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Inspector Mislan Latif #3
UTube: Inspector Mislan and the UTube Serial Rapes
For fans of Jo Nesbo, Ian Rankin, and Michael Connelly, the third Inspector Mislan thriller takes the inspector to a netherworld of vicious crimes against women.
In this new thriller, Mislan and Detective Sergeant Johan are called to the scene of an ongoing investigation by D11, the Sexual & Child Abuse Investigation Division, that involves a series of rapes of successful young women.
What immediately jumps out as D11's Inspector Sherry investigates the first case is that the attack was filmed with a video camera. The perpetrator, gloved and masked, had gained access to the victim's apartment and was there with a cameraman, standing over her, when she woke in her bedroom. When the video appears on UTube with the legend that it shows her "salvation," the shame of it drives her to suicide. The second case involving the same M.O. has left a friend of the rape victim murdered at the scene, and that brings in the team from Special Investigations.
Forced by their superiors to combine efforts, with Sherry in the lead, Mislan struggles to rein in his maverick impulses. But the video of the second assault is posted online and then still another makes the news, leading to mounting public alarm. With pressure from above to close the case quickly, the two inspectors have no choice but to find the way to work together and uncover the trail that will lead them to the shadowy figure who calls himself the Emancipatist.
In this new thriller, Mislan and Detective Sergeant Johan are called to the scene of an ongoing investigation by D11, the Sexual & Child Abuse Investigation Division, that involves a series of rapes of successful young women.
What immediately jumps out as D11's Inspector Sherry investigates the first case is that the attack was filmed with a video camera. The perpetrator, gloved and masked, had gained access to the victim's apartment and was there with a cameraman, standing over her, when she woke in her bedroom. When the video appears on UTube with the legend that it shows her "salvation," the shame of it drives her to suicide. The second case involving the same M.O. has left a friend of the rape victim murdered at the scene, and that brings in the team from Special Investigations.
Forced by their superiors to combine efforts, with Sherry in the lead, Mislan struggles to rein in his maverick impulses. But the video of the second assault is posted online and then still another makes the news, leading to mounting public alarm. With pressure from above to close the case quickly, the two inspectors have no choice but to find the way to work together and uncover the trail that will lead them to the shadowy figure who calls himself the Emancipatist.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Rozlan Mohd Noor
15 books58 followersRozlan Mohd Noor served as a police officer in the Royal Malaysia Police for 11 years as a crime investigator and court prosecutor before joining the private sector. He has published several crime/thriller novels. Six of them feature Inspector Mislan as the main protagonist, with Posthumous Child (2022) being the latest. The Inspector Mislan novels are now published internationally by Arcade CrimeWise, New York, starting with 21 Immortals in 2020 and DUKE in 2021. In 2022, the Inspector Mislan books were optioned as a mini-series by UK-based production company Envision Entertainment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 29, 2021
In the third Malaysian police procedural starring the unique character of Inspector Mislan, the focus is almost solely on the case presented with far less concentration on Mislan’s personal life and character development. Despite this, you still get the sense of Mislan’s individuality as he avoids following protocol time and time again and uses his authority to intimidate witnesses or simply to intimidate the general public at large. The lead character, Inspector Mislan, is somewhat like Detective Bosch in how he flaunts authority and has a knack for finding the answers, but is in his own right a unique character.
It is a strange case which presents itself and Mislan finds himself sharing the spotlight and, indeed, working under the lead of Inspector Sherry of the Sex Crimes Unit. The perpetrators are engaged in a rape and post on U-Tube (note that it is a slightly different site than the popular one we all know about) frenzy that leads investigators to puzzlement, victims to trauma, and the general public near to panic. It is bad enough that the perpetrators carry out their violations, but to broadcast the acts to the world adds unending humiliation to the victims.
Set in the modern world, this novel is focused very much on the internet and its misuses and modern technological criminalist techniques to ferret out IP addresses and find the perpetrators. It also shows Malaysia as a country struggling with a modern skyscraper-dotted face and a far more traditional background that is not comfortable with modern mores and ethics. Noor does an excellent job of conveying this Southeast Asian country, but still making it inviting to the Western reader.
The authenticity of the book is evident. The author, Rozlan Mohd Noor, is an ex- police officer in the Malaysian police force who worked as an Investigation Officer for 11 years in capital city Kuala Lumpur. This is the third book in the series, the other books in this series are Duke and 21 Immortals.
