The Scottish Banker of Surabaya

Ava Lee #5

by Ian Hamilton

The fifth installment in the wildly popular Ava Lee series, The Scottish Banker of Surabaya exposes the dark world of money laundering and the Italian mob.


Ava begins an investigation into what she thinks is a Ponzi scheme. The trail leads her to a bank in Indonesia that is run by a Scot, but in actuality is a front for an elaborate money-laundering operation for Italian mobsters. The relationship between Ava and the Scotsman turns nasty and personal. Meanwhile, Uncle’s health problems become apparent...

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Canada, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Adventure

437 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2013

About the author

Ian Hamilton has been a journalist, a senior executive with the federal government, a diplomat, and a businessman with international links. He has written for several magazines and newspapers in Canada and the U.S., including Maclean's, Boston Magazine, Saturday Night, Regina Leader Post, Calgary Albertan, and the Calgary Herald. His nonfiction book, The Children's Crusade, was a Canadian Book of the Month Club selection.

Reviews

[DeB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the series, thus far, in my opinion. Ava Lee connects with so many of those positive contacts from her previous enterprises, and her character becomes a bit more rounded out. Ian Hamilton drops a few more bits of info about the Chinese standard for success and reasons for Ava's display of wealth in her prized possessions, but he is a bit less irritating,in this novel, in which he seems to expect his readers now to be followers of the series and not looking for stand-alones.

What can I say? I love this yummy series - the travel to exotic places, the thuggery in good taste, the strong family bonds and high moral standards connecting them, the authentic Chinese food. I drool over the noodles, the Sui Mei, the Har Gow which are favourites of mine when I get to visit Vancouver for dim sum, and recall many other dishes I've been fortunate enough to have an introduction to in Richmond's huge dim sum restaurants, where the staff don't speak English and you can only order by number. (The English translation accompanies the Chinese characters.)

The series is different from anything else out there, and I really like it. The Canadian slant is kind of nice too, though it doesn't make up a significant part of most of the books. This time, however, the Mounties are notably trustworthy and a Canadian diplomat is pulled into action. Simply just good fun. Five stars by this biased heart.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining 3.5*
Ava Lee’s character reminded me of Harry Callahan, remember him (Clint Eastwood’s) ‘Go ahead, make my day’!! Well you definitely won’t want to mess with Ava Lee. She’s on the hunt for missing millions through a Ponzi scheme and will stop at nothing, even murder to achieve her goal. If you haven’t read this author before it’s worth taking a look at this entertaining and very different crime thriller novel.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading one of Ian Hamilton's Ava Lee series is a little like gorging on dim sum. Once begun, it is not easy to stop. But we can treat ourselves since his books come out only once a year. I so hate to be without one of the books in the series so that I save them until the next one is out so I always have one for a rainy day. However, I am going to break that rule and move directly on to The Two Sisters of Borneo after this because I like being part of the conversation that goes with publication of a new title. And, to tell you the truth, the warmth of Southeast Asia sounds p-r-e-t-t-y good to me right now, stuck deep in a northeast American winter. Imagine Toronto!

We are already far into the legend of Ava Lee with this fifth book in the series. Ava is a forensic accountant based in Toronto, working closely with a colleague she calls "Uncle" who lives in Hong Kong. Ava uncovers evidence of an investment scam originating in an Indonesian bank branch in Toronto, and reluctantly agrees to "follow the money" for some Vietnamese investors. She flies to Surabaya, the capital of East Java in Indonesia, to figure out what went wrong. This novel does what Hamilton is so good at doing: takes a completely plausible and complicated example of international fraud and describes how it works. We learn something. Each new adventure stands on its own and does not repeat what has come before. This time we don't even see the recovered funds changing hands at the end, which is usually one of the more satisfying moments for me. I admit to being a sucker for some kind of cosmic justice.

Why do I like the books so much? It begins with the writing. Hamilton does not "over tell" his story. He will describe a interesting development in a case of international money laundering, say, and in the next sentence or two, will describe the underpinnings of the scam or the step-by-step plan to thwart it...ahead of us, anticipating our questions. But he gives us that moment between one sentence and another to try and figure it out for ourselves what the problems or solutions are. He is generous with details of events that we would never have the opportunity to see for ourselves: in this installment, the raid on the plane bringing bricks of cash from Italy to Indonesia for laundering. It may not be what really happens in situations like this, but it is close enough for me. We get the smallest details, but we still can’t see into the minds and rationale of the Indonesian authorities, who will forever leave questions in our mind about who they were actually helping.

