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The Betel Nut Tree Mystery
The Betel Nut Tree Mystery | Ovidia Yu
3 posts | 3 read | 1 to read
The second novel in Ovidia Yu's delightfully charming crime series set in 1930s Singapore, featuring amateur sleuth Su Lin. What we came to think of as the betel nut affair began in the middle of a tropical thunderstorm in December 1937 . . . Singapore is agog with the news of King Edward VIII's abdication to marry American heiress Wallis Simson. Chen Su Lin, now Chief Inspector Le Froy's secretarial assistant in Singapore's newly formed detective unit, still dreams of becoming a journalist and hopes to cover the story when the Hon Victor Glossop announces he is marrying an American widow of his own, Mrs Nicole Covington, in the Colony. But things go horribly wrong when Victor Glossop is found dead, his body covered in bizarre symbols and soaked in betel nut juice. The beautiful, highly-strung Nicole claims it's her fault he's dead . . . just like the others. And when investigations into her past reveal a dead lover, as well as a husband, the case against her appears to be stacking up. Begrudgingly on Le Froy's part, Su Lin agrees to chaperon Nicole at the Farquhar Hotel, intending to get the truth out of her somehow. But as she uncovers secrets and further deaths occur, Su Lin realises she may not be able to save Nicole's life - or even her own. 'Charming and fascinating with great authentic feel. This book is exactly why I love historical novels' Rhys Bowen 'I really enjoyed this wonderful gem of a book. The diversity and rich history portrayed in the book are what make The Frangipani Tree Mystery a brilliant read. The fact that it's a fusion of crime and historical fiction adds brownie points to the package!' Bookloves Reviews
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Smarkies
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A decent follow up of the first book. This one takes place in #Singapore in the 1930s, just before the Japanese occupancy. Su Lin (the amateur sleuth) has grown into her role in the police force. Some characters from the first novel make an appearance so there is some continuity in the series. I thought that the “white“ characters were a bit flat in this one but the Singaporean ones were quite fleshed out.
#readingasia2021

Librarybelle I love the cover! 3y
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MelindaOtt
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I have realized that the mystery novels I like best are the ones where the story is so strong that I don‘t try to figure out whodunnit. THE BETEL NUT TREE MYSTERY definitely fits that bill! It‘s the second novel in the Crown Colony Crime series and I think it is actually better than the first. The heroine is the gem of this novel and I hope to read many, many more of her adventures!

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MelindaOtt
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I think I might know who Dr Covington is based upon...