The Vera Wong series is such fun! I loved the first book because it felt fresh and this second installment takes the whole cast of characters and throws in a heap more, but it works ....and works really well!

The teashop is still the centre of the activity, but this investigation starts at the police station after Vera is scammed. She goes in to give Selena her statement and encounters a very upset Millie hovering outside. Vera scoops her up and back to the teashop for food, tea and interrogation - Vera style!

It's quite gripping, there's lots going on and you really want to know how things pan out. If you've not read the first book yet, order that and read it before this one is released!

Vera Wong. Self - styled Chinese old lady ( she's in her sixties). Creator of the most amazing teas and food.

Collector of people.

Investigator (snooper) extraordinaire.

An adventure in which Vera acquires more members of her ever - growing non - related family, and discovers that a dead man's life is one huge lie.

Oh, and she discovers social media and becomes a viral star.

Absolutely wonderful

The cosy crime genre is huge now, but getting the balance of lighthearted humour and, well, murder right is a hard task that only a handful of authors (chief among them, of course, being Richard Osman) have achieved. We can now add Jesse Sutanto firmly to that list. I loved the first in this series, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders, and was sceptical of whether the follow-up could be as good, so was pleased to find it's just as delightfully entertaining as the first book. Vera remains a meddling, gossipy delight and this was the perfect fun read to see in the new year.

I hadn't realised how much I'd missed Vera until starting this! Just like the first book in this series, she was equal parts loveable, frustrating & hilarious; she is definitely up there as one of my top literary characters.
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The general story of this one I thought felt surprisingly darker than the first in some ways; I won't go into detail in fear of spoilers but there were a few scenes that almost made me uncomfortable to read in comparison to all the lighter moments throughout the rest of the book. This one felt a bit more like a thriller mystery to me than the first one did, although there were still plenty of sweet cozy mystery vibes to balance it all out. Some parts of the dialogue I did find teetering on cringey but I could overlook that because of how much I liked the characters involved— they all felt well written and all suited the story.
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Some might say the twists & resolution were predictable (I did predict certain parts quite early on) but to me, that didn't really matter. I loved reading how the mystery got solved, I only would have liked a bit more on Xander by the end. I personally still have a lot of love for the first book and didn't feel this one quite hit the same level for me but I still really enjoyed it & after that ending, I'm truly hoping it means a third is in the works!

Thank you HQ & Netgalley for the free eARC!

So, hands up, I was not a fan of the first book BUT I throughly enjoyed this little gem! It’s a cosy read that made me smile and my heart melt to the characters! Well done!

'Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)' by Jesse Sutanto.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was a big fan of the first book and this book didn't disappoint. There's lots of characters in this book but they all have a reason to be in it and it all comes together at the end. Vera Wong is the type of amateur detective that I adore, lovable nosy older women who always happen to be in the right place at the right time.
If you're a fan of cozy crime then give this series a read. Thank you to NetGallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

Vera Wong is perfectly content as a teashop owner. She is definitely not seeking opportunities for amateur sleuthing. But what else is she to do when a distressed woman called Millie asks for her help?
Okay, perhaps Vera wheedled the story out of her. And maybe the case file for Millie’s missing friend Thomas didn’t exactly fall into her lap. Everyone knows a locked briefcase is just asking to be opened by someone handy with a hairpin.
Not even the aroma of chrysanthemum tea can stop Vera from catching the scent of this mystery. However dangerous it is, Vera intends to uncover the truth in the only way that this Chinese mother knows how: by spilling the tea.

I absolutely love Jensen Sutanto books and was delighted to get an early copy of her newest book. As expected, I was not disappointed and simply could not put the book down once I started! Another triumph from Sutanto and eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

How does one apply to be adopted by Vera Wong (asking for a friend, of course)? - 4*

I love Vera Wong. I absolutely adore her. I mean, if I was ever introduced to her, I'd hate her at the beginning for snooping and seeing into my soul but I'd stay because she's such a healing presence and her food sounds AMAZING. She is a force to be reckoned with and her alone is what keeps you gripped to the story.

Of course, the side characters are here and the plot is strong but even though I've read a similar plot (I have read hundreds of murder mysteries), the reason I stay loyal to this series and the reason I race through this book is because of Vera Wong. She truly captures the heart and provides a spin to murder mystery writing. I love how she keeps adopting people and just truly taking care of everyone.

I CANNOT wait for Vera Wong #3.

If anyone ever invents a machine which brings fictional characters to life, Vera Wong will ALWAYS be my first choice. Yep, even having “met” Rhysand from ACOTAR.

I just love her. After Vera’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers, I definitely wanted to be adopted by her. It was just the loveliest, heart warming book and this sequel does not disappoint. Vera is just as sassy as you remember and still as life changing for the people around her. The food descriptions are still as mouthwatering. The mystery is just as intriguing. I was completed unaware of the underworld in this book and I was horrified to read how often it occurs in the acknowledgments.

1,000 books in the Vera Wong series please. Can’t get enough of her

If you are new to this author, you are in for a treat. Perfect for readers who love books about found family and cozy murder mysteries., as well as amazing, hilarious characters..