And then there is Ava. She is not just smart; she is thoughtful. She is disciplined...more disciplined than we are, which is why we admire her. But Ava does not come out of these jobs unscathed. Things don't always turn out as she planned and she gets damaged along the way. She has to deal with her increasing disaffection with the job. And she is unpredictable. Her cases are messy and she comes a little undone sometimes. I don't always have a feeling of calm that justice is perfectly done when she retaliates for some wrong. But she always interests me. I like learning how she approaches a case, and I see a change in her over the series. I am a little afraid to learn what will bring her down at last. She is signaling in this book the possibility that she will stop one day, and indeed her main partner in Hong Kong is soon to step aside.

Things change. That’s one of the things I love about this series. And the descriptions of Asia bring it all home, to anyone who has been or lived there. And to critics who say “it ain’t so,” I say it feels closer to true than many others I have enjoyed. Descriptions of attitudes, mores, and locales are spot-on insightful.

This could be a standalone mystery, but since character introductions have become sketchier as the series progressed, I would recommend starting earlier in the series. Besides, Ava is changing, and one would want to see that progression. To my mind she is tired, jaded, and harder now, and perhaps it is a little more difficult to identify with her.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Lee is recovering from being shot when her mother forces her to meet with a casino friend, who is Vietnamese-Chinese, and is one of many who have been ripped off by a fellow community member. When there seems to be enough money involved, she and Uncle decide to take the case, and find that the community member is not the problem. This leads Ava to Surabaya, Indonesia,where she herself becomes a victim, causing her to doubt herself; however, with the help of allies organized by Uncle, she turns the tables, discovering something so threatening that they are willing to walk away from the recovery job, but eventually decide that even that may not protect them from retribution so they develop a plan to sell what they have learned to an interested party with a deep pockets. Family drama continues in parallel, and I am always hungry for the Asian food being described.

[G Flood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just cannot put down an Ava Lee book once I started one. They are always fast-paced, intelligent and take me to various adventures around the globe.

This particular book, the fifth in its series, has struck an emotional chord as I have come to care about the fate of Ava & her Uncle.

Can't wait to start the next adventure with Ava but I am holding back on reading the next book so I can prolong the anticipation and enjoyment!

[Mihir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this mystery/thriller based on the blurb and the fact that the main character is a Chinese-Canadian accountant. Amidst the deluge of the PIs, policeman, doctors, lawyers, special agents, ex-soldiers in the mystery/thrillers genre, we very rarely come across accountants as protagonists. Kudos to the author for writing about such an enigmatic character and for also writing a rich character cast to go along with the story.

This series is titled the Ava Lee series and has very lyrical titles that almost exclusively refer to South-east Asian locales (the exception being the second book). TSBOS is the 5th volume in this fascinating series and can be read as a standalone. The story begins with Ava recuperating from her travails in Macau as well dealing with the increased access to the other half of her family. Her father has led a very complicated life and has three wives, of which Ava's mom is the second. Until a few months ago, Ava and her family weren't looked too favorably upon but now all that has changed and Ava is inundated with emails from her half-brother's bride to be. She's on a very comfortable ground with her Colombian girlfriend and both their mothers seem to have accepted their love inspite of their catholic backgrounds.

Ava's partner, Uncle seems to be going through some health issues but given that he's an octogenarian, Ava thinks that's natural. She however instructs Sonny (Uncle's driver) to keep a close eye on that front. Their newest case comes from a very surprising person: Ava's mother Jennie. She request Ava to help out a friend of hers who seems to have gotten caught in a ponzi scheme. Things take an interesting turn when Ava finds out that her mom's friend is not the only person and the total amount involved might be upwards of several million.

Ava does take up the task with Uncle's backing and that's where the story begins as Ava will have to travel to Surabaya and other locales to find out what actually happened to the money and who is behind it all? I loved how the author managed to focus on both Ava's personal struggles as well as her professional ones and also managed to create a nice mix of a travelogue and thriller within this story. I believe such might be the case with the previous titles as well but I'll wait to read and confirm that as soon as my books arrive.

This case takes some horrific dark turns for Ava as her carefully constructed world seems to be disintegrating but there's hope as newer partners and people seem to be coming together to join her. This book was an interesting read with regards to Ava & the remaining character cast. The author certainly has a flair for Chinese culture and does a great job with food description (rivaling GRRM in detail but not to the same quantity). The locales described further add an international angle and it's special as they aren't the usual European or American ones as seen in most genre thrillers.

A very different type of story is set within these pages and I can't wait to start with the The Dragon Head Of Hong Kong to see the origin of Ava & Uncle's partnership and read the entire saga so far. If you love thrillers with rich characters, unique protagonist, Chinese culture & South-east Asian locales then the Ava Lee series is a must read. As for me, I'm glad I discovered Ian Hamilton & his unique series focussing on a gay Canadian accountant.

