e-Audio, 10:35:04
Narrated by: Eunice Wong
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: March 24-25, 2025
Vera Wong, #2
Source: PRH Audio (I received a free e-ALC from PRH Audio App and the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Emotional Abuse, Trafficking. Child Abuse, Suicide, Violence, Physical Abuse, Bullying, Alcohol
For Readers Interested In: Adult, Audio, Mystery, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Chinese), Realistic FictionVera 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.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was a really cute book. I love Vera so much lol She’s a messy little ol thing but she gets ish done. I’m very proud of all the things she’s done lol I said that like she was my real granny. But for real, if you can read this and not feel the same, then that’s a you problem. Because Vera is THAT GIRL.
Ok so this one was still funny, but I didn’t find it as funny as the last one. I think it was because this one was a bit more serious. It was the topic, but Vera still made it her own. She went to seek out the case and she found out the information she needed to get in touch with everyone. She used her same tactics as last time and just started talking to people and making them do what she says. (I still don’t know how she does this lmao) And in this one Vera is a Tiktok star?! Y’all know I STAN influencers in books lol I read that and actually clapped lol I just know people ate her content up! After reading this I actually came across an Instagram profile called Grannies with Pasta or something and it was the cutest thing! I know it was exactly what Vera did. But hers had the bite with the added murder case doses lmao (How her channel didn’t get taken down tho is beyond me lmao)
The mystery itself is a cozy mystery, so it is a slow burn. That’s literally my only complaint. I loved the first book because it wasn’t THAT slow. And like we knew from the beginning that there was a dead man in her shop lol In this one we don’t really know what’s going on because the clues are introduced throughout the entire book. But Vera had other things to keep me entertained, so I was ok with not having a thrilling page turner. This joins one of three cozy mysteries that make me feel this way.
This book was so good. I wish I could talk about the end without spoilers tho! I was cheering so loud. I did feel like it was a bit too quick tho. Everything happened and then it was just over. Next thing I know it was the epilogue. I wanted to see more. What happened to them? And what really happened to the original person? Also in the epilogue, she mentions going somewhere and y’all if we get Vera in that place with someone she doesn’t even like? I can’t wait for the chaos!
I really hope there’s more to this series. Vera (and us) deserves more. Also I need to read more of these recipes that she has. And I REALLY need Sutanto to put the recipes in the book. I just need more Vera period ok? Hopefully she finds another case to stick her nose in (while still staying safe of course) and we get another case out of this!
Overall, I give this
