Being Bookish

• Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping by Jesse Sutanto

  This week, I’m heading back to San Francisco’s Chinatown for another delightfully chaotic mystery with our favourite sixty-something sleuth, Vera Wong. In Jesse Sutanto’s latest novel, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man, the tea shop is still bustling, but what Vera's craving is just a little more excitement in her now much fuller life. When she encounters a young girl outside the police precinct, Vera senses a mystery in need of an answer, and she's back on the case! A locked briefcase, a viral social media moment, and a trail of secrets are far too much for the calming effects of a cup of her chrysanthemum tea.In this episode, I share my spoiler-free thoughts on this cosy, yet surprisingly dark sequel. I talk about why Vera continues to be such a compelling character and how this book explores found family and identity in the digital age.Whether you loved the first Vera Wong book or you're just dipping your toes into the world of cosy crime and cosy mysteries, this one has humour, heart, high-stakes sleuthing, and a grandmother who’s got more guts than your average gumshoe. So, pop the kettle on, settle in, and let’s chat all things books. Featured Links Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers Cosy Mysteries Playlist And don't forget, I'm back on Livestream for the Cure this year, on the 17th May. Tune in, take part, and please donate to this incredibly important cause. It's all in the name of Cancer Research.

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• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

  This week I am taking a look at a book so different than most that I tend to review I honestly am not sure how to define it. Part science fiction, part literary fiction, the story is certainly genre-bending. Death of the Author, by Nnedi Okorafor is the story of Nigerian American writer Zelu, whose first novel is a breakout success that catapults her, unprepared, into the spotlight. As she navigates fame, family tension, and the boundaries between identity and creativity, the novel explores what it means to tell your own story, and how to maintain ownership of it and your own identity. As things change in her life, love, family, success, she has to learn to handle the criticism that comes with being suddenly successful and under the microscope that fame brings with it. A sharp, layered narrative blending realism with speculative elements, Death of the Author raises powerful questions around authorship, autonomy, and the cost of visibility. As ever, I won't spoil the ending! Featured episodes The Aurora Cycle Skyward The Illuminae Files

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• The Dreaded Slump

  Have you ever found yourself staring at your bookshelf, wanting to read but just… not feeling it? I’ve been there too, in fact, I am there right now...hence no specific book to talk about (sadly). This week I'm opening up and going into my own personal experience of the dreaded reading slump. I am not sure what triggers them, but there are multiple options on the very long list! I am also going to look into what I see as the many benefits of reading, why it's important to me and a few recommendations for finally switching the slump into something positive (a drive to read again). Of course, I know that not every method will work for every person, but they're always worth a try... Whether you’re feeling unmotivated, distracted, or just can’t seem to find the right book, this episode is all about helping you turn the page and fall back in love with reading. Tune in and let’s break out of this slump together!

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• That'll Teach Her by Maz Evans

  In today’s episode, I’m talking about the darkly comedic That’ll Teach Her by Maz Evans, a murder mystery set in a primary school. The story kicks off with the sudden death of the headmistress, Claudia Stitchwell, with the official reason given being an allergic reaction to nuts in a chocolate cake... But some of the parents aren’t buying it, so they turn to their school WhatsApp group to start putting the pieces together and figure out what really happened, uncovering a lot of secrets that would have been better staying buried along the way.The book is told in a really fun way, using WhatsApp chats, chat boards, school newsletters, and police reports, all of which give it a unique twist. Want to know if this book is for you? Give this week's episode a listen to hear my full take on it, without any spoilers, and find out if this darkly comic whodunit should be your next read!Featured Episodes Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers My Socials X/Twitter - @being_bookish Instagram - @beingbookishpod TikTok - @beingbookishreviews YouTube - @beingbookishpod

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• An Interview with Author Carmel Harrington

  The Stolen Child is a brand new release from author Carmel Harrington. An emotional thriller, it looks at every parent's worst nightmare. We talk about the inspiration behind the writing of the book, the shocking views some people seem to have of step-parents, and also the relationships in the book that make it oh-so relatable and realistic for some people. It's every parent's worst nightmare. But there's no waking up from this... On board a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, Kimberley wakes to discover that her two-year-old son Robert has vanished from the cabin overnight. She and her husband Jason vow to do whatever it takes to bring Robert home. But he is never found. Forty years later, their therapist daughter Lily welcomes a new client into her home. Zach has a shocking theory about what happened to her brother years before. If Zach is to be believed, someone out there knows what happened on that ship. And they would do anything to stop the truth getting out. But secrets always find a way to reveal themselves. Carmel's links Instagram Facebook Buy The Stolen Child Waterstones | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop.org | B&N

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