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Akal Singh #1
A Disappearance in Fiji
A charming and atmospheric debut mystery featuring a 25-year-old Indian police sergeant investigating a missing persons case in colonial Fiji
1914, Fiji: Akal Singh would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in his native India and Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong.
When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, giving him strict instructions to view this investigation as nothing more than cursory. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees—but soon finds himself far more invested than he could have expected.
Now not only is he investigating a disappearance, but also confronting the brutal realities of the indentured workers’ existence and the racism of the British colonizers in Fiji—along with his own thorny notions of personhood and caste. Early interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured laborers, and native Fijians yield only one conclusion: there is far more to this case than meets the eye.
Nilima Rao’s sparkling debut mystery offers an unflinching look at the evils of colonialism, even as it brims with wit, vibrant characters, and fascinating historical detail.
1914, Fiji: Akal Singh would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in his native India and Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong.
When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, giving him strict instructions to view this investigation as nothing more than cursory. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees—but soon finds himself far more invested than he could have expected.
Now not only is he investigating a disappearance, but also confronting the brutal realities of the indentured workers’ existence and the racism of the British colonizers in Fiji—along with his own thorny notions of personhood and caste. Early interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured laborers, and native Fijians yield only one conclusion: there is far more to this case than meets the eye.
Nilima Rao’s sparkling debut mystery offers an unflinching look at the evils of colonialism, even as it brims with wit, vibrant characters, and fascinating historical detail.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2023
256 people are currently reading
14113 people want to read
About the author
Nilima Rao
2 books194 followersNilima Rao is a Fijian Indian Australian who has always referred to herself as "culturally confused." She has since learned that we are all confused in some way and has been published on the topic by Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service and now feels better about the whole thing. When she isn't writing, Nilima can be found wrangling data (the dreaded day job) or wandering around Melbourne laneways in search of the next new wine bar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 565 reviews
June 19, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up
This well crafted, wonderfully researched historical mystery takes the reader to 1914 Fiji. Akal Singh is a young police sergeant who has been banished from Hong Kong to Fiji. He has yet to be received into the good graces of his boss. But a delegation from India (which includes only one actual Indian, the rest are English) is coming to town to investigate how Indian indentured workers on Fiji’s sugar plantations are treated just as a female worker goes missing. A minister insists the woman has been kidnapped and gets the newspaper involved. As the “highest ranking Indian” policeman, Akal is given the assignment to investigate. But he’s also told to make it all go away.
The story moves at a steady pace. The writing is descriptive and it was easy to envision each scene. Clues are scattered like breadcrumbs at regular intervals. Akal is a great main character and I found his back story compelling. He internally rails at the English that lump him with the “coolies”. He’s not always a sympathetic character, which adds to the depth of the story.
Rao does a wonderful job of showing the brutality of the workers' existence and the racism of the English ruling class. Even those that are more enlightened, still have elements of racism. Akal sadly realizes that his boss values politics over justice.
By dint of a comment in the Author’s Note, I’m this is meant to be the start of a series. And a big thank you to Recorded Books for making sure the Author’s Note was included in the audiobook. It was fascinating to learn Rao’s great-grandparents were part of the indentured workers program and what an impact it had not just on Fiji, but other areas of the British Empire.
I was less than enthralled with Sid Sagar as a narrator. He did a great job with Akal and the English, but a few of the Fijian voices sounded more Scottish than anything.
This well crafted, wonderfully researched historical mystery takes the reader to 1914 Fiji. Akal Singh is a young police sergeant who has been banished from Hong Kong to Fiji. He has yet to be received into the good graces of his boss. But a delegation from India (which includes only one actual Indian, the rest are English) is coming to town to investigate how Indian indentured workers on Fiji’s sugar plantations are treated just as a female worker goes missing. A minister insists the woman has been kidnapped and gets the newspaper involved. As the “highest ranking Indian” policeman, Akal is given the assignment to investigate. But he’s also told to make it all go away.
The story moves at a steady pace. The writing is descriptive and it was easy to envision each scene. Clues are scattered like breadcrumbs at regular intervals. Akal is a great main character and I found his back story compelling. He internally rails at the English that lump him with the “coolies”. He’s not always a sympathetic character, which adds to the depth of the story.
Rao does a wonderful job of showing the brutality of the workers' existence and the racism of the English ruling class. Even those that are more enlightened, still have elements of racism. Akal sadly realizes that his boss values politics over justice.
By dint of a comment in the Author’s Note, I’m this is meant to be the start of a series. And a big thank you to Recorded Books for making sure the Author’s Note was included in the audiobook. It was fascinating to learn Rao’s great-grandparents were part of the indentured workers program and what an impact it had not just on Fiji, but other areas of the British Empire.
I was less than enthralled with Sid Sagar as a narrator. He did a great job with Akal and the English, but a few of the Fijian voices sounded more Scottish than anything.
May 15, 2023
A Disappearance in Fiji is billed as an historical mystery. It is that—and quite good. It also offers a look into the multi-layered and dehumanizing elements of colonial-era racism. The mystery itself is built around the disappearance of a woman from a sugar cane plantation whose workers are all indentured Indians (as in India). They've traded five years (which usually turns out to be more than that because of contracts written to the employers' benefit) of unrelenting labor in exchange for the chance to attempt to build new lives in Fiji—lives which may, or may not, offer better chances of some small economic success than was possible in their home country. These indentures are facilitated because the British administer both India and Fiji, allowing the colonized to move from one colony to another, generally without much hope of improved lives.
The woman who has disappeared has a husband and daughter who have been left behind. Most people—the farm's owner, the woman's husband, pretty much everyone from Britain, and local politicians and police—are more than happy to assume she's run off with with an overseer who disappeared around the same time. A few people aren't so sanguine: a pastor who insists the woman would never have abandoned her daughter, that daughter herself, and police sergeant Akal Singh, who has been assigned the case. Sing makes for an interesting central character. He's originally from India and previously worked in the police force in Hong Kong. Now, because of a scandal at his previous workplace, he's been transferred to Fiji, where his supervisor dislikes him and opportunities for proving himself are limited. Added to this, Singh is Sikh, while almost all Indians living in Fiji are Hindu. The British view him as just another "coolie," an assumption he hates because it lumps him together with the many indentured workers on the Island and erases his position and history of work with the police force.
That's a longish précis, but these details are important. The novel is built around a mystery, but its real subject is the impact of colonialism, particularly its disrespect for the colonized people and the inevitable lumping together of the colonized, despite many differences in class, faith, and income. Singh is joined in his investigations by a British doctor who objects to the British treatment of Fijians and Indians, but who is also comfortable working within the colonial system and can ignore the worst of its abuses.
The combination of mystery and exploration of colonialism works well. The lack of interest in determining the fate of the missing woman provides a specific instance of the general British unwillingness to see the colonized as fully human. The miserable conditions under which the indentured work and live—workers' housing is large, poorly constructed and partially walled barracks in which each family is given only a single room to live, food is scarce and of limited nutritional value—are viewed by the British as perfectly reasonable for these "savages" being "civilized" through the benefit of colonization.
