Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) -
I really enjoyed Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto so I was eager to read Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) even though I can't remember its full title. I was surprised how similar the two plots were - until they weren't.
60-year-old Vera is once again the center of attention in this cozy-ish mystery. After becoming aware of the suspicious death of a(nother) young man, she launches an investigation since she's nearly a professional now (lol). In the process, Vera befriends a new group of suspects, adding them to the found family she developed in book 1. But then, the plot takes a completely unexpected turn and includes human trafficking. It also explores the artificial personas of social media influencers.
Vera is a force of nature which I appreciate since we are nearly the same age (ha!). It was fun to check in with characters from the first book as well as getting to know Vera's neighboring business owners. I was happy her son Tilly is more involved in her life, and his girlfriend who's a police investigator adds to the humor and conflict.
While I enjoyed Guide to Snooping, I'm not sure I'll continue in this series. Just as with the author's Aunties series, two installments of very similar (and silly) plots are enough for this reader.
Thank you to Berkley for the egalley of this novel.
60-year-old Vera is once again the center of attention in this cozy-ish mystery. After becoming aware of the suspicious death of a(nother) young man, she launches an investigation since she's nearly a professional now (lol). In the process, Vera befriends a new group of suspects, adding them to the found family she developed in book 1. But then, the plot takes a completely unexpected turn and includes human trafficking. It also explores the artificial personas of social media influencers.
Vera is a force of nature which I appreciate since we are nearly the same age (ha!). It was fun to check in with characters from the first book as well as getting to know Vera's neighboring business owners. I was happy her son Tilly is more involved in her life, and his girlfriend who's a police investigator adds to the humor and conflict.
While I enjoyed Guide to Snooping, I'm not sure I'll continue in this series. Just as with the author's Aunties series, two installments of very similar (and silly) plots are enough for this reader.
Thank you to Berkley for the egalley of this novel.