Thanks for the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Vera, and Jesse Sutanto has created one of the most beautiful found families I've ever read. Every single part of me wishes I could be in this story - I'd even be willing to be a murder victim if it meant I could spend time with Vera. I loved every page of this funny, wild adventure and I can't wait for more!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I read everything by Jesse Sutanto. But with Vera Wong, you can almost watch the author thinking up the mischief and fun. Vera is a brilliant character, so insightful and yet there is humour on every page.
For me, the story was almost an irrelevance, I just wanted to read more of Vera’s thoughts and conversation, I hope she comes back again.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I really enjoyed Vera Wong's first appearance but I have to admit that this one was even better! The exploration of influencer culture and modern loneliness was thoughtful and didn't go for the cheap shots of all influencers being vain or shallow. I really sympathised with the characters as they slowly revealed their secrets to Vera and sought comfort from her growing community. (It did take a short while to remember some of the cast of characters from the last book but this wasn't detrimental to reading this book and I think it could be read as a standalone volume). One warning for this book is that reading it will make you incredibly hungry - there are so many delicious descriptions of food and new dishes I want to try!

I felt that Vera really rounded out as a character in this book and I'm excited to read about her adventures in the future...

I'm never going to read a bad Jesse Sutanto book.its just not possible. I was so excited to see Vera again and laugh alongside her for another journey. I adore her voice and how blasé Vera is - its so true to the older Asian generation and i just chuckled all the way through.

The plot is absolutely crazy, except it isn't because it's Vera! Nothing about Vera is too much. I LOVE the found family and how they all just fold around her. I also love how food is so prominent - very relatable and true to the culture.

I've had such a blast with Vera and the gang, solving another murder and heyyyyyy, that ending sets up nicely for a third book yes?

I absolutely adored the first book Vera Wong book, and the second has lived up to all my hopes.

This book felt like a warm hug, with such a hopeful sentiment about connection, friendship and community. Vera is an amazing main character, and the secondary characters that she surrounds herself with that make this book extra special. The relationships they develop through her and are just so nurturing for the soul, and the kindness and caring shown by Vera and the others is so delightful.

The mystery at the heart of this novel is one that has important message to it, and the book was well paced to get to the resolution. There are many laugh out loud moments, along with some more serious, and it is just overall a wonderful time and I hope there will be more books following Vera and her ever expanding circle. I loved this sequel, and would highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing! Just totally fantastic!! I first fell in love with Jesse Sutanto’s work after receiving a copy of the first book in this series from netgalley, and then went on to purchase all the Dial M for murder series also as I loved her writing style. Interestingly she mentions in the acknowledgements for this book that she didn’t intend it to become a sequel, but man am I glad it turned into one because what can I say but she’s done it again! This is another sure to be bestseller as we pick back up with our favourite auntie Vera, and her ragtag bunch of adopted family members from first book as she tackles another murder. There is the usual liberal smatterings of Vera related humour, whilst also touching on quite a dark topic. I loved this book and didn’t want to put it down at any point; it kept me hooked throughout. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend not just this book, but all the others by this author too as they’re truly hilarious, interesting, and well written. A++ 10/10 thanks to one of my newest favourite authors for continuing to write such excellent stories

Vera is slightly bored when no other dead bodies have appeared in her teahouse. Then she comes across Millie who is looking for her missing friend and lucky for Vera, she finds information about him in Selena’s briefcase. But not all is as it seems, as it appears he was living a double life. Only problem is, after his body was discovered, he hasn’t been identified so Vera is determined to solve the case.

If I could give a book series a million stars, I would give it to this one as it is one of my all time favourites and if you haven’t read it yet, pick the series up and prepare to be sucked into the wonderful world of Vera and her adventures, alongside the most stunning found family I have ever read.

I can never rave about the characters of this series enough as I absolutely love them. The star of the show is obviously Vera who I hold so much love for, she has such a special place in my heart and I would absolutely love her as a grandma because what a ray of sunshine she is. I love how she has this unique ability of bringing people together and uniting them in the feelings they feel, as well as being so fiercely and unapologetically herself. Now for the side characters, I think they made an excellent addition to this book. No one felt left behind and they all brought something to the table. I adored seeing some of my old favourites from the first book of the series and loved learning about the new ones. I may have shed a few tears at one particular point because I got so attached to these characters - they had me in my feelings.

The atmosphere was stunning as always, I truly felt like I was immersed in the world of Vera and friends and I was right there with them solving the mystery. It truly felt like a rollercoaster at times with everything that was going on but it was a rollercoaster I didn’t want to get off of.

I absolutely love Jesse’s writing and how absorbed into her worlds I get when reading her books. I was so happy to see there was gonna be another Vera book and she delivered. I would love to see more adventures of Vera but even if this is the last one of the series, then I’m happy I got to spend more time with Vera and her little community of family she’s created. Everything flowed so well and I genuinely couldn’t put this book down, I was glued to my kindle reading into the early hours.

One thing I love about Jesse is how she never shies away from highlighting important topics that deserve more conversations around them. I’m not gonna say more than that as it would be a spoiler but after reading the book and then the author’s note at the end, you will see what I mean. The plot itself is so interesting and it was fascinating to see it all unravel. I did guess a lot of what happened but I honestly didn’t mind because it felt like I was unraveling the case with Vera, which was a lot of fun. I feel like everything made sense and it didn’t feel like there was any kind of plot holes (or at least any that were noticeable to me anyways).

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: suicide, murder, human trafficking, racism, sitting, torture, physical abuse, vomiting, derogatory language, cursing, alcohol use, talks about weight and dieting, grief, child abuse, emotional abuse; mentions domestic abuse, gun use, death, terminal illness (cancer), misogyny ⚠️