. It wasn’t the “voice” – though that took me some time to get into – but more her meddling and insistence on certain things. But by the end of the book, I understood her a lot better and got where she was coming from. What the reader has to understand is that this is the way Chinese mothers are (and a lot of other mothers too!) They want the best for their children and if that means getting mixed up in a murder/human trafficking case, that’s what they’ll do. So when Vera befriends a young woman whose friend dies, she tries to help the girl figure out what happened. Which will also benefit her son’s soon-to-be fiancé (hopefully!). But Vera has no idea of the huge case she is opening up and how much trouble it will bring her.

Recommended with the caveat of the horrible practice of human trafficking and what goes with it.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Berkley, for providing this book.

Vera Wong is back and she's about to be a pop superstar on the Tik Tok. I read the first Vera Wong book and loved it, and laughed all the way through this one. When a Tik Tok influencer commits suicide, a group of people connected to the dead man find themselves in the caring, if not suspicious hands of Vera Wong. It never takes Vera long to get the real story with a cup of tea, and maybe a Korean/French pastry from the bakery next door. If you need a mystery that will leave you laughing and will your restore in humanity, Vera is your go-to tea-making private eye. Everyone needs a Chinese grandmother!

Another fun read in the Vera Wong series. I think I liked the first one a bit more than this second offering but this one is still very readable. Vera is still her lovable self and many of the same characters from the first book also make an appearance in this second one. Pick it up in April 2025.

I’m so happy about this book - it was even better than the first!!

If you know Vera, even though things are going great for her - she is always looking for another project or even better another murder to solve!

I think the mystery in this one is more complicated to figure out. I also was impressed that it dealt with a very important issue that’s occurring right now.

Vera is just leaving the police station. She had dropped off some of her incredible Chinese food for Det. Selena Gray and the rest of the station. Selena and Tilly, Vera’s son, have been dating. Vera can always count on her food to use as a bargaining tool!

This case begins when Vera runs into a young woman at the door of the station who is very distraught. She is crying and trying to answer Vera’s question. Her friend Xander, a social influencer, has gone missing. Vera takes her to the tea shop and the mystery begins . . . . .

With little information to go on and a motley crew of friends, neighbors etc we follow them as they collect clues, unravel some very complicated stories and finally get at the truth.

The story is enhanced when the young woman, Millie, goes missing.

As in her last book there is lots of heart, love, compassion and wisdom in this novel. I finished it quickly and am missing the characters already. Vera has collected “family” from the suspects she’s had from the first book as well as this one! It’s lovely to read about “found family!”

I would like to ask the Publisher to include recipes of some of the delicious dishes Vera makes.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this novel.

Huge thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for an eARC to read and review! Ever since I read Vera Wong's Unsolicited Guide to Murders, I have been hoping and praying that Sutanto would turn it into a series.

In this soon-to-be-published mystery, Vera gets wrapped up in the world of social media and influencers as she investigates the death of a mysterious man. The characters from last book play supporting roles so it was fun to read about them again. This mystery follows the cozy theme of the last one with a Spunky elderly Chinese lady and her intuitiveness. This one wasn't as good as the first, in my humble opinion, because it dealt with a couple of very serious themes and wasn't as lighthearted, but I was still invested throughout.

Enjoyable and Bingeable, I can't wait for Vera's next adventure!

TW: child abuse (not explicit)

Thank you NetGalley & Berkeley Publishing for an arc of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man). This book did not disappoint! Vera once again sticking her nose where it belongs! HA! This was such a great book, however, it should be said there are some triggers about trafficking and abuse. I definitely had tears learning about Millie's story and how it unfolded and Vera is the woman you want on your side and rooting for you. As always, Vera was funny, snarky, and overall just the best. Thank you Jesse for telling Millie's & others'stories. Highly Recommend. I really can't wait here the audiobook version!

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.