Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man] by Jesse Q. Sutanto

When a vibrant, elderly Chinese tea shop owner starts investigating suspicious deaths, you know you’re in for a treat that blends cozy mystery with cultural charm and heartwarming family dynamics. Jesse Q. Sutanto’s “Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping On a Dead Man” delivers exactly that, bringing back our beloved protagonist Vera Wong for another adventure filled with her signature no-nonsense attitude, meddling tendencies, and unexpected detective skills.

This second installment in the Vera Wong series follows the success of “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,” which introduced us to the unforgettable character whose life took an exciting turn when a dead body appeared in her tea shop. Now Vera is back, armed with her unshakeable confidence and a newly acquired taste for solving mysteries, as she tackles the peculiar case of an enigmatic social media influencer whose real identity seems impossible to pin down.

A Mystery Wrapped in Fakery and Secrets

The story begins with Vera feeling somewhat bored despite her bustling tea shop and thriving social circle (largely thanks to the connections she made while solving the murder in the first book). When a distressed young woman named Millie appears outside a police station looking for her missing friend Thomas, Vera’s detective instincts immediately kick in.

Through a series of fortuitous events—including snooping through her future daughter-in-law’s police files while cat-sitting—Vera discovers that Millie’s friend Thomas may be the same person as Xander Lin, a social media influencer whose body was recently recovered from Mission Bay. The twist? No one seems able to identify who this man really was. His online persona showcased private jets and glamorous parties, but every contact is a dead end.

What makes this mystery particularly compelling is how it delves into the fakery of social media identities. As Vera assembles her ragtag group of helpers (including Millie, Aimes the influencer, TJ the talent manager, and Qiang Wen the dumpling shop owner), she uncovers layer upon layer of deception. The victim maintained different identities with different people, creating a complex web that Vera must untangle.

Vera Wong: The Most Lovable Meddler in Literature

At the heart of this series is its protagonist, and Vera Wong continues to be an absolute delight in this second book. Her character strikes the perfect balance between being hilariously meddlesome and genuinely caring. Some of her most endearing qualities include:

• Her insistence on calling Tilly’s girlfriend “my future daughter-in-law” and her unsubtle hints about wanting grandbabies
• Her absolute confidence in her sleuthing abilities (“I solve a murder case last year, you know. I’m practically a detective by now.”)
• Her unwavering belief that every problem can be solved with the right tea and home-cooked Chinese food
• Her newfound social media savvy as she becomes a “TikTok personality” during her investigation

Sutanto has crafted a character who defies stereotypes while also celebrating aspects of Chinese motherhood. Vera’s meddling comes from a place of love, and her quirks—like signing text messages with “Kind Regards, Vera”—make her instantly recognizable and endearing.

The Found Family Dynamic: A Heartwarming Core

One of the strongest elements of this book is how it continues to develop the “found family” theme established in the first novel. Vera’s tea shop has become a gathering place for a diverse group of people who might otherwise never have connected. The way she “adopts” various young people throughout the story—from immediately claiming Robin as her granddaughter to bringing Aimes under her wing—creates heartwarming moments amid the mystery.

This theme resonates particularly well when contrasted with the dark undercurrent of the mystery itself. Without giving away too many details, the book touches on issues of exploitation, isolation, and the desperate need for belonging. The warmth of Vera’s makeshift family serves as a powerful counterbalance to these darker themes.

Social Commentary with a Light Touch

What elevates “Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping” beyond a simple cozy mystery is its thoughtful commentary on contemporary issues:

1. The facade of social media – Through Xander’s fabricated online life and Aimes’s confession about her “Instagram-ready” apartment, Sutanto explores how people craft idealized digital personas that bear little resemblance to reality
2. Intergenerational dynamics – The book thoughtfully depicts both the friction and the love between generations, particularly through Vera’s relationship with Tilly
3. Cultural identity – Through Vera’s insistence on proper Chinese cooking techniques and her occasional linguistic misunderstandings, the book touches on the immigrant experience with humor and sensitivity
4. The nature of family – By contrasting Vera’s loving but overbearing mothering with the exploitation portrayed elsewhere in the novel, Sutanto raises questions about what makes a true family

These themes are woven organically into the narrative without ever feeling preachy or distracting from the mystery itself.

A Few Bumps in the Snooping Road

While this book is thoroughly enjoyable, it’s not without its flaws:

• The plot occasionally relies too heavily on coincidences and Vera happening to be in the right place at the right time
• Some secondary characters could benefit from more development, as they sometimes feel defined primarily by their relationship to Vera
• The pacing in the middle third of the book meanders slightly, with a few scenes that could have been tightened
• The climactic confrontation comes together somewhat abruptly after the careful build-up

These issues don’t significantly detract from the overall reading experience, but they prevent the book from reaching its full potential as a mystery. The strength of the novel lies more in its character dynamics and cultural observations than in the crafting of its mystery plot.

Humor That Bubbles Like Tea

Sutanto’s humor is a highlight of the book, with Vera’s cultural misunderstandings and straightforward observations providing consistent laughs:

• Vera’s bewilderment at Western concepts (“What is influencer party? You mean influenza party?”)
• Her absolute certainty that everyone needs her advice, whether they ask for it or not
• Her competitive relationship with Winifred, owner of the “Chinese bakery” (which Winifred insists is French, then Korean)
• Her constant references to her son’s professional success (“my son the lawyer”)

The humor is genuine and character-based rather than relying on stereotypes, making it both funny and respectful.

A Satisfying Second Serving

For fans of the first book, “Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping On a Dead Man” delivers exactly what they’re looking for—more time with a beloved character, another intriguing mystery, and the warm feeling of belonging to Vera’s extended family. For new readers, the book works well as a standalone, though familiarity with the first novel enhances appreciation of the character relationships.

This book solidifies Vera Wong as one of the most distinctive amateur sleuths in contemporary mystery fiction. Where other mystery protagonists might rely on special skills or professional connections, Vera succeeds through a combination of stubborn persistence, maternal instinct, and an uncanny ability to gather people around her tea table and extract their secrets.

Final Verdict: A Cozy Mystery with Cultural Flavor

“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man]” is a successful sequel that maintains the charm of the original while exploring new territory. Sutanto has created a winning formula by combining:

• A distinctive, lovable protagonist with cultural specificity
• A mystery that touches on contemporary issues
• Abundant humor that never punches down
• Heartwarming family dynamics that feel authentic
• Mouthwatering descriptions of food that will leave you craving dumplings and tea

Fans of cozy mysteries with cultural flair should also enjoy Ovidia Yu’s “Aunty Lee” series set in Singapore, Ellie Alexander’s “Bakeshop Mysteries,” and Vivien Chien’s “Noodle Shop Mysteries.” Sutanto’s book stands out in this category for its contemporary themes and the sheer force of personality that is Vera Wong.

Like Vera’s special tea blends, this book offers a complex mixture of flavors: sweet moments of connection, the bitterness of betrayal, the spice of humor, and the warmth of found family. It’s a thoroughly satisfying cup of mystery that leaves you eager for another serving.

As Vera herself might say, “You finish this book, then you read next one when it come out. Is good for you. Kind Regards, Vera.”