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A review by bookedbymadeline
Those Opulent Days by Jacquie Pham
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Thank you Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC!
Intriguing start that pulled me in right away! Those Opulent Days is a historical murder mystery set in 1920s French colonial Vietnam (often referred to as Annam because of the French colonization of the region). We get switching POVs told in third person narration, mainly following the 4 friends Duy, Phong, Minh, and Edmond. But we also get some chapters from the perspectives of the women in their lives; Tattler, Hai, Marianne, and Madame Nuhr. Because of all the switching chapters it could be confusing at times- there’s just too many POVs for my taste 😅
The mystery kept me engaged as we follow the characters from the night of the murder and flashing back to the few days leading up to the tragedy! Pham creates an atmospheric drama filled with glamour, violence, and wealth. It was difficult to read at times due to the unlikeable characters, especially with how cruel Minh and Edmond could be. And two of the twists I could see coming from the beginning but it was an interesting, unique story nonetheless!
This was a strong debut novel and taught me a lot about Vietnam during the French Colonial period! I can’t wait to read more from Pham in the future.
Intriguing start that pulled me in right away! Those Opulent Days is a historical murder mystery set in 1920s French colonial Vietnam (often referred to as Annam because of the French colonization of the region). We get switching POVs told in third person narration, mainly following the 4 friends Duy, Phong, Minh, and Edmond. But we also get some chapters from the perspectives of the women in their lives; Tattler, Hai, Marianne, and Madame Nuhr. Because of all the switching chapters it could be confusing at times- there’s just too many POVs for my taste 😅
The mystery kept me engaged as we follow the characters from the night of the murder and flashing back to the few days leading up to the tragedy! Pham creates an atmospheric drama filled with glamour, violence, and wealth. It was difficult to read at times due to the unlikeable characters, especially with how cruel Minh and Edmond could be. And two of the twists I could see coming from the beginning but it was an interesting, unique story nonetheless!
This was a strong debut novel and taught me a lot about Vietnam during the French Colonial period! I can’t wait to read more from Pham in the future.
TW/CW: death of parent, murder, animal death, colonialism, physical abuse, classism, rape, starvation, vomit, death, grief, racism, blood, self harm, alcoholism, infidelity (brief mention), medical trauma, pregnancy, childbirth
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Rape, Vomit, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Slavery, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy