A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder

Inspector Singh Investigates #1

by Shamini Flint

Inspector Singh is in a bad mood. He's been sent from his home in Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to solve a murder that has him stumped. Chelsea Liew – the famous Singaporean model – is on death row for the murder of her ex-husband. She swears she didn't do it, he thinks she didn't do it, but no matter how hard he tries to get to the bottom of things, he still arrives back at the same place – that Chelsea's husband was shot at point blank range, and that Chelsea had the best motivation to pull the trigger: he was taking her kids away from her. Now Inspector Singh must pull out all the stops to crack a crime that could potentially free a beautiful and innocent woman and reunite a mother with her children. There's just one problem – the Malaysian police refuse to play ball...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Asia, Detective, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery

295 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2009

About the author

Shamini Flint lives in Singapore with her husband and two children. She began her career in law in Malaysia and also worked at an international law firm in Singapore. She travelled extensively around Asia for her work, before resigning to be a stay-at-home mum, writer, part-time lecturer and environmental activist, all in an effort to make up for her 'evil' past as a corporate lawyer!

Shamini writes children's books with cultural and environmental themes including Jungle Blues and Turtle takes a Trip as well as the 'Sasha' series of children's books. She also writes crime fiction featuring the rotund Singaporean policeman, Inspector Singh. Singh travels around Asia stumbling over corpses and sampling the food ...

Reviews

[Tea Jovanović · Rating 5 out of 5]

pravo je vreme da upoznate inspektora Singa i pratite ga u njegovim avanturama po egzoticnim zemljama... krimici koji nas upoznaju s dalekim svetovima i kulturama... prva dva naslova objavljena su na srpskom...

[K.J. Charles]

Murder mystery set in Malaysia and Singapore. Characterization is rather thin, unlike the detective, whose weight is mentioned constantly and negatively--he's fat, he's sweaty because he's fat, his clothes don't fit, etc.--which became sufficiently grating to annoy me out of any immersion, and I have a bunch of books I'm looking forward to reading, so DNF at 28%.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former Singaporean model is accused of murdering her husband, Alan Lee, heir to a Malaysian timber fortune, during bitter divorce proceedings and a custody battle over their three children. Chelsea Liew is arrested and the Malaysians consider it an open and shut case as she had declared one week earlier that she had wanted her husband dead. Inspector Singh is sent from Singapore to Malaysia to assist in the investigation but has little authority. Physically, the maverick policeman is a mess - disheveled, sweating, and obese, but mentally he is organized and sharp in his questioning and acumen and willing to step outside of the law. He is being watched over by the neat, efficient, law-abiding and young Sergeant Shukor, who tries to play by the rules. These two unlikely opposites join forces when Chelsea swears she did not kill Alan. Interesting to read of her portrayal of the contrasts between the modern and clean Singapore and the dirty and chaotic Malaysia. Although I was guessing until the end and several red herrings were thrown in, some of the actions seem implausible, the reading was light, and motive weak. Not sure if I would read any more in the series.

[i. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story takes place in Kuala Lumpur, one of my favourite cities in the world, mainly because it is a modern melting pot of several cultures and traditions. The novel depicts this mixture of races and ways of living perfectly.

Inspector Singh , the policeman from Singapore in charge of investigating the murder, is a very likeable and peculiar character that will appeal to fans of detective stories.

The book is an easy read to enjoy before, during or after visiting beautiful Malaysia.

click here to see my pictures of this wonderful country

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Sentence: The accused, Chelsea Liew, was in court.

Inspector Singh has been sent from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to investigate the case of a former model, Chelsea Liew, accused of murdering her ex-husband. Involved in a bitter dispute over the custody of their children, Chelsea, in court, threatened to kill her ex, and was the obvious suspect after his being shot. In spite of the evidence, Singh is less certain of her guilt and, working with Inspector Mohammad, dedicates himself to finding the truth.

In many ways, this book is similar to THE GUILTY PLEA by Robert Rotenberg, also reviewed this month, but this is such a better book, mainly due to the author’s voice and construct of characters.

One really can’t help but like Insp. Singh. From the very beginning, one is taken in by his delightfully pragmatic approach and view. He not only wins over those around him, but the reader as well. By his side, we are provided with Inspector Mohammad, who quotes Shakespeare when he’s angry. It is a winning combination, indeed.

Flint’s writing and observations are wonderful. The story deals with the conflicts between Malaysia and Singapore with the author citing a broader view that…”there was absolutely no possibility of a successful resolution to the case he had just been handed. There never was when religion trumped rational behavior and politics influenced police work.” “Programmed randomness struck him as an oxymoron.” She also makes some solid observations about greed and humanity being out of sync with nature.

