Book : Singapore Sapphire (a Harriet Gordon Mystery) -...

-Titulo Original : Singapore Sapphire (a Harriet Gordon Mystery)

-Fabricante :

Berkley

-Descripcion Original:

Early twentieth-century Singapore is a place where a person can disappear, and Harriet Gordon hopes to make a new life for herself there, leaving her tragic memories behind her--but murder gets in the way. Singapore, 1910--Desperate for a fresh start, Harriet Gordon finds herself living with her brother, a reverend and headmaster of a school for boys, in Singapore at the height of colonial rule. Hoping to gain some financial independence, she advertises her services as a personal secretary. It is unfortunate that she should discover her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold--explorer, mine magnate and president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers Club--dead with a knife in his throat. When Inspector Robert Curran is put on the case, he realizes that he has an unusual witness in Harriet. Harriets keen eye for detail and strong sense of duty interests him, as does her distrust of the police and her traumatic past, which she is at pains to keep secret from the gossips of Singapore society. When another body is dragged from the canal, Harriet feels compelled to help with the case. She and Curran are soon drawn into a murderous web of treachery and deceit and find themselves face-to-face with a ruthless cabal that has no qualms about killing again to protect its secrets. Review This is a smartly written historical mystery, and Harriet Gordon is a breath of fresh air in the genre. No-nonsense and greatly offended by the status quo of women in the early 20 th century, Harriet, a suffragette, wishes she could do more than be just a secretary. The reader also gets a glimpse into her past, making her even more relatable. The other characters are just as intriguing, including Inspector Curran, who has his own reasons for escaping to Singapore. Then there is the setting, which is a character in its own right. A.M. Stuart, who has lived in Singapore, is able to vividly bring the teeming streets and the stinking docks to life. The tension between the Europeans and Singapore natives crackles beneath the surface. This book is highly recommended for fans of Jacqueline Winspears Maisie Dobbs and Jane Thynnes Clara Vine series. - Historical Novel Society About the Author Born in Africa, author A. M. Stuart has traveled extensively and has lived in Kenya, Singapore and Australia. She is the author of the Guardians of the Crown historical romance series, published by Harlequin Australia, and her books have been nominated for multiple international awards. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. ***This excerpt is from an advance uncorrected copy proof*** Copyright © 2019 A. M. Stuart Prologue Friday 4 March 1910 SINGAPORE ‘Shorthand and Typewriting. An Englishwoman undertakes casual work as a stenographer and typist. She guarantees rapid and careful work together with ABSOLUTE SECRECY. Address Mrs. Gordon, Tanglin Post Office 35.’ Sir Oswald Newbold picked up his pencil and circled the small advertisement on the second page of The Straits Times, folded the paper and set it down beside his place mat. He crossed one leg over the other and, picking up his tea cup, he surveyed his garden. The early morning mist rose out of a jungle beyond the boundary of this barely tamed corner of Singapore. The very air seemed alive with the ‘boobook’ call of the native birds and the screech of Macaque monkeys. The early morning humidity surrounded him like a blanker. The smell of the hearty English breakfast of bacon and eggs that Nyan set before him seemed curiously at odds with the tropical surroundings. As he ate, Sir Oswalds eyes strayed once more to The Straits Times. He set down his fork and dabbed the egg yolk from his moustache. Folding his napkin, he pushed back his chair and stood up. ‘Nyan, I have a letter to write. Be ready to take it into town for me later this morning.’ CHAPTER ONE Singapore Monday 7 March 1910 The d