Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)

Vera Wong #2

by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong is back and as meddling as ever in this follow-up to the hit Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.…

Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.

Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.

Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Humor, Contemporary

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Jesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.

Reviews

[✩*⢄⢁✧ ⡈⡠*✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

i think the best part of the vera wong stories are the pure humanity in them. you get pretty interwoven stories about the human experience and trouble, (specifically the immigrant one) and it’s extremely relatable while also having heartwarming/hilarious vera at the core of it.

that being said, this book was definitely darker than the first one!! tread carefully and check the trigger warnings :)

pre-read

not me being the first review for this book LMAO i feel like a stalker 🙂🙂 anyways vera wong is my comfort character!! in my head she is real and makes me dinner every night okay 😭😭 i’m so excited for this book

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Jesse Q. Sutanto has brought readers a funny cozy mystery with a thought-provoking and serious twist. Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) is the second book in the Vera Wong series and it continues to deliver an entertaining read.

Since a man was found dead in Vera’s teahouse and she solved his murder, life has been good. She is surrounded by her loved ones, her shop is busy, and her son, Tilly is dating Officer Selena Gray. However, she has become bored and misses the excitement of her last investigation.

When Vera meets Millie, who is looking for a missing friend, she decides to help her. While cat-sitting for Tilly and Selena, Vera finds a file on the missing friend. Online, Xander was a jet-setter and social media influencer. However, his body has been found in the bay and the police can’t identify him. Vera decides to investigate his death.

Vera is inquisitive, meddling, intelligent, bold, and funny. She likes acting like a helpless old lady, but doesn’t like being one. She’s also curious, confident, outgoing, and not always politically correct. New characters related to her investigation of Xander’s death lent focus, originality, and depth to the story. Additionally, old friends from book one make an appearance.

Told from five points of view, the novel gives readers extra insights into Vera and those she connects with in her daily life. Amazingly, this did not cause pacing issues. Vera remains the focal point; ordering her suspects (persons of interest) around as she gets to know them and their secrets.

The story captures the characters and the cultural lifestyles and traditions of the group. The plot has some twists and turns, but this story is about more than solving a mystery. Threads include found family, family relationships, loneliness, boredom, greed, and death. The author also shows generational differences and expectations and brings in additional threads that are darker and intensify the suspense.

Diverse characterization and great world-building details made this a fast and enjoyable read. I kept wondering what Vera would uncover next and how that would affect the story line. The joy of food, tea, and friendship are interwoven with the investigation. Secrets, lies, relationships, isolation, and danger abound.

Overall, this is an engaging novel and if you’re looking for an entertaining, heartwarming, and funny cozy mystery with a mature protagonist and a dark and serious undertone, I highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Berkley Publishing Group and Jesse Q. Sutanto provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for April 01, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

In 2023, I “spilled the tea” on “Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers”.
See review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So is this follow-up as funny as the first?

Well, YES-for the most part! In fact, I think the first half of this installment may be EVEN FUNNIER, than the first book, with MANY of the “laugh out loud” moments-arising from the fact that Vera’s first language is Mandarin, so sometimes when she speaks English, something gets lost in translation…

Or does It?!

And, although she knows that “60 is the new 40”, she doesn’t hesitate to use her “helpless old lady”👵🏻 card, when she feels that might be useful, bringing more smiles. Because we all know, that Vera is NOT really lacking in confidence, and she is far from helpless.

But, the second half, is “less cozy” and the book takes on a more serious theme.
(DO READ the author’s acknowledgment page!)

Vera considers herself BLESSED that a man was once found dead in her teahouse. After all, “solving that crime” put her business on the map, and brought “found family” into her life!

And, it brought Officer Selena Gray, into her son Tilly’s life-and there is nothing that she wants more than for her to become her “daughter in law” and the one who will finally give her some grand babies to cook for!

But, if she is being honest-she is a bit bored…

Then Vera bumps into a distressed young woman named Millie, who seems to need her help. Millie is looking for her missing friend, Thomas, but isn’t sure if she can trust the Police.

And, just like that-Vera has a new case to solve!

Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds Selena's briefcase. Of course our nosy amateur sleuth can’t stop herself from taking a peek inside, and what she finds, is her FIRST CLUE. Thomas is also known as Xander Lin, a popular influencer and he is already on law enforcement’s radar.

Who is Xander Lin? You can bet the meddlesome, but endearing Vera won’t sleep until she finds out.

And, because her day starts at 430 AM, she has plenty of time to pry answers out of those who are usually unwilling to talk, using her unique “interrogation skills” of serving them Chinese comfort food, motherly advice and the blend of tea that even they didn’t know that they needed.