The story provides an interesting look at Sikh life and customs. Flint masterfully conveys the impact and emotions of the case through the true victims—the children. You also sense the frustration of the police in a case with several suspects for no definitive evidence toward any of them.

“A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder” is extremely well plotted with a very good ending and wonderful characters; particularly Singh who impacts the lives of those around him. I, for one, cannot wait to read more of this series.

INSPECTOR SINGH INVESTIGATES: A MOST PECULIAR MALAYSIAN MURDER (Pol Proc-Ins. Singh-Kuala Lumpur-Cont) – Ex
Flint, Shamini – 1st in series
Minotaur Books – 2008, US Hardcover – 9780312596972

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting case with lots of twists, and involving multiple strong motives for murder for the members of a family who own a successful timber corporation.
Inspector Singh is sent to ensure Sinaporean-born Chelsea Lieu is treated properly by the Kuala Lumpore police while in custody for the murder of her wastrel, abusive husband. The case is complicated by false claims of a religious conversion by her late husband shortly before his murder, an outstanding ruling on the custody of their three children, a confession by one of the dead man’s brothers, and lucrative possible future contracts for the corporation, in spite of reports of its alleged damage to the Borneo’s timber-rich forests and its Indigenous peoples.
Inspector Singh is seen as both a maverick and a pain in the arse by his superiors. He’s an interesting contrast to the young police officer tasked with shepherding him around Kuala Lumpore. Singh is overweight, a smoker, and is somewhat instinctual in his approach to investigating. He looks like he should be a bit of a joke, but has a keen mind and is dogged in finding the truth, instead of a convenient result, much to his superiors’ annoyance. I liked Singh enormously, and can’t wait to read his next case.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love crime fiction set in exotic locales (at least they are exotic locales to me). This excellent book is the first in a series featuring Inspector Singh, a policeman from Singapore, who in this book, is trying to solve a murder in Malaysia.

This book has everything a good crime novel should have; excellent writing, a host of interesting characters (including many suspects with a good motive), and wonderful descriptions of the above-mentioned exotic locale. And on top of that, I didn't figure out who the killer was...I thought I had and was expecting to be disappointed at the end, but instead was pleasantly surprised.

Recommended to all crime fiction aficionados.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint is the first book in the Inspector Singh Investigates series. Inspector Singh of the Singapore Police is sent to Malaysia to look into the death of a timber magnate when his Singaporean wife is arrested after threatening him in a high profile divorce case. An interesting mystery with political, cultural and religious interplays. Inspector Singh is a likeable character and is dogged and capable. A light, intriguing and complex puzzle.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad story at all. I liked that while older and overweight, Singh is more like Colombo than a bumbling Clouseau. Plot was well-developed enough that I'm looking forward to reading another adventure, although perhaps not the next one as its plot doesn't really appeal to me. I do like that the author sets the stories in different countries, rather than just tiny Singapore.

[Remi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Inspector Singh Investigates" is a series of murder-mystery novels by Shamini Flint which, I have to say, have kept my interest several books on. I picked up this first book in the series (each book places the lead character in a different country--so far all in Asia) without much hope for even finishing it. But I did. And then bought the 2nd and 3rd novels in the series. So far there are 5 and I will definitely be picking up the rest at some point.

Inspector Singh is a detective in Singapore's police force. He is short, fat, drinks on duty, and wears a big crown of a turban on his head. Definitely not cookie-cutter detective material. But it works. He is good at his job and I enjoy reading about him solving his crimes.

Singh is first send to Kuala Lumpur to help out but soon gets deep into the case with mixed emotions from the Malaysian police force. A wealthy Chinese-Malaysian tycoon (Alan) is found shot at point blank range and his ex-wife, the former model Chelsea, has practically been deemed the murderer by the local police and media before much of an investigation gets underway. This, naturally sets the stage for conflict between Singh and the Malaysia police when he begins to dig around, not find too much at first, but still insist (without much evidence) that Chelsea is innocent. But the way Shamini Flint deals with this conflict between local and foreign police was not heavy-handed. I enjoyed reading about the dynamics between Singh and Inspector Mohammad.

I didn't like Chelsea's character at first but I figured this was just a way to get the reader to doubt Singh, setting it up for when he eventually pulls up enough evidence to find her innocent. I'm not going to say whether that happens or not, but I will say that Shamini Flint does a good job of making the reader change their minds about who the guilty party is actually.

There are a number of issues brought up in the novel that are significant problems in Malaysia today--most of which are officially considered non-issues by government threats unfortunately. The timber industry in Borneo plays a role in this story. I liked that part and could imagine reading a novel on that side story alone.

