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Booksasian american & pacific islander literature ebooksVera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Cover of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
№ 1 · Vera Wong

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,

by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Ask AI
Rating4.0/ 5
Ratings302
Pages368
Reading Hours8h
Published2023
LanguageEnglish

§Synopsis

01

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?

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§Genres
asian american & pacific islander literature ebooks1contemporary1fiction1mystery1realistic fiction1thriller1
§Content Warnings
§Moods
adventurous1emotional1funny1hopeful1inspiring1lighthearted1medium-paced1
§Tags
#a mix driven1#character driven1#diverse characters1#indonesian author1#loveable characters1

§About the Author

Jesse Q. Sutanto
Jesse Q. Sutanto

4 books in catalog

Blending humorous family dynamics with cozy murder mysteries and romance, the Dial A for Aunties book series brought a distinct comedic voice to contemporary crime fiction. Chinese-Indonesian author Jesse Q. Sutanto gained widespread acclaim for her clever stories that explore vibrant cultural settings, chaotic family bonds, and unexpected sleuthing. Her body of work spans multiple categories, including adult contemporary fiction, young adult romantic comedies, and dark thrillers such as You Will Never Be Me.

Career & Background

Jesse Q. Sutanto grew up moving between Jakarta, Singapore, and Oxford, considering all three locations her home. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley in 2006, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford in 2009—an achievement she playfully jokes about making her whole personality. Returning to Indonesia, Sutanto lives with her husband, her two daughters, and a large extended family that includes forty-two first cousins and thirty aunts and uncles living nearby.

Sutanto became a USA Today bestselling author following the publication of her breakout adult novel, Dial A for Aunties (2021). The novel won the 2021 Comedy Women in Print Prize and was optioned for a film adaptation by Netflix following a competitive auction. Her popular cozy mystery Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (2023) earned the 2024 Edgar Award for Best Original Paperback, along with an Audie Award and a Libby Award, confirming her standing across adult, young adult, and middle-grade fiction.

Writing Style & Themes

Sutanto's writing is recognized for its rapid pacing, sharp situational humor, and authentic representation of Chinese-Indonesian culture. Her stories frequently feature tight-knit, multi-generational families, overbearing yet deeply supportive aunties, and relatable protagonists thrust into high-stakes or chaotic situations. Whether writing lighthearted rom-coms set in Jakarta and Bali or suspenseful thrillers exploring social media obsession, she balances dark or chaotic circumstances with warmth and strong community ties.

Major Works

  • Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers — A cozy murder mystery featuring an inquisitive San Francisco tea-shop owner who takes charge of a homicide investigation in her store; winner of the 2024 Edgar Award for Best Original Paperback.
  • The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties — A hilarious installment in the Dial A for Aunties series, following Meddy Chan and her unstoppable aunts during family celebrations in Jakarta and Bali.
  • You Will Never Be Me — A sharp psychological thriller detailing the intense rivalry, obsession, and dark side of social media influence between two women.
  • Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) — A delightful comedic mystery sequel continuing the unauthorized sleuthing adventures of Vera Wong.

§Featured Series

Vera Wong

Cover of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Jesse Q. Sutanto, 2023
Cover of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

Jesse Q. Sutanto, 2025

§Other Editions

Showing 2 of 10 editions
Cover of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

engKindle348 pgs
Berkley20239780593546185
Amazon
Cover of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

engAudiobookUnabridged
Penguin Random House Audio20239780593675359
§Genres
asian american & pacific islander literature ebooks1contemporary1fiction1mystery1realistic fiction1thriller1
§Content Warnings
§Moods
adventurous1emotional1funny1hopeful1inspiring1lighthearted1medium-paced1
§Tags
#a mix driven1#character driven1#diverse characters1#indonesian author1#loveable characters1

Metadata

ISBN-139780593675366
ISBN-100593549228
ASINBOB625B9X6

Editions and availability

Find Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers Jesse Q. Sutanto in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.

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