I adored the first book, and I was thrilled when I saw that there would be a sequel, and it didn’t disappoint! Although this would work as a standalone, there are cameo appearances from characters in book one, and the murderer in that book is revealed, so if you are planning to read both, I recommend reading them in order.

AVAILABLE NOW!

UPDATE: TV rights to Vera Wong were bought by Warner Bros. with Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling attached to produce.

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man is the 2nd-book in the Vera Wong series. I absolutely adored the 1st-book when I read it in 2023.

At that time, I was expecting it to be a standalone novel, so was giddy when I discovered we would be getting more with the indomitable-Vera Wong and friends.



This novel involves a new mystery for Vera to investigate, as well as a whole new set of side characters. We still get appearances from all her old friends, but she does make some great new ones here.

The mystery involves the death of an up-and-coming influencer. Online, Xander, was the type social influencer people love to follow. His feed generally featured things like enviable travels on private jets, stays at luxury resorts, and all the newest fashion trends, but who was he really?

Xander's story is at the heart of this investigation, and what Vera uncovers is sure to tug at your heartstrings. I know it did mine. My emotions were an absolute roller coaster over the course of this novel.



The moment I was reunited with Vera, I had a smile on my face. She is a sharp-witted 61-year old, who loves to act like she's ancient. It's hilarious. She is so far from that.

Vera Wong has been one of my absolute favorite characters written within the last few years, and she's def one of my favorite amateur sleuths ever.



While I wouldn't say I connected with the cast of side characters in this one as much as I did in the 1st-book, I still loved all of their interactions with Vera, as well as the value brought by their personal stories.

Again it was easy to see how Vera was touching their lives in different ways and it filled my heart to read. We all need a Vera in our life. Better yet, be a Vera in someone else's life. It could make all the difference in the world!



In addition to the character work, I also appreciated so much the topics Sutanto explored in this one, and her note at the end describing her real life inspiration was touching and brought more insight into this story.

I highly recommend reading that Author's Note at the end.



Thank you to Berkley for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm such a fan and certainly hope we get more installments to the Vera Wong series.

I think these books hold an emotional depth that would be surprising for a lot of Readers. If you haven't checked this series out, I definitely recommend that you do.

[Rosh (will be MiA for a fortnight!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: Officially a mystery, but practically, more of a comic drama with some dark content. Interesting but also infuriating geriatric lead. Relatively thin plot. Influencer trope, which is never my favourite. Recommended as long as you are looking for a mindless entertainer and not a mystery. The second novel of the Vera Wong series. Can work as a standalone, but better read in series order. This was decent enough, but I liked the first book more. Go in blind.

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Plot Preview:

A year after the events of Book One. Vera is still running her tea shop and still competing with Winifred and her bakery. But with no dead bodies around, Vera is bored. So when she bumps into a girl looking for her missing friend, Vera is delighted to have a new mystery to poke her nose into. Even better when she discovers, thanks to snooping where she shouldn’t, that this missing young man was a famous influencer and is now dead. Yay for more murder investigation work!
The story comes to us in the third-person perspective of various characters, including Vera.

Note: I’m glad I didn’t read any reviews before picking this up because many of them mention a key spoiler connected to the themes. I don’t get why reviewers reveal the *mystery* of a mystery novel in their review! 🙄 If you want to read the book, avoid the reviews and go in blind. My review is spoiler-free.

This book is set a year after the events of the first novel, and there are many references to them in this plot, including some spoilers about the mystery. Technically, this sequel can also work as a standalone as the plot is independent, but the characters’ foundation is laid out in the earlier novel. As such, begin here only if you have absolutely no interest in learning how Vera became so fascinated by murders and mysteries.

The first book was fairly entertaining, albeit not a mystery as promoted. This sequel is also similar in approach; it is promoted as a mystery, but the mystery itself is highly guessable after a point. Hence, better if you read this as a contemporary drama with a small suspenseful angle than as a mystery. Luckily, my experience of the first novel prepared me to go in with the right expectations.

Many of the features of this book are the same as that of Book One, even though the storylines are quite different. So if you have read the first book, you already know what to anticipate. This is both good and bad. The book creates a strong sense of déjà vu, especially in the way Vera attacks the ‘mystery’. The recycled found-family trope doesn’t create the same impact this time around.

