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A review by apollosmichioreads
After The Inquiry by Jolene Tan
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! :)