Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

By: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Narrated by: Eunice Wong

Publisher's summary

A USA Today bestseller

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?

©2023 Jesse Q. Sutanto (P)2023 Penguin Audio

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Critic reviews

“A staggering, masterful suspense confection, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is quite simply one of my favorite novels of all time. The kind of book you want to reread every year in order to revisit its brilliant world. Vera will delight, charm, and steal your heart. A propulsive, delectable blend of Knives Out meets The Maid shot through with Sutanto’s customary raucous sense of humor and gift for astonishing twists, Vera is an instant classic.”—May Cobb, author of My Summer Darlings

"Following the success of Dial A for Aunties, Sutanto is back with another charmer, this time following the exploits of orthopedic-sneaker-wearing Vera Wong Zhuzhu, who finds a dead body in her Chinatown tea shop. When the police investigation isn’t thorough enough for her liking, she concocts a plan to find the murderer, aided by a locked flash drive she found on the body and stashed away for safekeeping. Sutanto excels at skewering with affection, and an earnest hilarity shines through in this entertaining whodunit."—The Washington Post

“Vivid sensory descriptions of the custom teas Vera concocts and the elaborate feasts she prepares further heighten the feel-good appeal. Literary comfort food in the guise of a quirky whodunit.”—Kirkus

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4 out of 5 stars

By Sara on 04-19-23

This book is worth it for the narrator’s performance alone!

This book is good, but it’s one of the rare instances where I think the performance of the narrator actually elevates the whole thing. She took a good book and made and it great!

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4 out of 5 stars

By Lauren Kiersey on 03-26-23

Slow and sweet

A little slow in places but a really sweet story. The end is surprising twice and but it's a happy ending!

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5 out of 5 stars

By KL on 05-30-23

Loved every page!

What a refreshing and beautiful story. I loved the characters and the relationships. I enjoyed it thoroughly- loved how the murder mystery tied in too!

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5 out of 5 stars

By Kimberly on 06-08-23

I didn’t know wheat to think

But the tears of happiness at the end was awesome. This book is a must read.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Wendy Moore on 05-22-23

Chinese whodunit

loved it! Vera Wong was my favorite character
I could not stop listening.
Tea is the answer

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5 out of 5 stars

By Darcy on 05-06-23

Perfect narration of a great story!

I hardly ever write reviews, but I have to for this one. If anyone was ever on the fence about whether to read or to listen to a book, you would be well served to listen to this fantastic mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and enjoyed many amusing moments that became laugh-out-loud funny. The story is fabulous, and I’m hoping that it could be the start of a series.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Erica on 05-03-23

Vera Wong is irresistible!

I absolutely loved this book. Vera Wong was such a lovable character and her quest for the truth was nonstop comedy. Jesse’s writing was so engaging and I was drawn into each character’s story. I loved this book so much I immediately downloaded all of her other books! Do yourself a favour and listen to this book!

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5 out of 5 stars

By Bob Spencer on 05-10-23

Great, audible book

Great narrator, and great story. The characters are wonderful and some of the scenes are laugh out loud funny. A must listen!

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5 out of 5 stars

By LV on 04-28-23

LOVED IT!

A great story, excellent narration, a must read. 2023 has been a great year for excellent books! this most certainly one of them. a must read.

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5 out of 5 stars

By katuptown on 05-08-23

Loved the narrator!

This was a great audible! You will come to love the characters as well as Vera!

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