I had listened to the first book of this series, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers in April 2023 and found it good enough, though I couldn’t gush over it the way many readers did. I found Vera’s behaviour a bit problematic even though she was likeable as well. In this sequel though, I was far more annoyed by Vera. And further aggravated by the fact that she gets away with all kinds of red-flag behaviour. Only one character (Selena, reprising her role from the earlier novel and now dating Vera’s son) has the guts to call her out. (Two, if you count Winifred, but that‘s more because of her intense rivalry with Vera.) So one key reason for the dip in my rating is the same reason why many other readers adore this book: Vera Wong. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Vera is still a fascinating character, but much more interfering and bossy than before. It feels like her successful first-time sleuthing experience has made her (more) obnoxious. Of course, it is funny to see her attribute her detective abilities to her “Chinese mother skills”. I also enjoyed how she constantly swerved between being “an old lady” and “not so old”, depending on what she wanted. 😅 I still think that this character walks a fine line between comedy and cliché, but the story seems to handle this complex portrayal well and doesn’t sound openly stereotypical at any point.

Vera isn't the kind of woman I'd want in my life at all, except for one condition: I’d love to eat the food she makes. 😋 The dishes are just as scrumptious-sounding as in the first book! I love how the author retains the sanctity of Chinese cuisine. Winifred is just as experimental as before in her bakery, but let’s just say… her food isn’t suited to my taste buds!

Several characters return from the first book, but there are many new characters as well. Some of these are good, some drab. But all seem to succumb to Vera only for her food, which gets boring after a while. The rep is still diverse, but not as varied or well-carved as in the first book.

The plot is also where the book fell flat for me. I would have tolerated all of Vera’s interference had the story itself been powerful. While the themes were outstanding, the execution was lacklustre and the basic storyline stretches too thin. It is silly to have a mystery with only one potential suspect. We don’t read mysteries only to make guesses about the ‘how’ and the ‘why’; the ‘who’ is also equally important. Moreover, there is an extended infodump towards the finale: a feature I always hate in cosy mysteries.

A part of my disconnect is also because the mystery focusses on influencers, so there is a lot of content about social media and influencing as a career. Even Vera attempts to become an influencer, and unsurprisingly, goes viral right on her first try. None of this is interesting to me; it might work better for those who like this increasingly-popular influencer trope.

The ending and the reveal is a bit too dark for a cosy mystery. I still appreciate the theme, and the author’s note clarifies the true-life basis of this issue.


🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 35 min, is once again narrated by Eunice Wong, and she is just as outstanding as she was in the first book. Her voice of Vera is so authentic, and her “Aiyya!” is especially hilarious. If you can handle listening to multi-character perspectives without confusion, then you should definitely go for the audio version.


Overall, while there are many funny and heartwarming scenes in the book, Vera’s bulldozing attitude and the unsatisfactory mystery didn’t help my reading experience. I would have let go of the first issue if Vera received at least some comeuppance, but the plot seems to condone her behaviour. It might seem cute to outsiders, but I have had my fill of obnoxious Asian aunties in real life and don’t want more of them in fiction. 🥴

The epilogue seems to hint at the setting of the next book, so the series might continue. I might read it if I get access to the audio version and if it is again narrated by Eunice Wong. She saved my ratings for both these books.

Recommended to fans of Vera Wong. Better if not read as a mystery. Be prepared to suspend disbelief and go with the flow.

3.25 stars.


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[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera takes on human traffickers.



This second book in the Vera Wong series has a different tone to it than the first, as Vera herself has been changed by the previous events.
Sometimes, when authors soften a crotchety protagonist, it takes away from the fun of the story. But here it just feels like a natural progression of the character's personal journey.
Vera is still Vera, but she's taken what she's learned about what it takes to have people in your life and is actively trying to soften her edges to make sure they stay in her life.
It feels like an organic change, not like Sutanto has created a different character and stuck the Vera Wong label on it.



Vera is the bossy grandmother that we all want on our side, making us food, giving us unwanted advice, and being our soft place to land. She's the pinnacle of Tough Love with an extra helping of some sort of delicious food that allows her no-nonsense brand of truth to go down a bit easier.
Every young person should be so lucky to have someone like her on their side to navigate the bullshit.



Old characters return, new characters worm their way into your heart, and all while Sutanto navigates a story of the humans caught up in the enormous global problem of human trafficking.
Funny, touching, and well written. If you like the elderly detective genre, I think you'll like Vera.

Recommended.

[JanB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera Wong is back! And better than ever.

Since a dead body showed up in her tea shop, life has been good for Vera. She's an accomplished "investigator", her shop is doing well, and her son Tilly has a girlfriend, none other than the detective we met in book #1, Selena.

Still, Vera is a little bored and longs for another case to solve….maybe a dead body will turn up and she can put her skills to work? One can only hope.

Vera doesn’t find another dead body in her shop, but she comes across a distressed young woman, Millie, whose friend, Thomas, is missing.

Thanks to Vera’s snooping, she discovers Thomas’s real name is Xander, an influencer who was found dead.

Vera is determined to solve the case of the mysterious Xander and from here we go on a madcap journey to discover the truth.