It is a strange case which presents itself and Mislan finds himself sharing the spotlight and, indeed, working under the lead of Inspector Sherry of the Sex Crimes Unit. The perpetrators are engaged in a rape and post on U-Tube (note that it is a slightly different site than the popular one we all know about) frenzy that leads investigators to puzzlement, victims to trauma, and the general public near to panic. It is bad enough that the perpetrators carry out their violations, but to broadcast the acts to the world adds unending humiliation to the victims.
Set in the modern world, this novel is focused very much on the internet and its misuses and modern technological criminalist techniques to ferret out IP addresses and find the perpetrators. It also shows Malaysia as a country struggling with a modern skyscraper-dotted face and a far more traditional background that is not comfortable with modern mores and ethics. Noor does an excellent job of conveying this Southeast Asian country, but still making it inviting to the Western reader.
The authenticity of the book is evident. The author, Rozlan Mohd Noor, is an ex- police officer in the Malaysian police force who worked as an Investigation Officer for 11 years in capital city Kuala Lumpur. This is the third book in the series, the other books in this series are Duke and 21 Immortals.
June 18, 2022
The story was as easy to get invested in as the previous books but this one was a bit harder to read as it involves heavily around rape. Unfortunately my book app only had the first 3 books in the series. I'll see if I can find other books in the series
December 31, 2020
Finished at 11 pm on 31st December 2020.
Brilliant read to end the year 🤗🤗.
I was just having a lookout of the book but was hooked right from the beginning. An unputdownable, but alas time was not with me. A 2-3 days read means the book was very fascinating (well, there were some that I haven’t finished after 3years ).
The story was perfect. A good insight to a police procedure. And I always laughed out loud whenever they compared the real police with the tv series - for the record, I love Horatio Cane haha.
As a public servant myself, I understand the constraints of the decisions and the birocracy of the system. Inspector Mislan was very lucky to have a very understanding and a very good superior.
I noticed most of the senior officers were women. I wonder why 😅😅
Brilliant read to end the year 🤗🤗.
I was just having a lookout of the book but was hooked right from the beginning. An unputdownable, but alas time was not with me. A 2-3 days read means the book was very fascinating (well, there were some that I haven’t finished after 3years ).
The story was perfect. A good insight to a police procedure. And I always laughed out loud whenever they compared the real police with the tv series - for the record, I love Horatio Cane haha.
As a public servant myself, I understand the constraints of the decisions and the birocracy of the system. Inspector Mislan was very lucky to have a very understanding and a very good superior.
I noticed most of the senior officers were women. I wonder why 😅😅
May 6, 2019
Seriously a fan of this author's style-- clean and sharp, descriptive yet secretive. Totally good with story telling and arranging the plot. Got a glimpse, a hint and hunch of everything before Mislan could reached for the conclusion. It was always thrilled and suspenseful, full of love and hate-- on the idea and investigation stuff as well as how the author inserted real life scene of insensitive and opportunist politicians, taking advantage on the issue just to gain cheap publicity. Sincerely like the plot idea for this-- taboo issue that still relevant nowadays. Something to giggle about with Mislan's attitude in here-- sneaky and naughty but full of charms. Him and Jo the best duo and I love Sherry for her plain by the book personalities. They showed various angle of police investigation from their perspective-- quite a scene to admire at, as well as how they managed to settle all conflicts be it with media and upper influential people. Great teamwork though a bit bitter on how it was ended-- hoping for some thrilling and enthralling catching the villain showcase. Anyhoo, I still love the book very much.
October 26, 2018
Novel ini sangat best.. Penyiasatan yang dilakukan nampak sangat teliti dan mengujakan.. Jenayah yang dilakukan sangat kejam.. Gandingan Sherry dan Maslan sangat bergaya.. Realiti dan tv jauh bezanya.. Itu yang dijelaskan buku ini..
November 1, 2021
UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Conspiracy by Rozlan Mohd Noor is the third read in the police procedural series based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Inspector Mislan and Detective Sergeant Johan are brought into an ongoing case when a friend of a sexual assault victim dies.
That is the second attack in a case that starts when Era Amilia was sexually assaulted. The attack was video recorded and shared on the internet via UTUBE. Hours later, she died after a fall the balcony of her ninth-floor apartment at the condo tower. Was she pushed or did she jump? While The sexual child abuse investigation division intended to handle that case by themselves as it was tied into the rape case, when a second rape attack results in an obvious murder of a friend of the victim, Special Investigations is brought in and that means Inspector Mislan and Detective Sergeant Johan.
That means the independent take charge MIslan is forced to work with Inspector Sherry and her squad. Not only does he have to work with her, the powers that be have decreed he has to take orders from her. Mislan’s reputation is known to all and with the intense media focus and political factors, he is not going to be in charge. Inspector Sherry She is very much by the book and Mislan isn’t. She also is not going to jeopardize her career by letting Mislan have his usual free reign.
With pressure mounting and additional attacks and recordings being posted online, the chase is on to stop at least two, if not more, rapists who believe they are correcting wayward behavior. Things are very complicated and the case has many angles to pursue as the officers involved try to find a way to work together.
This is the third in the series that began with 21 Immortals: Inspector Mislan and the Yee Sang Murders and DUKE: Inspector Mislan and The Expressway Murders. Personal details of the lives of Inspector Mislan and several others away from the job continue here in various established secondary storylines. Therefore, it is best to read these books in order as previous case are mentioned along with continuing secondary storylines.
As always in this series, things are very complicated. UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Conspiracy is one of those books there is hard to explain in greater detail without ruining the read. Suffice it to say, these police procedurals are complicated and solidly good reads with interesting cases and plenty of detail on sights and sounds that the reader feels like they are there working the case and eating the food. As in earlier books, there is a lot of mention of food so be prepared.
UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Conspiracy
Rozlan Mohd Noor
Arcade CrimeWise
July 2021
ISBN# 978-1950691425
Hardback (also available in eBook format)
336 Pages
My copy came via the Martin Luther King JR Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2021
That is the second attack in a case that starts when Era Amilia was sexually assaulted. The attack was video recorded and shared on the internet via UTUBE. Hours later, she died after a fall the balcony of her ninth-floor apartment at the condo tower. Was she pushed or did she jump? While The sexual child abuse investigation division intended to handle that case by themselves as it was tied into the rape case, when a second rape attack results in an obvious murder of a friend of the victim, Special Investigations is brought in and that means Inspector Mislan and Detective Sergeant Johan.
That means the independent take charge MIslan is forced to work with Inspector Sherry and her squad. Not only does he have to work with her, the powers that be have decreed he has to take orders from her. Mislan’s reputation is known to all and with the intense media focus and political factors, he is not going to be in charge. Inspector Sherry She is very much by the book and Mislan isn’t. She also is not going to jeopardize her career by letting Mislan have his usual free reign.
With pressure mounting and additional attacks and recordings being posted online, the chase is on to stop at least two, if not more, rapists who believe they are correcting wayward behavior. Things are very complicated and the case has many angles to pursue as the officers involved try to find a way to work together.
This is the third in the series that began with 21 Immortals: Inspector Mislan and the Yee Sang Murders and DUKE: Inspector Mislan and The Expressway Murders. Personal details of the lives of Inspector Mislan and several others away from the job continue here in various established secondary storylines. Therefore, it is best to read these books in order as previous case are mentioned along with continuing secondary storylines.
As always in this series, things are very complicated. UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Conspiracy is one of those books there is hard to explain in greater detail without ruining the read. Suffice it to say, these police procedurals are complicated and solidly good reads with interesting cases and plenty of detail on sights and sounds that the reader feels like they are there working the case and eating the food. As in earlier books, there is a lot of mention of food so be prepared.
UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Conspiracy
Rozlan Mohd Noor
Arcade CrimeWise
July 2021
ISBN# 978-1950691425
Hardback (also available in eBook format)
336 Pages
My copy came via the Martin Luther King JR Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2021
April 8, 2015
my first national crime novel. i think the book is good, the plot, although kinda slow, (i mean, it's a serial rapist, how fast can you solve one case, right?) it is an interesting story.
for me, the motive is kinda absurd, but the heck with logic, right? people can do absurd thing these days.
overall, i like it. i like the character. this book makes me want to know more about Mislan. although he's kinda a pain in the ass, but he can makes the job done. so, that's a given.
sebab aku kejap baca, kejap berhenti, ada part yang bila dia dapat solve something tu, buat aku terblur kejap bila aku sambung baca balik. tapi bagi aku, takde lah psiko mana pun. gila memang gila, tapi belum cukup psycho lagi lah yang rapist tu. haha.
for me, the motive is kinda absurd, but the heck with logic, right? people can do absurd thing these days.
overall, i like it. i like the character. this book makes me want to know more about Mislan. although he's kinda a pain in the ass, but he can makes the job done. so, that's a given.
sebab aku kejap baca, kejap berhenti, ada part yang bila dia dapat solve something tu, buat aku terblur kejap bila aku sambung baca balik. tapi bagi aku, takde lah psiko mana pun. gila memang gila, tapi belum cukup psycho lagi lah yang rapist tu. haha.
