As a book reviewer, I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher or author to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation, and all opinions are always 100% my own.
You guys! She’s back! I loved the first Vera Wong escapade (review here). Now Vera’s finely-honed skills of nosiness, cooking for underfed Gen Zers, and general stubbornness will once more shine as she decides to find a missing young man.
The young man’s body has been found, but no one seems to really know who he was. Was he Xander, the popular online influencer with a girlfriend and lavish lifestyle? Or was he Thomas, Millie’s friend, living down the hall from her. Or was he, most puzzlingly of all, named John Doe? Vera is going to find out! She’s helped along by the fact that her son’s girlfriend, Officer Selena Gray, foolishly left her briefcase in her own home where Vera can access it for clues. From there the chase is on! Vera shines in unexpected situations, from crashing an influencer party, to launching her own TikTok, to facing down a middle school principal.
It’s rare that second books in a series outdoes the first, but I found Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man even better than the first–funnier, more complex, dealing with bigger issues. Although it follows the same formula, it still felt fresh, and I literally laughed out loud several times at Vera’s complex blend of stubbornness and cluelessness. It’s a thoroughly delightful read and I highly recommend you get yourself a copy as soon as possible!