Sergeant Singh is an interesting character, disinterested in issues of equity and human rights, more focused on his own career path and his desire to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. Assuming A Disappearance in Fiji is the first volume in what will become a series, Singh is clearly on the precipice of a personal awakening that will be every bit as thought-provoking as the plots of future mysteries themselves.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
The woman who has disappeared has a husband and daughter who have been left behind. Most people—the farm's owner, the woman's husband, pretty much everyone from Britain, and local politicians and police—are more than happy to assume she's run off with with an overseer who disappeared around the same time. A few people aren't so sanguine: a pastor who insists the woman would never have abandoned her daughter, that daughter herself, and police sergeant Akal Singh, who has been assigned the case. Sing makes for an interesting central character. He's originally from India and previously worked in the police force in Hong Kong. Now, because of a scandal at his previous workplace, he's been transferred to Fiji, where his supervisor dislikes him and opportunities for proving himself are limited. Added to this, Singh is Sikh, while almost all Indians living in Fiji are Hindu. The British view him as just another "coolie," an assumption he hates because it lumps him together with the many indentured workers on the Island and erases his position and history of work with the police force.
That's a longish précis, but these details are important. The novel is built around a mystery, but its real subject is the impact of colonialism, particularly its disrespect for the colonized people and the inevitable lumping together of the colonized, despite many differences in class, faith, and income. Singh is joined in his investigations by a British doctor who objects to the British treatment of Fijians and Indians, but who is also comfortable working within the colonial system and can ignore the worst of its abuses.
The combination of mystery and exploration of colonialism works well. The lack of interest in determining the fate of the missing woman provides a specific instance of the general British unwillingness to see the colonized as fully human. The miserable conditions under which the indentured work and live—workers' housing is large, poorly constructed and partially walled barracks in which each family is given only a single room to live, food is scarce and of limited nutritional value—are viewed by the British as perfectly reasonable for these "savages" being "civilized" through the benefit of colonization.
Sergeant Singh is an interesting character, disinterested in issues of equity and human rights, more focused on his own career path and his desire to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. Assuming A Disappearance in Fiji is the first volume in what will become a series, Singh is clearly on the precipice of a personal awakening that will be every bit as thought-provoking as the plots of future mysteries themselves.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
December 20, 2025
Gosh am I loving Sergeant Akal Singh! Fabulous!
A disgraced Punjabi Sikh policeman, Akhal is sent from the Hong Kong office of the British administration to Suva, Fiji. It’s very different in Fiji. We finally learn the whys of Ahal’s fall from grace partway through the novel.
Of course the rampant racism experienced by Arkal and the Indentured Indian workers is similar but not the physical and sexual abuse, the dreadful work conditions the servants experience on the sugar cane fields they experience, that’s up front and center, and in your face.
An Indian female worker (Coolie! Oh my! I cringe at the treatment of the Indian indentured workers that was akin to slavery) has gone missing. Runaway some said, others declared something dreadful had happened to her.
The latter is true and it’s up to newly arrived token Sikh to find out the truth
A troubling insight into British Government’s internal workings in Fiji at this time.
Reread 2025. Still think this is an amazing and insightful book written by a very determined and understanding Fijian-Indian, Australian author.
Her dedication to research is admirable.
A disgraced Punjabi Sikh policeman, Akhal is sent from the Hong Kong office of the British administration to Suva, Fiji. It’s very different in Fiji. We finally learn the whys of Ahal’s fall from grace partway through the novel.
Of course the rampant racism experienced by Arkal and the Indentured Indian workers is similar but not the physical and sexual abuse, the dreadful work conditions the servants experience on the sugar cane fields they experience, that’s up front and center, and in your face.
An Indian female worker (Coolie! Oh my! I cringe at the treatment of the Indian indentured workers that was akin to slavery) has gone missing. Runaway some said, others declared something dreadful had happened to her.
The latter is true and it’s up to newly arrived token Sikh to find out the truth
A troubling insight into British Government’s internal workings in Fiji at this time.
Reread 2025. Still think this is an amazing and insightful book written by a very determined and understanding Fijian-Indian, Australian author.
Her dedication to research is admirable.
August 5, 2023
It’s always enjoyable to acquire historical information while reading a mystery thriller. A DISAPPEARANCE IN FIJI provides a background unknown to me prior to opening this book. A debut novel by Nilima Rao, it is short, crisp, and entertaining. I read it in a day.
Rao describes herself as an “Australian Fijian Indian” author, meaning that her ancestors, originally from India, first emigrated to Fiji, and then her parents later moved to Australia. Here she examines the plight of the Indian indentured servitude system used to provide cheap and plentiful labour to various British colonies after slavery was abolished in the British Empire. The impoverished Indians who signed contracts to work on plantations were frequently treated no better than slaves.
The protagonist of this story is not an indentured Indian worker; he is Amal Singh, a 25-year-old Sikh Indian police sergeant, sent to Fiji after making a serious judgment error while serving in Hong Kong. He is determined to do a good job, clear up any doubts about his capability, and return to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, his white superiors in Fiji doubt his investigative abilities, bemoaning the fact that because of the war that has just started in Europe—it’s 1914—they are stuck with an “inferior” Indian officer.
An indentured female worker disappears from the sugarcane plantation where she had been working, a situation that would not have been investigated except that the local priest went to the media, insisting that she had not simply run away. Still the case would have been sidelined had it not come to the attention of a committee assessing the indentured servitude system while visiting Fiji. So, Singh is put in charge of the investigation.
Early in the story, I narrowed the likely guilty character down to two possibilities, and were I a gambler, would have put my bet on the one who was, indeed, the culprit. So for voracious readers of mysteries, this was not much of a whodunnit. But I still thoroughly enjoyed learning about Fiji, an Island archipelago so far away from North America that we hear very little about it. The Indian Indentured Servitude System was something I had not previously heard about at all.
This was the first in a series. I had fun meeting Singh, and his investigative teammates—Dr. Robert Holmes (a compassionate doctor) and fun-loving Traviti (a Fijian with high-level connections)—and I learned new facts. Hopefully, the author will charm me also in the next instalment.
Rao describes herself as an “Australian Fijian Indian” author, meaning that her ancestors, originally from India, first emigrated to Fiji, and then her parents later moved to Australia. Here she examines the plight of the Indian indentured servitude system used to provide cheap and plentiful labour to various British colonies after slavery was abolished in the British Empire. The impoverished Indians who signed contracts to work on plantations were frequently treated no better than slaves.
The protagonist of this story is not an indentured Indian worker; he is Amal Singh, a 25-year-old Sikh Indian police sergeant, sent to Fiji after making a serious judgment error while serving in Hong Kong. He is determined to do a good job, clear up any doubts about his capability, and return to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, his white superiors in Fiji doubt his investigative abilities, bemoaning the fact that because of the war that has just started in Europe—it’s 1914—they are stuck with an “inferior” Indian officer.
An indentured female worker disappears from the sugarcane plantation where she had been working, a situation that would not have been investigated except that the local priest went to the media, insisting that she had not simply run away. Still the case would have been sidelined had it not come to the attention of a committee assessing the indentured servitude system while visiting Fiji. So, Singh is put in charge of the investigation.