Central to the case is religion. Alan and Chelsea had been preparing for a big divorce settlement. But Alan wanted the kids. So he did what he felt he had to do and convert to Islam. How is that relevant to a custody battle you may ask? Only in Malaysia, it seems. The civil divorce case then proceeded to the Islamic courts which be default would award custody of their children to the Muslim parent (as doubting a new convert's intentions for converting in the first place, even if it is obvious, is illegal). Unless Chelsea was unwilling to convert, she would lose the case. This says a lot about the state of due process of law in Malaysia, but that is for another forum altogether. Still, I was riveted by this plot twist.


Recommended for readers who are interested in social issues in Malaysia and of course for anyone who likes reading about nontraditional police procedurals. Not recommended to readers who need for the story to follow their own understanding of the world (this book may anger you)!

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book. I picked it up because the back cover copy said it will appeal to fans of two of my favorite mystery series, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Colin Cotterill's Dr. Siri books set in Laos.

Sadly, I found this novel derivative and disappointing. The premise is that a "portly detective" from Singapore is sent to Malaysia to look into a high-profile murder involving a Singapore citizen. A former beauty queen was accused of killing her wealthy and abusive husband.

I found the setting interesting, but the detective. Inspector Singh, is annoying and unappealing. We constantly read that he's disheveled, sweaty and fat. He seems to be a combination of Poirot and Rumpole of the Bailey, with no original characteristics. The author constantly "tells" rather than "shows" what the characters are thinking and feeling, and the ending feels contrived. Save your money and avoid making Inspector Singh's acquaintance.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder is the first volume in Shamini Flint's Inspector Singh series. This detective novel, more in the 'classic' or 'golden age' British style than the American hard-boiled one, delivered the good stuff: while the majority of my teenaged students reported that they found the book slow and boring, and the many characters hard to keep track of, it has proved to be very effective for the particular English course that I teach, where we study the representations of cultural values in texts and how these 'versions of reality' position (the new term is: "invites") readers to endorse or challenge particular ideas, values and attitudes, and what prevailing ideologies are ultimately privileged.

Inspector Singh is a fat, sweaty, 'fleshy' Sikh man from Singapore who is sent to Kuala Lumpur to ensure that 'justice is seen to be done' in the case of a high-profile Singaporean ex-model, Chelsea, who married a wealthy Malaysian businessman, Alan Lee, now murdered outside the family home. The couple had divorced and were in the midst of a bitter custody battle over their three young sons, when Alan suddenly converts to Islam. According to the law - which in Malaysia is both secular and Islamic (they have a two-court system), this conversion automatically made the children Islamic as well, and case would move to the Shariyah court which would rule in favour of the Muslim parent. Chelsea reacted violently to this news in court, attacking Alan and threatening to kill him. Not long after, he was shot and Chelsea immediately arrested as the prime suspect. However, Singh - using the hunches or instinct that separate the protagonist-sleuth from other police officers - just knows she is innocent. Here, in this novel and this world, the Malaysian justice system is the antagonist, a system that cannot truly protect the innocent or the disadvantaged. It is a story of wealth against poverty, the powerful against the lower classes, capitalism against conservationism. This aspect is captured in the other, parallel (and related) storyline which concerns Alan's two brothers, Jasper and Kian Min, his timber company and what the company is doing - illegally - in the Borneo rainforest.

I don't want to give too much away, and I can't, unfortunately, discuss the denouement, but for once the sleuth character seems not to be the real protagonist - there are two other characters who are equally important, but it is telling that the sleuth, Inspector Singh, is only directly involved in one of the two parallel denouements - in order to maintain the integrity of the sleuth, he remains with the Chelsea storyline, doing something noble but not all that illegal. It's a very interesting resolution, one that speaks of the grey areas in morality, of the idea that some bad deeds are worse than others, some murders more evil than others. Really interesting book to discuss.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little comfort read, good for picking up at random times when you want to be entertained but can't invest a lot of time and concentration. The protagonist is very likeable--there's something fun about the Dysfunctional Male Detective just being a little quirky, overweight, and unable to follow rules, as opposed to having A Dark Side (not that I have anything against detectives with a dark side). Also, it's fun to read a book set in a country you're completely unfamiliar with. Not to bash the Scandinavians, but my mystery reading lately has come with a heavy helping of "and then he had another cup of coffee and some more sandwiches and thought about how his personal life was a complete fiasco".

[Alfred Haplo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery is solved, now that I have reached the bottom of it. The mystery being my curiosity about a story set in an exotic locale, the first of many Asian countries, in Sharmini Flint’s Inspector Singh series titled A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder. The murder is indeed peculiar, for the solving was most unorthodox and the mystery rather bland. But spiced with plentiful local flavors from two frenemy countries, Malaysia and neighboring Singapore, the entertainment is kicked up a notch.