[Anthony Bidulka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give out 5 stars. Maybe it the former teacher in me that always likes to leave room for improvement. But Ian's book, the 5th in the Ava Lee series, comes close to perfect for what I always thought this series could be. I think its wonderful that the series has just gotten better. Instead of resting on laurels of the series' earlier (well-deserved) success, the author is striving to make it better.

I've enjoyed this series from the start. The action. The unique main character. The exotic locales. The story-telling. Some of the books rested more heavily on one or the other, succeeded in one area more than another, but with The Scottish Banker of Surabaya, he gets it all right.

The area that I've been yearning for Hamilton to expand upon is Ava Lee's personal life. I've always felt a bit short-changed there, sometimes even thinking he's described for the reader this wonderful and complex persona but going no further than description, leaving us with a cut-out paper doll figure with no depth. But here he goes for it and I felt for the first time I really got to know Ava Lee a little better and saw behind her actions to the inner workings of her mind. She seems more real to me. The genius of the writer is that he did all of this without sacrificing even a shred of the other important aspects of the series. The action, the storytelling, the exotic locales, all still there in fine form. A terrific read.

[John Doe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Petite attractive Asian female accountant who does Kung-fu wears Chanel and has shady triad connections.

How many stereotypes there?

Binding the tropes together is endless pages of exposition and guide book reviews producing this tripe.

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another installment of Ava. And she even takes way less instant coffee this time around!

[Buchdoktor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Lee hatte nicht vor, in Kanada nach veruntreuten Geldsummen zu suchen, schließlich könnten hier, anders als in einigen asiatischen Ländern, betrogene Kanadier den juristischen Weg beschreiten. Doch Theresa Ng stammt wie Avas Mutter aus Shanghai und ist wie sie katholisch. So nimmt Ava notgedrungen relativ kurz nach ihrem letzten Abenteuer in Macao die Suche nach dem Schwarzgeld des vietnamesisch-chinesischen Familienclans auf. Die Spur führt Ava über Vietnam nach Indonesien, während ihr Geschäftspartner Onkel Chow sie, wie bisher in jedem Band, mit seinem Rat und einer ortskundigen Kontaktperson unterstützt. Ava kann sich inzwischen auf ein eigenes Netz von „guanxi“ in chinesischer Tradition stützen. Sie hat zuverlässige Kontakte aus der Zeit ihres Studiums und sie schafft in jedem ihrer Fälle wertvolle Verbindungen zu Personen, auf die sie sich verlassen kann.

„Der schottische Bankier von Surabaya“ ist der 5. Ins Deutsche übersetzte von bisher 12 Bänden der Reihe um das lesbische Wonderwoman Ava Lee, mit dem Krug & Schadenberg die verwaiste Serie wieder aufnimmt. Ein 2013 in Kanada erschienenes Prequel erzählt die Vorgeschichte von Onkel Chow, Ava Lees Mentor und Geschäftspartner. Hamiltons Serie um eine kämpferische Wirtschaftsprüferin thematisiert das Netz der „guanxi“ unter Chinesen in aller Welt. Die Reihe entwickelt sich von Band zu Band wie eine komplexe Netzstruktur aus Kontakten, die Ava mit der Zeit aufbaut.

In der gar nicht so guten alten Zeit hätte ein wohlhabender chinesischer Geschäftsmann wie Maurice Lee mit Hauptfrau, Nebenfrauen und den gemeinsamen Kindern in einem Vierseiten-Anwesen gelebt. Seine Frauen hätten ihm Gehorsam geschuldet, Söhne zur Welt bringen müssen und jeweils in einem eigenen Hausbereich ein geringes Maß an persönlicher Freiheit genossen. Diese Lebensweise spiegelt Ian Hamilton in einer wohlhabenden Familie der Gegenwart, deren Frauen höchst aktuell auf drei Kontinenten leben und damit das finanzielle Risiko des Patriarchen streuen, nach der Rückkehr Hongkongs in die VR China (1997) evtl. Vermögensanteile einzubüßen. Ava ist eins der 8 Kinder, die der wohlhabende Hongkonger Geschäftsmann Maurice Lee mit 3 Frauen hat. Die Familienaufstellung hat mich vom ersten Band der Reihe gefesselt; denn darin spiegelt sich Hamiltons umfangreiches Wissen über Wertvorstellungen asiatischer Gesellschaften. Neben der spannenden Frage, was Onkel Chow und Ava einmal zusammengeführt hat, rätsele ich seitdem darüber, ob der leichtsinnig wirkende Michael ein angemessener Nachfolger für Vater Maurice als Familienoberhaupt sein wird – und wie sich die die jüngeren Frauen des erweiterten Clans noch entwickeln werden.

