Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse 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 trove: 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 all: 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.

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) Book Review

Cozy mysteries always draw me in, and Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) delivers in all the right ways! While it’s not my all-time favourite cozy mystery series, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Vera’s world and following her latest round of meddling.

In this charming sequel to Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Vera finds herself a little bored after solving her first murder. When a new mystery presents itself, she simply can’t resist involving herself once again.

Vera truly makes this series shine. She’s eccentric, nosy and absolutely lovable. Her witty dialogue brings so much humour to the story—you can’t help but laugh out loud.

Just like in the first book, I love how she draws everyone around her into her orbit, whether they like it or not. The found family dynamic is one of the highlights of this cozy mystery series, and it’s even better with Vera’s fierce loyalty and big heart.

The mystery itself is solid and enjoyable. That said, I did find it a little predictable, which took away some of the suspense for me. Still, the warmth of the characters and the laugh-out-loud moments made up for it.

Overall, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) is a delightful cozy mystery full of heart, humour, and lovable characters. This book is a great fit for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a quirky protagonist and lighthearted sleuthing.

I’m definitely hoping for more books in the Vera Wong series—because it’s a fun, reliable cozy mystery to curl up with anytime!

Rating: ★★★☆☆

About the Author

Jesse Q. Sutanto is the award-winning, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Well, That Was Unexpected, The Obsession, and Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit. The film rights to Dial A for Aunties was bought by Netflix, and the TV rights to Vera Wong was bought by Warner Bros, with Oprah and Mindy Kaling attached to produce.

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