Dear Fellow Reader,

Vera Wong meddles and likes attention. In this second book of the series, we find that Vera misses the attention that she had during a murder investigation in her tearoom. She is happy about her son and his love, Officer Selena Gray, the police investigator for the tearoom murder. Her business is going well, and her family is attentive, but Vera wants more.


As the book opens, we meet Vera. She is happy with her son’s romance (she wants grandchildren) and her circle of friends that she made during the homicide investigation. She is up early to start her day. She hears her phone ring, and a voice tells her that her credit card has been compromised and supposedly connects her to the police. She tells all her confidential information and then when she tries to contact them again, she finds that the email she was given is not a real email. She contacts Selena, who tells her she has been scammed and asks her to come down and make a police report.

On her way into the station, she encounters a distressed-looking girl. She tells her to come in with her, but the girl runs away instead. Then, on her way out, she sees the girl again and takes hold of her and takes her to her tearoom to find out what is bothering the girl. The girl’s name is Millie, and when she came to the US, she met Thomas, and they developed a friendship. Thomas has disappeared, and Millie wants to know where he is as she misses him.

And this is the start of the story and Vera’s hunt for Thomas (if that is really his name) and it turns into a much bigger story. I’m not sure how much I can say without giving away too much of the plot. Let’s just start by saying that Millie’s name isn’t Millie and the whole story involves much more than just a disappearance. Vera finds out that Thomas also had a variety of names and was a social media influencer. But how can that be when no one seems to know him? As the plot twists, Vera’s life is at risk along with others she loves.

I liked the book. You have to get used to Vera being a bit pushy, but once you are over that, it is a tangled web of a story that will keep your interest. The description of the book does not do justice to the plot, but I think the whoever wrote the description had the same problem that I have – you can’t tell very much without giving away too much.

I will say that I am glad that Vera is not my mother-in-law.

Thanks for reading!

I don't know if I want to have a Vera in my life or if I absolutely don't! I both adore her and am terrified her but I always enjoy time spent in Vera's world. Her absolute confidence in herself and her meddling ways are so fun and I think I would be okay with it if I could have a helping of whatever delicious meal she's cooking up.

Things have settled down from the previous adventure but Vera is getting a bit restless. Soon though she stumbles into another murder investigation and into the world of social media. Vera's investigation into the death of a young influencer brings her into contact with the man's social circle and they are pulled into Vera's world whether they like it or not. I loved the reactions of the characters from the previous books as they realize what's happenings and it's always entertaining to watch someone encounter Vera for the first time.

While I enjoyed this both for the fantastic found family aspect and for the mystery itself it wasn't quite as wonderful as the first book. There's some repetitiveness that drug the plot down a bit. I got that all the characters were hiding something but there's a lot of handwringing with no progress in revealing those secrets for a bit too long. Despite the slower moving plot I do love the found family aspect of this book and I can't help but enjoy anytime Vera is on the page.

Rating - 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

Delightfully dark and funny!

Welcome once again to Vera Wang’s World Famous Tea House! Ready to stick your nose into something you aren’t supposed to? 😉☠️

Thanks Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

Synopsis -

Vera’s social life has been buzzing ever since her first run in with a dead body and her tea shop is bustling with customers. Just when she might be getting a bit bored, Vera bumps into a meek young woman who is looking for her missing friend. Thus comes the next adventure and murder case that Vera is itching to get her hands on. Not even her future daughter in law Selena, the cop, can stop her this time.

Review.-

Goodness, reading this book was like meeting good old friends and sharing a hearty laughter with a side of mischief. The sassy, badass Vera is back with a bang! What’s more, she will entertain you endless with her sharp dialogues, pompous attitude, zealous cooking and inadvertent convoluted English grammar which will have you giggling in fits and starts.

The other highlight is a bunch of wonderful characters that get introduced and we get POVs from them all along with Vera’s. The underlying theme is the same as the first book - a bunch of strangers who are unknowingly connected, facing difficulties and challenges at their various stages of life.

