Early twentieth-century Singapore is a place where a person can disappear, and Harriet Gordon hopes to make a new life for herself there, leaving her tragic memories behind her–but murder gets in the way.Singapore, 1910–Desperate for a fresh start, Harriet Gordon finds herself living with her brother, a reverend and headmaster of a school for boys, in Singapore at the height of colonial rule. … height of colonial rule. Hoping to gain some financial independence, she advertises her services as a personal secretary. It is unfortunate that she should discover her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold–explorer, mine magnate and president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers Club–dead with a knife in his throat.
When Inspector Robert Curran is put on the case, he realizes that he has an unusual witness in Harriet. Harriet’s keen eye for detail and strong sense of duty interests him, as does her distrust of the police and her traumatic past, which she is at pains to keep secret from the gossips of Singapore society.
When another body is dragged from the canal, Harriet feels compelled to help with the case. She and Curran are soon drawn into a murderous web of treachery and deceit and find themselves face-to-face with a ruthless cabal that has no qualms about killing again to protect its secrets.
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My favorite new mystery series! Set in a unique and compelling setting, and filled with fascinating historical research, deft characterization, and thrilling suspense, readers will devour Singapore Sapphire. One of the best books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to read Harriet’s next adventure.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I was a little hesitant when I opened the book to a glossary and a cast of characters. I was afraid the different dialects were going to mess with the flow and I like to get to know the characters myself as I read the story, especially for the first book of a series. So I skimmed the glossary and ignored the cast list and jumped right in. What I found was a unique mystery with very interesting characters in a fascinating setting.
Harriet Gordon lost both her husband and child to Typhus in India. She returned to England and became involved in the Suffragette Movement and got into a bit of trouble. She then decided to join her brother, a minister, and headmaster of a school in Singapore. There was work there for her to do but with no pay. To earn money she placed an ad to be a personal secretary. Her first client was Sir Oswald Newbold, a man well known for his exploration and a mining magnate. He was also president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers Club. He had hired Harriet to transcribe his memoirs to get them ready for publication. Her employment ends abruptly when she finds the man dead in his home.
Inspector Robert Curran arrives on the scene and sees Harriet is a formidable woman with a keen sense of observation. He also feels she is hiding something. Something not pertaining to the death but something that is holding her back. Inspector Curran is holding something personal back from her as well, but beyond that, he believes she can help him with his case.
These characters are very well-developed for the first book in a series, but the author has left them plenty of room to grow. I enjoyed the way a friendship was built between them. The author also surrounds these characters with a diverse cast. Young students from the school, the staff, her brother to everyone we meet as we follow along with the investigation. All the characters are strong even those with minor parts to play. There are a lot of characters but I had no trouble keeping them straight.
The descriptions of Singapore, 1910, are vivid and I could tell the author was familiar with the setting and had researched it greatly. It was no surprise when her biography stated she had lived there. Her words definitely transported this reader back in time to a place I knew very little about. She even captured the weather and makes her readers feel it. I was sweating in sympathy for the characters.
The mystery was an imaginative jewel. Precisely plotted, with culture and time are clearly portrayed. The pace had a slow build but really picked up about halfway in. The story was complex with twist after twist. The ending was suspenseful and kept me on my toes until everything was revealed.
Singapore Sapphire was an extraordinary read and I am looking forward to my next adventure with Harri and the good inspector. This series is off to an excellent start.
Singapore Sapphire is a gem of a story! You will love the intrepid heroine and the exotic locale that bring this twisty tale to life. I loved every minute of this steamy adventure.
This is such an awesome story, I do love a good mystery and this one hit the spot, set in Singapore in 1910, MS Stuart took me back in time to murders and a gang smuggling gems and a story that I did not want to put down. I am loving Harriet and Inspector Robert Curran and am truly thrilled that this book is the start of a series.
Harriet Gordon has decided to start afresh in Singapore with her brother, Reverend Julian who runs a school, Harriet has been through a lot and is settling in in Singapore, but she needs to find some work and takes on a job for Sir Oswald Newbold typing up his memoirs, but when he is horribly murdered and she discovers the body, the peace that Harriet was looking forward to is not going to happen as she gets involved with this murder and more.
