Since Dial A for Aunties, I’ve been a fan of Jesse Q. Sutanto, and I’ll happily recommend her books to anyone (or anyone in the Book Circle Community). So when I had the chance to read Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, I didn’t even hesitate. And once again, Sutanto completely delivered!
While Dial A for Aunties is a full-blown slapstick comedy where one disaster snowballs into an entire family’s dumpster fire (plus a bit of romance), Vera Wong takes a slightly different route. It’s still packed with humor, but it’s a ‘quieter’, cozier mystery. One that hooks you just as much with the whodunit as it does with the warm, chaotic creation of a found family. Vera’s (a meddling, sharp-witted, tea-slinging Chinese grandmother turned amateur sleuth) an absolute delight! I laughed through the entire book, felt my heart warm, and loved reading the story through the chapters (‘views’) of each character.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is the kind of story that feels like a comfort read while still giving you a satisfying mystery to solve. If you want a day spent in the company of an unforgettable grandmother, a colorful cast, and a murder, do yourself a favor and pick up this book.
