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esshgee's review
2.0
2 1/2 stars. I enjoy the details of Singapore and some of the characters, particularly Li Ann and Curren
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Revenge in Rubies (Harriet Gordon Mystery #2) by A.M. Stuart Author
I enjoyed this second dive into the world of Harriet Gordon, now employed as a typist at the Straits Settlements Police Force, in Singapore. She still works part time for the boys' school that employs her brother, in order to earn her place in his school provided household. And she and her brother are the guardians of ten year old Will, which helps to ease the pain of Harriet's loss of her husband and son, to typhoid three years ago.
Harriet is summoned to the home of a friend whose sister in law has been brutally murdered. As Harriet's employer, Inspector Robert Curran, investigates the murder, he runs into the obstacle of the military community closing ranks against any outside investigation of the death since the young woman was the wife of Lieutenant Colonel John Nolan. Another obstacle is that the military community will not consider any interference by Curran's native police officers. Even Harriet's military attached friends are obviously hiding secrets that could help with the investigation but Harriet is able to dig deeper into what is going on, in an effort to help Inspector Curran, whose recurring illness is hampering his ability to work.
As they dig, the murderer(s) may be striking again. Even with this additional threat the military continue to close ranks. I enjoyed this police procedural and seeing just how little the investigators have to work with to solve this crime. Autopsies aren't a pleasant experience in even the best of conditions so hot, humid, fly infested Singapore, where a body is decaying the minute the life has left it, makes for gag worthy scenes, which doesn't help an already sick Curran. And both Harriet and Curran are dealing with their pasts, Harriet, the loss of her little family, and Curran, the vicious rumors of his long lost father being a traitor to his country. I look forward to book three, as we continue to learn more about Harriet and Curran and the world of 1910 Singapore.
Pub September 15, 2020 by Berkley Books
I enjoyed this second dive into the world of Harriet Gordon, now employed as a typist at the Straits Settlements Police Force, in Singapore. She still works part time for the boys' school that employs her brother, in order to earn her place in his school provided household. And she and her brother are the guardians of ten year old Will, which helps to ease the pain of Harriet's loss of her husband and son, to typhoid three years ago.
Harriet is summoned to the home of a friend whose sister in law has been brutally murdered. As Harriet's employer, Inspector Robert Curran, investigates the murder, he runs into the obstacle of the military community closing ranks against any outside investigation of the death since the young woman was the wife of Lieutenant Colonel John Nolan. Another obstacle is that the military community will not consider any interference by Curran's native police officers. Even Harriet's military attached friends are obviously hiding secrets that could help with the investigation but Harriet is able to dig deeper into what is going on, in an effort to help Inspector Curran, whose recurring illness is hampering his ability to work.
As they dig, the murderer(s) may be striking again. Even with this additional threat the military continue to close ranks. I enjoyed this police procedural and seeing just how little the investigators have to work with to solve this crime. Autopsies aren't a pleasant experience in even the best of conditions so hot, humid, fly infested Singapore, where a body is decaying the minute the life has left it, makes for gag worthy scenes, which doesn't help an already sick Curran. And both Harriet and Curran are dealing with their pasts, Harriet, the loss of her little family, and Curran, the vicious rumors of his long lost father being a traitor to his country. I look forward to book three, as we continue to learn more about Harriet and Curran and the world of 1910 Singapore.
Pub September 15, 2020 by Berkley Books
arcookson's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
emilybordelovewrites's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
coraldraes's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bibliopage's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great book in the Harriet Gordon mystery series! What I like about this series are likeable main characters and the setting--I really feel immersed in 1910 Singapore. I think this series should be a tv series!
skconaghan's review
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Yes, again—thank you! This is precisely what a murder mystery period piece should be: Complex threads, red herrings, a MacGuffin (or 4), a little Deus ex Machina to top the plot, and true to all the blundering cultural ugliness and nostalgic beauty of the era. I was intelligently intrigued, emotionally engaged and ultimately caught off guard.
Marvellous.
I suspected by three quarters of the way who the culprit might be, but I was also adequately distracted from making any real accusation by the sly attempts of others to shirk notice for their own personal reasons that wrapped them in guilt. The carefully laid traps throughout this novel are genius. You might know, but you’ll doubt your knowing until the very end.
The full cast are vibrant! They are plagued and propelled by internal conflicts and personal struggles with honour and social standards. The raging suppressed fight for equality and justice—that simple yet impossible idea of gaining a voice in an oppressive patriarchal regime—is at the forefront for several of these complex characters, and what we now refer to as the intersectionality of these injustices is prevalent—yet, the writing remains true to the historical setting in which these atrocities would have been abominably accepted or blithely overlooked. These are the settings that have come to the table to witness a bloody murder, and the author knows her table intricately. Rather than bog the writing down with details and explanations, Stuart serves up morsels of these ongoing struggles to give context, and to draw us into the socio-political atmosphere of our humble unexpected heroine.
Identifying the ‘system errors’ in the imbalanced colonialist world ruler (The British Empire) through the unassuming voices of those caught in the fray by their very existence, Stuart sets the stage for what is to come: It would take something unexpected on a world scale to bring change to the system. It’s summer, 1910. We know what’s coming, and it will give women the vote and put them into the workforce for good.
So. I listened to the audiobook and I have a complaint: the narrator of this second novel couldn’t do the accents and voices required to keep me from having to wonder who was speaking at times. Fortunately, it didn’t detract from the flow and content of the novel, cos she was great otherwise. It’s just, when you start with Saskia Maarleveld, it’s difficult to take a step backwards. Mac here sounded Irish and Louisa, his previously Scottish wife used near RP English in this novel. The Welshman was entirely anglicised, though anyone from the North Country was proper Manc (but halfway through, a South Londoner took on a bit of a York twinge too, and that was weird weren’t it?). Just saying.
Li An and Harriet have a great start to something special, and with Curran sidelined for most of the story, the women shine for this mystery.
Speaking of mystery, this one is near impossible to solve, and as the bodies pile up, hope diminishes…But Harriet, a mere woman and not even a police officer—a mere female typist—sees the challenge and rises to solve another bout of murders in pre-war Singapore.
Love it.
Already have #3 lined up.
tostita's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Suicide, and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest
asanford's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this one more than the first! But now there isn’t a number three. This one has so much culture and history that I loved. One of my favorite things about historical fiction is learning about the period. The mystery was intriguing and I loved getting to know the characters more. Can’t wait for the next book.