Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

15 reviews

caylacolclasure's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Minor: Stalking

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

    I truly enjoyed this book! While I didn't enjoy the author book I tried to read by this author, that may have been because I didn't realize it was book two in a series.
   Vera was a great protagonist, her and her newfound family's fumbling was humorous but the book still had serious undertones. It was a good mix of lighthearted & emotional. I laughed and I cried.
   I didn't guess the murderer until Vera figured it out, the author did a good job of disguising them with misdirection.
  My biggest complaint was that the book was a bit longer than I thought it needed. I can't wait for their next adventure!

Narrator Rating: 4.75 stars
  The narrator did an amazing job, I wish they'd done a full cast for this since it was told from many points of view. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Dementia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Classism

The instances of child abuse were emotional abuse of a toddler. Nothing physically or sexually abusive towards a child is mentioned.

perfectcupoftea's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely charming read! Good vibes even with the death. Love the characters and the food details.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Minor: Drug use, Stalking, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Deportation

zoea08's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Stalking

kailiyahknight's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

abicaro17's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

So cute! I enjoyed this fun little murder mystery. It was funny and an interesting story about found family. I think the dynamic between Vera and the murder suspects was so funny and interesting. My issue with this book is how slow it is. The whole first quarter was so unbelievably boring. Like the murder wasn't even interesting enough to keep me engaged. Also the whole murder wasn't even that good. Like could have gone without that part. It was ok but not great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

heini's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Stalking and Death of parent

Minor: Dementia

axel_p's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I find it so gross that these people eat food that a filthy little toddler touched with her sticky hands.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

blubonby's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I seen someone talking about loving it so I gave it a go and I'm so glad I did.

I didn't know what to expect going in and I honestly wasn't sure I would like it as I don't typically read murder mysteries, but it was pitched as a feel good murder mystery with found family between a elderly woman who decides to become a DIY investigator and her suspects, which sounded like a fun time to me. 

Although it's supposed to be a murder mystery, it doesnt really feel like a serious one. The characters, their growth and the bonds they form with eachother is really the main focus of the story and the mystery, while definitely present, takes more of a back seat, which I didn’t mind. 

Vera, the DIY investigator, is a very stubborn, old Chinese lady who is a bit overbearing and I wasn't sure I'd be into her character, but there's something so endearing about her and I found I couldn't help but love her more and more as I read. She frequently did or said things that just had me shaking my head, or verbally saying "Oh, Vera, no." but I found it added to her charm. 

The other characters, her suspects, all seem to be hiding something and are a bit suspicious in the beginning, but the more we see of them the more fleshed out they get and the more I found myself loving, caring and rooting for each of them. 

I absolutely adored the found family aspect that went on, especially because the group is such a random selection of people, but it just worked. Vera become a mother like figure and slowly but surely is helping each of the characters heal, whilst unknowingl  being healed herself by the bonds she's forming with the characters. 

Ultimately the more I read the more I wanted to read, I found the characters captivating and loved to see each of their growths and the friendships form from such a strange situation. 

TLDR Loved it. A very character focused, lighthearded, murder mystery (that's sort of light on the murder mystery part), with well done characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Stalking

k_readingmorenow's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A lighthearted, self-aware cozy mystery centred on the strong-willed, impulsive, and lonely empty-nester Vera Wong. After a man turns up dead in her tea shop and the police rudely refuse to drink her tea or behave like the police on her favourite crime shows, treating the death as as accident, she sets out to solve the 'murder' herself. Along the way she gathers a group of young 'suspects' who she grows to love and care for - even if she thinks the killer must be one of them. The novel is very descriptive about the Chinese food and teas Vera makes. In addition to a compassionate and humorous look at Vera, it delves into the internal struggles of each character coping with their own complex family relationships. 

I found it loses steam around the 3/4 mark and sort of treads water, still trying to focus on atmosphere while not knowing what to do with the plot. The child character who is supposed to be two becomes more of a focus, which I dislike. She is inconsistently precocious, being whatever the plot needs her to be, behaving anywhere from one to ten years old. But the ending is surprising and does tie it all neatly together, which I appreciate in a mystery. All in all, it was an enjoyable light read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse