Smaller and Smaller Circles | 
In one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Manila, thousands of people live off what they can scavenge out of the dumps. When the bodies of mutilated preteen boys start appearing amongst the dump heaps, the underfunded, under resourced, and corrupt law enforcement turns a blind eye, leaving it up to two priests to find the serial killer. 👇
pickThis was a solid, if sad, mystery. Don‘t expect to come away cheering about justice being served, as there are some things for which there is no earthly justice. Beyond the horrific serial murders of young boys, there‘s the subplot of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. I may have enjoyed the mystery part better in print, but the audiobook narrator wasn‘t bad. #philippines #readingasia2021
pickIn this award winning mystery, the chapters focus on two priests working with the police to solve some murders. In between the chapters, there are short interludes written in the first person from the killer, adding a sense of urgency and suspense.
#ReadingAsia2021 #Philippines @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB
Genre: Crime fiction
Date Started: November 28, 2019
Date Completed: -
How did you choose this book: Someone recommended it to me.
Summary: -
I think I am officially off my reading slump! Six in a row!
pickA fabulously literary mystery set in the Philippines. The investigation here is conducted by two priests, for a refreshing twist.
“[...] people like you and me — we win simply by surviving yet another day.”
”That‘s the nature of any kind of rot. If you don‘t stop it, it keeps going. It will keep going until it destroys the very organism that feeds it.”
pickThis is my #ReadAroundTheWorld for July- #Philippines - and a dark, but fast read set in the late 90s in Manila. It reveals a lot about the more grim side of the country and is downright depressing at times, though it ends on a somewhat uplifting note. I would read more from the author and can see why it‘s an award winner! @JenP
pickI bought both versions in a fit of homesickness. Love the leads, especially: Saenz and Lucero are whip-smart and compassionate and still very human as they delve into the (tightly-written and gripping) murder mystery, as well as the issues that caused the whole mess in the first place. Waiting impatiently for the prequel — in the meantime, please come talk to me about it? It gets lonely fangirling on my own.
pickIn the 3 gorges as I write, words cannot describe how amazing it is! Finished Smaller and Smaller Circles last night and really enjoyed it. Murder mystery set in the Philippines with a Jesuit priest as the protagonist. Interesting social issues described and good story. Debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author!
One day a year the international students where I work dress up in their traditional costumes and serve their country‘s cuisine for a big luncheon. I tried Filipino noodles, Georgian beets, Ugandan fruit salad, NZ wine, Italian pasta, and more. It was all yummy!
I was daring and tried some herring. It was nasty. BUT the salmon was much better. (Finland)
pickTruly this book deserves all the awards under its name. Well written crime fiction.
First read of the year and I am def enjoying it. ❤ #currentlyreading #PhilippineLiterature
so-soThis was a great crime Pinoy novel. You don't get to read a lot of good Pinoy mystery novels but this is sooo good, gripping and exciting. It just doesn't show the crime solvers' side of the story but also of the killer, the victims and the ones that get left behind. Even if it's a mystery novel, it's also a very emotional story. I would love to read more of Ms. Batacan's stories. She's a wonderful writer.
Timely read if you know what's going on in the Philippines right now. Not EJK because it's another story. Crimes involving minors are quite rampant you'd want to turn the TV off and just sleep. #fhbatacan #crimefiction
bailedI wanted so much to like this, and I don't know if I had read this at a different time, I might have. But reading it now, there were too many threads to follow, too many characters, and the writing felt stiff. So yeah, I dnf'ed it, even though I was more than half finished. I just couldn't keep reading.
I'm diving into these today. Trying to work my way through some print books because my print TBR is a tad out of control. At least my ebook TBR is contained on a device; my print books are in piles in the living room, bedroom, and computer room. My partner keeps asking when I'm going to read all of them. I'm like, I'm *trying* but there's so many!
Looks like it's perfect weather to start a new book!⛈
Only one I could find on my shelves with #ashapeinthetitle. Sounds really good but haven't read it yet #junebookbugs @RealLifeReading
#day6 #junebookbugs #ashapeinthetitle I've had this on my TBR for an age, but haven't got to it yet... I hear it's fantastic... anyone read it?
pickDark stuff, but I really liked the priests (main characters) and I read this in about a day, so.
#mystery #serialkiller #readharder #Phillipines #jesuitpriestdetectives
Smores ice cream and a mystery novel. 😎📿🔪
#currentlyreading #weekend #boutofbooks #Jesuitpriestdetectives
Interesting piece on crime fiction set in Manila: http://lithub.com/crime-in-the-city-noir-at-high-noon-in-dutertes-manila/
Mentions a few titles I've been meaning to check out, including the tagged book. #crimefiction #noir
#GONEBABYGONE this is set in the Philippines. Well written! @Liberty
Book from my tbr that is #setinsoutheastasia! I am super excited to read this! I've heard really great things! #aprilbookshowers
#AprilBookShowers #SetinSoutheastAsia
I have this book, set in the Philippines on my Kindle TBR. Here's an excuse to bump it to the top!!!
#aprilbookshowers #setinsoutheastasia Still on my #TBR, but this sounds intriguing. I've heard it described as the first Filipino crime novel. Two priests investigate a series of murders in the Philippines.
pickI was sucked into this book right away. I loved the storyline, I loved how it showed corruption and how things happened as a result, and I loved that it tried to explain how a past can ultimately ruin someone's life. Great book! I would give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 out of 5!❤️
I love when the connection to the name of the book happens in a book!
Happy day! #botm came!!
pickFirst book of 2017, and it was fantastic. Woooot! 😀🎉
pickOh man, this was REALLY GOOD! If you like crime novels, do yourself a favor and pick up this book asap. It had so many great twists and turns, and felt like an episode of Law and Order: SVU set in the Philippines.
Really enjoying this so far. It's the first Filipino crime novel and it's got all the right elements of mystery and creepy murders. #readharderchallenge
Made my BOTMC selections and I am really happy they only let me add on two!! 😂
pickI love reading mysteries that take place in other countries. This takes place in Manila and involves two Jesuit priests attempting to solve the murders of young boys. It was really frustrating to read about all the corruption and disorganization everywhere. But overall I enjoyed it.
pickSo so so good! This is everything I want a mystery to be: non-professional detectives, corruption, multi-level story with great characters. So much fun. Aaand done with the read harder challenge 📚 #readharder
pickThis book was so much more than I expected in the best possible way! Yes it is a story about two priests trying to help find a serial child murderer (big TW) in the Philippines. But it also deals with political corruption, intense poverty, abuse of religious power, and the cycle of child abuse. If you like crime mysteries this is a must read!
#readingwithoutwalls #Filipino #mystery #WNDB
Last read harder challenge book! Saved this one for last to motivate myself 📚 #readharder #southeastasianauthor
Priest humor! And my reading corner since it is sleeting and cold outside 📖
Yard work finish, time to start a new book! 2 Catholic priest try to track a serial killer in the Philippines 🇵🇭
Considered the first Filipino crime novel - yes please!
#WNDB #Filipino #crimemystery #readingwithoutwalls
#TeamMonsterMash @StayCurious
#31by31 @Catsandbooks
#Spookoween2022 @TheSpineView
#Pointsathon @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#readlikehellathon @readlikehellathon (edited) 2y