Early in the story, I narrowed the likely guilty character down to two possibilities, and were I a gambler, would have put my bet on the one who was, indeed, the culprit. So for voracious readers of mysteries, this was not much of a whodunnit. But I still thoroughly enjoyed learning about Fiji, an Island archipelago so far away from North America that we hear very little about it. The Indian Indentured Servitude System was something I had not previously heard about at all.
This was the first in a series. I had fun meeting Singh, and his investigative teammates—Dr. Robert Holmes (a compassionate doctor) and fun-loving Traviti (a Fijian with high-level connections)—and I learned new facts. Hopefully, the author will charm me also in the next instalment.
September 28, 2023
A Disappearance in Fiji (Akal Singh, #1) by Nilima Rao
Synopsis /
1914, Akal Singh, 25, would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise - or, as he calls it, 'this godforsaken island'. After a promising start to his police career in Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to the far-flung colony of Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of a return to Hong Kong, or even his native India.
An indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji's newspapers scream 'kidnapping', just as the Indian indentured servitude program is being scrutinised for alleged abuses. Fiji's inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, as the senior Indian police officer available. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees - but soon finds himself far more invested than he could ever have expected.
When he arrives at the plantation to investigate, Akal must confront the brutal realities of the indentured workers' existence and the racism of the British colonisers in Fiji - along with his own thorny notions of identity and class. His interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured labourers and local Fijians yield only one there is far more to this case than meets the eye.
My Thoughts /
The title of this one comes up as A Disappearance in Fiji: A charming debut historical mystery set in 1914 Fiji - and that's exactly what it was…charming - an absolutely delightful little book.
For those who are familiar with Sulari Gentill's Rowland Sinclair Series, I think you would enjoy A Disappearance in Fiji. The old Thai/English catchphrase springs to mind - you know the one…. 'Same Same, But Different' - well, that applies here.
At the declaration of war in 1914, Fiji was home to the largest and most diverse population in the Pacific Islands; including Europeans, part-Europeans, Fijians and, of course, Indians. Fiji, as a British Crown Colony was keen to join.
1914 Fiji was very different to the Fiji we see in the tourism ads of 2023. From 1879 onwards, following an agreement between the colonial governments in India and Fiji, Indian workers were indentured to work in the sugar plantations and mills which were started in Fiji by the Australian-based Colonial Sugar Refining Company. This migration of Indian labour to Fiji went on uninterrupted until the end of 1919 when pressure from the Indian Government had it stopped. Thousands of indentured Indian workers laboured in the heat and humidity on plantations which sprawled across the Island, to harvest sugar, bananas, and other commodities for the wealthy landowners.
On 10 April 913, Kunti, a female Indian indentured labourer, was sent alone to weed an isolated banana patch at Nadewa in Rewa, Fiji. Enforced isolation was a common and very effective technique to deal with recalcitrant workers. Kunti was being punished for her allegedly quarrelsome behaviour and for giving the plantation management a great deal of trouble. It was reported that an Overseer named Cobcroft caught hold of Kunti and made improper suggestions to her. A struggle ensued and, in an effort, to free herself Kunti ran toward the river and threw herself into the water. She was saved from drowning by a boy who happened to be in a dingy nearby. Kunti's story appeared in mass-circulating Indian newspapers and sparked an unprecedented campaign to stop the emigration of Indian indentured labour.
— (the story of Kunti & Naraini, taken from the book Girmitiyas: The Origins of the Fiji Indians written by the late Dr Brij V Lal).
In A Disappearance in Fiji Rao introduces us to police sergeant, Akal Singh. Twenty-Five-year-old Singh has been banished to Fiji in disgrace after a professional mistake has derailed his career path. Singh wishes he would have been sent anywhere else, and, so do most of his co-workers in Suva. To say that he is an unwanted and unwelcome addition to the colony's police force would be an understatement. But he's here, so Singh must make the best of an unwanted posting. He does have one ally however, in Taviti, a native Fijian corporal attached to the Suva station. Taviti is a wonderful accompaniment to Singh and the two play off each other brilliantly.
Still a newbie with the station, Singh gets handed the cases that no-one else wants. That's how he ends up with the Night Prowler case. And that's also why he ends up looking into the seemingly futile case of a missing indentured Indian woman named Kunti. The plantation owner, Henry Parkins, who is also Kunti's 'master' is saying that she's just run off; but the local vicar is sure that Kunti's disappearance is a result of foul play. As Singh begins to investigate, interviewing local workers, asking questions and, of course, putting his nose into places he's not wanted, he uncovers a cauldron of illegal activity simmering under the surface of what purports to be a respectable plantation. Themes of societal division, sexism, slavery, and gender injustice are all explored well by Rao. This new post is proving itself to be a transformative experience for Singh when he finds himself exposed to the same racism slurs as other indentured workers and encountering non-stop roadblocks into his investigation. It opens his eyes a little more to the plight of the workers he's investigating.
Singh is determined not to fall foul of the same mistakes he made in Hong Kong. Singh has his own hang-ups but is shocked at the brutality and squalor of the indentured workers at the plantation and he is determined to find out what has happened to the missing woman, Kunti.
A cast of great characters, some wonderfully detailed descriptions of the landscape and life in 1914 Fiji, this was a very worthwhile read. I am looking forward to reading more about Sergeant Singh in the future.
Synopsis /
1914, Akal Singh, 25, would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise - or, as he calls it, 'this godforsaken island'. After a promising start to his police career in Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to the far-flung colony of Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of a return to Hong Kong, or even his native India.
An indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji's newspapers scream 'kidnapping', just as the Indian indentured servitude program is being scrutinised for alleged abuses. Fiji's inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, as the senior Indian police officer available. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees - but soon finds himself far more invested than he could ever have expected.
When he arrives at the plantation to investigate, Akal must confront the brutal realities of the indentured workers' existence and the racism of the British colonisers in Fiji - along with his own thorny notions of identity and class. His interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured labourers and local Fijians yield only one there is far more to this case than meets the eye.
My Thoughts /
The title of this one comes up as A Disappearance in Fiji: A charming debut historical mystery set in 1914 Fiji - and that's exactly what it was…charming - an absolutely delightful little book.
For those who are familiar with Sulari Gentill's Rowland Sinclair Series, I think you would enjoy A Disappearance in Fiji. The old Thai/English catchphrase springs to mind - you know the one…. 'Same Same, But Different' - well, that applies here.
At the declaration of war in 1914, Fiji was home to the largest and most diverse population in the Pacific Islands; including Europeans, part-Europeans, Fijians and, of course, Indians. Fiji, as a British Crown Colony was keen to join.
1914 Fiji was very different to the Fiji we see in the tourism ads of 2023. From 1879 onwards, following an agreement between the colonial governments in India and Fiji, Indian workers were indentured to work in the sugar plantations and mills which were started in Fiji by the Australian-based Colonial Sugar Refining Company. This migration of Indian labour to Fiji went on uninterrupted until the end of 1919 when pressure from the Indian Government had it stopped. Thousands of indentured Indian workers laboured in the heat and humidity on plantations which sprawled across the Island, to harvest sugar, bananas, and other commodities for the wealthy landowners.