For better or worse, troubled waters between these countries brewed long, much like the marriage between Malaysian timber tycoon Alan Lee and Singaporean model Chelsea Liew. Till death do us part takes a nefarious turn when Lee was murdered. His death sets off a chain of events leading not just to the arrest of Liew, and reveals of secrets, but also to a conspiracy involving an indigenous tribe across the South China Sea to Borneo, East Malaysia. Murder suspects pile on as the wealthy and powerful Lee Family’s dirty laundry list is checked off. The undercurrents of familial emotions run deep beneath still waters.

The scene is set for primetime Malaysian soap opera with its plethora of stereotypes. Then stage left enters Inspector Singh - a peculiar man, an oddball of massive proportions. Sleuth extraordinaire, pariah of the Singapore police force, turban-proud and connoisseur of local gastronomy, Inspector Singh is possibly larger than life if his girth had not been even larger. Outwardly brusque and disagreeable, inwardly he is a softie who goes out of his way to aid the innocent though never on an empty stomach, it seems. This sort of honorable investigative but terribly sweaty digestive efforts ostracizes him among his clinically-efficient bureaucratic Singaporean colleagues, and puzzles his Malaysian counterparts. With his debut, Inspector Singh creates an impression, largely positive and no pun intended, thus boding well for future Singh books.

As a reader, I had the most fun playing tourist while riding pillion in Inspector Singh’s head. Peculiar was the perfect way to crystallize memories, while being taxied around the city observing the culture and national prides, but more notably, the city’s over-development of skyscrapers but under-development of infrastructure. Religion is a sensitive topic in a multi-ethnicity, multi-faith country where Islam is the dominant belief that strictly adheres to the religious laws of the Syariah Court, as our characters painfully learn. Kudos to the author for respectfully broaching the subject.

Where the author is most high-handed, is her thinly-veiled criticism on Malaysian corruption and chaotic governance, as observed through the insightful lens of Inspector Singh. Without reservations, there is much truth in Malaysia’s economic, environmental and political dysfunctions but when delivered with holier-than-thou elitism, it smacks of class snobbery that many, not all, Singaporeans, view Malaysia in general. I am most curious, and shall be reading, if the author is equally critical of nepotism within the upper crust of Singapore society; in particular, The Real-Life Dynastic And Powerful Lee Family in the 3rd Inspector Singh book.

Historically, Peninsula Malaysia shared more than a narrow causeway with island-city Singapore. For all the humorous cultural comments and geopolitical jibes about Malaysia vis-à-vis Singapore, it is worth remembering that these countries had a common rule up until 1965, when Singapore achieved full independence from Malaysia. And just 18 years before that, Malaysia gained independence from the British Commonwealth. Today, many Singaporeans (pop. 6 million) are diaspora Malaysians (pop. 30 million), due to immigration influx into a tiny but affluent country with 2.5 times the Forex reserves of its poorer cousin, and the top ten highest in the world. Singapore faces a labor shortage, has zero natural resources and needs potable water from its closest neighbor, and Malaysia needs the money. At a currency exchange rate of Sing $1 to Ringgit $3, the Singaporean spending power is immense even with inflationary terms. Little wonder that even the publicly-funded Singapore law enforcement can generously house Inspector Singh in a 5-star Kuala Lumpur Ritz Carlton during his investigative stint.

Simply put, it is a symbiotic relationship. Like awkward family, you are stuck with each other. It is common for a Singaporean, like Inspector Singh, to have a relative, like his sister, living in Malaysia, with blood in common but nothing much else to talk about except food. Lots and lots of food. English may be lingua franca in Southeast Asia, but love for food is a universal language understood across barriers.

Peculiar is a book I would recommend for it offers many facets of a fascinating protagonist, and an even more fascinating country. Read it on vacation or stay-cation. What you will get is an entertaining series around the world that will take you places.

[Roberta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish this. The story was so derivative and others have done it much better. This was just tedious.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un giallo carino ma niente di più. La polizia di Singapore invia in Malaysia l'ispettore Singh, per vigilare sul processo a una donna singaporeana sposata con un malese e assicurarsi che abbia un giusto processo. La donna è un'ex top model, sposata da 20 anni con un magnate del legno; proprio mentre stanno divorziando l'uomo viene ucciso e Chelsea è in carcere come sospetta numero 1. L'ispettore Singh si affeziona a Chelsea e cerca di aiutarla in tutti i modi.

