Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.

Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.

Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I absolutely loved the first book so of course I need to pick up the second book!

My Impression:  I don't know if I want to have a Vera in my life or if I absolutely don't!  I both adore her and am terrified her but I always enjoy time spent in Vera's world.  Her absolute confidence in herself and her meddling ways are so fun and I think I would be okay with it if I could have a helping of whatever delicious meal she's cooking up.  

Things have settled down from the previous adventure but Vera is getting a bit restless.  Soon though she stumbles into another murder investigation and into the world of social media.  Vera's investigation into the death of a young influencer brings her into contact with the man's social circle and they are pulled into Vera's world whether they like it or not.  I loved the reactions of the characters from the previous books as they realize what's happenings and it's always entertaining to watch someone encounter Vera for the first time.   

While I enjoyed this both for the fantastic found family aspect and for the mystery itself it wasn't quite as wonderful as the first book.  There's some repetitiveness that drug the plot down a bit.  I got that all the characters were hiding something but there's a lot of handwringing with no progress in revealing those secrets for a bit too long.   Despite the slower moving plot I do love the found family aspect of this book and I can't help but enjoy anytime Vera is on the page.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  While I don't think this was quite as magical as the first book I did really enjoy it and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would - though if you haven't read the first book you do really need to pick that one up before starting this one.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Books You'd Be a Fool Not to Read If...

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  In honor of April Fools Day, today's topic is Books You'd Be a Fool Not to Read.   I'm picking a few prompts and choosing books You'd Be a Fool Not to Read If....

You're Looking For A Cozy Mystery:

The Whole Cat and Caboodle by Sofie Ryan - This cozy mystery series involving secondhand store owner Sarah, a slew of senior citizens who run a PI firm, and a cat with some serious attitude is always good and a great series to try.

Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran - I was deeply suspicious of this series as I didn't think a book based on a show could be any good but it turns out they're just as fun and as cozy as the show.  The series is long running, and you can jump in anywhere.  

You're Looking For A Love Story with Characters You Can't Help But Like

Funny Story by Emily Henry - I loved both Miles and Daphne and the world they inhabited.  The side characters were fantastic and I was completely rooting form them as a couple.

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan - This wasn't quite the house swap story I expected but I loved all the characters and it was just a delight.   

You're Looking For A Classic Mystery:

Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh - I don't always love Marsh's books but this was a delight with a fantastically clever method of murder.

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie - This is one of her earliest books and such a fun one with a good mystery, a heroine with a longing for adventure, and a touch of espionage.  

You're Looking For A Twisty Thriller That Will Keep You Reading But Won't Be Too Scary:

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell - Multiple POVs with a podcast format and twists and turns that kept me guessing made for a page turning read and a fantastic audio book.

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass - This multi-POV thriller involving a violent attack, stalking, murder, and missing persons kept me locked in but didn't give me nightmares.

You're Looking for Found Family Goodness:

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman - This was lovely found family in both the literal and metaphorical sense with a big helping of books!

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander - After the death of her mother Jess is pretty much alone in the world and lands in a little English village in a small cottage and in possession of an old phone box.  This is a little slower but lovely.

What books do you think people would be a fool not to read?

Dead Post Society - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Dead Post Society (A House Flipper Mystery #7) by Diane Kelly

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  The seventh in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are no strangers to murder. After all, they’ve encountered corpses on their properties before. But this is the first time they’d decided to take a chance on a property where two murders have already occurred. Most buildings on the former boarding school property have been repurposed for an upscale retirement community, but the developer had no use for the headmaster’s house given its violent history. The headmaster and his wife were killed there decades earlier, their deaths remaining a mystery to this day.

Still, it seems a shame to see the beautiful Victorian give way to decay or the wrecking ball, even if many claim the unsettled souls of the victims still wander its halls, seeking retribution and justice. Can Whitney and Buck exorcise the structure’s demons, solve the cold case, and give the building new life? Or will ghosts from the past seek to silence them forever?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed a few books in this series so of course I had to pick this one up.

My Impression: I do love a cold case and one involving a home renovation is even better.  Whitney and her cousin and business partner are exploring an old boarding school property when they discover the property also included a Victorian house where a terrible crime has occurred.  The house is like a time capsule and Whitney discovers a clue that leads her to believe the crime may not have happened quite like everyone thought.  

Why Whitney's family and friends do appear in the book - especially her husband who just happens to be a homicide detective and her cousin Buck - the focus is mostly on Whitney and her investigation.  I loved looking over her shoulder as she dug through old records and hunted down witnesses.  She's sometimes a bit impulsive but she's at least aware of it and is rarely in Too Stupid To Live territory.  I also really love the handful of chapters from Whitney's cat, Sawdust's perspective.

This was a fun cozy mystery with some home renovation and a fantastic cold case investigation.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I've enjoyed everything I've read from this author and am looking forward to going back and read the books I've missed.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy a cozy mystery than this is a great choice - and a mystery you can start without having to read the rest of the series.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Week in Reading - March 30

 

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

Knave of Diamonds by Laurie R. King - I'm so excited about this one.  I loved the previous book in the series and am looking forward to reading this story.  (Publisher)

It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle - I really liked the first book and am so curious to see how the story continues.  (Publisher)

For Duck's Sake by Donna Andrews - I'm really glad I enjoy this cozy mystery series because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to resist the titles even if I didn't! (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto and Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley

Listening:  Let Me Lie by Claire Mackintosh

This week has been such a good reading week.  I'm really enjoying all my books and have so enjoyed my reading time.  J and I tried a new restaurant which I very much enjoyed and he very much didn't but we did have a good time so I call that a win.  We have a new group of dogs for classes and I think most of them are going to be really fun to work with.   The appointment with the surgeon regarding my finger went well.  My only negative has been some fatigue but I'm hoping some rest this weekend will get me feeling better.