It is Vera’s shenanigans and relentless snooping into the case at hand that joyfully brings them all together with her soothing teas, food, love and care. Oh how I loved her!

At its core, the book delves into a heavy and dark subject that is truly going to shatter your heart. Sutanto boldly blends true events backed by research with her imagination. She excels at building up the suspense, balancing both comedy and seriousness in the narrative.

Vera, the unstoppable Chinese mother and a force to reckon with, is all set to stir up trouble as she wins you over, changes folks’ lives and saves the day. An old dog can certainly learn new tricks and technology!

Are you up for the fun?

I'm ready for Vera's next French adventure that's hinted at please.

The only bad thing about Jesse Q. Sutanto's second novel in her "Vera Wong" series is that it had to end! I would happily read about adorable, cranky Vera and her foundling family forever. Vera's accepting new members into the wildly devoted crew she gathered in her first foray into mystery solving and this time she's trying to uncover what really happened to a young social media influencer who died under, at least according to Vera, suspicious circumstances. While she dabbles with Tiktok stardom and "encourages" her son to propose to his girlfriend and checking in with the adorable misfits she corralled together in book one Vera is once again dispensing wisdom to a new cast of characters who might not know it yet but who will shortly be wondering how they ever did without her.

I love Vera so much that the mystery she's trying to solve almost doesn't matter though its worth noting that the book does tackle some very real, and very frightening issues and the stakes definitely feel raised after book one's less elaborate and somewhat lacking whodunnit. I cannot wait to see what Vera gets up to in her next adventure.

This is the charming sequel to Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. In the first book, 60-something tea shop owner Vera Wong walks into her tea shop one day to discover a dead body on the ground. The police take too long solving the case, so Vera decides to solve it herself. I loved the first book and highly recommend reading it first to fully understand the characters.

Now that Vera is a “professional” murder solver, she’s bored without a case to solve. Luckily for her, she stumbles upon an open case right outside the police station. Now she has something to do!

Vera is such a charismatic character! She’s in her sixties (and realizes that 60 is the new 40), but she plays up her elderliness and innocence. She made me laugh so many times in this book and I want to be one of her adopted granddaughters! Vera shows her love through food, and everything she makes sounds so delicious!

The mystery was different enough from the first book to keep me hooked and guessing the whole time. It brings in a new cast of characters (in addition to appearances of characters from the first book), and each character is lovable and suspicious at the same time. Most of the book is light and fun (but it does touch on some serious topics that could be triggers but also spoilers so I won’t mention them here). I enjoyed every minute of this book and highly recommend it (as well as the first book in the series)!

Read if you like:
▫️Cozy mysteries
▫️Chinese food
▫️Quirky characters
▫️Older generations navigating social media
▫️Found family
▫️Multiple POVs

Have you read Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers? If you have not, what are you doing with your life. Go read it, and then buy and read Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man. I'm not burying the lede I loved this book too! Jesse Q. Sutanto has created the most wonderful amateur detective in Vera Wong and redefined the cozy mystery genre. Vera portrays herself as this elderly Chinese American woman, but she is only in her early 60s. She uses the elderly part to her advantage. She willfully meddles in peoples lives and creates the best found family. I'm always concerned when I'm reading book 2 that it will not be as good as book one, but I thoroughly enjoyed this read. 4.25 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and Berkeley Publishing Group for my advance reader copy.

Vera Wong is back, and is it too weird to say I hope she never runs out of murders to investigate? Cozy mysteries aren't always my thing, but I love Vera. I love her family, both by birth and found, and I love her determination. Everyone should have a Vera in their life, someone that makes them feel safe and loved and well fed. By the way Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man Ended, I am hoping there's another Vera Wong on the way, and I can't wait. This book can be read as a standalone, and it will still be highly entertaining, but I recommend reading Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders first. It's every bit as good, and you can never have enough Vera.

