I adored Vera Wong’s Guide to Unsolicited Murders. It’s one of my favorite cozy found family mysteries. I’ve also recommended it to my family. So when I saw the sequel coming, I knew I had to read it! Keep reading this book review of Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The hype for this book was unreal. I’ve loved Vera Wong’s Guide to Unsolicited Murders so much that my expectations were sky high. And I was still surprised by how much I loved this one. There’s the same signature wry tone to it. I love Vera not only for the found family she creates – often without them having a say – but also for her way she cuts straight to the matter. We love a person who’s love language is food and the way she has of bringing people together.
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This multiple POV installment makes it even more clear to me I’d read a million more Vera Wong books! We get to see how at the beginning, everyone is hiding something. It ranges from big to small, to things we only think about. And Vera is able to uncover the secrets by getting to know who they are. All the pieces of themselves around these hidden secrets. She has a way with people. A force of goodness and positivity. And there’s nothing more I need right now.
Find Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) at Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.