The Usual Suspects Book Club
Title: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Genre(s): Mystery; Humor.
Audience: Adult.
Quote: “People always say that your wedding day is the happiest day of your life, but honestly, people should try solving murders more often.” –Jesse Q. Sutanto, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Blurb: Sixty-year-old Vera Wong is surprised to discover a dead body in her San Francisco teashop. Unimpressed by the investigatory prowess of the city police department, Vera uses her sleuthing skills to solve the murder. In the process, she forges new bonds of friendship and found family with her primary suspects.
Thoughts: I appreciated how amusing the writing was throughout the book. There were many times I found myself laughing, especially at Vera’s witty observation. The humor created a light-hearted tone that kept me flipping the pages to see what funny thing would be said next.
I also enjoyed the delicious descriptions of tea and comfort food, which made my mouth water and filled me with a warm feeling ideal for a cozy mystery.
The story was told through multiple perspectives that alternated every chapter. The points of views that resonated with me the most were those of Vera herself and struggling artist Sana.
In terms of the plot, it often felt low-stakes and I could predict who turned out to be the murderer. I was mostly interested in watching the developing bonds of friendship and found family growing between Vera and her various murder suspects. It was especially rewarding how Vera was able to encourage and nourish the self-confidence of the murder victim’s wife Julia and young daughter Emma.
Perfect for: Cozy mystery fans; fans of found family stories; Jesse Q. Sutanto fans; those looking for a humorous and light-hearted read.
Interested in reading? Formats available with your Leonia Library Card: Book, eBook, eAudiobook, Large Print.
Have you read Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto? If so, we’d love to chat with you about it at our December meeting of The Usual Suspects Book Club on December 16th at 2-3pm in the Ficke Room! New members are always welcome at our book club, and NO Registration required.