On 10 April 913, Kunti, a female Indian indentured labourer, was sent alone to weed an isolated banana patch at Nadewa in Rewa, Fiji. Enforced isolation was a common and very effective technique to deal with recalcitrant workers. Kunti was being punished for her allegedly quarrelsome behaviour and for giving the plantation management a great deal of trouble. It was reported that an Overseer named Cobcroft caught hold of Kunti and made improper suggestions to her. A struggle ensued and, in an effort, to free herself Kunti ran toward the river and threw herself into the water. She was saved from drowning by a boy who happened to be in a dingy nearby. Kunti's story appeared in mass-circulating Indian newspapers and sparked an unprecedented campaign to stop the emigration of Indian indentured labour.
— (the story of Kunti & Naraini, taken from the book Girmitiyas: The Origins of the Fiji Indians written by the late Dr Brij V Lal).
In A Disappearance in Fiji Rao introduces us to police sergeant, Akal Singh. Twenty-Five-year-old Singh has been banished to Fiji in disgrace after a professional mistake has derailed his career path. Singh wishes he would have been sent anywhere else, and, so do most of his co-workers in Suva. To say that he is an unwanted and unwelcome addition to the colony's police force would be an understatement. But he's here, so Singh must make the best of an unwanted posting. He does have one ally however, in Taviti, a native Fijian corporal attached to the Suva station. Taviti is a wonderful accompaniment to Singh and the two play off each other brilliantly.
Still a newbie with the station, Singh gets handed the cases that no-one else wants. That's how he ends up with the Night Prowler case. And that's also why he ends up looking into the seemingly futile case of a missing indentured Indian woman named Kunti. The plantation owner, Henry Parkins, who is also Kunti's 'master' is saying that she's just run off; but the local vicar is sure that Kunti's disappearance is a result of foul play. As Singh begins to investigate, interviewing local workers, asking questions and, of course, putting his nose into places he's not wanted, he uncovers a cauldron of illegal activity simmering under the surface of what purports to be a respectable plantation. Themes of societal division, sexism, slavery, and gender injustice are all explored well by Rao. This new post is proving itself to be a transformative experience for Singh when he finds himself exposed to the same racism slurs as other indentured workers and encountering non-stop roadblocks into his investigation. It opens his eyes a little more to the plight of the workers he's investigating.
Singh is determined not to fall foul of the same mistakes he made in Hong Kong. Singh has his own hang-ups but is shocked at the brutality and squalor of the indentured workers at the plantation and he is determined to find out what has happened to the missing woman, Kunti.
A cast of great characters, some wonderfully detailed descriptions of the landscape and life in 1914 Fiji, this was a very worthwhile read. I am looking forward to reading more about Sergeant Singh in the future.
November 25, 2023
#ReadAroundTheWorld. #Fiji
Disappearance in Fiji is the debut of a mystery series by Fijian Indian Australian author Nilima Rao. It is an engaging story featuring a likeable hero: Indian police sergeant Akal Sing, who has recently been transferred to Fiji from Hong Kong to what he considers a backwater post.
Akal is soon sent to solve a missing persons case, or more accurately hush it up, when an Indian female plantation worker, Kunti, goes missing. The mystery soon ratchets up and exposes all the cracks in 1914 colonial Fiji with its racism, dirty secrets and terrible treatment of its Indian workers.
This was a great debut that not only got the reader involved in solving the crime but also gave much insight into Fiji’s colonial history and culture. I’ll definitely look out for another of this author's books.
Disappearance in Fiji is the debut of a mystery series by Fijian Indian Australian author Nilima Rao. It is an engaging story featuring a likeable hero: Indian police sergeant Akal Sing, who has recently been transferred to Fiji from Hong Kong to what he considers a backwater post.
Akal is soon sent to solve a missing persons case, or more accurately hush it up, when an Indian female plantation worker, Kunti, goes missing. The mystery soon ratchets up and exposes all the cracks in 1914 colonial Fiji with its racism, dirty secrets and terrible treatment of its Indian workers.
This was a great debut that not only got the reader involved in solving the crime but also gave much insight into Fiji’s colonial history and culture. I’ll definitely look out for another of this author's books.
April 1, 2024
3.5★ for this atmospheric debut. What a lovely surprise this was - charming good characters, diabolical baddies and an engaging plot, all delivered with a strong sense of time and place. The effort that Nilima Rao has put into both the research and the writing is to be commended.
It's 1914 and Sikh police officer, Sergeant Akal Singh, is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a coolie woman from a Fijian sugar plantation. As far as the owners are concerned, Akal is no different to their indentured workers, and treat his lawful investigation with contempt. But Akal has an ally in the local doctor, and also knows how to deal with entitled, wealthy white people, so despite their best efforts he makes steady progress on the case. When the local villagers spot something unusual in the river, it could be the breakthrough that Akal has been hoping for.
This is a fairly short book, but quite a lot happens. I wasn't really sure how the mystery was going to play out until it did. As a relative newcomer to Fiji, Sergeant Singh was learning about the indentured labour system at the same time and pace as me (the reader). It was really worthwhile hanging around at the end for more detail in the Author's Note, too.
The author has created a great character here in Sergeant Singh, and I hope she plans to bring him back for further adventures.
I listened to the audiobook edition narrated by Sid Sagar, which was generally very well done, although I'm not sure why Taviti and other Fijian natives had South African accents...
It's 1914 and Sikh police officer, Sergeant Akal Singh, is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a coolie woman from a Fijian sugar plantation. As far as the owners are concerned, Akal is no different to their indentured workers, and treat his lawful investigation with contempt. But Akal has an ally in the local doctor, and also knows how to deal with entitled, wealthy white people, so despite their best efforts he makes steady progress on the case. When the local villagers spot something unusual in the river, it could be the breakthrough that Akal has been hoping for.
This is a fairly short book, but quite a lot happens. I wasn't really sure how the mystery was going to play out until it did. As a relative newcomer to Fiji, Sergeant Singh was learning about the indentured labour system at the same time and pace as me (the reader). It was really worthwhile hanging around at the end for more detail in the Author's Note, too.
The author has created a great character here in Sergeant Singh, and I hope she plans to bring him back for further adventures.
I listened to the audiobook edition narrated by Sid Sagar, which was generally very well done, although I'm not sure why Taviti and other Fijian natives had South African accents...
September 20, 2023
More reviews at: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
A Disappearance in Fiji is a fabulous depiction of life in Fiji during the indentured Indian Servitude Program where lower class Indians were brought to Fiji to work on the sugar cane plantations.
Set in 1914 the story follows Sikh Indian police officer Akal Singh who has been sent to work in Suva after an "incident" in Hong Kong which left him disgraced.
I immediately warmed to Akal, he was so gentle and always wanted to do his job as best he could. Akal always believed in doing the right thing and he was faced with some moral dilemmas throughout the book.
The mystery surrounding his transfer was always at the back of my mind.
Nilima Rao perceptively portrays the prejudices that existed in the early 1900's against the Indian workers in the servitude program. A program that was little more than slavery under a different name. Even with his standing as a police officer Akal Singh found himself on the receiving end of racist remarks.
The mystery of a young woman's disappearance from a sugar cane plantation was weaved through the facts of the horror of the plantation workers' conditions and treatment.
Set over a five day period in October 1915, I loved the keenly described scenes and the eclectic cast of characters, both good and bad, each had me totally immersed in their lives.
