Vera Wong is back and this time…. She’s snooping on a dead man. I cannot tell you how much I love this sequel. It is funny, heartfelt, the murder mystery itself is so chilling but delicately written. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. Five stars.

I absolutely loved the first Vera Wong mystery from @jesseqsutanto, so I was delighted to be approved to read a free review copy of the upcoming sequel via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well I’m pleased to say this sequel was just as good as the first book. Vera is a fab character - kinda like a Chinese Jessica Fletcher! I love how she works her way into her suspects’ lives, but she does so with such heart. I want Vera to adopt me too!

In this case, Vera hears about a dead body which the police are calling suicide - but Vera’s not so sure. Is it a sign of something bigger at play? (Yes. Yes it is). The characters from the first book all return, but there’s some great new ones too.

This book could be read as a stand alone, but I think you’d get way more out of it if you read these in publication order. So if you love cosy crime, now is the time to read these first book in the series so you are all caught up in time for the release of this second instalment in April.

All in all, a fab cosy mystery. I hope there’s a third Vera adventure in the works!

This is my first experience of Vera Wong and I absolutely loved it. A murder mystery lead by a little Chinese grandmother who meddles in everyone’s affairs but somehow turns out to be oh so right. This murder is ominous and dark and tge tip of a bigger iceberg but none of this fazes Vera. She is infuriating, stubborn, caring and oh so funny. Can’t wait for the French installment.

What fun to read another Vera Wong book. So many laugh out loud moments. Vera just gets better and better and her ever growing cast of supporting characters are wonderful.
This is a quick read, a cosy mystery and very entertaining.
Highly recommended.

After thoroughly enjoying the first book in the Vera Wong series, I can confidently say that the second instalment is even better. Sutanto’s warm relationships and humour shine through once again, making this a delightful read from start to finish.

The charm of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) lies in its unique blend of light heartedness and wit, which kept me laughing out loud at several points. Sutanto’s skill in bringing characters to life with authenticity and depth adds an extra layer to the storytelling. These characters, while often comedic, are imbued with such richness that they feel incredibly real.

While the central mystery may feel a bit drawn out in places, it wasn’t a significant issue for me. The humour and the endearing nature of Vera's character made it easy to overlook any pacing concerns. Vera herself remains a wonderfully quirky protagonist, and I found myself deeply invested in her journey. Her charm, determination, and growth throughout the book kept me eager to turn the pages, despite the occasional lag in the plot.

Overall, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) is a hilarious, heart warming, and clever continuation of a series that has a special place in my heart. I sincerely hope there will be more books to come—Vera's adventures are far from over, and I can't wait to see what she gets up to next. Highly recommended for fans of cosy mysteries with a strong sense of humour and unforgettable characters!

Vera Wong, tea expert and crime solver, is one of my all-time favourite fictional characters. So, it was the best surprise to find she's back with a sequel. I could fan-girl about her all day but essentially she is a straight-talking, interfering, curious, traditional Chinese mother with a heart of gold. She "looks like a helpless little grandma" but acts like an "army general looking for a new recruit to bully". Obviously Vera steals the show but once again she's supported by a great cast - old and new. As Vera herself says: "There's just nothing quite like the heartwarming joy of gathering a bunch of new people who are obviously slightly terrified, and brazenly accusing them off murder". And that's the brilliance of the author in that she's managed to pull off a very similar book to the much-loved first but in a believable and fresh way. I really, really hope that Vera and Winifred do take that trip to Paris and we get to read all about in a third book....

I loved the first Vera Wong mystery so I was really excited to read Vera Wong's Guide to Shopping. I read it in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down. If you're a fan of cosy crime, this is shaping up to be a great series.

Sutanto has created such a great character in Vera Wong; she's feisty, very funny, speaks her mind (often without thinking) but has a heart of gold. I'd love to meet her in real life, not only for the laughs but also for the amazing food she's always dishing out!

The book manages to balance some fairly heavy topics (human trafficking, abuse) with light relief in the form of Vera and friends while still doing justice to the former. I found the storyline emotionally engaging: I genuinely cared what happened to the characters.

I can't wait for the next instalment!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this digital ARC.

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?