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kixes's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
apollosmichioreads's review
4.0
I am as impressed by After the Inquiry as I was at local author Jolene Tan’s previous debut novel, A Certain Exposure (2014).
In After the Inquiry, however, Tan embraces more humour in a story that details further investigation into the death of a police sergeant. Notwithstanding the closed status of the case (an unfortunate incident of Russian roulette gone wrong), civil servant Boon Teck and his young colleague Nithya are dispatched to relook the Internal Affairs investigation of the case.
Written as an extended confidential report, this is a surprisingly funny novel that pokes fun, but not senselessly, at Singapore’s bureaucracy. I really enjoyed the intellectual writing, which effectively balances comedy and tragedy without sidestepping the pivotal issues and themes discussed, according it the feels of an important and necessary piece of work especially in Singaporean literature.
Highly recommended!
4.5/5
Thank you Ethos Books for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review! :)
In After the Inquiry, however, Tan embraces more humour in a story that details further investigation into the death of a police sergeant. Notwithstanding the closed status of the case (an unfortunate incident of Russian roulette gone wrong), civil servant Boon Teck and his young colleague Nithya are dispatched to relook the Internal Affairs investigation of the case.
Written as an extended confidential report, this is a surprisingly funny novel that pokes fun, but not senselessly, at Singapore’s bureaucracy. I really enjoyed the intellectual writing, which effectively balances comedy and tragedy without sidestepping the pivotal issues and themes discussed, according it the feels of an important and necessary piece of work especially in Singaporean literature.
Highly recommended!
4.5/5
Thank you Ethos Books for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review! :)
tryingmilo's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
falcondiaries's review
5.0
I need a Part II for this book. Nithya point of view and what she will do.
meggychiaaaa's review
3.0
This piece of Sing lit starts slow like an engine warming, then revs into full, unstoppable speed in the last quarter. It takes the structure of a ministry report written by Boon Teck, in the wake of a Russian Roulette game gone wrong within the police force.
The strength of this book lies in the way race, privilege, and inequality are put in the spotlight — they simply cannot be ignored or brushed aside. As a political science & sociology student myself, it was interesting to see these topics finally enter the sphere of Singapore fiction. I definitely recommend this to those of you who want to start thinking about the socio-economic landscape in Singapore, but find news and academia too intimidating.
While the text is structured as a government report, it comes loaded with footnotes and writing that sometimes feels disruptive and unnatural. It is nonetheless a bold attempt to fit big and important ideas into the span of 200 pages. I look forward to more works from Jolene Tan, and cannot wait to see how she brings big conversations to a world of fiction.
The strength of this book lies in the way race, privilege, and inequality are put in the spotlight — they simply cannot be ignored or brushed aside. As a political science & sociology student myself, it was interesting to see these topics finally enter the sphere of Singapore fiction. I definitely recommend this to those of you who want to start thinking about the socio-economic landscape in Singapore, but find news and academia too intimidating.
While the text is structured as a government report, it comes loaded with footnotes and writing that sometimes feels disruptive and unnatural. It is nonetheless a bold attempt to fit big and important ideas into the span of 200 pages. I look forward to more works from Jolene Tan, and cannot wait to see how she brings big conversations to a world of fiction.
xandtha's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wordrevel's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Gun violence
naaytaashreads's review
3.0
Thank you Ethos Books for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a interesting read.
I am surprise it has more humour than I thought it would.
I love the way this was being written.
Its kind of a drama, report and a lot of dialogue.
Of course because I'm Singaporean, the places, humour and language is so close to home and relatable.
This was such a interesting read.
I am surprise it has more humour than I thought it would.
I love the way this was being written.
Its kind of a drama, report and a lot of dialogue.
Of course because I'm Singaporean, the places, humour and language is so close to home and relatable.
aqilahreads's review
4.0
boon teck and nithya were tasked to do a further investigation on a closed cased - an incident which causes police sergeant, hafiz, to lie in coma after a gunshot to the head.
this is @ethosbooks latest fiction release aND IM ABSOULTELY DIGGING IT!!!! i really love the format it was written in - as if youre reading an actual investigation report-ish and there were also footnotes included! as much as it was a very unique experience to read in such a way, it took me awhile to get used to it esp reading the footnotes but i guess its just a personal preference that i dont really fancy them in the first place. like i know its important to read but they also tend to interrupt the flow of reading?? :")
anyways overall its such a great book with a very important message. touching on themes like social status, racial priviledge and discrimination - moreover set in our local scene + public service sector - i cant help but to find how relatable everything is as a working adult. AND THAT ENDING....it really gives me this HAH-in-your-face realization that YES, they are actually still happening in the workforce even up till today, that "its just the way things go" and "you lose good people sometimes". it also makes me feel angry...it just hurts knowing that there will always be the hardworking people expecting change and fighting for the good but they will end up be the ones getting hurt and disappointed.
its such a necessary read and highly recommend this to everyone esp if youre looking for a refreshing yet reflective read. another book to add in your #singlit TBR too!!!! you might not want to miss this!!!!
// thank you so much @ethosbooks for the ARC in exchange of an honest review, i really enjoyed this one
this is @ethosbooks latest fiction release aND IM ABSOULTELY DIGGING IT!!!! i really love the format it was written in - as if youre reading an actual investigation report-ish and there were also footnotes included! as much as it was a very unique experience to read in such a way, it took me awhile to get used to it esp reading the footnotes but i guess its just a personal preference that i dont really fancy them in the first place. like i know its important to read but they also tend to interrupt the flow of reading?? :")
anyways overall its such a great book with a very important message. touching on themes like social status, racial priviledge and discrimination - moreover set in our local scene + public service sector - i cant help but to find how relatable everything is as a working adult. AND THAT ENDING....it really gives me this HAH-in-your-face realization that YES, they are actually still happening in the workforce even up till today, that "its just the way things go" and "you lose good people sometimes". it also makes me feel angry...it just hurts knowing that there will always be the hardworking people expecting change and fighting for the good but they will end up be the ones getting hurt and disappointed.
its such a necessary read and highly recommend this to everyone esp if youre looking for a refreshing yet reflective read. another book to add in your #singlit TBR too!!!! you might not want to miss this!!!!
// thank you so much @ethosbooks for the ARC in exchange of an honest review, i really enjoyed this one