Revenge in Rubies (A Harriet Gordon Mystery) (edição 2020)

Harriet Gordon is a recent widow who moved to Singapore to live with her brother. With some of the social mores loosening (very little), she is employed as a typist by the local police department. There, she types for her Inspector friend Curran. The story uses the frame of the small world of the military base in Singapore after the wife of their Colonel is found bludgeoned to death. Sylvie was a recent arrival to Singapore on the arm of her new husband and the military closes ranks to the South Straits police, burns evidence and are altogether not as forthcoming as they could be. I loved the twists and turns the story took. The history that unfolds about the regiment was interesting and although I kept thinking about those rubies, didn't guess the reveal too easily. Stuart's attention to historical detail for the time period was very good. I was so interested in the setting, that through a bit of Googling, I was able to see photos of some of the real places used in the book, like the tea room at John Little's. I really look forward to reading more about Harriet. ( )

Fabulous historical Singapore mystery!

Once again Harriet Gordon becomes involved in murder. The British Crown Colony of Singapore, 1910 —the young wife of the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Nolan of the First Battalion South Sussex Infantry is found battered to death in her bedroom. Inspector Robert Curran is called to investigate. Curran it seems has personal conflict with the regiment and some of its members. He runs up against the disdain of the forces, the closing of the battalion's ranks, family secrets and the Battalion's prejudices, even as suicides follow Sylvie Nolan's death. It seems “Honorem ante omnia” "Honor before all", the regimental motto, stymies much of his investigation. Harriet is swept up into Curran's search, particularly due to her social connections, and her position as a typist at the Straits Settlements Police Force. She comes to know Curran's companion Li An. An interesting development that I hope moves into something special. Harriet comes face to face with colonial social prejudices. Her forgetfulness of how these play out does cause embarrassment for Li An and no little anger on Harriet's part.
The involvement of the military opens us to more of Curran's background, including a mystery about his father that begins to take on its own life. Intriguing!
Harriet confronts the situation that led to her coming to join her brother in Singapore in an unexpected way. Her painful suffragette experience comes to the fore.
I'm really enjoying the building of the characters and background to this series. I'm so looking forward to the next offering. Another stimulating read!

A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley ( )

British Imperialism, Singapore, intolerance, family-dynamics, friendship, misogyny, murder, murder-investigation, British Forces, historical-fiction, historical-research, history-and-culture, law-enforcement*****

The first victim was much lauded as an angel by her husband and many others, but the autopsy revealed cracks in the facade as well as her skull. Then there was the problem of interference and clue destruction by the military that felt more like a cover-up. Add in the personal problems of the main protagonists (these were very important), Singapore and it's many faces, and you have a convoluted murder mystery with a host of red herrings. I loved it and its many colorful characters!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )