Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Ratings177
Average rating4
Summary: When a man turns up dead in her tea shop one morning, Vera Wong decides that she—being much more fastidious and insightful than the police—will investigate the case. Very quickly, she identifies four suspects and begins trying to uncover any secrets they might be hiding. The problem, however, is that Vera starts to really like this group of suspects-turned-friends.
I really enjoyed this book, but I found the solution to the mystery to be somewhat unsatisfying.
“People always say that your wedding day is the happiest day of your life, but honestly, people should try solving murders more often.”
Vera Wong is the star of the show in this lighthearted whodunit. She is the owner of Vera Wang's World Famous Tea Shop, neither belonging to Vera Wang nor at all world famous. Her shop is failing and Vera is lonely, having lost her husband and having a son that does not seem to appreciate her, well, motherly texts and calls.
Her life changes when suddenly, a man turns up dead in her tea shop. Finally, something exciting is happening in her life, and Vera decides to play detective. She has seen CSI, and thus obviously knows more than the police about how to properly investigate.
More than a whodunit in search of the murderer, this book turns into a search for healing and family, and how to deal with wrongdoings that have been done to you and starting a new chapter in your life.
It's wholesome, with plenty of funny moments, but also touches on some serious topics.
The murder mystery aspect of the story could have been a bit more fleshed out. Honestly, there are only a handful of characters in this book, and most of them can be eliminated from the suspect list pretty early on, leaving you with only one possible culprit. I don't mind it too much, even though I love to be surprised by who actually did it, but this book offers so much more than just a detective-working-a-case plot.
Can't wait for the sequel!
Overall this was a great book. The pacing was great and I was engaged all the way up until the end. Things felt a little slow by the end. The character development was great I felt a connections to the group of friends and found myself wishing I had a Chinese grandma like Vera. The underlying message of taking your family for granted really hit home. My mom has some similarities to Vera and I could see myself as Tilly, and this reminded me to be grateful for all her well meaning idiosyncrasies.
Contains spoilers
If you don't take this book too seriously this is a fun read. It was a bit goofy and Vera's constant inserting of herself into things that are none of her business. Was at times chuckle-worthy.
On the other hand, if you want a good mystery and character development this is not for you. Vera does everything she can to hinder the murder investigation while interrogating innocent people. Telling them directly that they are a suspect. Vera was written as if she was ancient through all of her scenes and I forgot how young she actually is.
The side characters all have their own issues that seem to be solved too simplistically by Vera's motherly advice or more like forceful intrusion into their personal lives. There is a romance in the background with two of the suspects who felt unpleasant due to all the lies they told, not just to the group but to each other. Then you have a toddler who talks about inflation in a really off-putting moment.
It kind of bothered me that the suspects are only suspects because they did something petty and felt bad about it.
I read this in a pretty upbeat mood, and I did end up enjoying Vera's meddlesome ways. There is a second story coming soon that I would like to read.
Such a funny, sharp, crazy, caring grandma, Vera Wong is. Her “world-famous” tea house gives me such cozy vibes. Her teas and her fabulous lunches are such a joy to read about. Her Asian elder attitude is so typical and caricature-esque that it is totally hilarious. All the other characters were so charming, too. Even her errant son turns out good, after all. Loved this book.
A sweet, wholesome, and humorous story. Finished it in two sittings and I'm excited for the release of the second book
An entertaining story about an elderly Chinese woman whose wakes up one morning to discover a dead body in her tea shop and takes it upon herself to find out who the killer is. Before long, she's insinuated herself into the lives of her young suspects, changing their lives forever. This is less a traditional detective story and more one elderly woman's search for purpose in life.
An entertaining story about an elderly Chinese woman whose wakes up one morning to discover a dead body in her tea shop and takes it upon herself to find out who the killer is. Before long, she's insinuated herself into the lives of her young suspects, changing their lives forever. This is less a traditional detective story and more one elderly woman's search for purpose in life.