In questo romanzo tutti finiscono per essere sospettati prima o poi, ma solo alla fine si scoprirà il colpevole e mi ha lasciato un po' perplessa. Il romanzo è strutturato a scene, come se fosse la sceneggiatura di un film: prima siamo in tribunale con Chelsea, poi in questura con l'ispettore Singh e gli altri poliziotti, e così via, insomma cambia tutto continuamente ed è un po' difficile stargli dietro alle volte. Ma è tutt'altro che un romanzo complicato, anzi è proprio "terra terra", per così dire, un librino di pura evasione.

Sinceramente non credo che continuerò con la serie perché l'ispettore Singh non mi piace tanto, mi ero affezionata più a Chelsea e agli altri personaggi, che ovviamente negli altri libri non compaiono dato che la serie è incentrata sull'ispettore. Comunque un libro gradevole.

[Fadillah · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Chelsea could not pray. The gods were fighting over her children but she could not seek the help of any of them, And she had so much choice. She had grown up a Buddhist, her ex-husband was allegedly a Moslem when he died, her own sister was a Christian - so many options for salvation. Her sister, Ruth, had said that prayer was a weapon and a shield. Chelsea would have settled for solace through prayer. But she did not believe that there was an invisible hand behind the farce that was her life's play. At the very least she did not believe in a benevolent God. She could be convinced, she thought, of divine caprice. She shook her head Surely it was better to lay the blame for the machinations of fate at the door of chance? She did not think she would have the strength to fight back if she thought that there were all-powerful, omniscient beings ranged against her. To those to whom much is given, more is taken away, she thought grimly. Alan was reaping what he sowed - writhing in the literal flames of hell if her sister was to be believed or soon to be devoured by worms. Either was a fitting end”.
- Inspector Singh Investigates : A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder
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Since its a murder mystery, i would not elaborate much on the plot as it might spoil the fun for those who have not read it yet. It just went like this : Husband was shot, wife were being implicated due to her past statement, then the brother of the deceased came forward and confessed that he did it. Inspector Singh is a Singaporean Police were indirectly involved with the case as the wife is a citizen of his country. Things get messy as religion,family conspiracy, infidelity and Borneo Illegal Logging were mixed into this tragedy while murderer was not yet being caught. Now before i commented on what i like about this book, let me highlighted few things that i dont like about it :
1. We dont really need white savior in our book. That shit may work in the 50s. When i read the character of white man seems so concerned of saving Penan Community, i was rolling my eyes so hard. I would rather have Sarawakian character that fought for his people, that has seen how much destruction been done by the timber company rather than this outsider.
2. Singapore supremacists at its best. Sure, inspector singh is a singaporean but man, the writing of comparing Malaysia with his country, belittling it whenever he can seems a bit much. The one which he described that how Singapore is cleaner that one can eat on their pavement - uhm sir, pavement is pavement. it is unclean to do it in any country. Not sure whether its just Singh being Singh or the author’s obsession on Singapore.
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Now that i get these issues off my chest, I would like to highlight few things that i like about this book :
1. It showed Malaysia and Singapore relation is a work in progress. We have our similarities and also differences that cooperation and tolerance among each other is the way to go.
2. Religion conversion is a complicated matters in Malaysia. Unlike Singapore and Indonesia, One need to convert if they want to marry their muslim partner. Its the law. Most would convert, even though they are not really practicing the religion. However, in this book, the conflict was different. Both husband and wife is non muslims and before he got murdered, the husband converted and become a muslim. This is where Syariah Court intervened in a matter of divorce , inheritance , custody as all matters pertaining to muslim were placed under them. This will not happen if he is non muslim. They could just go to civil court and settled things there. This book did well in educating readers about this issue.
3. Character construction is solid. A series of interviews, secrets and the revelation of it, even the twist (though i can guess who done it after 100 pages) is delightful. Despite the issues i have mentioned in the above paragraph, this has been somewhat a great and entertaining read. Perhaps the familiarity of the culture, the vibrancy of Malaysia itself may influence me to give this 3 stars.
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I sometimes have a problem with Malaysian Author that dont live in Malaysia for so long and still has the audacity to write about Malaysia . This is because most of the time, their books seems so out of touch with their home country. I am not sure whether i am the only one that has this problem or others might felt the same way. At some point, i did get frustrated how Shamini Flint deriding her own people in the book. I may overthinking this though.

[Vilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from Backchatting Books

"A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder" features an unlikely hero, Inspector Singh. He has been seconded from Singapore to Malaysia to help solve the murder of Alan Lee, the ex-husband of famous Singaporean model, Chelsea Liew. Alan was shot at point blank range and Chelsea has the best motive as he was trying to take her children away from her. Although Singh thinks she is innocent, he blocked by the Malaysian police who are equally convinced of her guilt.