Have a great week and happy reading!

Three Act Tragedy - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   

Description:  Who wouldn't be pleased to attend a small dinner party being held by Sir Charles Cartwright, once the leading star of the London stage? At his "Crow's Nest" home in Loomouth, Cornwall.

Unfortunately, thirteen guests arrived at the actor's house, most unlucky. One of them was a vicar. It was to be a particularly unlucky evening for the mild-mannered Reverend Stephen Babbington, who choked on his cocktail, went into convulsions and died. But when his martini glass was sent for chemical analysis, there was no trace of poison -- just as Hercule Poirot, also in attendance, had predicted. Even more troubling for the great detective, there was absolutely no motive!

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the March pick for the Read Christie 2025 Challenge

My Impression: This is one of the mysteries I always forget about but also really enjoy reading.  The main character is a famous actor and the murder seems as motive-less as it can possibly. Hercule Poirot is a side character for the bulk of the book as is Mr. Satterthwaite, much to my delight.  Mr. Satterthwaite is the main character in Christie's Harley Quinn short stories which are some of my favorites.  As well, Egg Lytton-Gore and her mother, Lady Mary are interesting side characters and I really enjoyed their time on the page.

The mystery and the investigation were both really interesting and I really enjoyed seeing everything be revealed.  This is one of Christie's underrated mysteries and I'm so glad the Read Christie Challenge had me reread this one.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to the April read.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you're looking for a lesser-known Christie to read this is a fun one.

Friday Fives - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  Incident at Badamya by Dorothy Gilman - This was an interesting read and very different from the Mrs. Pollifax adventures.  Gen Ferris is an American who has lived her whole life in Burma in chaotic and often violent times.  She is now an orphan and trying to get to the US with very little resources.  Along the way she is captured and held for ransom with six other people.  The story that evolves is a bit slower paced but shows how people aren't always what the seem and how different people react to strenuous circumstances. This was an enjoyable read with an interesting premise and I am looking forward to reading more of Gilman's standalones.   My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon - I ended up really enjoying this one though it did take me a little bit to get into it.  I didn't love Beth or Lana at first though as the story went on I really enjoyed getting to know them and understand their issues.  Jack was a joy from page one and comes across as such an authentic teenager.  Once I got into the book I couldn't put it down and was just as motivated to see how the relationships developed as I was to see who the bad guy was.  My Rating;  Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

3.  The Liar by Nora Roberts - This was a reread for me and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time.  I did remember the twist but didn't remember quite how it all came to be.  This is a good romantic suspense title from Roberts with a fantastic community feel and a likable main character who is finding her feet again.  The relationship developed nicely as did the plot.  Even though I knew how everything was going to work out I was still holding my breath a little bit as I waited for it to play out.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4.  The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey - I have pretty mixed feelings on this one.  I do love a good claustrophobic feeling mystery and it is hard to get more claustrophobic than a remote island in Scotland during a storm.  I also love a good cold case which is hinted at in the blurb and occasionally referenced as the story goes on.  However, the pacing of this one felt a bit slow and I never truly felt like the mystery investigation really came together.  The ending was an interesting one but overall, I don't think this author's style is really for me. My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

5.  The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me by Paul Joseph Fronczak - This case has fascinated me since I first heard of it and as soon as one of my favorite true crime YouTubers (Gabulosis) mentioned this book I put it on hold from the library.  It's a fascinating read about a double kidnapping but even more so about an investigation spearheaded as genetic genealogy evolves and how the search impacts everyone involved.  The story really hooked me and I felt like I was chasing leads down with the team.  This was much more emotionally in-depth than I was expecting and I was swept up from page one to the end.  If this kind of case fascinates you like it does me than this is a must read.  My Rating; Loved It (5 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - Tara Road

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Tara Road by Maeve Binchy

Blurb:  With each new book, Maeve Binchy continues a remarkable progression of sales and audience growth, reaching fans of all ages and backgrounds with her matchless wit, warmth, and sheer storytelling magic. "Tara Road," her first full-length novel since "The Glass Lake," again shows her incomparable understanding of the human heart in the tale of two women, one from Ireland, one from America, who switch lives, and in doing so learn much about each other, as well as much about themselves. Ria lived on Tara Road in Dublin with her dashing husband, Danny, and their two children. She fully believed she was happily married, right up until the day Danny told her he was leaving her to be with his young, pregnant girlfriend. By a chance phone call, Ria meets Marilyn, a woman from New England unable to come to terms with her only son's death and now separated from her husband. The two women exchange houses for the summer with extraordinary consequences, each learning that the other has a deep secret that can never be revealed.

Drawn into lifestyles vastly differing from their own, at first each resents the news of how well the other is getting on. Ria seems to have become quite a hostess, entertaining half the neighborhood, which at first irritates the reserved and withdrawn Marilyn, a woman who has always guarded her privacy. Marilyn seems to have become bosom friends with Ria's children, as well as with Colm, a handsome restaurateur, whom Ria has begun to miss terribly. At the end of the summer, the women at last meet face-to-face. Having learned a great deal, about themselves and about each other, they find that they have become, firmly and forever, good friends.

A moving story rendered with the deft touch of a master artisan, "Tara Road" is Maeve Binchy at her very best — utterly beautiful, hauntingly unforgettable, entirely original, and wholly enjoyable.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I've been wanting to read this book for ages and it just sounds like a lovely cozy read for stormy spring weather.