Avas Mutter, eine einflussreiche Dame der chinesischen Community Torontos, lebt ihrer Tochter beständig vor, wie Verbindungen, Einfluss und Wohlstand zusammenhängen. Für Ava stellt sich an einem Scheideweg ihres Lebens nun die Frage, ob sie den bevorstehenden Generationswechsel nutzen, sich aus den erstickenden konfuzianisch geprägten Sitten ihres Clans lösen und etwas Eigenes auf die Beine stellen wird.

Dass Ava offen lesbisch lebt, blieb bisher weitgehend im Hintergrund. Wie sich ihre Beziehung zu ihrer kolumbianischen Liebsten Maria weiter entwickeln wird, darauf bin ich nach einem fiesen Cliffhänger in diesem Band sehr neugierig.

Kann man mit Band 5 noch in die Serie einsteigen?
Da sich im fünften Band für Ava einige neue Wege abzeichnen, eignet er sich sogar sehr gut zum Einstieg. Ian Hamilton nennt zu jeder für Serien-Einsteiger neuen Figur kurz den Anlass, zu dem Ava diese Person kennengelernt hat.

Der Fall des veruntreuten Schwarzgelds entwickelt sich in Surabaya selbst für ein kampfsporterprobtes Wondergirl wie Ava spektakulär. Die Suche nach dem Geld und mögliche Elemente von Wirtschaftsthrillern wirken hier jedoch wie eine Kulisse, vor der Ian Hamilton sein umfangreiches Wissen über chinesisch-stämmige Communities und deren Sitten demonstrieren kann.

Insgesamt würden der Krimi-Reihe ein Glossar chinesischer Begriffe und ein Personen-Verzeichnis gut zu Gesicht stehen.

[DunklesSchaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Über den Autor Ian Hamilton und seine Protagonistin Ava Lee bin ich tatsächlich schon mal vor einer Weile bei der Suche nach neuen Büchern gestolpert. Teil eins (Die Wasserratte von Wanchai) landete auf meiner Wunschliste, auf der sie seitdem ausharrt. Mit dem aktuellen Krimi erscheint nun aber schon der fünfte Teil um Ava Lee und jetzt konnte ich auf keinen Fall mehr widerstehen. Ein Quereinstieg in eine Serie ist ja immer umstritten, denn es fragt sich, ob man nicht die vorigen Teile kennen muss, um den aktuellen zu verstehen. Bei Krimis ist das allerdings oft kein Problem, denn die Fälle sind ja abgeschlossen. Private Verwicklungen, die aber ja meist nebenher laufen, sind natürlich schon fortgeschritten, aber eben nicht hinderlich bei einem Quereinstieg. Nichtsdestotrotz kann es aber ein Risiko sein. Kann sein, muss aber nicht.

Nach ihrem letzten Fall ist Ava Lee gesundheitlich angeschlagen und gerade dabei sich zu überlegen, ob sie in ihren Job zurückkehren will. Sie ist Wirtschaftsprüferin, doch langweilig ist ihr Job ganz sicher nicht. Mit Onkel, dem ehemaligen Chef einer chinesischen Triade, betreibt Ava Lee ein Inkassounternehmen und verschafft Kunden verlorenes Geld wieder. Keine Kleinbeträge, richtig viel Geld. Deshalb ist sie nicht nur skeptisch, sondern auch ablehnend, als ihre Mutter sie bittet, Teresa Ng, einer Bekannten ihrer Mutter, aus der Patsche zu helfen. Als jedoch klar wird, dass nicht nur Teresa, sondern noch mehr Parteien bei einem Fondschwindel richtig viel Geld investiert haben und es nun zurückhaben möchten, nimmt sie den Auftrag doch an. Der Auftrag führt sie von Kanada über China nach Indonesien, genauer gesagt nach Surabaya.

