Melki's Reviews > Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

"What the----?" the first officer mutters. "Hey, ma'am, who drew the outline around the deceased?"

"Ah." Vera swells with pride. They have noticed just how helpful and resourceful Vera is. "I do it. I save you some work."


And, that's when I fell in love with Vera Wong, the ever-helpful, ever-meddling, matchmaking, comfort-food baking, tea brewing dynamo. I loved this story of Vera's wacky and ingenious attempts to figure out who murdered the man she found lying on the floor of her tea room. She's a hoot, and this novel was pure fun from beginning to end.

"This is the correct reaction to this tea," Vera says, taking a sip. "It is very rare, all my teas are rare, you know, and when it is picked, the farmers sob because the fragrance is so beautiful it reminds them of the celestial gardens in heaven."

"Really?" Oliver sniffles, fighting to get his emotions under control.

Vera shrugs. "I don't know, I made it up. Americans like it when I tell them stories about each type of tea." Her accent becomes stronger, more exaggerated. "Oh, this tea, from Fujian Province in China, is guarded by a golden dragon that fly above the fields." She cocks an eyebrow at him. "See? Convincing, eh?"