The same charm and wit that won me over in book one, is here. I adore Vera. She has no filter and is often laugh-out-loud funny. She doesn’t always understand American slang which provides much of the humor. Plus she’s not above pretending to be “elderly” even though she’s only in her early 60s. There’s value in being seen as old and “invisible”. (There's much to say about this but I'll refrain!)

And then there’s the food descriptions…don’t read this book when you’re hungry.

As Vera investigates (or bumbles her way through…) the case there are serious issues that are addressed, which puts this book in the “lighter with substance” category, my favorite lighter reads. This checks all the boxes for a cozy, which is not my usual type of read, but the humor, and Vera, won me over.

A caveat: the audio is the way to read this series. The narrator is excellent and hearing Vera’s voice and comedic timing is a must. I’m not sure it would read as well in print.

* Warner Bros TV acquired the rights and I can’t wait! Meanwhile I hope we don’t have long to wait for book #3

[Lisa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quirky witty Vera returns with her friends to go on a roller coaster 🎢 ride I could not put down Vera cracks me ⬆️.🤣


This is the second book in the Vera Wong series this time around Vera has found another body in her tea shop Xander Lin an influencer jumped off a bridge he was very popular so why Jump?


While Vera’s snooping finds her in more trouble than Nelly she gets death threats, that she will die Vera ignores this & wont stop until she finds out what is going on.
her son Tilly has a girlfriend & Vera wants grandchildren, there are some hilarious moments between mother & son to be honest I was killing myself laughing at these scenes.


The prose takes a sinister turn about half way through I won’t go into detail but it will keep you captivated 🤩 to the bitter end I can’t wait for the next instalment in this fantastic series a solid 4 ⭐️.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Vera, you’re just the best! Just my opinion, nothing can top the first book but this one was so much fun. Wait for the audiobook because Eunice Wong is perfection!

[Vivian Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ I missed Vera so much! This felt so comforting and touching. I loved the relationships that Vera formed with the other characters. The found family aspect of this book was so sweet! The mystery wasn’t as good as the first one, but I still loved it!

[Kristel | Your Novel Ambitions]

It’s a little ridiculous how much I wanted Vera to be my auntie. Looking forward to more of her detective work.

[Aisvarya [back ig] · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I thought my reaction would look like while reading this book - 😂🤣🤭😍😂
But what it really was - 😂🤭🤤🥺😭💔🤧

What can you expect -
☕cozy mystery
☕extroverted & outgoing FMC
☕found family
☕a look into influencer lifestyle & difficulties
☕heartwarming moments
☕yummy food that makes you hungry while reading
☕loneliness that comes with getting older
☕exploration of self identity

This book deals with another mystery that knocks itself on Vera's door (or rather she goes looking into one & finds it🤣) and now she has a new set of people who are suspects to the case but they also need a shoulder to cry on & want someone to offer them guidance & Vera does exactly that while also getting to know if they had anything to do with what happened to the victim.

I never expected to get this emotional over a cozy mystery but here we are!! What started as a light-hearted, fun & sarcastic read took a complete dark turn by the end & I was left feeling bad/sad/mad for the way some characters were treated & the life they had to endure growing up cuz no one deserves that!!! But the sad truth is that it's something that has been happening for years in our world & is still happening at some places😓💔 And I appreciate the author for not keeping it as just a cozy read but to have also thrown light on the horrible things that are still happening in the real world.

Now to the best part of this book - Vera!!! I thought I couldn't like her more after the first book but she proved me wrong by being the absolute sweetest!!🥺 She's just as outgoing & intrusive in here like the first book but she's also more caring, doting and always knows when you're feeling low & immediately makes it her mission to make you feel better, and she's literally the grandmother & mother everyone wishes to have!!!!!😭✨

Also Vera takes the saying, "good food is the way to one's heart" very seriously & bribes everyone with tons of good & makes them answer the questions she wants to know regarding the case & i love that about her! she also packs you leftovers😂 (ik we wouldn't really open up to a strange lady offering us food & asking us about our life cuz that's creepy, so suspend your disbelief a bit while reading this cuz i don't think even I can say no to Vera's food cuz that woman cooks a feast every single time🙈🤭)

And I loveddddd Winifred & Vera's friendship in here!!! If you didn't know, Winifred is the old lady who runs the bakery shop next to Vera's teashop and they always butt heads with one another & kinda competes to see who has got it all (family, friends, money,...), don't imagine fighting like teenagers but more like old ladies who always wants to brag that their sons or daughters are the best. But in this installment, they both went from being grouchy to one another to tolerating each other & even becoming friends by the end. This development made me so happy cuz Vera also deserves more friends her age to gossip & chit-chat about life, and by the way the book ended, I think we'd see more of them being sleuths together in the next one which has me super intrigued & it might also happen in Paris?!!👀

Overall, I loved everything about this book - the plot, the characters, the mystery & even the ending!! So if you want something cozy to read or want an overprotective Asian aunty to make you feel worthy & loved, pick this one up immediately!!!

