Robot Revenge

Winston Wong Cozy Mystery #2

by J.J. Chow, Jennifer J. Chow

Winston Wong, expert seniors’ sleuth, takes on a case in his local neighborhood. When the captain of the block, a reclusive robot inventor, has a fatal fall, Winston suspects foul play. But was it the ambitious events coordinator, the slick banker, the eco activist, or the tiger mom?

Just as his girlfriend is called out of town, his bossy sister shows up at his door. Can Winston get his comfy videogaming life back and solve the unneighborly crime…before he becomes the next victim?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2018

Reviews

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This is book two in the series and it was great to have a number of the previous characters return in this one, having listened to the first book it was nice catching up with them and finding out what happened to the elderly residents.. The characters are fun and it also contains a mischievous cat. The mystery was good and it did have a number of suspects, I just wish the story could have been longer because I listened to it all in one sitting. It is definitely a series I will be keeping an eye for.
Winston has his sister staying with him and to get her out of the house he volunteers them to go to a neighbour hood watch meeting. The Halloween party is planned and everyone is in favour of the big event, except the captain of the block a reclusive robot inventor. Winston is worried when he doesn't see him at the gathering but it is a couple of days later that Winston sees an ambulance outside his house. Was his fall just a tragic accident or is the man's death connected to his objection of the party? Winston's previous partner in the first case, his girlfriend is called out of town and he has to motivate his sister into being his Watson as they try to solve the murder, with the help from a furry friend.
I liked the narrator and thought he did a good job bringing the characters to life.

[Cuppa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robot Revenge is the second book in J. J. Chow's Winston Wong series. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. I had not read or listened to the first book in the series. In Robot Revenge Winston, his girlfriend Kristy and his sister Marcy become involved with a neighborhood watch group, a much debated Halloween block party and murder. Bill, the captain of the watch, is a brilliant but curmudgeonly old man who rules the neighborhood watch with an iron fist. Some neighbors had grudges against him, some wanted things from him. But who would have wanted him dead?

There were many things I enjoyed about this book. Winston himself is a fun, nerdy character. I hope the author continues to develop and give more depth to him as the series progresses. Kristy and Mary were enjoyable supporting characters. I especially enjoyed the big sister-little brother rivalry between Winston and Marcy. The mystery itself was unique and well thought out. Humor, an all important element for me, was sprinkled liberally throughout. The tone of the story was gentle, fitting the book snugly into the cozy mystery category.

I had one pet peeve throughout the book. As I said, I didn't read the first book in the series and I felt that Chow could have done a better job of introducing the characters and their backstories for new readers. After finishing the book, I still don't really understand what Winston does in the computer world. Something about video games and a YouTube channel. I would have liked a little more info on that. However, it was not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the story and I'm definitely thinking about going back and listening to the first book in the series and future installments.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the eccentric leader of the neighbourhood committee dies in a mysterious accident, Winston Wong is determined to find out what really happened but with the devious, duplicitous and decidedly odd inhabitants of this neighbourhood, piecing together all the clues might take a little work and a lot of help from unexpected sources.
Lighthearted fun and an intriguing plot with a bunch of interesting characters.
Perfect for a lazy afternoon's entertainment.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to a typo on his business cards Winston has become a Seniors Sleuth instead of a senior partner in sleuthing. Besides being prematurely balding and more than a little geeky, he has this overbearing older sister who makes life a challenge, especially with the new squeeze in his life. This is a fun short cozy mystery where all of the characters play off each other. Loved it!
Noah DeBiase is the very adaptable narrator who adds to the fun.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment in the Winston Wong mystery series. This one has his sister Marcy crashing in his guest room and girlfriend Kristy out of town. Winston a sort of gumshoe/private investigator solves crimes for senior citizens. And gets involved in the case of the cranky neighborhood watch president, Bill. First to clear up a misunderstanding and then goaded into solving Bill's murder.

[gowri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really loved the sibling duo, Marcy was a delight, but I'm not gonna lie the killer reveal soured it a bit for me. So dud Marcy's decision at the end if the book like I get her thought process but it was still a little but disappointing. Good mystery though, even though the killer was the one person I was rooting for lol.

[Janiska nordstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this second book much better than the first one. It moved along at a nice pace. We get to know Marcie, Winston’s sister and are revisited by old friends from the first book.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that centers around an atypical cozy mystery sleuth. Winston is not your typical sleuth nor is the supporting cast the norm. In this case there are plenty of senior side characters playing a role in the mystery solving. This book is short but full of plot twists and interesting characters. The family dynamics between Winston and Marcy add to the storyline. Looking forward to reading more adventures with Winston.