A well researched addition to the story was the newspaper articles that preceded each chapter. The author later explains that these were real clippings from the Fiji Times published during the era. Much of the story is based on real historical fact with some liberties taken for the purpose of the story.
A Disappearance in Fiji is an impressive debut and a great start to a new series. I am looking forward to the next Akal Singh mystery.
A Disappearance in Fiji is a fabulous depiction of life in Fiji during the indentured Indian Servitude Program where lower class Indians were brought to Fiji to work on the sugar cane plantations.
Set in 1914 the story follows Sikh Indian police officer Akal Singh who has been sent to work in Suva after an "incident" in Hong Kong which left him disgraced.
I immediately warmed to Akal, he was so gentle and always wanted to do his job as best he could. Akal always believed in doing the right thing and he was faced with some moral dilemmas throughout the book.
The mystery surrounding his transfer was always at the back of my mind.
Nilima Rao perceptively portrays the prejudices that existed in the early 1900's against the Indian workers in the servitude program. A program that was little more than slavery under a different name. Even with his standing as a police officer Akal Singh found himself on the receiving end of racist remarks.
The mystery of a young woman's disappearance from a sugar cane plantation was weaved through the facts of the horror of the plantation workers' conditions and treatment.
Set over a five day period in October 1915, I loved the keenly described scenes and the eclectic cast of characters, both good and bad, each had me totally immersed in their lives.
A well researched addition to the story was the newspaper articles that preceded each chapter. The author later explains that these were real clippings from the Fiji Times published during the era. Much of the story is based on real historical fact with some liberties taken for the purpose of the story.
A Disappearance in Fiji is an impressive debut and a great start to a new series. I am looking forward to the next Akal Singh mystery.
December 27, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
This was a good start to what I hope will become a series, following a semi-disgraced Indian police sergeant who's been sent to Fiji. His goal is to make it back to Hong Kong, and to do so, he'll need to solve big cases, though the one that's been handed to him is politically fraught. An Indian woman (one of the indentured workers on one of Fiji's many plantations) has disappeared, and it's Akal's job is give the case a cursory look and not stir the pot. Of course, the case is far more simple than it seems, leaving Akal with a moral quandry on his hands. I liked the setting, Fiji is not a place that features a lot in historical books, though with the focus being on rural areas and plantations, I hope future books have more chances to give us detailed glimpses into the setting. Akal is a character that i'm not entirely sold on, he waffles and is often focused on his own issues, which is fair given the circumstances, but did detract from the mystery at times. The mystery itself was easy to follow, though I wish the twist was a bit better and the investigation was better detailed throughout the book. Overall, I'm interested enough to keep reading the series, and feel like this book was a good set up for future books.
This was a good start to what I hope will become a series, following a semi-disgraced Indian police sergeant who's been sent to Fiji. His goal is to make it back to Hong Kong, and to do so, he'll need to solve big cases, though the one that's been handed to him is politically fraught. An Indian woman (one of the indentured workers on one of Fiji's many plantations) has disappeared, and it's Akal's job is give the case a cursory look and not stir the pot. Of course, the case is far more simple than it seems, leaving Akal with a moral quandry on his hands. I liked the setting, Fiji is not a place that features a lot in historical books, though with the focus being on rural areas and plantations, I hope future books have more chances to give us detailed glimpses into the setting. Akal is a character that i'm not entirely sold on, he waffles and is often focused on his own issues, which is fair given the circumstances, but did detract from the mystery at times. The mystery itself was easy to follow, though I wish the twist was a bit better and the investigation was better detailed throughout the book. Overall, I'm interested enough to keep reading the series, and feel like this book was a good set up for future books.
August 18, 2023
3.5 stars, enjoyable read with a unique setting.
August 3, 2023
Very entertaining (and surprisingly educational) debut mystery.
Set in Fiji in 1914, the story features young Akal Singh. He's a Punjabi by birth, an Indian police sergeant by profession, and he's recently been transferred from British colony Hong Kong to British colony Fiji. Why? for a major slip-up in Hong Kong. He is not a happy man, as a posting to Fiji is definitely a backward step on his career path.
A few thoughts:
I came to really like our man Singh. It was fun watching his changing emotions as he dealt with the Indian plantation workers. And his growing commitment to doing the right thing, as opposed to doing the politically expedient thing.
I liked his local police friend, Corporal Taviti, and I liked his growing friendship with the doctor, Robert Holmes. Both are a good influence on Singh, in their own ways.
I hope the author is working on the next book. I don't want to lose track of young Sergeant Singh.
Set in Fiji in 1914, the story features young Akal Singh. He's a Punjabi by birth, an Indian police sergeant by profession, and he's recently been transferred from British colony Hong Kong to British colony Fiji. Why? for a major slip-up in Hong Kong. He is not a happy man, as a posting to Fiji is definitely a backward step on his career path.
A few thoughts:
I came to really like our man Singh. It was fun watching his changing emotions as he dealt with the Indian plantation workers. And his growing commitment to doing the right thing, as opposed to doing the politically expedient thing.
I liked his local police friend, Corporal Taviti, and I liked his growing friendship with the doctor, Robert Holmes. Both are a good influence on Singh, in their own ways.
I hope the author is working on the next book. I don't want to lose track of young Sergeant Singh.
August 28, 2023
Set in a place, time and circumstances I knew little about (indentured service of indians in Fiji) this one was a VERY pleasant surprise. Good mystery,well written, great sense of place, and a great main character with moral dilemmas. I hope to see more of him, watch his growth.
Reminds me of the Malla Nunn series,and of Abir Mukherjee.
Excellent.
Reminds me of the Malla Nunn series,and of Abir Mukherjee.
Excellent.
December 24, 2025
This is a very interesting book. It takes place on the sugar plantations on Fiji in 1914. It is a missing person/murder mystery. It involves a missing Indian woman and white plantation owners. The crimes are investigated by disgraced Sikh police officer, a Fijian police officer with royal connections, and an English doctor. There are many plot twists and turns, and the ending is somewhat of a surprise. That is all I will say about the plot. I don't want to spoil it.
The writer is of Indian heritage and was born in Fiji and raised in Australia. She describes this genetic mix as common in Oceana. She also describes the research that she put into the book to get it historically correct. Her descriptions on indentured servitude on the Indian plantations of the day are gripping. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
,
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a novel about British colonial power, Fiji, or the indentured servitude of Indians in British colonial possessions around the world. If that does not interest you, it is still a damn fine mystery.
The writer is of Indian heritage and was born in Fiji and raised in Australia. She describes this genetic mix as common in Oceana. She also describes the research that she put into the book to get it historically correct. Her descriptions on indentured servitude on the Indian plantations of the day are gripping. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
,
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a novel about British colonial power, Fiji, or the indentured servitude of Indians in British colonial possessions around the world. If that does not interest you, it is still a damn fine mystery.
October 13, 2023
2 and a half stars, actually.
Sergeant Akal Singh was a conscientious, much-admired police officer in Hong Kong, before an embarrassing debacle led to his being exiled to Fiji. Now he’s hoping to redeem himself in spite of a boss who seems inclined to wreck what’s left of Akal’s career. When Kunti, an indentured Indian worker on a sugar plantation goes missing, Akal is sent to investigate, and ends up unearthing a mess of racism, exploitation, and more.