Beeindruckend. Das ist das Wort, welches Ava Lee für mich am besten beschreibt. Ava Lee ist eine kluge, starke Frau. Sie arbeitet in einem Beruf, der nicht ohne Gefahr ist, doch zur Not kann sie sich verteidigen. Sie verfügt über Fachkenntnisse und versteht ihr Handwerk. Auch wenn sie nie so genannt wird im Buch ist sie doch irgendwie Privatdetektivin. Sie sucht keine verlorenen Menschen, überwacht keine betrügenden Männer oder klärt Mordfälle – sie sucht Geld. Als Wirtschaftsprüferin ist sie dafür genau die Richtige. Und gemeinsam mit dem etwas geheimnisvollen alten Mann, den sie Onkel nennt, hat sie damit Erfolg. Nichtsdestotrotz hat der letzte Fall ihr schwer zu schaffen gemacht. Zum einen ging es um ihren Halbbruder, zum anderen hat sie auch einen Mann erschießen müssen und ist selbst mit einer Schusswunde nur knapp davon gekommen. Sie zweifelt, ob ihr Job noch der richtige Job für sie ist, doch bevor sie sich darüber klar werden kann, wird sie von ihrer Mutter in den nächsten Job katapultiert.

Die Familie… ja, die ist nicht ganz einfach bei Ava. Ihre Mutter ist die zweite Frau ihres Vaters, der mit seiner ersten Frau und Familie in China lebt, dessen dritte Frau mit Familie aber in Australien lebt. So überspannt Avas Familie denn den ganzen Globus, doch ihre Mutter und ihre Schwester leben in Kanada. Neben ihrer Geliebten Maria pflegt sie noch einige Freundschaften, unter anderem zu May Ling, die sie in einem vergangenen Fall kennen gelernt hat und sie nun gerne zu einer Geschäftsbeziehung überreden will. Während des Falls schottet sie sich ab, denn tatsächlich fließt ein beständiger Mailverkehr zwischen ihr und ihren Freunden und Familienmitgliedern hin und her. Um ganz ehrlich zu sein, waren es mir am Anfang fast schon zu viele, um mir die Namen zu merken, aber auch um sie auseinander zu halten, aber mit der Zeit hat man dann alle Verbandelungen drauf.

Das Geflecht an Beziehungen versteht man bestimmt ein wenig besser, wenn man die vorigen Teile kennt – was ich auf jeden Fall nun nachholen werde – aber auch ohne die vorigen Teile kann man die Verbindungen recht schnell nachvollziehen. Es gibt auch einige Anspielungen auf den vorigen Fall, der in Macao stattfand, doch das war nicht weiter störend. Weder wird zu viel verraten, so dass man keine Lust mehr hat, diesen Teil nachzuholen, noch lag der alte Fall im Fokus. Es war einfach etwas, was hin und wieder erwähnt wurde, um Dinge zu erklären oder zu verdeutlichen.

Onkel hingegen ist schon eine etwas spezielle Figur. Über ihn, bzw. über seine Vergangenheit erfährt man nun nicht sehr viel, doch Onkel hat weitreichende Verbindungen, die Ava bei ihren Ermittlungen zu Gute kommen. Vor jeder Entscheidung berät sich Ava mit dem alten Mann und trifft keine wichtige Entscheidung allein. Sie arbeiten gemeinsam. Es ist aber kein Chef-Angestelltenverhältnis, es ist eine Partnerschaft. Beide wissen nicht alles voneinander, vertrauen sich aber blind. In ihrem Geschäft nicht unwichtig, aber doch unüblich.

Sagt man wirtschaftlichen Themen in Krimis oft nach, dass sie langweilig sind und hierfür nicht taugen, muss ich erwähnen, dass ich immer wieder vom Gegenteil überzeugt werde. Wirtschaftsthemen eignen sich hervorragend für Krimis – ich würde jetzt mal wagemutig behaupten, wenn dem nicht so ist, liegt es nicht am Thema. Der Autor verbindet elegant den fauligen Investmentfond mit einer krummen Bank auf Indonesien, verquickt mit Italienern und Waffen, und haut am Ende mit Geldwäsche und Immobiliengeflechten um sich – das alles aber verständlich und unheimlich spannend geschrieben. Aber das ist auch noch nicht alles, denn er lässt Ava eine Sache durchleben, die mich tiefst betroffen hat und ich mir jetzt noch nicht ganz klar darüber bin, ob ihre Reaktion darauf gut oder schlecht finde. Beeindruckend ist sie aber auf jeden Fall, denn sie ist zwar betroffen, aber verfolgt ihr Ziel weiterhin kühl und unerbittlich, aber kann man bei so einem Ereignis sachlich bleiben? Nun ja, sie schafft es nicht ganz.