[Tracy P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera really comes into her own in this second edition.

She certainly puts all those ageists out there to shame as she graces everyone fortunate enough to be in her orbit with ceaseless wisdom, empathy, wiliness, and humor. Not to mention, the scrumptious meals she is constantly serving up. "You must eat! You too skinny!"

Vera's authenticity and self-awareness is remarkable. In summary, Vera rocks!

Yet again, narrator Eunice Wong delivers a flawless performance. As a matter of fact, I think she even outdid herself this time. My highest of accolades, Ms. Wong.

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars - I really did enjoy Vera’s second outing, but I also nearly DNF’d it at around 40%! But I am so very glad that I needed it for a challenge and stayed with it! The story really took off in the middle and I just loved how it all came together and was quite satisfying in the end. I think that I was just really, really turned off by all the “influencer” stuff, but this book is so, so much more than that, and even though the mystery itself was kinda obvious, it involved a really important and very timely subject. Highly recommend & I will be down for the next installment of Vera W. (in Paris)!!

[JaymeO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayah! Vera’s back and just can’t stop herself from snooping AGAIN!

After falling victim to a phone scam, her son Tilly’s girlfriend, officer Selena Gray, helps bail her out. While at the police station, she comes across a distressed young woman who looks like she is in need of her guidance, as her friend has gone missing. Never fear, Vera will come to the rescue! After snooping in Selena’s briefcase, she finds a file on the missing influencer, however, he goes by a different name. When his body is found in Mission Bay, the police can’t seem to identify him. Who is this mysterious man? Vera will investigate for her new friend, while also helping her future daughter-in-law solve the case!

Worth the wait! I was super excited to read the second book in this wonderful cozy mystery series, but had to wait for publication day to listen to the audiobook. Eunice Wong narrates both books and her voicing for Vera is fantastic! The audiobook is the best way to enjoy this series.

Book two deals with a much darker theme than the first - human trafficking, and it feels a bit too heavy for this genre. I still enjoyed it, but don’t think it worked as well as the author had intended. Vera is a delightful character that shines once again by feeding her friends, old and new, and by becoming a social media genius!

I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Trigger warning: Human trafficking

3.5/5 stars rounded up

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera is back and better than ever! When she finds out about a young man who passed away, Vera's snooping knows no bounds. She ingratiates herself with several newcomers and previous characters from her last book make some cameo appearances. With her signature humor and exploration of a serious issue, it may be possible I loved this one even more than the first. I highly recommend adding this to your summer TBR!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The truth always is the right way to go, because it's only the truth that leads you to right answers - this is the moral of the book. Simplistic, yes, but getting there was a great deal of fun (I laughed so hard when Vera showed up at Robin's school). This book is 90% heart and 10% darkness. It's Vera's heart and surface naiveté that leads a group of seemingly random people into finding out what happened to Xander. She is charming. She is loving. She is persistent. She is apparently a gourmet cook who unites people through food. She follows her curiosity. She fiercely defends her loves. She is a force. And even her rival loves her, though she'll never admit it.

The one thing I couldn't get on board with: kimchi cheese croissants. That made me feel gross inside.

When the truth finally came out, it was dark - very, very dark stuff. That's probably why Vera was written with so much light. Looks like there's a third book in the writing (based on the ending), and I cannot wait!!

[anika · Rating 2 out of 5]

tl;dr: if I were Selena, I would have arrested Vera.

cozy mysteries are hard balances to strike. it has to be cozy, but mysterious. mysterious, yet cozy. this book went WAY TOO FAR into the cozy direction. people just spilled their guts when given food. and yes, there is a lot of food in this book.

and that level of "coziness" made the ending feel jarring -- but i'm glad that jesse q. sutanto wrote about this topic (not saying what since the book isn't out) in a compassionate way. so mixed feelings on that.

vera was somewhat insufferable, which was not at all how i felt about her in book 1. overall, i think this book needed to be rethought a bit.

thank you berkley for the arc!

[Alright Hey (Matt) · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely little cosy read that is just as fun as the first book but this time goes in a totally different direction.

the trap most books fall into after the success of the first book is that the second turns out to be the same formula repeated in a new way. this was nothing of the sort. a very heartwarming and easy read with a lot of humour. I gave the first book 4 stars and am again giving 4 stars to this but it wasn’t as special as the first, the redeeming factor was that the story went somewhere I didn’t expect it to go.