The book rests solidly on the shoulders of the unprepossessing man whose wide girth makes it difficult to avoid inadvertent physical contact with strangers. He smokes and eats heavily and sweats copiously (the numerous mentions of this could have been cut down). Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he is underestimated by many. It is only through carefully listening to anyone involved in the case that he begins to work out what really happened. Singh is at heart an intelligent maverick and is almost universally loathed by his superiors for it. They sent him to Malaysia hoping that he would either succeed so they could take the credit or that he would fail and they could finally get rid of him. The Malaysian police are similarly suspicious of him and even assign him an assistant who Singh suspects of spying on him.

The setting is particularly evocative and could almost stand alone as another character, such is the loving treatment Flint gives it. Political and cultural tensions between Singapore and Malaysia are exposed that threaten to spill over when a Singaporean woman is accused of killing a Malaysian man. Serious issues such as domestic violence and people converting to Islam are addressed. Chelsea and Alan were in the process of divorcing and it looked as if Chelsea was going to gain custody of the children. This wouldn't be a problem in many countries but because religion, culture and law are so intertwined in Malaysia, Alan is able to convert to Islam so that the case would be moved to a Sharia Court. As a Muslim and the father, he would automatically be granted custody. Chelsea would have to convert if she wanted to have a chance of still seeing her kids. Flint does not castigate Muslims for allowing this loophole but she does criticise those who convert without sincere intentions. The other significant issue is the timber trade which involves the destruction of rainforests in Borneo and the effects this has on the Penan tribe. Such weighty issues are not often found in a cozy style police procedural but they made this one much richer for it.

The pace is slow, rather like Singh, and you can’t expect instant gratification. Characters are interviewed and re-interviewed, revealing more of their personality, motive, hopes, dreams and fears. It is worth the time it takes to get to know Singh and Kuala Lumpur and if you’re like me, the serious issues covered will stay with you after you have finished the final page.

[Louise Phinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brings back so many memories of Singapore, it was one of those books that I found hard to put down because I just wanted to see what would happen in the next chapter. I’m so glad I have the next 4 in the series, I’m thankful for used book sales here in Romania

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are not from or well travelled in Asia, the initial attraction of this series will be the modern, exotic locales. I previously read the tale set in Beijing and have another book on the shelf. As far as I can judge, the author provides a good picture of the places we visit, with their appeal to tourists and friendly rivalries of neighbouring countries added. Inspector Singh is a Sikh but not, we gather, a wholly devout one, who is quietly married, clean-living but too fond of his food. He isn't the most popular policeman in Singapore and to get rid of him his superiors keep sending him on foreign cases involving Singaporean citizens.

I thought one strong aspect of this otherwise standard murder story with recognisable characters and tensions, was the issue of illegal rainforest logging in Borneo. Forest is being cleared wholesale and oil palm plantations set, because this highly productive crop is edible and can make biofuel. The native peoples are being cleared off their land and wild animals lost through hugely profitable issuance of permits and landgrabs, as well as a blind eye being turned to logging in preserved forest. To my mind we should have taken a trip to see the logging occur, the giant hardwood trees being felled, sliced in half lengthwise and put in containers to be shipped to China, hugely profitable already even before the oil palm. But we don't visit or even view a film of it, we spend one short scene in the forest with indigenous people being roughly treated. The company in Malaysia doing the logging only shows us an office, though we note the drifting smoke from the burning. This lack is the reason I am not giving five stars. We can see offices anywhere.

The question of whether a lovely ex-model killed her husband seems to be answered for us at the start, then we get to pick our suspects and learn about law in this multi-faith community. The wife's desperation to keep her children is a robust platform on which her character stands; she gains in strength with the abusive husband out of the way. We also get to see some of the local police and come to appreciate the man assigned to shepherd Singh. I enjoyed the setting and people, and I believe the author should make more of her strengths. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very enjoyable whodunnit, and i am happy to have another international series to add to the roster. inspector singh is compelling in the way columbo is -- a bit slovenly, possibly underrated, definitely misunderstood, a little worse for wear, but very astute and capable. flint did a good job with her characters, and the settings came across so clearly. i felt like a bit more backstory could have been useful for inspector singh, and for the 3 brothers at the centre of this story. perhaps, with singh, details from his past will be revealed as the series goes along. 3½ stars, rounded up to 4.

[Lukerik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dire. And just so boring. There's a scene where the protagonist considers changing his shoes. Another where he watches chapatis being cooked. My personal favourite was the one where a secondary character sharpens his pencils.

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A divorce turns to murder.

A solid mystery reader's mystery, enjoyabe characters, great setting. Plot twist quite acceptable.

Recommended for mystery readers looking for particularly good settings.