Tatsächlich hatte ich mich gefreut, einen Thriller aus Kanada zu lesen, denn das Land ist noch ein weitgehend blinder Fleck auf meiner Karte, aber flugs waren wir dann in Asien, China und Indonesien. Das war denn weiter auch nicht schlimm, denn auch hier habe ich noch weiße Flecken und hab mich gefreut, mehr über die beiden Länder zu erfahren. In Hongkong erhält Ava eine kleine, aber feine Sightseeing Tour, doch abgesehen davon, liegt der Fokus des Autors nicht auf ausführlichen Landschaftsbeschreibungen. Schon eher widmet er sich der Küche des Landes und lässt Ava immer sehr gute Gerichte probieren. Vielmehr ist es aber die Kultur, die Feinheiten im Umgang im asiatischen Raum, die mir Ava in dem Buch ganz unbewusst näher gebracht hat.

Fazit:
Ein perfektes Leseerlebnis rund um Privatdetektivin Ava Lee, die dem Weg des Geldes folgt und dabei nicht nur auf langweilige Wirtschaftskriminelle stößt. Ich bin gespannt, ob die anderen Teile der Serie meine nun hohen Erwartungen halten können. Dieser Teil ist auf jeden Fall eine absolute Leseempfehlung!

[Muhammad Gibran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book after book Ian Hamilton always offer a new adventure for Ava and the level is always high. The interconnected plot from each book make you want to read it back and forward again and again. I don't think I can get this hooked by this series. 3 days marathon from book 1 to 5 make me crave for more. When I see the publication date for book 6, I weep.

I noticed Ian Hamilton have a very monotone style when explained the character in his book, it almost a carbon copy from book 1. The cloth that Ava wearing almost the same in every book. I know she's rich and like highend cloth, but everytime she change from formal to informal clothes, it almost the same.
I really applaud the extensive research that the author do, because I'm from Indonesia so in this fifth book it feel closer to home. The tragedy that fallen to Ava in this book make me angry, almost make me abandon reading it further.

My expectation is very high after seeing the title for book 6, does Ian make scene in west, east, center, south or north borneo???

How can I get the ARC??? 10 months is too long......

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoo...! Ava Lee's world is getting grittier and tougher. Can't really help it when one is tracking down money, usually stolen by unsavoury characters. She started with not being sure if she wants to continue with her line of work. But, her mother roped her into helping a friend recover money she invested in a scam. To add to all that, she's worried that Uncle might be sick. Both his driver, Sonny, and his housekeepr, Lourdes, are very worried that he might be ill.
I like that Ava's morality is not black and white but many shades of gray. This makes sense given her world. This can be a hard read for some people, but I enjoy this and is going forward on reading the rest of the books.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm inclined to think that this one was over the top. Ava was both far too cocky in some situations and unusually unsure in others.
Most of this book was situated in Indonesia, with small sections in Toronto and Hong Kong. There is more information about Uncle and Sonny is getting a larger part in the story as well.
I disliked the situation that developed between Ava and a banker, I thought it was odd for her to be so careless and she was strangely calm at it conclusion.
I'm also not sure I like the direction Ava is going, from a character and a business point of view. I'm interested in finding out where both ideas are going but worry that I won't like the outcome.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of my favorite series. The title character is a real piece of work and learns the hard way not to screw Ava Lee. I'm ready to visit Surabaya after Hamilton's descriptions even though Lonely Planet says to stay away. I enjoy how Hamilton gets into the conflict of culture and family in the diasporic Chinese community--clash between modernity and familial bonds. Ava has some touching and challenging moments in this episode as we see a lapsed Catholic lesbian praying at a Taoist shrine and her confronting some more ethical decision points involving vengeance and mercy. You do what you got to do.

[Peter Brickwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series of books. They are part travelogue and part graphic action/adventure. Ava Lee, the main character, describes every hotel, airline and restaurant as though reviewing them for a travel advice blog. Recently, on one of my rare stays in a hotel, I noted the complimentary slippers and thought "Ava Lee would approve." Juxtapose this with the graphic description of using a cattle prod to torture a rapist. I find these intriguing, enjoyable reads that aren't your average "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang".

[Robin Spano]

Ian Hamilton takes Ava Lee to a new level in this fast-paced, super-fun read. Emotionally rewarding, laugh-out-loud funny. One of my favorite series on the market. Look forward to this one hitting shelves in early 2013.

[Marci - · Rating 5 out of 5]

less than 24hrs later and I'm finished the book, absolutely FANTASTIC!! I want the next one now lol but have to wait until September!! too long!!!

[Craig Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the three previous Ava Lee books I have read (I can't find No. 1 anywhere, but I will keep looking), appreciating both the tone and the vivid characters, especially that of Ava herself, a non-nonsense forensic accountant with martial arts skills. Although her search for embezzlers and fraudsters involved serious amounts of money, and sometimes people were hurt or even died, the books themselves did not tackle serious matters.