The writing style is easy to follow, quite simple yet engaging. I wasn’t as invested as book one but I did love that we got a wide range of characters and also their POV’s even if they were written in third person.

I also enjoyed it so much I was qudiobooking occasionally when I was driving around and it was VERY good audiobook. I loved listening.

Not a showstopper but definitely recommend if you liked the first book enough to read the second. 4 stars!

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Vera so much in the first book that I was very keen to pick up this second episode. Vera is a sixty year old Chinese mother who longs to be a grandmother. In the first book she solved the mystery of the dead body in her tea shop and made lots of new friends, including her son's girlfriend, Police Officer Selena Gray.

Now Vera is bored again and when she meets a young woman who is looking for a missing friend she leaps into an investigation. Nothing is beyond her up to and including sneaky looks into Selena's police files. Her investigating takes place between supplying endless amounts of food to everyone and making everyone smile, including me.

I love all of Vera's antics, all of the characters, the absolutely classic humour, and the mystery itself. An easy five stars from me and please let there be another book!!!

[enqi ☾⋆˚*̣̩✩ (slumping) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐋🐚☾⋆⁺₊ PRE-READ ♡ | Is it a good time to admit that my love for Vera is lowkey obsessive and embarrassing? Imagine my reaction when I found this sequel!!! SO EXCITEDDDDD

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried about how she would plausibly make this into a series, but she 100% pulled it off, and now I can't wait for the next one.

[4.5 stars]

[Jan Agaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

more plot-driven than the first one, but still stayed true to the found family aspect and Vera Wong's humor. I typically dislike social media in books, but reading about Vera Wong navigating being online was super entertaining. this did get a lot darker than I expected though so that was surprising. really hope there's a book 3!

[Sadie E · Rating 3 out of 5]

My feelings are complicated (naturally, Vera would dismiss all of them and tell me I’m wrong, while force-feeding me pork belly until I agree out of sheer survival instinct).

This book is chaos. Vera Wong is chaos. Meticulously curated, tea-fuelled chaos with a superiority complex and a moral compass that spins like it’s buffering.

But that chaos does too much this time.

Book 2 leans into themes of identity and loneliness, especially in a world where people construct entire alternate selves online while feeling invisible in real life. It’s about being unseen, feeling unimportant and forgettable, and how dangerous it becomes when someone fully believes that. In theory, that’s strong material. In practice, it’s buried under tonal confusion and uneven execution.

Because the book wants to be a cosy mystery.

It also wants to be a dark exploration of human trafficking and child exploitation.

And a found family comedy.

Those things don't sit together. So the result's a tonal collision where the book can’t decide whether it’s comforting you or confronting you. It doesn’t really land in either direction.

But you know whichever one it decides on there'll be tea and dumplings.

A lot of this comes down to structure and character work.

Those little youngsters barely out of their diapers are not your friends, they are your adopted children. Do you even have friends your own age?

There are just too many side characters. Most of them blur into a single interchangeable needy child whose only real function is being dragged around by Vera and catering to her every whim. The found family element feels less earned this time around and more automatic than organic. She feeds someone once and suddenly they’re emotionally enmeshed and reorganising their entire life around her. They all lack distinct voices (even the existing characters who make cameos) and don’t feel individually significant.

But worst of all, they refuse to challenge her. I so desperately wanted more pushback from her collection of lost souls. Their backbones have the structural integrity of yogurt. Whatever Vera says, goes. It doesn’t matter how committed they are to their own choices, because if Vera disagrees, they immediately fold and follow her into whatever madness she’s orchestrating like a group of emotionally compromised ducklings. I need conflict! I need resistance! Let someone tell her no. Let her be wrong. Let her sit with that.
Because she doesn’t really face consequences.

Which flattens what should be interesting, dynamic relationships into a kind of group compliance.

That lack of resistance becomes a pattern. For example, Vera spots Millie (one of the weakest characters by far, in what's already a cast with the combined depth of a puddle) pacing in the street, grabs her, and drags her through San Francisco and into her life. And Millie just goes along with it??

There’s a broader issue here: Vera doesn’t persuade people into her world, they don't join her willingly, she simply declares them part of it, and they comply.

Which would be funny if it weren’t so constant.

But let’s be honest. We're all here for Vera.

Vera Wong: menace, icon, walking HR violation.

She's the problem and the solution.


And I have mixed feelings.

I love her tenacity and how deeply she cares for the people around her, willing to go to the ends of the earth for them. There are also many aspects of Vera I genuinely can’t stand.

She demands honesty. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth from everyone around her, but will lie without hesitation if it suits her. The hypocrisy is staggering. And it’s not really interrogated in a meaningful way.

