n nFirst in a delightfully charming crime series set in 1930s Singapore, introducing amateur sleuth Su Lin, a local girl stepping in as governess for the Acting Governor of Singapore.n n1936 in the Crown Colony of Singapore, and the British abdication crisis and rising Japanese threat seem very far away. When the Irish nanny looking after Acting Governor Palins daughter dies suddenly - and in mysterious circumstances - mission school-educated local girl Su Lin - an aspiring journalist trying to escape an arranged marriage - is invited to take her place. n nBut then another murder at the residence occurs and it seems very likely that a killer is stalking the corridors of Government House. It now takes all Su Lins traditional skills and intelligence to help British-born Chief Inspector Thomas LeFroy solve the murders - and escape with her own life.n nSimply glorious. Every nook and cranny of 1930s Singapore is brought richly to life, without ever getting in the way of a classic puzzle plot. But whats a setting without a jewel? Chen Su Lin is a true gem. Her slyly witty voice and her admirable, sometimes heartbreaking, practicality make her the most beguiling narrator heroine Ive met in a long while. Catriona McPhersonn nCharming and fascinating with great authentic feel. Ovidia Yus teenage Chinese sleuth gives us an insight into a very different culture and time. This book is exactly why I love historical novels. Rhys Bowenn