Inspector Robert Curran is enjoying his position in the detective branch, but with Newbold’s murder and a second murder of a young man working in the hotel, Curran realizes that his witness Harriet is very good at seeing things and when he uncovers things from her past they form a friendship that keeps them working together to solve the murders, but not before Harriet finds herself in very real danger.
This is a story that you will not want to put down, every time I had to put is down Harriet and the characters were in my mind and I never stopped trying to work out the killer or killers it is so well written, and so well researched that I truly felt I was back in Singapore in 1910, the characters are so alive and real the good and the bad ones, I loved it from start to finish compelling, gripping and fabulous if you love a good mystery then this is one I highly recommend.
Singapore Sapphire by A. M. Stuart is Historical Mystery Fiction in early 20th Century Singapore. Evil spirits and a murder mystery with a knife depicting demons in a ransacked house. Secrets, criminals, missing people and an Inspector who won’t quit. This is a fast paced story with many unexpected twists. I enjoyed the interesting characters, their unusual lives and the exoctic places in this mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from First to Read. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.
This is the first book by Ms Stuart that I have read. It is very different from the historical romances I usually read. I found it very well written, with lots of mystery, intrigue and suspense to keep me turning the page. I found as one mystery was revealed another one came along. I enjoyed the fact that I thought I had worked out who done it only to find I was wrong and needed to keep going right up till the end. The characters were well written so that you could relate to them and they worked together beautifully. The setting was intriguing and so different from the usual historical novel. There was no romance or sex in this book but there was passion which made the characters feel much more human. It was a lovely change from dukes and debutantes and I know I will be reading more. I received this book as and ARC and was very happy to give it a review.
Interesting series
Singapore Sapphire is wonderful historical fiction. I loved the setting, the characters, and the terrific writing.
4.25/5
I went back to read this first in series after reading the second one. I’m glad I did as it was good to get the complete backstory of a widow who lost her husband and young son to typhus in India moving to her brother’s school for boys in 1910 Singapore.
Harriet discovers her employer’s body and becomes involved with a local detective to sort out the mystery. Kept me entertained and interested.
She’s a very interesting character, and I look forward to reading more.
I loved the setting, Singapore in 1910. The use of Malay words, real streets and buildings, and the weather all present a realistic view of the time and place. I also enjoyed the lack of trite romance and happily ever after. This book is a cut above a common mystery/romance. The characters have interesting and believable back stories and relationships, and I hope these will be further developed in the next installment.
I lived in Singapore for ten years, so I can honestly say the author expertly captured the atmosphere and essence of this marvelous place. Great characters, too.
Interesting. Good plot.
I read the book because of the interesting locale and time period – Singapore in the 1910’s. Good story and mystery.
Good mystery with lots of interesting historical facts.
I honestly felt like I was stepping back in time and reliving Singapore in 1910. The story was gripping, the authentic atmosphere just seeped into my bones and I did shed some tears at the end. It was just lovely! Exciting, thrilling with a very warm and unexpected finishing touch.
Highly recommended!
Thoroughly enjoyable. Loved Harriet Gordon and all the authentic history and geography of the place and the time.
Some stories you just have to devour, they’re so compelling. This is such a one.
Harriet Gordon, widow, stenographer and suffragette, and the dedicated Inspector Curran, the not-quite gentleman detective, are two of my new favourite characters, brought together in colonial 1910 Singapore by a murder that spreads tentacles far and wide.
As the title indicates, precious gems are involved, although Harriet herself is the real ‘gem’, a woman of education, principles, and, for the times, a very practical outlook on life. Having set herself up with a typewriter and using her shorthand skills, she is all set to begin contributing to the household coffers through her endeavours when she stumbles upon her new employer, dead, by violent means. What follows is a crime mystery that unfolds amidst the steaming tropical heat of Singapore pre-WW1.
Stuart seamlessly blends real places, events, and historical figures, within her work of fiction, bringing the colonial outpost to life in all its riotous colour, smells, and prejudices.
Any time a book has me lying awake thinking about the characters and the troubles they are embroiled in is a good read. In this case, I am delighted to know it is the first of a series. Highly recommended. I can’t wait for Harriet’s next adventure, and hope Inspector Curran is at her side.