I have a soft spot for historical detective fiction, and A Disappearance in Fiji, set in an unusual time (1914, with the Great War beginning in far away in Europe) and space (I don’t recall ever reading any other books set in Fiji) seemed intriguing.
The setting was interesting, but the mystery wasn’t very mystifying, or not enough to have me deeply invested in it. And there were several elements that I didn’t much care for. The snippets from The Fiji Times that begin each chapter, I thought, would have something to do with the actual content of the chapter (one did, but not, as far as I could tell, any of the others). As Nilima Rao mentions at the end of the book, these were meant to provide a flavour of Fiji in 1914: what they did for me was to be inadvertent (and ultimately irritating) red herrings, since I found myself searching in them for clues.
Also, given that I’m Indian and have some idea of the system of indentured labour (in not just Fiji and the Caribbean, but also places like East and South Africa), the plight of Kunti and the other coolies was not so new as to be shocking. Perhaps this background also helped me see where Rao might have been a bit wrong: it’s highly unlikely, for instance, that a woman could have been spared to be nanny to the children. Chances are that children, as soon as they were old enough to know better, would be left at home to look after the home and any younger siblings.
Plus, if you’re speaking Hindi, you’d say Namaskar, not Namaskaram…
In arriving at a rating, however, I’ve ignored these last few points, which may not matter to most readers. My rating is based on the overall mystery, the sense of the period, and the characters themselves. Akal makes for a sympathetic hero, but more than him, I liked his Fijian colleague Taviti, who was a delight. I’d read a sequel to this book if it had far more of Taviti in it!
Sergeant Akal Singh was a conscientious, much-admired police officer in Hong Kong, before an embarrassing debacle led to his being exiled to Fiji. Now he’s hoping to redeem himself in spite of a boss who seems inclined to wreck what’s left of Akal’s career. When Kunti, an indentured Indian worker on a sugar plantation goes missing, Akal is sent to investigate, and ends up unearthing a mess of racism, exploitation, and more.
I have a soft spot for historical detective fiction, and A Disappearance in Fiji, set in an unusual time (1914, with the Great War beginning in far away in Europe) and space (I don’t recall ever reading any other books set in Fiji) seemed intriguing.
The setting was interesting, but the mystery wasn’t very mystifying, or not enough to have me deeply invested in it. And there were several elements that I didn’t much care for. The snippets from The Fiji Times that begin each chapter, I thought, would have something to do with the actual content of the chapter (one did, but not, as far as I could tell, any of the others). As Nilima Rao mentions at the end of the book, these were meant to provide a flavour of Fiji in 1914: what they did for me was to be inadvertent (and ultimately irritating) red herrings, since I found myself searching in them for clues.
Also, given that I’m Indian and have some idea of the system of indentured labour (in not just Fiji and the Caribbean, but also places like East and South Africa), the plight of Kunti and the other coolies was not so new as to be shocking. Perhaps this background also helped me see where Rao might have been a bit wrong: it’s highly unlikely, for instance, that a woman could have been spared to be nanny to the children. Chances are that children, as soon as they were old enough to know better, would be left at home to look after the home and any younger siblings.
Plus, if you’re speaking Hindi, you’d say Namaskar, not Namaskaram…
In arriving at a rating, however, I’ve ignored these last few points, which may not matter to most readers. My rating is based on the overall mystery, the sense of the period, and the characters themselves. Akal makes for a sympathetic hero, but more than him, I liked his Fijian colleague Taviti, who was a delight. I’d read a sequel to this book if it had far more of Taviti in it!
July 21, 2025
Caught between demotion and disgrace, Indian police officer Akal Singh is instead posted to colonial Fiji, where an investigation into the vanishing of an indentured Indian woman from a sugarcane plantation is complicated by the political pressures within the British Empire.
I'm a sucker for an unusual setting in a book, and colonial Fiji, 1912, is certainly a place I've never visited. And I have only the vaguest knowledge of the system of Indian indenture during the British Empire - by which I mean I knew that it existed - so it was fascinating to get a look at that too in this book.
Rao brings this setting to life vividly - the green and remote place in which the great colonial machine grinds away, reigned over by the ex-pats while the native Fijians are best left alone and the Indians are merely imported bodies to serve as cogs in the machine. I also appreciated how detailed and accurate her depiction of the laborers' lives were - like Akal, I found the scenes of village life extremely familiar, having seen them plenty of times in the Indian countryside.
I found the author's choice of Akal as the protagonist an interesting choice. He has worked in and benefited by the colonial system, and does not want to be drawn into caring about the case, but cannot help it, and I expect his deepening disillusionment will be explored further in the series.
The mystery was a little simple to solve, as we are given few choices as to the answer. The dialogue also felt a little stilted on occasion, more informational than lifelike. Neither of these things significantly impacted my enjoyment of the book though.
I listened to the audiobook of this book, which is narrated by Sid Sagar. I found myself rather unimpressed by his pronunciation of the laborers' names, which were to my native Telugu ear recognizably Telugu and sadly flattened out by his tongue, but I expect most readers wouldn't know the difference. His Hindi on the other hand was excellent.
I'm a sucker for an unusual setting in a book, and colonial Fiji, 1912, is certainly a place I've never visited. And I have only the vaguest knowledge of the system of Indian indenture during the British Empire - by which I mean I knew that it existed - so it was fascinating to get a look at that too in this book.
Rao brings this setting to life vividly - the green and remote place in which the great colonial machine grinds away, reigned over by the ex-pats while the native Fijians are best left alone and the Indians are merely imported bodies to serve as cogs in the machine. I also appreciated how detailed and accurate her depiction of the laborers' lives were - like Akal, I found the scenes of village life extremely familiar, having seen them plenty of times in the Indian countryside.
I found the author's choice of Akal as the protagonist an interesting choice. He has worked in and benefited by the colonial system, and does not want to be drawn into caring about the case, but cannot help it, and I expect his deepening disillusionment will be explored further in the series.
The mystery was a little simple to solve, as we are given few choices as to the answer. The dialogue also felt a little stilted on occasion, more informational than lifelike. Neither of these things significantly impacted my enjoyment of the book though.
I listened to the audiobook of this book, which is narrated by Sid Sagar. I found myself rather unimpressed by his pronunciation of the laborers' names, which were to my native Telugu ear recognizably Telugu and sadly flattened out by his tongue, but I expect most readers wouldn't know the difference. His Hindi on the other hand was excellent.
May 31, 2023
Thank you Echo Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
It’s not often I read books set in colonial Fiji so I embraced this delightful murder mystery set in Suva.
The first in a series provided a good narrative but more importantly glimpses into social and political landscapes of this island nation.
Akal was an endearing and interesting lead character with an interesting back story.
An indentured Indian woman goes missing on a sugar plantation.
Akal and his sidekick are sent to investigate and resolve.
An exposure to grim realities of plantation life awaits and racial attitudes of the period emerge.
Akal resents being sent to the Island and wants to return to Hong Kong.
His due diligence in this case just might be the ticket home.
I was successfully transported to Fiji and I learnt about the indenture process which I knew nothing about.
The interactions between the different racial groups came across authentically and added a nice tone to the read.
