Series Name: Vera Wong, #2
Review By Gabrielle
Vera is back in this fantastic follow-up to Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.
Favourite quote:
Life couldn’t be better. She is surrounded by a loving family and her tea shop has a steady stream of customers. Vera should be content. And she is, really. But she’s also kind of – dare she say it – bored.
Sometimes, all an old lady wants is a murder to solve. Is that too much to ask for?
Book Synopsis:
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:
I’m a bookworm, not a writer, so sometimes I feel myself lost for the right words. This is one of those times, friends. I just can’t describe how hard I love Vera Wong. I’ve been a huge fan of Jesse’s work since her Aunties series, but I think I may love Vera even more.
Vera is the Auntie we didn’t know we needed. Stern and bossy, she doesn’t take no for an answer, and she’s not afraid to guilt you into doing anything she wants. But her heart is even bigger (even if she’d never admit it). Her love language is food, and she always feeds everyone around her. After solving her first murder (in book one), Vera’s life has changed dramatically. She is no longer lonely; with a renewed relationship with her son and a new big-found family, things are going well. But she’s bored. If only another murder could happen!
Vera meets Millie outside the police station. It’s obvious she’s scared, and she’s looking for her friend who has gone missing. Vera makes her tea (of course) and vows to help her. Over the course of her investigation, just like in her first book, Vera meets and befriends (with bullying) several people from all walks of life who are connected to the case. As she interferes in their lives, she ultimately improves them.
The story is told from all the character’s points of view. It’s a format I really enjoy. One of my favourite parts is when a character meets Vera for the first time, and they don’t quite know what to make of her. She just kind of collects people in her bossy way, and it takes them a bit to get used to her and understand what a positive force she is in their lives. Of course, all of these characters have something to hide, and I love the way Jesse keeps us guessing.
This story is not all fun and hilarity. Jesse illuminates an important issue within these pages. I can’t say much more without ruining the plot, so I’ll just say Jesse does a great job of handling this topic with care. I actually learned quite a bit, and it wasn’t an issue I had previously considered much.
I can’t get enough of Vera, and I hope we’ll get to read another one of her adventures in the future.
Thank you, Berkley, for the ARC in return for an honest review.