Vera does what Vera wants and to hell with the consequences.

Case in point: the briefcase incident.

Vera's cat-sitting for her son and his girlfriend when she walks into their closed bedroom, finds a locked briefcase, BREAKS INTO IT, and takes photos of confidential police documents. Vera knows this is wrong. She has a brief flicker of conscience, and then ignores it because, obviously, she knows better than morality itself.

And nothing really comes of it.

I wanted a comeuppance. Some acknowledgment that maybe, occasionally, Vera Wong is not the supreme authority on everything.

King of the Hill's Peggy Hill has a line that perfectly sums up Vera: "God said to me: 'don't do it.' But you know what? I knew better."

She’s still entertaining in bursts, but the balance is off this time. She storms into people’s lives, kicking the door off its hinges in the process, reorganises their lives without permission, insults everyone profusely, feeds them aggressively, and then acts personally offended if they're not sufficiently grateful.

And often she's hilarious. Like when she considers writing a book to share her vast knowledge with the world. It's the right thing to do, of course. She's so helpful and generous. Also completely unhinged.

If you do not have a mother, you may slip and slide into my DMs.

Those are real words. Said with full confidence. She's "very much up to date with young people these days. She is basically an honorary Gen Z." It's hard not to laugh and lovingly shake your head while going, "Oh, Vera. What are you like?"

And then she immediately follows it with:

“This whole writing a book thing is so easy, no wonder Sana’s mother writes four of the things every year. Vera is sure she can bang out at least six books a year if she wanted to.”

At this point Vera's mentally built a publishing empire off a single sentence (that she wrote in her head) and is of course diminishing someone else’s work in the process.

Her confidence remains both impressive and completely unearned. But it's that mean-spirited side of her that constantly rears its ugly head that I can't stand.

Even her language mishaps land in a familiar pattern: Vera constantly misuses English, then blames everyone else for misunderstanding her.“You young people need to listen better.”

Confidently incorrect's basically her default state.

Even when someone finally tells Vera to back off or there'll be consequences, she immediately responds, “Don’t be silly!” And, of course, that’s the end of that.

And if there’s a single quote that sums her up, it might be this:

“I always thought that when people tell me I am sexist, they mean I am very sexy... Aiya. And here I have been thinking: Oh good job, Vera, over sixty years old and people still finding you sexy, like Michelle Yeoh.”

It’s exactly the kind of self-assured misfire that defines her and prevents me from ever fully hating her.

Because Vera's a walking contradiction: warm and intrusive, generous and manipulative, kind and overbearing, and fully convinced she's always right.



And underneath all of it, there’s a quieter thread of loneliness she doesn’t really confront. Despite her rapidly growing found family, it becomes increasingly clear she doesn’t actually have friends. She has people she's rescued or bulldozed into proximity, but not equals.

She has plenty of family, of people she considers her children or nephews or nieces or grandchildren, but peers? Goodness, what a sobering thought.

That’s one of the few emotional beats that actually sticks.

And then there’s Winifred.

Oh, Winifred.

The MVP.

The book improves every time Winifred's on the page.



Winifred's the only character who consistently refuses to be steamrolled. She pushes back, she competes, she judges, she criticises, she creates friction. She puts Vera in her place.

Suddenly, the story wakes up.

Vera hates her for it.

But also clearly needs her.

Their dynamic's sharp and funny, and it's a lot more engaging than most of the surrounding plot and characters: an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object over pride, pastries, pu-erh, and control.

I need a spin-off of just Vera and Winifred trying to psychologically dismantle each other over baked goods and ego.

Better yet, I need a Winifred spin-off.

At this point I’m less reviewing the book and more reviewing my love for Winifred and my annoyance for Vera. This isn't really a book review so much as a character assassination.

Plot-wise, the mystery also feels weaker structurally. While there are too many side characters, there aren’t enough suspects, and the story leans heavily into explaining the “why” rather than building tension around the “who.” By the end, it drifts into explanation rather than discovery, and the resolution feels more told than earned.

There is potential here, but it’s unevenly executed, and the weight of the subject matter isn’t always supported by the storytelling.

Food in novels can make me forgive a lot. And the food writing's still excellent. I wrote down every recipe across the two books and fully intend to have a Vera week. Or month. Vera’s relationship with food as control, comfort, connection, and coercion remains one of the book’s strongest elements. Food is her weapon of choice.

But ultimately, this is a messier sequel that collapses under its own ambition. Vera's still entertaining, but she’s also more exhausting here.

[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers ★★★★
Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man] ★★★★

“You know, is good to underpromise and overdeliver.”

