Vera Wong · #1
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
A lonely shopkeeper takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way in this captivating mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.
Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady—ah, lady of a certain age—who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, oh no. She likes nothing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy detective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to.
Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing—a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn’t know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like any good citizen would, she sort of . . . swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she would do a better job than the police possibly could, because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands. Vera knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do is watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which one among them is the killer.
What Vera does not expect is to form friendships with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them. As a protective mother hen, will she end up having to give one of her newfound chicks to the police?
The series
The Vera Wong series by Jesse Q. Sutanto isn’t just about solving mysteries; it’s about the messy, beautiful, and often hilarious ways our lives get intertwined. The series kicks off with Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, where Vera, a spunky and sharp-witted grandmother who runs a San Francisco tea shop, discovers a dead body in her store. With the police taking their time and a gut feeling that something isn’t right, Vera takes it upon herself to investigate, blending her quirky intuition with her bold, no-nonsense attitude.
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But Vera Wong isn’t your average amateur sleuth. She’s not just chasing down clues—she’s navigating the complexities of family, identity, and belonging, all while attempting to solve crimes that hit closer to home than she expected. As she uncovers secrets and forms unexpected connections, Vera’s investigations reveal a side of her that’s tender, humorous, and deeply relatable. With her sharp tongue and big heart, Vera navigates not just the case at hand but the nuances of being a mother, a grandmother, and a woman carving out her own space in the world.
The series continues to unfold with Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man), where Vera’s unorthodox investigative methods lead her to another tangled web—this time involving a missing influencer and the online world’s chaotic undercurrents. Vera’s pursuit of the truth takes her through a journey of growth, deepening her relationships, especially with her son’s girlfriend, Officer Selena Gray. The blend of mystery and heartfelt exploration of personal connections gives this series a unique, grounded feel, making it more than just about who did it—but why it matters.
With a writing style that captures both the charm of cozy mysteries and the emotional depth of character-driven narratives, Sutanto crafts a series that feels like a warm cup of tea—comforting yet filled with surprises. Vera’s world is one of humor, mystery, and heart, offering a perfect escape that will leave you both laughing and reflecting long after the final page. Vera Wong is a series that shows just how unpredictable life can be—especially when a determined grandmother takes matters into her own hands.
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