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Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers [Audiobook]
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers [Audiobook]
Jesse Sutanto | 2023 | Crime, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
After initially thinking "oh dear, I'm not going to like this", the more I listened the more I grew to love Vera Wong.

Vera lives on her own after the death of her husband, her son being successful and not in her life quite as much as she would like. Once a thriving tea shop, Vera Wang's World Famous Tea House is now on it's last legs having only one regular customer so when she discovers a dead body in the middle of her shop one morning, she decides it has to be murder and begins to investigate and find out who killed Marshall.

Using her own logic, Vera decides that those who turn up at her shop to ask questions about the body immediately become suspects and she begins to ingratiate herself into their lives using her forthright nature, a little bit of manipulation, fantastic cooking and, if course, tea.

As the story develops, we get to know each of the characters and suspects more so by the end, you don't want any of them to be guilty of murder but one of them must be surely?

This is definitely within the 'cosy mystery' genre and whilst there is little action, I was caught up in the story hook, line and sinker and desperate to know what the ultimate outcome was going to be and I definitely wasn't disappointed.

The narrator was excellent and she totally drew me into the story and into Vera's life. This, for me, was definitely a book to listen to rather than to read myself and I am hopeful that Vera will do more investigating in the future.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.
  
The Devil's Glove (Salem #1)
The Devil's Glove (Salem #1)
Lucretia Grindle | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE DEVIL'S GLOVE is the first book in the Salem series and is the start of the tale, beginning and ending before Resolve/Susannah arrives in Salem. She lives with her mother (Rachel/Deliverance) in the Eastward, a small village far away from Boston and their machinations.

Deliverance is a healer, taught by the Native Americans when they lived in The Greening, under Ashawonks' care. They also have their own gift that grows stronger over time. Deliverance and Resolve don't exactly fit in with the village for a number of reasons, including the fact they originally came from Jersey, Deliverance is a healer who deals with life and death, and they are friendly towards the 'savages', to name just a few. As the story unfolds, you meet with numerous characters, both 'good' and 'bad' who may just change your mind as you carry on reading.

There is layer upon layer to this story, each one taking you a little deeper, and I loved that! It is a slow story; giving time to the build-up, to the story and characters, which is sometimes lost in faster-paced novels. There were twists I never saw coming, plus sad things I did. I loved the ending, how it gave closure to this part and yet left me wanting more immediately.

In a world where even knowing how to swim can be enough to be called a witch, delve into the life of Resolve and let her take you back to where it began. HIGHLY recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 24, 2023