Loved this! I missed Vera so much and it brought me so much joy to see her and her new family again. Being in her dead had me cackling the entire time, even in dangerous times. I love how she brought together another unlikely bunch of people to become friends, while trying to go viral to solve a murder. Just over the top, but with the biggest heart. This book had some tough subjects and broke my heart a little bit, but the way Vera handled everything and everyone was perfection. I really really hope we get more of this series!

Another fun installment with Auntie Vera. She continues to make friends with much younger people and stick her nose in where it doesn't belong. This time she also becomes a food influencer, making traditional dishes while dabbling in true crime.

I love Vera's stubbornness and her way of making people feel welcome. I preferred the mystery in the first book, but this was a good followup and and I would read a third.

Thank you for the ARC.

I went into this book not having read the first book, and oh my how I was missing out! I’m also happy to report that this works great as a standalone.

Once the excitement has died down (pun intended) from a man being found dead in her teahouse, Vera Wong has found life a bit…boring. That is, until she enmeshes herself into a new murder mystery! After encountering a young woman distressed about her missing friend, Vera happens upon a case file on a death in her future daughter-in-law’s briefcase while cat-sitting (and no, she wasn’t snooping!). And when she realizes the girl’s missing friend just so happens to be the dead influencer in the file, Vera knows this is her chance (and calling) to solve a murder and gain favor in her soon-to-be daughter’s eyes.

I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud, and this book had me CACKLING. Vera Wong is my spirit animal, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to emulate her. Beyond the laughs, this book is also quite the heavy hitter. Things Vera uncovers during her investigation truly tugged at my heartstrings and hit close to home. Sutanto’s note at the end of the book speaks on how she drew from her own real-life experiences when writing this novel, and it made the story that much more touching.

If you read this far, my biggest advice is: don’t sit on Vera Wong! Now brb, going to go read the first book immediately.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

Vera Wong is back with another murder to solve! It's such a fun read to be back with Vera and her ever growing found-family. Vera continues to take care of those around her while getting herself involved in another murder mystery. We are introduced to a new group of people that wouldn't have met if not for Vera, and we see them eventually come together with characters from the previous book. This book touches quite a bit of more sensitive topics, but it is well-written into the story, and we are met with another wholesome ending. I wish Vera and her teahouse are real!

Check out this review of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) on Fable. https://fable.co/review/05804c57-104d-4251-8863-03ff7746cb3e/share

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review✨

Vera Wong is back to investigating after finding a distraught girl in front of the police station who tells her that her brother is missing. From there, her OP snooping skills take her on a mystery with twists, turns, danger, and a lot of delicious food.

I have to go read the first book now because THIS is how cozy kitchen mysteries need to be done. There’s lightheartedness and humor, but then also true mystery. I loved Vera (even if she’s overbearing, but that’s the draw and anyone with an Asian mom can appreciate how relateable her character is), and all the other characters as well. They were all pretty complex and I actually enjoyed all of their POVs. I didn’t care for some characters at first, but after finding their background, I understood why they were the way they were.

My only issue is that the epilogue left me feeling a little unfulfilled because you never actually find out what really happened aside from the obvious.

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man] continues the series started in 2023 with Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, with another great title and just as much fun. It was just what I needed after a series of serious novels.
Vera Wong is a little old lady (although not that old, since she is younger than I am) who is a grandmother figure to everyone around her as she inadvertently solves murders. She cooks delicious food for everyone (I really wish this book had recipes; it continuously made me hungry). While the underlying murder was actually serious, we only really know that toward the end, and Vera's personality and how she relates to everyone with unintended humor, really overshadow the murderers. Although I think that I heard there were only going to be two in the series, I hope that the author considers bringing Vera back and that this time recipes are included!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for providing me with access to this funny mystery in exchange for my honest opinion.
4 1/2 stars.