[Judith von Kirchbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like crime novels like this one, which afford insights into the politics, economics and social situation of the place where they are set. When I started reading, I knew little about Malaysia or Singapore. When I finished reading, I had the beginnings of an understanding of the cultural, legal and religious issues in Malaysia. I had acquired these insights through reading a well plotted novel with an unusual protagonist, not through reading a dry study. I plan to read more of the Inspector Singh series !

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get the strangest feeling of Agatha Christie, lah?
Not entirely sure why that would be as Inspector Singh is an Indian Singaporean, disrespected by the bureaucracy that employs him, somewhat sweaty, easily lost; really nothing at all like the impeccable Hercule Poirot. Yet I found myself rather charmed by this quick little whodunnit. A famous Singapore model was in the midst of divorcing her wealthy playboy Malaysian husband, the lurid details providing fodder for the tabloids. When he is found murdered outside his home, everyone is sure she did it in response to his latest ploy to win custody: declaring himself a Moslem. The newspapers in both countries are fanning nationalist flames; the government of Singapore wants to appear to be protecting their citizens, while Malaysia wants to be seen as cooperative and confident--thus the cooperation of Inspector Singh of the Singapore Police Department with Malaysian counterparts Inspector Mohammad and Sargent Shukor. The incarcerated wife of Alan Lee, Chelsea Liew, refuses to say anything in her defense. Singh has finally gotten her talking when the dead man's brother walks in to the police station and confesses. Too bad Chelsea is sure he is innocent, and asks Singh to continue to seek the murderer.

It's an intriguing mix of characters and truly, every one introduced had reason to murder the victim. I really had no idea who the murderer was, and eagerly followed Singh and Shukor around Kaula Lumpur as they sought evidence of who killed Alan Lee and why. And what lovely indirect tour guides they prove to be, as the reader is treated to an overview to Malaysian culture and the contrasts with Singapore. In a moment of book serendipity, I had run into a Malaysian woman before starting this book and she mentioned how the British has brought in Chinese to work mines, and Indians to serve as house servants and bureaucrats during colonial days, and it was fascinating to have see how that little bit of historical knowledge continued to play out in modern times. Then there's the Malay themselves, a diverse group of people with many different tongues and traditions, and we see small pieces of cultures as both suspects and inspectors wander through the country.

It is a Christie manor-house mystery, with a small cast of characters connected by blood or love and a small team of police searching for answers as they try to understand the micro-culture of the victim. The narrative hops around a bit between the different players--all of them, if I remember correctly--giving us tantalizing insight without actual guilt. If the book has any failing, it is that it is a little challenging to emotionally connect with any of the characters. Chelsea is quite withdrawn at first, although she sheds her despondence to become a fierce mother, while Inspector Singh is somewhat laughable. Brother to the dead Alan, Kian Min is a greedy, egocentric soul, while the other brother, Jester, is largely enigmatic and ineffectual. Then there's the city, chaotic, crowded and build on graft. And the poor rainforest jungles of Borneo, harvested at an incredible rate and often illegally. There's more, of course, but I don't want to spoil the fun. I highly recommend it. I'll be looking for the next in the series.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder’ by Shamini Flint
Published by Piatkus, January 2009. ISBN: 978-0-7499-2975-6

This is the first book in a new series featuring an Inspector in the Singapore police force. Inspector Singh is a first glance not a prepossessing character – he is of large girth, I think the description is ‘fleshy’. A heavy smoker - his breathing always sounds strained, and we gather he is not a particularly snappy dresser. We meet Inspector Singh wedged in a plastic seat at Changi Airport. He had just that morning read in the newspaper of the murder of Alan Lee and felt sorry for the policeman who would be charged with the task of finding the murderer; he is even sorrier now that he has learnt that, that policeman is himself.

Although the murder of Alan Lee was in Malaysia, his accused wife, Chelsea Liew, is a Singapore citizen. Inspector Singh knows that he has been passed the poisoned chalice. His hostile reception by the Malaysian police is no surprise. He is assigned an assistant or rather, as Singh suspects, a spy.

He begins his investigation by interviewing Chelsea Liew and is not wholly convinced of her guilt. Despite Inspector Mohammad’s assertion that they have an open and shut case, Singh begins to dig. His method is to listen, and he reminded me in his approach of Inspector Gamache in the Louise Penny books.

Chelsea Liew’s main consideration is her children. Prior to the murder she and her husband have been locked in a custody battle, and now he is dead and she is potentially on death row for his murder, things look bleak. As Singh investigates he discovers several possible suspects for the killing of Alan Lee – not a popular man by all accounts.

There are many twists in the story, which draw on the background of its setting. I learnt a good deal about the relationship of Malaysia and Singapore. I alluded initially to Inspector Singh being of unprepossessing visage but he grows on one. He is a wonderful character, his intellect cleverly belied by his appearance.

