The Angsana Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu

Su Lin has an uncanny knack for discovering mysterious murders. On her way to visit a family friend, she found a dead man slit by his throat in the quarry which was owned by Pang Tai. Pang Tai's daughter, Mei Mei happened to be there by the body, covered in blood and showed signs of trauma. Su Lin is convinced that Mei Mei didn't kill the man and is unlikely to protect someone.

The latest series (#8) indicates the absence of the Japanese, while highlighting ongoing problems with the British attempts to 'stabilize' the administration including the opium ban, and introducing a new government official named Jack Wilson with a confidential mission, about Su Lin's dream to further study and live abroad, her inevitable romantic with former Chief Inspector Thomas Le Froy, her unresolved issues with her lively best friend, and of course her candid grandmother.

I found the story is predictable in the enjoyable way that cosy mysteries can be, leisurely pace and readable with set against the backdrop of Singapore in 1946 with all its colonial quirks

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing and Izah for the review copy. All views are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store

Sigandi by M. Navin

Dua tahun lepas Theeban datang ke KL dengan niat mengubah nasibnya. Bermula dengan bekerja sebagai penjual barang haram di bazar karat, dia bertemu Kaasi. Di sana dia mula mengenali Sarah yang kerap mengunjungi gerai. Sarah memperkenalkannya pula dengan figura Ibu, seorang transgender yang menjaga kelompok minoriti di kawasan gelap itu. Ibu bukan sekadar menjual nasi lemak tapi ketua dalam segala aktiviti tidak bermoral yang lain.

Pergaulannya semakin hari telah melenyapkan sifat Theeban yang dulu. Impiannya hanya ingin balik semula ke kampung selepas dia punya cukup duit. Dia terperangkap dengan rasa takut pada Ibu, rasa berbelah bahagi pada Sarah dan demi mendapatkan rawatan terhadap penyakit yang dialaminya maka dia menjerumuskan diri dengan satu lagi dosa yang tak terampunkan.

Aku tak banyak baca buku fixi. Tapi buku ni antara top 3 dalam rating terbaik. Layak untuk direalisasikan menjadi drama/ filem. Penulis dan penterjemah memang memberi sepenuh jiwa dalam karya ni. Macam real. Semua watak penting dalam menghidupkan jalan cerita. Sarat dengan adegan gore, dan moral dalam pada masa yang sama. Aku bagi 4.5 ⭐️

The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne

The Red House Mystery was first published in 1922 and considered as The Golden Age of Detective Fiction whodunits.

The plots revolve around the “locked room” mystery from amateur sleuthhounds Antony Gillingham and Bill Beverley. Both had become acquainted a few years earlier and happened to meet at the Red House. Red House was owned by Mark Ablett, a philanthropist. The house party was shocked by a gunshot, and it turned out that Robert Ablett was killed in a locked room. Robert was Mark's long-lost brother who just arrived from Australia. The deceased and his brother had never been on good terms. As a result, a court of law has decided Mark guilty by some 'last seen theory'. But it was not an ordinary crime because Mark was never found at the scene. Hah! That's the case.

The author does not provide enough clues for the reader to work out in this soft-boiled mystery, but in the end, it's really all about the final twist and a devilishly family skeleton.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!