That changes with this outing, as both Ava and her elderly partner Uncle face major personal crises. What happens to Ava in this book caught me by surprise I won't give it away, but suffice to say that it shakes things up and brings a far more serious turn to the plot. In the end she manages to combine a desire for revenge with her pursuit of the millions of dollars lost by her trusting (but tax-averse) clients back in Canada.

The book begins a few months after the events of the last one, in which she was injured but still emerged triumphant. She's enjoying her rehab so much she's not sure she wants to go back to work, but her gambler mom drags her to meet a casino employee with a problem. The woman is part of a tightly knit Vietnamese community where dozes of people invested in what Ava immediately recognizes is a Ponzi scheme. Ava reluctantly agrees to look into it, and before long she's headed to Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City and then Surabaya.

The plot drives onward in a completely logical way until the final act, which involves Ava getting her clients their money back from a most unlikely source. By the time I got to that point, though, I had stayed up well past midnight to find out what happened next, and so I disregarded my disbelief and plunged on to the end. All in all it was a satisfying read, albeit one that took me to places I didn't expect at all. I guess that's one way to avoid making every book in the series seem the same. Can't wait to see what Hamilton does in the next installment.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth outing for forensic accountant, Ava Lee. Believe me, Ava doesn't fit any stereotypes of an accountant stuck behind a desk. Her speciality is international fraud and her partner, Uncle, is a high ranking member of a Chinese triad.

Ava's mother, Jennie, befriends a Vietnamese-Chinese Canadian at an Ontario casino. Theresa shares with Jennie that many people in Mississauga's Vietnamese community invested money in a fund managed by a friend of her brother. The returns were good until they came to a full stop. A visit to the company found the doors locked. In total, investors had lost $32 million with no recourse as the funds weren't registered. Reluctantly, Ava agrees to investigate.

Ava's search takes her to Surabaya, Indonesia. This is my favourite thing about the series. Each book is set in a different Asian location complete with descriptions of local culture and food. These books are guaranteed to make you hungry if you like Asian food.

The Scottish Banker of Surabaya is another entertaining entry in a compelling series with a heroine that is unique in crime fiction. Ava is hard-core and she is no Robin Hood. I recommend readers start with the first book, The Water Rat of Wanchai, for maximum enjoyment.

[StiffSticks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good news is that the product placement seems to have settled down alot. Starbucks must have finally completely cancelled. Brooks Brothers and Adidas etc still are prominently featured, and its either a product placement situation, or bad bad writing.
the other good news is that Ava remains kick ass, and the level of violence remains at a 9. This book, like the others in the series, is very readable. There are holes in the logic and plot, but if you ignore that, its a breezy read.

The level of unnecessary detail remains at an all time high. 'Ava walks to the bathroom, Ava fills her cup with water, Ava puts toothpaste on her brush, Ava strokes up then down, Ava spits in the sink. . . . . . . . . " I don't know if it's a case of stretching out a short story worth of material into a full length book, or if it's just a case of poor editing.

Overall, I'm still giving it 4 stars because I enjoyed the book and I'll read the next in the series.

Bonus points cuz I know the Tim Hortons referenced near the beginning of the book, the one on highway 12 near Casino Rama.

[Richard Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Goodreads Blurb: Ava begins an investigation into what she thinks is a Ponzi scheme. The trail leads her to a bank in Indonesia that is run by a Scot, but in actuality is a front for an elaborate money-laundering operation for Italian mobsters. The relationship between Ava and the Scotsman turns nasty and personal. Meanwhile, Uncle’s health problems become apparent...

As with all the Ava Lee books there are interesting ethical GREY areas... The clients in this book are Canadian Vietnamese would prefer no work in a cash economy (to avoid taxes) and are so successful that they need to find a way to launder all their cash which leads them to deal with professional money launderers who steal there money.. hmmmm

I would have given the book a five except for a couple of weak (but ultimately forgivable plot points... Ava has never heard of Rohypnol?)

Interesting developments on the horizon involving Amanda Yee and May Ling...

This book was book #11 on our 2023 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List, and book #13 on our own 2023 Read-alouds List.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong entry in the Ava Lee series. Excellent writer, interesting plot, great dialogue, nice pacing. Ava and her mentor, Uncle (who is more interesting than Ava, in my opinion) agree to track down $30 million stolen from some Vietnamese investors in Canada. The story takes Ava to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and finally Indonesia, where she finds that the money is in the hands of an Italian gang. Eventually, Ava gets back the money but the path to success is suspenseful.

Ava is fearless and clever, but sometimes her methods are illegal and unethical. She is not a goody two-shoes.

