by Jesse Q. Sutanto
I would really like to somehow reverse-adopt Vera Wong as my second mother.
Vera Wong of Vera Wang’s World-Famous Teahouse (no, that’s not a typo) in San Francisco has a very particular daily routine that begins every morning at exactly 4:30. It is disrupted when one day she finds a dead body in the middle of her shop. Of course she calls the police, but after their disappointing assessment of the scene, Vera decides to begin her own investigation.
This story starts with Vera’s perspective before diving into those of her suspects: new customers who she astutely presumes would return to the scene of the crime. This cast of characters quickly endears themselves to each other and to us as readers. They are just so relatable. Whether it is Julia’s struggling confidence, Oliver’s jealousy, Sana’s self-doubt or Riki’s concern for his family, they each need to overcome something. They are all keeping secrets and though they have come together in a bizarre and somewhat random way, their chemistry is undeniable.
Vera herself is a gem of a woman. She is instantly recognizable and loveable. She is so smart, funny, and charismatic but lonely. From the very first sentence, she captures our hearts; we are immediately Team Vera and will support whatever presumptive, silly or perhaps slightly harebrained scheme she comes up with because we trust her. She always has her reasons, even if they are at times a little misguided or misunderstood.
“Late mornings, Vera believes, are only for toddlers and Europeans.”
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, p. 1
This novel takes the found family trope and makes it entertaining. While there is a murder to solve it really is the relationships that make this a success. There is so much heart not only in how the characters relate to one another but also in their individual self-discoveries. When they come together as a group, the dynamic is soothing and dependable.
The actual mystery was so fun! I couldn’t guess where things were going or how they might unfold. I always try not to guess who the killer is (I never get it anyway) but inevitably, my internal investigation took root and in this case (and most cases), I couldn’t have been more wrong! It is a clever reveal that adds another layer of humanity to an already compassionate plot.
“In her experience, it’s best to nod and agree with what people say before doing exactly what you wanted from the very beginning.”
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, p. 89
This is such a lighthearted but heartfelt tale. I was surprised to find myself sometimes wanting to cry when I had been holding back laughter just a few pages prior (a real conundrum on both ends when reading in public). It’s the kind of story I wanted to jump right into. I know this is an overused cliché but I really didn’t want to put this book down.
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