This is a marvellous book. I enjoyed it enormously and cannot recommend it too highly. The writing is good, the characters clearly defined, and Inspector Singh a terrific character. I also loved the humour which is subtle and in many ways endearing. I understand that a second book is to be issued later this year. I will be first in line for it.
-----
Lizzie Hayes

[Barbara Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cathy of the Kittling:Books blog has been writing about Inspector Singh books for a while now and her reviews were so funny I just had to try one. I borrowed this one from the library. It turns out Cathy is right; I'm going to look for the rest of the series now.

Inspector Singh is a police detective in Singapore. For this case he has been sent to Kuala Lumpur to investigate the case of a former model from Singapore who has been accused of killing her ex-husband. Since Singh is obese and unused to Kuala Lumpur, he sweats, gets his shiny shoes dusty, unwillingly visits his gossipy sister, faces down the opposition of the local police force to his intrusion, and resents his minder.

The victim, Alan Lee, was the president of a huge logging company which has been clear-cutting in Borneo and causing all kinds of violent trouble for the people and animals on that island. Lee was a wife beater, and cheated on his gorgeous wife frequently as he enjoyed his money and let his youngest brother run the company. The middle brother, Jasper, is an ecologist investigating his younger brother's misuse of power. Meanwhile, the victim's wife had divorced him but was in danger of losing her children because Alan Lee had converted to Islam before he died and the Islamic Court would probably rule against letting the children be raised by a non-Moslem woman.

Now all this is very serious stuff, but Singh is unconsciously hilarious. The contrast between him and the others on the case is, as author Shamini Flint writes, "Mohammad led the way, walking with long-limbed elegance. Shukor padded silently in his wake, Singh lumbered after them. A study in physical contrasts, they looked like a procession that was not just walking along a corridor but up the evolutionary chain as well."

Flint is a writer with a light touch but her characters are drawn swiftly and precisely. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Kuala Lumpur, especially when Singh got lost in the city. You think of a sharp detective as a man who can chase suspects, is an excellent shot, yet cerebral. Singh is anything but this kind of detective but he surely gets the job done. He's a great character and I liked this book very much.

[Biogeek · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first in the Inspector Singh series of investigations across South East Asia, this one did not grab me as quickly as the others. While the case, beautiful Chelsea Liew is accused of murdering her amoral, philandering, abusive and faith-swapping husband, has all the ingredients of a good murder mystery, Flint spends far too much time on what seems to be a pet obsession; how Singaporeans differ from all their neighbors, in this case Malaysians. The early pages that should have been page-turners, end up being rather mundane comparisons of the uber-efficient, cliche clean, Singaporeans, and the corruption-ridden, organically chaotic Malaysians. Flint does not seem to trust that her readers will catch this from the scenes she paints and the characters she introduces. At regular intervals, she will fall back to these comparisons, just after what could have been a hugely effective twist, Flint decides that her Inspector Singh should contemplate for a paragraph the differences in car levy and tax systems which results in different vehicle distributions on the streets of Singapore and ...*yawn*

[Cleffairy Cleffairy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I have to say that I find it difficult to start this book, because the first chapter was very descriptive, horrifying and not to mention absolutely morbid. I could barely stop myself from retching when I read the first chapter of Inspector Singh Investigates: A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree. Ms. Flint did a very good job with the opening salvo.

The opening salvo was too good, in fact that it almost scares me from reading further. But as I flip the pages, I found that it’s not all morbid and the beloved Inspector Singh is as humourous as ever in his investigative endeavor.

I had a good laugh at some point of the book, and I could not guess who had done the killing, even when I was near the end of the book. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree is well written and definitely thought provoking. It brought up various issues, especially violence and human rights.

I highly recommend Inspector Singh Investigates: A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree to all mystery lovers and I rate this book 4 out of 5 star. A must read, and definitely a keeper.

[Dueep Jyot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, Mrs. Flint,because your creation could have reached immortal status, because you know your East well. But you did one solecism, right at the very beginning, with inspector Singh dreaming of a cigarette.
After that you said that he was a SIKH. A turbaned Sikh.
Do you really know what you are writing about?
This is about as big a religious boo-boo as saying Mister so-and-so, the Jewish priest called for a ham sandwich, or Mister Ali went into the church for Confession. Religious knifes out at such a blunder!
Is it any wonder, these books have never been sold in India, because you would have been literally laughed off The bestsellers list by critics, many of them turbaned Sikhs.
Sikhs are religiously forbidden to smoke. They do not touch tobacco in any form. And a turban Sikh dreaming of a cigarette, without which he could not do?
The book had such possibilities because I really love Malaysia, but lady lady...
You must be grateful that nobody's after you for hurting their religious sentiments.