Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Review by Jessica Heatherly)

4.5 stars

Vera Wong is exactly the type of grandmother everybody needs…but no one wants. She has advice for everyone on how to do everything and she’s always right. She has a way about her that makes even the strongest willed person nervous and unsettled, complying with her every demand.

Vera doesn’t see herself this way though. She’s helpful — a shining example of a true Chinese matriarch. When she heads downstairs from the apartment above her tea shop, she is shocked to find a dead body sprawled in the floor. There is no other explanation except someone has murdered this man and fled, even though there is no blood or sign of a struggle. Before the police arrive, she tidies up her shop and traces an outline of the body with Sharpie, to be helpful! When they finally show up without a full forensic team to inspect the area for clues, Vera decides she must take this murder investigation into her own hands! Knowing the murderer always returns to the scene of the crime, Vera waits to see who will show up and how they’re connected to the crime. What she doesn’t expect is to form meaningful friendships with each of her suspects that may possibly outweigh her desire to turn one of them in for murder.

This story is so heartwarming! We all need a Vera in our lives! I loved every moment and the cast of characters are all lovable in their own way. I laughed out loud a few times at Vera’s crazy antics and mispronunciation of random English words. The writing is refreshingly descriptive and I could nearly smell the exotic teas and taste the traditional Chinese dishes. Although the plot itself is mostly lighthearted and fun, there are deeper lessons to learn. The people you allow to really know you can either encourage your growth or leave you to wither in their overpowering shadow.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a book with a “found family” theme.