What a heartwarming story even though it is about a murder. Or it seems to be about a murder until you realize it's about much more than that: it's about friendship, about encouragement, about not taking people for granted. It's really inspiring, some notes she makes about the Chinese culture, like kids looking after parents advice not because they need but as a sign of respect and to make them feel useful, really got into me. I grew up with this urge to do things by myself, always hated when people tried to help as I'd see it as lack of competence of my part and that people was doubting of my capabilities trying to teach me how to live. So it was good to have a fresh point of view of life. I really need to have fresh pov.
On another note, I am in love with the style of the writing, I wish one day I'll be able to write something with the same style, sarcastic and audacious.
If you readers think this is a Cozy Mystery then you may want to be careful, the “F” work is mention thru out the book, just a head ups for some of you folks - It didn't bother me at all. With that being said then this book can be read as a Cozy!
Good mystery, a bit long at 410 pages, good characters and lots of awards! I enjoyed it! David N.
This was not the book I was expecting it to be, but I enjoyed it all the more because of it, I think. I went in expecting this to be more on the investigative side of things, a bit of an underdog sleuth figuring out a crime on her own with her own means, but it ended up actually being quite a wholesome found family story. I thought the plot was well-paced and fun, and it was really great to see a nearly entirely Asian American cast who all emphasized their own quirks and the baggage that they held in their lives.
At first Vera was a little annoying, but I actually felt that was pretty intentional. The rest of the cast were revealed very smoothly and I loved the approach of peeling back each of them one by one to get to know them more. Lastly, Marshall...Well, I appreciated that they made him really detestable but especially by the end of it he was almost cartoonishly a bad person, and I was happy they didn't shy away from exposing troublesome people like him.
While I would love to read more about Vera and her cavalcade in the future, I would also be completely content leaving this story and world where it is now. I had a lot of fun with this and it was a light read that was a fun break between other books!
This book just made me incredibly happy. It was like comfort food. The coziest of cozies.
there's a lot to like in this delightful book, but it's not without its flaws. it does read quite like a kid's book, so I'm surprised it's marketed towards adults. I did find that it was repetitive - the narration, the emotions. everyone seemed to experience things in the exact same way. it was hard to tell people apart (except for vera). I think the book would've worked better from vera's POV. analysing the POVs alone would let you know who the killer is (or isn't). also realistically, some people suck more than others, but they were still unrealistically redeemed. the narration was often not cohesive as well. the descriptions of food made me hungry.
Marshall is lying dead on a down-at-heel tea shop floor. Vera, the elderly owner, sets about solving the case when the police decide it's an accident. Vera investigates 4 people who were all showing an unusual interest in her tea shop after the murder. Cosy mystery, minor jeopardy, friendships made, fallings out, all comes right in the end.
I gave it a low score because I found Vera irritating rather than endearing. She went past feisty and into abrasive and her behaviour, particularly towards the police, was unrealistically rude. I know the idea in this kind of cosy is that the heroine stands no nonsense from the younger generation, and gets away with it because no one wants to be harsh to an elderly lady, and that is usually funny. But this one went too far for me. I struggled to keep going with it, and only got to the end because I was stuck with nothing else to listen to.
This is more A Man Called Ove in the backdrop of a murder and barely a murder-mystery. Not complaining, just observing. Cute chill read.
omg I loved this book so much!! Vera is a softie and Emma is probably my favorite character ever
dnf after 20%
this not witty this is petty and dumb. no character I meet in these pages is likeable or funnily unlikeable. The main character is so infuriating noisy and full of herself, I asked myself what is wrong with her or myself.
I am now debating if I ever will want to read any book of this author.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is a funny cozy mystery following the title character's amateur investigation of a murder in her tea shop. Vera is funny, charming, and such a strong protagonist. The other characters in the book are wonderful too. I enjoyed the plot, although I did guess who the culprit was. Ultimately this mystery is very enjoyable!
This was SOOO good. I haven't read a book I enjoyed this much in a while. Really hoping for more in this world. Just such a sweet book.