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lucymonsterThis is the sequel to Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, which I read and enjoyed a few months ago. My last review is here, but to recap: Vera is bored and lonely middle-aged woman who runs a tea shop in San Francisco's Chinatown. She inserts herself into a murder investigation, adopts a gaggle of lost Zoomer ducklings, and is in general a nosy, pushy, endearingly batty character with glowing good intentions and a knack for getting shit done. I absolutely love her as a character and in principle I am very on board with her becoming a new detective character in an ongoing book series.
I just ... I think this new book may have stretched itself a bit too far. I hate even saying that, because I LOVE Sutanto for the topic she chose to tackle and I do actually believe there's a place for playful approaches to serious issues. Not everyone has it in them to read heavy misery lit or dark real-world thrillers (hi, it's me, I'm Not Everyone) but still wants to broaden their awareness of the world and its many dark sides. There was a lot in this book that really did work, but the way it all resolved just broke my suspension of disbelief.
I'm talking circles around the issue, so let's be upfront: this is a cosy amateur sleuthing novel about a human trafficking ring.
That's not a spoiler. One of the major characters is introduced very early on as someone who has been trafficked; the tension comes from wondering exactly how Vera will solve the mystery, rather than any suspense over what the solution will be. What I will say without revealing any more specifics is that the stakes are just too high. Vera is a character well suited to investigating accidents or isolated crimes within her neighbourhood; she's not equipped to tackle major organised crime. The believable version of this story ended with Vera dead or in witness protection.
But like I said, I do love that Sutanto took this beast by the horns and decided she was going to make her audience ride it with her. I think human trafficking is one of those subjects where popular awareness is sensationalised, borderline eroticised - we picture the Taken style of kidnappers snatching up conventionally attractive young women to staff their glamorous brothels - but far more common in reality are boring-ugly horror stories of impoverished, undereducated people ensnared by employment scams and forced to do shitty, menial work under abusive conditions. This book really understands that, and has enormous respect and compassion for trafficking victims, especially those who are then coerced to behave in less than prosocial ways themselves. It's also a quick, compelling read that despite its dark focus captures much of the magic and fun of the first book. I don't not recommend it. Come love Vera Wong with me, guys! Just ... I don't know, be ready for some tonal whiplash in this one.
The epilogue has Vera jetting off to France. I hope the next instalment in the series will be a hilarious Parisian caper that takes full advantage of its intensified culture clash possibilities.
I just ... I think this new book may have stretched itself a bit too far. I hate even saying that, because I LOVE Sutanto for the topic she chose to tackle and I do actually believe there's a place for playful approaches to serious issues. Not everyone has it in them to read heavy misery lit or dark real-world thrillers (hi, it's me, I'm Not Everyone) but still wants to broaden their awareness of the world and its many dark sides. There was a lot in this book that really did work, but the way it all resolved just broke my suspension of disbelief.
I'm talking circles around the issue, so let's be upfront: this is a cosy amateur sleuthing novel about a human trafficking ring.
That's not a spoiler. One of the major characters is introduced very early on as someone who has been trafficked; the tension comes from wondering exactly how Vera will solve the mystery, rather than any suspense over what the solution will be. What I will say without revealing any more specifics is that the stakes are just too high. Vera is a character well suited to investigating accidents or isolated crimes within her neighbourhood; she's not equipped to tackle major organised crime. The believable version of this story ended with Vera dead or in witness protection.
But like I said, I do love that Sutanto took this beast by the horns and decided she was going to make her audience ride it with her. I think human trafficking is one of those subjects where popular awareness is sensationalised, borderline eroticised - we picture the Taken style of kidnappers snatching up conventionally attractive young women to staff their glamorous brothels - but far more common in reality are boring-ugly horror stories of impoverished, undereducated people ensnared by employment scams and forced to do shitty, menial work under abusive conditions. This book really understands that, and has enormous respect and compassion for trafficking victims, especially those who are then coerced to behave in less than prosocial ways themselves. It's also a quick, compelling read that despite its dark focus captures much of the magic and fun of the first book. I don't not recommend it. Come love Vera Wong with me, guys! Just ... I don't know, be ready for some tonal whiplash in this one.
The epilogue has Vera jetting off to France. I hope the next instalment in the series will be a hilarious Parisian caper that takes full advantage of its intensified culture clash possibilities.
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Date: 2025-11-21 04:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-11-21 12:02 pm (UTC)