Last year, I read Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and thoroughly enjoyed it. It worked perfectly as a standalone, so when I saw a sequel was coming, I’ll admit I was a little nervous. Sometimes sequels feel like a cash grab and risk ruining what was already a great story. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. Jesse Q. Sutanto delivers again.

In this second installment, Vera Wong is back and more adventurous than ever. The story takes some unexpected turns: Vera gets scammed, decides to become a social media star (and actually succeeds!), all while getting tangled in yet another investigation. Add in a physical threat, shady business dealings, and a deeper mystery, and you’ve got a plot that’s engaging, twisty, and not predictable.

Sutanto’s writing continues to shine. She strikes a great balance between humor and serious themes. Like the first book, there’s plenty of heartwarming found family moments, food (of course!), and Vera’s signature sass. But this time, there’s also thoughtful commentary on the darker sides of social media, trauma, and even human trafficking, handled with care and nuance.

If you enjoyed the first book, there’s no reason you won’t enjoy this one too. It keeps the same vibe without trying to copy the original beat-for-beat. Honestly, if a third book ever comes out, I’m more than ready to follow Vera on another sleuthing adventure!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to be Vera when I grow up

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite senior sleuth is back!

After solving a murder and finding a whole new family, Vera Wong is content. Really! She's not bored at all and doesn't miss solving murders at all.... until she stumbles upon a suspicious suicide case and a whole new cast of suspects. But this time the stakes are higher as the more Vera investigates, the more she doesn't realize what she's getting into and the more dangerous things become.

I had a lot of fun listening to this book, Vera is such a fun character and I was glad we as readers got to return to her world. As usual she is nosy, cooks too much and meddles too much but I am all here for it. This book introduced her to a lot of things like social media and it was fun to follow along as she investigated the case. It didn't pack as much of an emotional punch for me as the last book, but I still had a great time reading and hope we get several more books featuring Vera.

An ALC was provided by Libro.fm as a part of their librarian ALC program

[Melany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this! Vera Wong is so hilarious, sweet, and sassy! I'd love to have a neighbor or grandma like Vera! All of the found family and friends in this story truly made it so unique and remarkable. Vera was the glue putting the found family and group together every time, but I'm sure her amazing food/tea helped as well! This story was so beautiful. I loved the mystery aspect of the "who done it" factor. But the beauty of the story was learning more about Vera and the other characters more in depth. I loved EVERY main character in this story (except of course, Mother and Father). This made me laugh, made me smile in how sweet some moments were, made me cozy, made me suspicious of too many people, but it also made me teary-eyed. I loved this and poor Millie and Thomas! Ugh! It's such a beautiful story, though. * Please check trigger warnings as this does contain a few things that can be triggering. *

I received this ARC from Berkley Publishing Group to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

[inciminci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Vera becoming a social media star!
As in the first installment, here too she was laugh out loud funny and wholesome, the second part and the resolution go to serious and dark places, but overall still good as a lighthearted read.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 Stars

One Liner: A riot of laughter and food

Vera’s life has been good since solving her first mystery. Her son finally has a girlfriend who is none other than Officer Gray. That doesn’t stop Vera from wishing for another dead body or two. After all, she needs a purpose!

When Vera meets a distressed young woman with a missing friend, she is more than ready to help. Soon, Vera (thanks to her snooping) finds out about the case of a dead influencer who must be the missing man. But the dead man seems to have popped out of nowhere. No one seems to identify him. Why is that? Who is he? What is this case?

Well, Vera is determined to find out!

The story comes in various third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:

Well, after quite enjoying the previous book, I was excited to read this one. I also knew what to expect, so the book was more entertaining. While this can work as a standalone, it will be better if you start with the first book.

While the book is pretty lighthearted, the second half, especially the last quarter, gets darker. The narrative style and Vera’s natural talent do add some comic relief, but comparatively, things get a bit grim (don’t skip the author’s note at the end).

I’m not a fan of the influencer trope, but I wanted to read this knowing the author would give us something fun. And, oh boy, does she deliver with Vera’s enthusiasm. Never have I enjoyed a book about influencers as much, and the credit goes to Vera.

Of course, Vera’s ability to collect the lost ones is unparalleled. She is more than happy to adopt countless nieces, nephews, and grandchildren and feed them until they can’t eat a bite more, lol.
All the humor and OTT drama aside, the book highlights some important points about life, loneliness, circumstances, decisions, guilt, faking happiness, etc. I rather liked the conversation in the principal’s office. That’s a very important question from Vera.

The way this ended makes me hopeful there will be another book. Please, please write it!

To summarize, Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) is a humorous cozy mystery dealing with some heavy topics but using a light touch. The book doesn’t take itself seriously most of the time. However, it raises some poignant questions, too!