From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Frangipani Tree Mystery (Crown Colony, #1)

Ovidia Yu

Start date: May 1, 2024

Finish date: May 31, 2024

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next book in our 2024 challenge.
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* 2026 Challenge
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* Oct 25: A Murder Is Announced (1950) by Agatha Christie
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What Members Thought

Apr 11, 2024 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book, detective-grp24

3.5-4 stars. I enjoyed this very much, but for some reason didn’t rush back to it - I generally have a nonfiction and mystery book on the go, but I read two other mysteries in between this and my current nonfiction.

I like the main character, Su Lin, very much, found the 1930s Singapore setting very interesting, and want to read on in the series. When I actually got back to this mystery I enjoyed it, and was really engrossed in the last 25 pages or so. I put it down to the author’s narrative sty 3.5-4 stars. I enjoyed this very much, but for some reason didn’t rush back to it - I generally have a nonfiction and mystery book on the go, but I read two other mysteries in between this and my current nonfiction.

I like the main character, Su Lin, very much, found the 1930s Singapore setting very interesting, and want to read on in the series. When I actually got back to this mystery I enjoyed it, and was really engrossed in the last 25 pages or so. I put it down to the author’s narrative style, and the typeface; I couldn’t always follow who was saying what to whom, partly because of the somewhat vague writing, and also the type face of the paperback library book- I couldn’t always see the quotation marks, so wasn’t sure whether a character was musing internally, or had spoken aloud. And sometimes it wasn’t clear which character was speaking! So, I think a few irritating style points - at least for me.

I had no complaints about the start - the nanny to the governor’s daughter falls to her death on the grounds of Government House. So the action was off to an intriguing start; then we meet teenaged Su Lin, an ambitious student at the mission school run by the governor’s spinster sister, Miss Nessa.

I was a bit confused about the tie between Nessa, the school and Chief Inspector Thomas LeFroy. Su Lin describes him (I think it’s her POV, not always clear) as movie-star handsome, and indicates Nessa is interested in him and placing Su Lin as his housekeeper. I wasn’t sure if Su Lin was crushing on him, or Nessa was, or what. He’s an interesting character, very enlightened and polite to non-white Singaporeans. I’d like to learn more about him.

And our heroine, Su Lin, would rather have a career than be a servant or teacher; her secret wish is to be a lady reporter, but other parts of the book say she’s being pressed to be a teacher or secretary, and her wealthy Chinese grandmother, who has raised her, has apparently used her as an accountant in the somewhat shady family business. Another foggy area - LeFroy seems to indicate in conversations with Su Lin that money lending or loan sharking are the family business , but Su Lin disagrees, says she’s heard those rumors, doesn’t believe them. So, I’m not sure what is really going on, but I’d like to read on and learn more!

All stuff to draw me back to this promising series; I attribute my sluggish reading pace to a slump in the middle, as Su Lin takes over as nanny and settles into the very dysfunctional household, trying to find out what she can to help the investigation along. We see what she sees, but have no context, don’t really know what’s going on in the official investigation, don’t really know what the police know. Once there is a second suspicious death in the household, things seem to perk up a bit - there a a couple of very convincing red herrings as to suspects, and I was surprised by the killer, which I find is a win!
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8 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2024 Franky rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, history, historical-fiction, 2024-reading-challenge

This was my first venture into any of the books by Ovidia Yu and the first in this series was an enjoyable, engaging experience with the backdrop of 1930s Singapore in this murder mystery.

At the novel’s outset, Chen Su Lin’s family is attempting to have her married off when word comes in about a mysterious, unusual death that has happened at Frangipani Hill at the Governor’s estate. It seems a young Irish nanny, Charity Bryne, has been found dead under a tree after apparently falling to her dea This was my first venture into any of the books by Ovidia Yu and the first in this series was an enjoyable, engaging experience with the backdrop of 1930s Singapore in this murder mystery.

At the novel’s outset, Chen Su Lin’s family is attempting to have her married off when word comes in about a mysterious, unusual death that has happened at Frangipani Hill at the Governor’s estate. It seems a young Irish nanny, Charity Bryne, has been found dead under a tree after apparently falling to her death. A certain Inspector Thomas Le Froy enters the scene, and he quickly ascertains and deems this death highly suspicious, and it clearly looks like we have a case of foul play.

Being that the Governor’s daughter Deborah now needs a nanny, and given that she instantly takes a liking to Su Lin, Su Lin gets the job at the Governor’s place to care and watch over Deborah. (And this fits right in with Su Lin’s aspiration to being a reporter).

I felt like having Su Lin as our narrator for the majority of the time (a random third person narration breaks in periodically) a very good fit and a plus in technique. It gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look into this mystery and whodunnit. Being that she is saying at the Governor’s place with the Palins, she becomes prime observer and witness to clues into Charity’s death as well as other shenanigans and drama into the household.

Clues, gossip, hidden secrets, and motives all come to the forefront as LeFroy (and Su Lin) try to put all the pieces together for this murder mystery.

I really enjoyed the mood and ambience of the novel. It wasn’t too heavy of a mystery (despite some certain revelations) and having Su Lin as our eyes and ears as we become witnesses too to the happenings. This, along with the time period backdrop, was a nice touch that made for an engaging read.

And I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its novel, but this is such a cool cover, too.

Overall, a very fun mystery, and I look forward to continuing on in the series, and reading the second one, The Betel Nut Tree Mystery.

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May 03, 2024 Susan rated it liked it

Chen Su Lin has grown up in 1930's Singapore. She is considered unlucky, after the death of her parents and suffering polio which has left her with a limp. Educated at the mission school, she is bright and excellent at languages, keen to make a career for herself. However, her family desire her to make a marriage and settle down.

When the young nanny at the Governor's house falls to her death, Su Lin is quick to take up the offer to replace her. She is charged with looking after Dee Dee, a sevent ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

May 27, 2024 Teri-K rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery

The unusual setting is what attracted me to this book, and I was interested in the main character. Unfortunately the rest of the characters were very flat and predictable and the writing was pretty stiff. So it just didn't work very well for me. Readers who care more about plot than characterization or style might really enjoy this, though. It is great to have a mystery with such a different setting - I'm really sorry I didn't enjoy it more.
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2 likes · Like · see review