My one criticism is that there is way too much verbiage spent on minutiae. We know how much shampoo Ava uses in the shower, each item of dim sum ordered at the restaurant, every item of clothing she puts on, and so on. There is a whole page describing her preparation for a dinner. This is found in all of Hamilton's Ava Lee books, and it bugs me.

[Brett Bydairk · Rating 4 out of 5]

5th in the series about forensic accountant Ava Lee, this is a satisfying read. In many books of this type, the protagonist gas a goal, makes a plan to achieve that goal, and much of the action happens because said plan goes awry, and the protagonist (or close friend, associate, family member, country, organization, etc) is in life-threatening danger and s/he must effect a last-second save.
Not in this book. Ava is reluctantly brought in to help someone her mah-jong-playing mother knows. The more Ava looks into this, the stranger it gets. She makes a plan, but changes and adapts it as she learns more. While Ava herself is never in mortal danger, there is enough action and gore to satisfy the blood-thirsty reader's taste.
The book ends with a revelation about Uncle, Ava's partner in her debt-collection activity, that will change the course of Ava's life.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Ava Lee is a smart, thoughtful, intrepid, unique heroine -- a Chinese-Cdn gay forensic accountant, who does martial arts, travels the world, has a link to the shady side of things in Asia, and has become, in some ways, the equal of her partner and mentor, Uncle. The books sometimes read as travelogues and I always learn something about the exotic locales, and love the familiar mentions of Canadian and Toronto spots and traditions. They are also chockfull of information about financial crimes and how Ava uncovers them. But at the heart of it, they are about the spirit of Ava and her family and friends. This one was very personal, as she grows concerned about Uncle's health.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading the Ava Lee series, in order, after my first introduction with the last in the series. This is my least favorite so far. I did give it three stars but more because of Ava's interactions with Uncle and his declining health and some interesting and helpful people she meets along the way. This book in the series had more references to sex plus violent sex that has not been in previous books. It did not make the narrative better although it did try to justify Ava's revenge against Cameron, the Scottish Banker of the title. I think Hamilton has run out of ideas for money collection adventures for Ava. I look forward to her new partnership with May Ling and Amanda and where that will lead Ava and her useful skills.

[Hannah von queerBUCH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vollständige Rezension: queerbuch.wordpress.com

Wertung: 3,5 Sterne

Fazit

Wir haben es hier mit einem der wenigen Krimis zu tun, der eine selbstverständlich lesbische Heldin in den Mittelpunkt stellt, ohne daraus ein großes Thema zu machen. Man kann die Ava-Lee-Romane gut unabhängig voneinander lesen, und dieser hier hat mich bestens unterhalten. Auch wenn er im ersten Drittel spannungstechnische Anlaufschwierigkeiten hat, wurde er spätestens ab dem zweiten Drittel zum klassischen Page-Turner und macht definitiv Lust auf mehr. Ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Teil!

[Jennifer S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava has been recuperating from her gunshot wound for a few months, contemplating whether she needs a career change, when her mother asks her to help a Toronto acquaintance recover money that she and other Vietnamese families lost in what looks like a standard Ponzi scheme. Ava reluctantly takes the case, which turns out to be more complicated than it seems, involving a shady Indonesian bank run by the Scottish Banker of the title. Things turn personal quickly and Ava needs to close both the personal affront and get the money she is contracted to recover. Good blend of following the money trail, setting up some creative cover stories, applying some ruthless pressure, and getting help from her connections across the globe.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

#5 in the Ava Lee series by Ian Hamilton. This was published years ago, but for some reason I could never get my hands on a copy. I 'recommended' it to the LA Public Library and finally they got a copy from I know not where! I've read all the other Ava Lee books, the Uncle books, the Triad years, whatever is part of the overall story, I read. I'm having to dial back to fit this book in to the overall story, but it's fantastic! It's a stronger, somewhat more difficult story to read, but worth it totally. It's a very important element within the Ava Lee story and explains much about her ongoing relationship with Uncle, Sammy, and others. So glad to slot this one in to my reading. I really just didn't do anything but read it in two days.

[JRT · Rating 1 out of 5]

That first 100 pages could have been done in 20. Tedious detail having nothing to do with plot ,what she wears right to her underwear every day , exhaustive description of everything she eats. I don’t need to know when she goes to “pee”. Flight schedules that have nothing to do with plot., Why? Padding?The only reason I stayed with this for 139 pages before I gave up was the book cover description that the protagonist was “wildly popular “ No excitement at all in the first 139 pages and a spoiler on the book cover.The Globe review said start with this book in the series , start and end. I’m not usually this hard on reviews but this was a waste of time and money.