The authors note at the back is useful and informative.
A noteworthy debut indeed and a good foundation for a great series.
It’s not often I read books set in colonial Fiji so I embraced this delightful murder mystery set in Suva.
The first in a series provided a good narrative but more importantly glimpses into social and political landscapes of this island nation.
Akal was an endearing and interesting lead character with an interesting back story.
An indentured Indian woman goes missing on a sugar plantation.
Akal and his sidekick are sent to investigate and resolve.
An exposure to grim realities of plantation life awaits and racial attitudes of the period emerge.
Akal resents being sent to the Island and wants to return to Hong Kong.
His due diligence in this case just might be the ticket home.
I was successfully transported to Fiji and I learnt about the indenture process which I knew nothing about.
The interactions between the different racial groups came across authentically and added a nice tone to the read.
The authors note at the back is useful and informative.
A noteworthy debut indeed and a good foundation for a great series.
October 3, 2023
I found this to be almost immediately engaging. I appreciated the setting (geographic and historical) of colonial Fiji in 1914. Having a Sikh policeman address a crime on a sugar plantation after being sent away from colonial Hong Kong and leaving his home in colonial India reflects the push-pull dynamic of immigration, albeit spurred by imperialism.
I especially liked the dynamic between Akal and his colleague, Fijian local "Taviti." Their mutual good-natured ribbing is funny and fun to read.
The mystery is intriguing and held my attention and interest. I appreciated the thoughtful "Author's Note" where she talks about the backstory and her personal inspiration for this book.
I'd read more from Rao.
I especially liked the dynamic between Akal and his colleague, Fijian local "Taviti." Their mutual good-natured ribbing is funny and fun to read.
The mystery is intriguing and held my attention and interest. I appreciated the thoughtful "Author's Note" where she talks about the backstory and her personal inspiration for this book.
I'd read more from Rao.
January 29, 2024
Interesting setting and premise. Perhaps the second in the series will be stronger. I was never fully engaged with the characters or the mystery.
July 15, 2023
Excellent read, set in Fiji written by a young Australian woman with Fijian and Indian ancestry. I was intrigued by the premise, the location, the author, all of it. Went on a hold list to get it right away - and did!
Time: 1914. Location: Fiji, at this time a British colony.
Akal Singh, a Sikh and native of India, and who had been working as a police officer in Hong Kong, is sent to Fiji as 'punishment. (You learn what he did in Hong Kong midway through the book.) At this time in history, the British Empire is still vast, filled with colonies, most of which are ruled over by British managers, governors, magistrates, police chiefs, etc. Therefore, even though Singh is still a police officer, a sergeant, he has to maneuver his way through all sorts of rules, assumptions, and prejudices re. his race, religion, place of birth, you name it. Most Indians who are in Fiji at this time are called 'coolies,' and sign indenture contracts to work for a certain number of years on sugar plantations. Suffice to say, their lives are considered barely important; they are workers. They know what they signed up for. Dismal housing, not a lot of food (or what there is, is hardly nutritious) and in some cases, women who are preyed upon by white overseers and owners. Excruciatingly long hours in a hot, humid climate. In a few words, it's a mess.
At first, Singh comes across as a somewhat arrogant and conceited individual, in that he doesn't really understand how these other Indians - his own people, so to speak - are treated. He wants a big case to investigate. He wants honors, prestige, importance, which he had, briefly so, in Hong Kong. However, he's pushed around by his superiors - which include not only his boss, but other officers and almost anyone with white skin. It's constant and oppressive and it's a wonder he can even do his job...
Which, originally, was to hunt down and arrest the 'Night Prowler' who's been looking into windows at night and exposing himself - to children! This case, however, is put on a shelf when a young married woman, a worker, or coolie, goes missing. Normally, this would involve a quick look by authorities with the assumption she 'ran away with someone.' (In this case the overseer of the sugar plantation where she works.) But when Singh looks into the case...
Ms. Rao has certainly done her research re. this time and place in history, which she details at the end of the book. She also has a familial connection to the Indian workers who traveled to Fiji in the hope of finding a better life. Hence, this story, though fictional, must have been a very personal, even emotional book for her to write. I give her full kudos on it. If she continues Singh's 'adventures,' I will follow them.
Five stars
Time: 1914. Location: Fiji, at this time a British colony.
Akal Singh, a Sikh and native of India, and who had been working as a police officer in Hong Kong, is sent to Fiji as 'punishment. (You learn what he did in Hong Kong midway through the book.) At this time in history, the British Empire is still vast, filled with colonies, most of which are ruled over by British managers, governors, magistrates, police chiefs, etc. Therefore, even though Singh is still a police officer, a sergeant, he has to maneuver his way through all sorts of rules, assumptions, and prejudices re. his race, religion, place of birth, you name it. Most Indians who are in Fiji at this time are called 'coolies,' and sign indenture contracts to work for a certain number of years on sugar plantations. Suffice to say, their lives are considered barely important; they are workers. They know what they signed up for. Dismal housing, not a lot of food (or what there is, is hardly nutritious) and in some cases, women who are preyed upon by white overseers and owners. Excruciatingly long hours in a hot, humid climate. In a few words, it's a mess.
At first, Singh comes across as a somewhat arrogant and conceited individual, in that he doesn't really understand how these other Indians - his own people, so to speak - are treated. He wants a big case to investigate. He wants honors, prestige, importance, which he had, briefly so, in Hong Kong. However, he's pushed around by his superiors - which include not only his boss, but other officers and almost anyone with white skin. It's constant and oppressive and it's a wonder he can even do his job...
Which, originally, was to hunt down and arrest the 'Night Prowler' who's been looking into windows at night and exposing himself - to children! This case, however, is put on a shelf when a young married woman, a worker, or coolie, goes missing. Normally, this would involve a quick look by authorities with the assumption she 'ran away with someone.' (In this case the overseer of the sugar plantation where she works.) But when Singh looks into the case...
Ms. Rao has certainly done her research re. this time and place in history, which she details at the end of the book. She also has a familial connection to the Indian workers who traveled to Fiji in the hope of finding a better life. Hence, this story, though fictional, must have been a very personal, even emotional book for her to write. I give her full kudos on it. If she continues Singh's 'adventures,' I will follow them.
Five stars
July 15, 2023
A terrific audiobook mystery. Loved the historical setting, not much has been written about the Indentured Indian workers who went to Fiji and their descendants are now a large part of the Fijian population. It was something that I wasn't aware of until the mid 1980s, when I went with my boyfriend (now husband) to check out an IT contract he was thinking of doing there. I spoke to a lovely Indian/Fijian lady in the office who told me all about her life and what it was like for them during the coups and riots in the 1980s.
This novel is set in the 1910s around WWI. There's a terrific range of characters and is all resolved in the end. I'd love to see a series with the same main characters.
This novel is set in the 1910s around WWI. There's a terrific range of characters and is all resolved in the end. I'd love to see a series with the same main characters.
February 20, 2023
I just finished an ARC of this book and really enjoyed it. It was equal parts mystery and historical fiction. I know very little about Fiji, but thanks to this story I now know some history.
