Frangipani Tree Mystery (Su Lin Series)

The first novel in a delightfully charming crime series set in 1930s Singapore introduces amateur sleuth Su Lin, a local girl who steps in as governess for the Acting Governor of Singapore. In 1936, the British abdication crisis and the looming Japanese threat seem distant in the Crown Colony of Singapore. When the Irish nanny caring for Acting Governor Palin's daughter suddenly dies under mysterious circumstances, Su Lin, an aspiring journalist educated at a mission school and eager to avoid an arranged marriage, is invited to take the nanny's place. However, when another murder occurs at the residence, it becomes evident that a killer is stalking the corridors of Government House. Su Lin must use all her traditional skills and intelligence to assist British-born Chief Inspector Thomas LeFroy in solving the murders and escaping with her life.

"Simply glorious. Every nook and cranny of 1930s Singapore is brought richly to life without ever getting in the way of a classic puzzle plot. But what's a setting without a jewel? Chen Su Lin is a true gem. Her slyly witty voice and her admirable, sometimes heartbreaking practicality make her the most beguiling narrator heroine I've met in a long while," praises Catriona McPherson.

"Charming and fascinating with great authentic feel. Ovidia Yu's teenage Chinese sleuth provides an insight into a very different culture and time. This book is exactly why I love historical novels," says Rhys Bowen.

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