19 January 2014

Review: INSPECTOR SINGH INVESTIGATES: THE SINGAPORE SCHOOL OF VILLAINY, Shamini Flint

  • Format: Kindle (Amazon)
  • File Size: 445 KB
  • Print Length: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Hachette Digital (April 1, 2010)
  • Sold by: Hachette Book Group
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B003CUDOU8
  • Source: I bought it
Synopsis (Amazon)

Inspector Singh is home - and how he wishes he wasn’t. His wife nags him at breakfast and his superiors are whiling away their time by giving him his usual ‘you’re a disgrace to the Force’ lecture. Fortunately for Singh, there is no rest for the wicked when he is called out to the murder of a senior partner at an international law firm, clubbed to death at his desk.

Unfortunately for Singh, there is no shortage of suspects - from the victim’s fellow partners to his wife and ex-wife - or motives, as many of the lawyers have secrets they would kill to protect. And very soon Singh finds himself heading up an investigation that rips apart the fabric of Singapore society and exposes the rotten core beneath. Perhaps coming home wasn’t such a good idea, after all…?

My Take

This is the only title in the series set in Singh's home city of Singapore.

As background to the murder Flint manages to bring local issues into the novel: the fact there are still hanging offences in Singapore, drug dealing and homosexual activity.

Mrs Singh's status in her local Sikh community, always under threat because of her husband's involvement in the seamier side of life, takes a severe knock when a relative becomes a suspect in the murder investigation.

I thought there was a little less humor in this novel but even so there are glimmers.

Singh's boss Chen is able to interfere a little more than usual with Singh's work as he is right on the spot, that is, Singh is in Singapore not overseas.

If you haven't tackled this series, you are missing a real treat.

My rating: 4.5

I've already reviewed
4.2, INSPECTOR SINGH INVESTIGATES, A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder
4.5, A BALI CONSPIRACY MOST FOUL
4.5, INSPECTOR SINGH INVESTIGATES: A MOST CURIOUS INDIAN CADAVER

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kerrie - Thanks for the reminder that I must keep up better with this series.

Irene said...

I've not tackled this series, but I must. Thank you.

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