If Vera Wong is on the case, then I will read it! A fantastic sequel to the first novel where we have a cozy mystery, humor, the importance of found family and a hint of romance. We learn more about some of the characters from the first novel and get introduced to some new ones as there is an investigation of a mysterious passing. Vera has to get involved and helps to solve the case in unconventional manners. I love seeing what Vera is up to throughout the novel and the thoughts of other characters. Novel also touches upon the consequences of social media and how unrealistic it could be. Highly recommend the book.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Book comes out April 1, 2025!

Since we last met Vera Wong, her tea shop (slightly (intentionally) misleadingly called Vera Wang’s World-Famous Tea House) is bustling, her son Tilly is dating police officer Selena Gray (who Vera hopes will soon become her daughter-in-law), and life is good. But life is also boring, and Vera finds herself wishing for another murder to solve. After meeting a young woman named Millie who is searching for a missing person who isn’t what he seems, Vera pounces on the opportunity to investigate!

I absolutely loved the first book, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, and not only is Vera back, she’s better than ever! I just adore Vera, a meddlesome Chinese mother and endearing busybody who’s always sure she knows what’s best for everyone in every situation. She gathers her suspects around her as she tries to woo the truth out of them with copious feasts of delicious Chinese food, once again finding a community in the midst of her investigation. This story warmed my heart and had me laughing out loud repeatedly, especially as Vera goes viral on social media (“the Tik Tok”). This cozy mystery is heavy on the cozy but also delves into a bit of dark subject matter too.

You don't have to read the first book in order to enjoy this one, but you should anyway because it's so good! Plus lots of characters from the first book pop up here, so it's nice when they're already old friends you know!

Vera Wong is back in action! This time around she’s determined to find out what happened in regards to the death of a social media influencer, Xander.

This one is full of heart and laugh out loud moments. The mystery is fun but also full of depth and a little dark. I loved the continuing of the theme of found family, which was present in the first book. I can’t give this series and Vera enough praise. It was such a delightful and entertaining read! Just read it!

Thank you, @JesseQSutanto and #Berkley for the free book. #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyBookstagram

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) (A Vera Wong Novel, Book 2) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 336 / Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: April 1, 2025
🥳#HappyPubWeek!🎉

After solving her first murder in Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murders, Vera is itching to solve another one. So while snooping through her son’s girlfriend’s police things, she comes across an unsolved murder case where she recognizes the victim. Now, she can’t not involve herself in the investigation—obviously. Like in the first book in this series, Vera changes the lives of everyone she meets, adding to her growing circle of found family members.

I loved this book even more than the first. Not only is Vera just so entertaining and endearing, this mystery really had me guessing to the end, which was chock full of surprises and action. But I’ll warn you, there’s a lot of delicious Chinese dishes mentioned in this series so you will absolutely be craving Chinese food by the end of this book.

You can read this one as a standalone since it focuses mostly on the new people she’s met who are involved in this case, but you’d miss out on Vera’s origin story and the backstory on the first batch of people in her life. I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you Berkley Pub for the free book and thank you PRH Audio for the #gifted advanced listening copy of Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man]! #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #VeraWongsGuideToSnoopingOnADeadMan #VeraWong #Vera2 #JesseQSutanto #EuniceWong #VeraWong2

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 [𝐎𝐧 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧]
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐐. 𝐒𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟓★

She’s BACK!! Vera is surrounded by loved ones, including her son Tilly and his girlfriend, Officer Selena Gray. That’s right, the same officer who Vera harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Now, Vera is bored and wishing another murder would pop-up for her to investigate. Lucky for her, she comes across a young woman looking for her friend Thomas who is missing. Luckily, Vera is cat-sitting for Tilly and Selena and finds Selena’s briefcase with a file in it that gives her a lot of information about the death of a person the woman is looking for. And just like that…Vera is back to her old ways again trying to solve a murder!

This is my FAVORITE series of all time! When I found out there was going to be a Vera Wong 2, I was so excited! The first book could have easily been a standalone, so it was such a surprise to find out that there would be a second book! I loved this book just as much as the first book, which never happens! The best part? I can easily see this turning into a series! Will there be a third book? I sure hope so!

🫖Cozy Mystery
🫖Quirky Characters
🫖Amateur Sleuths
🫖Top Notch Narration
🫖Found Family
🫖Multiple POVs
🫖Laugh Out Loud Funny

🎧You know I had to listen to the audiobook, which was narrated by my FAVORITE, Eunice Wong. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is my most recommended audiobook, and I am so excited to now recommend both of these audiobooks! This one was flawless! This is the type of book that I highly recommend on Audio. Even if you’re not an audiobook listener, give it a try. Or if nothing else, just listen to the sample to hear how Eunice does Vera’s voice. I am not lying when I say she is my all time favorite! Vera #1 has won so many awards, and I would be shocked if this one did not follow suit!

Posted on Goodreads on March 31, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around March 31, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 1, 2025
**-will post on designated date

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto is the 2nd book in her Vera Wong’s series. Vera, is a sharp-witted 61-year-old, who once again becomes involved in a new mystery for her to investigate. She is surround by wonderful family, and a bustling shop, but she does become slightly bored.

Vera meets a young distressed girl, Millie, who is looking for a missing friend. Her friend, Xander was a successful social media influencer and Vera helps Millie to look for her friend, who turns up dead. Vera begins to collect a group of young characters, who knew Xander, to help her solve the crime. The way Vera captivates the people around her is delightful, and loved by her new young friends. She brings humor into this story, especially with her meddling in their lives. Vera is determined to discover who was Xander, especially since those friends, who really did not know his real name; she will gather those friends and find the truth. This was an interesting plot, filled with suspense, as well as Vera keeping them under her wing; as well as always bringing huge amounts of food, and her famous tea.

Besides her regular family, as well as her young friends, others become concerned with many worried about her interfering and gaining the attention of dangerous people, who are possible behind the murder. Her son, Tilly’s girlfriend is Officer Selena Gray (who worked on the previous case), and Selena is not too happy with Vera, becoming involved, and putting herself in danger.

I really got a kick out of Vera, especially her wonderful grandmotherly affection for the very young, who call her grandma; as well as her social media influence friends. They teach Vera new skills, even becoming quickly well-known on social media. Vera is always there for each of them, to build their confidence.

What follows is Millie will tell Vera the truths about her evil mother and father, and who is truly behind the murders. Vera was injured, and Selena will get the department to find the bad people committing the crimes.
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man), was a wonderful, fun, exciting, heartwarming story with a group of new people who Vera helped and protected. Once again, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping was a delightful story, so very well written by Jesse Q. Sutanto. I look forward to more from Vera Wong.

By chance, Vera meets a young woman whose best friend, Xander, has gone missing. Not so much by chance, Vera finds the police file about the death of an influencer, the very person Millie is looking for. But the police are unable to identify him, let alone solve his murder, so Vera steps in to do it herself… and in her own way.

I’m still not sure how I feel about Vera. She has a strong sense of family and loyalty, but she is also sure that her way is the best way, often the only way, to get results. She is dogged in her questioning and investigating, but doesn’t take seriously the danger she often puts herself in. She does get results, although often in very compromising or just plain crazy ways.

As with the first book in this series, a very real societal issue was central to the story. We all hear about human trafficking and how horrible things happen, but the was it is incorporated in this book made it even more real – and scary and sad at the same time. Do be sure to read the author’s acknowledgements at the end of the book.

The mystery in this story was complicated, full of twists and turns that had me guessing until things started to come together near the end of the book. The motive was pretty clear relatively early on, but the actual culprit was a mystery until just before the reveal.

I look forward to reading about Vera’s next adventure, but wish the publisher would include recipes for some of the amazing dishes Vera prepares in these books.