December 6, 2023
It's 1914, and Indians are eyed as mere labour class by the Goras. Amongst the society, is our sergeant Sikh who works as an officer and is sent to Fiji to find the truth behind the disappearance of a particular woman. But as he starts digging for the case, many other truths come to light that may have otherwise been buried under the disguise of a functional island.
The path is uneasy and the mystery to be solved gets complicated with every passing step. But if you pay close attention and know how things are usually in reality- you may be able to guess the culprit. I found the book quite apt and close to the history of people living in the mentioned circumstances.
Thanks, @netgalley @bonnierbooks_uk for the Audio ARC
Genre: #historicalfiction #murdermystery
Rating: Let's go point-wise for this one
📖Historical world buildup- 5/5
📖Mystery element - 3/5
📖Plot essence - 3.5/5
📖Audio narrative - 4/5
Overall - 4/5 ⭐️
#ADisappearanceinFiji #NetGalley
The path is uneasy and the mystery to be solved gets complicated with every passing step. But if you pay close attention and know how things are usually in reality- you may be able to guess the culprit. I found the book quite apt and close to the history of people living in the mentioned circumstances.
Thanks, @netgalley @bonnierbooks_uk for the Audio ARC
Genre: #historicalfiction #murdermystery
Rating: Let's go point-wise for this one
📖Historical world buildup- 5/5
📖Mystery element - 3/5
📖Plot essence - 3.5/5
📖Audio narrative - 4/5
Overall - 4/5 ⭐️
#ADisappearanceinFiji #NetGalley
January 4, 2024
Incredibly boring and slow - for a detective mystery that's 288 pages long, it's incredible it took 100+ pages for this detective to actually start thinking maybe the missing woman DIDN'T run away.
Incredibly slow and the prose is that of a novice writer with plenty of room to improve, while the last couple chapters are filled action, these are the ones that succeed in keeping the reader interested - should they make it that far. That and I just didn't find any characters that likeable or filled with much depth, but most of the characters were written in a way that made it seem like you were meant to like them, unsuccessfully.
Unique setting and historical background bumps it up a couple ratings, but this breaks no new ground really
Incredibly slow and the prose is that of a novice writer with plenty of room to improve, while the last couple chapters are filled action, these are the ones that succeed in keeping the reader interested - should they make it that far. That and I just didn't find any characters that likeable or filled with much depth, but most of the characters were written in a way that made it seem like you were meant to like them, unsuccessfully.
Unique setting and historical background bumps it up a couple ratings, but this breaks no new ground really
March 23, 2024
If I’m honest I bought this because I couldn’t resist the gorgeous cover. It sat on my shelves unread for several months but when I did pick it up exactly the book that I was in the mood for.
Set in Fiji in 1914. I’ve been to Fiji and I know it has a large Indian population (more than a third of the population is Indian) but I wasn’t familiar with how that came about. Through this novel I learned about the indenture system. Lower caste Indians were brought in to work as labourers on the sugar cane plantations. They were essentially treated like slaves until they had served five years labour, after which time they were free to work for themselves.
The novel is about a Sikh detective who is investigating the disappearance of a woman who is one of these indentured workers. I wouldn’t call it cosy crime but it’s more at that end of the spectrum – similar in style to writers like Rhys Bowen, Jacqueline Winspear or Alexander McCall Smith.
It was exactly the read that I wanted: likeable characters, an interesting historical backdrop and enough of a crime to keep me intrigued. I gather that the author is working on a sequel and I’m looking forward to it.
Set in Fiji in 1914. I’ve been to Fiji and I know it has a large Indian population (more than a third of the population is Indian) but I wasn’t familiar with how that came about. Through this novel I learned about the indenture system. Lower caste Indians were brought in to work as labourers on the sugar cane plantations. They were essentially treated like slaves until they had served five years labour, after which time they were free to work for themselves.
The novel is about a Sikh detective who is investigating the disappearance of a woman who is one of these indentured workers. I wouldn’t call it cosy crime but it’s more at that end of the spectrum – similar in style to writers like Rhys Bowen, Jacqueline Winspear or Alexander McCall Smith.
It was exactly the read that I wanted: likeable characters, an interesting historical backdrop and enough of a crime to keep me intrigued. I gather that the author is working on a sequel and I’m looking forward to it.
May 4, 2024
Content warnings: racism, racial slurs, colonialism, stillbirth, murder, rape, death, gun violence, theft (in the past), vomit, alcohol abuse, violence, gaslighting
I was excited to read this because I know a little about Fijian history on account of my parents living there for four years before I was born, but I knew essentially nothing about THIS period of Fiji's history. Between the plantations and the indentured labour and the Sikh police officers, there was a lot that I learnt from this book, even though it's a crime novel about a missing woman.
I liked Akal as a protagonist a lot, and while I could have done without the seemingly endless racial slurs I understand that they're absolutely authentic to the time period. Anyway, the mystery was compelling. Akal's backstory is compelling. The writing was great, and Fiji was lovingly depicted.
My one real issue with this is that the missing victim's name is Kunti and as an Australian who watches a LOT of RuPaul's Drag Race, I...........yeah. Yeah.
I was excited to read this because I know a little about Fijian history on account of my parents living there for four years before I was born, but I knew essentially nothing about THIS period of Fiji's history. Between the plantations and the indentured labour and the Sikh police officers, there was a lot that I learnt from this book, even though it's a crime novel about a missing woman.
I liked Akal as a protagonist a lot, and while I could have done without the seemingly endless racial slurs I understand that they're absolutely authentic to the time period. Anyway, the mystery was compelling. Akal's backstory is compelling. The writing was great, and Fiji was lovingly depicted.
My one real issue with this is that the missing victim's name is Kunti and as an Australian who watches a LOT of RuPaul's Drag Race, I...........yeah. Yeah.
July 30, 2023
I received this book from the facilitator of an F2F book club that I attend. I have never previously read a book set in Fiji nor have I previously read a mystery where the doctor's examination was described. Usually, I only get to read the results of the exam at the coroner's inquest. I learned some Fijian vocabulary including "bula" which is the Fijian equivalent of "to life" or L'Chaim in Hebrew. Fans of the musical Fiddler on the Roof will recognize that Hebrew word.
What I liked most about this book was the cultural context. Readers who are interested in reading novels dealing with the complexities of class differences should read A Disappearance in Fiji. The police protagonist, Akal, was also appealing.
What I liked most about this book was the cultural context. Readers who are interested in reading novels dealing with the complexities of class differences should read A Disappearance in Fiji. The police protagonist, Akal, was also appealing.
December 1, 2025
As a Fijian Indian, this book spoke to my soul. We don’t have representation in any media forms outside of Fiji. This was lovely. I’ve already requested an ARC of the second book.
The plot line was good, interactions felt authentic. Yes, even the racism felt like an accurate representation. The mystery flowed along nicely and I could not put it down. Great police procedural 💟
Please keep writing the series!
The plot line was good, interactions felt authentic. Yes, even the racism felt like an accurate representation. The mystery flowed along nicely and I could not put it down. Great police procedural 💟
Please keep writing the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
I was excited to find a novel set in Fiji, a place I hope to visit someday. The solution to the mystery was obvious, but I enjoyed this for the historical fiction elements. I see potential for a series. I would love to read more.
November 2, 2023
MAKE A MOVIE! Don’t let Waititi direct it.
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