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#ReadingOceania2024 #Fiji I‘ve been reading A.S. Byatt so almost any book would seem slight in comparison but this was a nice mystery with a very unhard boiled protagonist detective. The book is set in an island paradise where British colonials have decided to import indentured servants from India to slave in the sugar plantations rather than disrupt the natives way of life. Racial, gender and class struggles illuminated without a heavy hand.

Decent debut historical mystery set in colonial Fiji dealing with the complicated and corrupted indentured servant system where European land owners used Indian indentured servants in their plantations in Fiji. The investigation is lead by an Indian Sikh and explores (maybe not enough) of his feelings in this environment and the inherent racism. Not perfect, but series has promise. #bookspinbingo #bookspin 😊

This was good. Set in Fiji in 1914. The setting was interesting because I didn't know anything about it, especially Indian people who were indentured servants on the plantations there.

In 1914, an indentured Indian woman disappears from a plantation in #Fiji. The mystery here has a satisfying conclusion but could be a bit better constructed, and the backstory is inserted in a clunky way. But this is a good choice for #ReadingOceania2024, as it shows the social structure and impacts of colonialism quite well.

I enjoyed this engaging historical mystery. The descriptions of the landscape, the way of life, the characters and racism in a colony are vividly penned. It‘s quite an eye opener in its way. The mystery itself is intriguing and I always wanted to turn the pages to read on. Well written and put together, I found this a worthwhile and compelling, easy read. I look forward to Akal‘s next adventure! #TBConFacebook

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Sergeant Amal Singh, a Punjabi Sikh, has been sent to Fiji after unwittingly abetting a crime in Hong Kong. As the ranking Indian officer he is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a young woman from the sugarcane plantation where she was an indentured worker. Interesting historical details about the plight of these exploited workers. As a debut novel it has some flaws, but shows promise. The author is writing the next in the series.