July 3, 2021
4.5 ⭐
“UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Consipracy”, by Rozlan Mohd Noor, is the third book in the Inspector Mislan police procedural series, and second book to be reprinted in the series in 2021. After reading and loving “21 Immortals” mid 2020, and “DUKE” a little earlier this year, I was mentally prepared to wait one more year until the third book came out. But book miracles happen, and Inspector Mislan returned once again this year for another investigation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Previously published with the title “UTube: Inspector Mislan and the UTube Serial Rapes”, the book follows a new police investigation in which Inspector Mislan pairs with Inspector Sherry, from the Child and Sexual Abuse Department, to investigate what appears to be a series of rapes with a very similar MO and victimology. Plot wise that is enough said so as not to venture into spoiler territory. A whole cast of characters is back from the previous books, including: Mislan’s loyal partner, Inspector Sergent Johan; Mislan’s firm and dedicated boss, Chief Inspector Samshiah; and the annoying and joke of a Chief Inspector Burhannudin. Alongside them, new inspectors and detectives are introduced on the task force, and for the first time in the series, we get to see Inspector Mislan working as a team member, rather than acting on his own.
Similar to the previous books in the series, there are tantalizing Malaysian landscapes and foods. The hierarchy in the police department, the corruption and political affiliations, and the integrity of the police, all common themes in the previous two books, are, of course, touched upon again here. The dialogue and character development are authentic, clearly drawn from the author’s experience as a member of the police force. The short chapters and lack of lengthy descriptions make this book, like the previous ones, very compelling to read.
I whole heartedly recommend “UTube”, and the whole “Inspector Mislan” series for that matter, to fans of police procedurals and crime. While “UTube” can definitely be read as a standalone, as can the other books in the series, it is always fun returning to dear characters and getting thrown back into the world of a series. For that reason, I do recommend picking up the whole series and reading the books in order. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing (Arcade Crimewise) for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I cannot wait for the fourth book to be out, and this time I am not mentally prepared to wait a whole year!
“UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Consipracy”, by Rozlan Mohd Noor, is the third book in the Inspector Mislan police procedural series, and second book to be reprinted in the series in 2021. After reading and loving “21 Immortals” mid 2020, and “DUKE” a little earlier this year, I was mentally prepared to wait one more year until the third book came out. But book miracles happen, and Inspector Mislan returned once again this year for another investigation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Previously published with the title “UTube: Inspector Mislan and the UTube Serial Rapes”, the book follows a new police investigation in which Inspector Mislan pairs with Inspector Sherry, from the Child and Sexual Abuse Department, to investigate what appears to be a series of rapes with a very similar MO and victimology. Plot wise that is enough said so as not to venture into spoiler territory. A whole cast of characters is back from the previous books, including: Mislan’s loyal partner, Inspector Sergent Johan; Mislan’s firm and dedicated boss, Chief Inspector Samshiah; and the annoying and joke of a Chief Inspector Burhannudin. Alongside them, new inspectors and detectives are introduced on the task force, and for the first time in the series, we get to see Inspector Mislan working as a team member, rather than acting on his own.
Similar to the previous books in the series, there are tantalizing Malaysian landscapes and foods. The hierarchy in the police department, the corruption and political affiliations, and the integrity of the police, all common themes in the previous two books, are, of course, touched upon again here. The dialogue and character development are authentic, clearly drawn from the author’s experience as a member of the police force. The short chapters and lack of lengthy descriptions make this book, like the previous ones, very compelling to read.
I whole heartedly recommend “UTube”, and the whole “Inspector Mislan” series for that matter, to fans of police procedurals and crime. While “UTube” can definitely be read as a standalone, as can the other books in the series, it is always fun returning to dear characters and getting thrown back into the world of a series. For that reason, I do recommend picking up the whole series and reading the books in order. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing (Arcade Crimewise) for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I cannot wait for the fourth book to be out, and this time I am not mentally prepared to wait a whole year!
March 4, 2024
4.5 stars
First, I'd recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of Harry Bosch and/or Michael Connelly's books. Inspector Mislan is the Malaysian Bosch. It's also a police procedural so I"d recommend it to those who like that as well.
This is book #3 in the series. I've never been to Malaysia so I don't really know much about it. The reason I like this series besides it being extremely well written is that while being fiction, it's a glimpse into that country and culture.
The mystery is a compelling page turner that I couldn't put down. It moves at a quick pace.
There is a serial rapist who videos his crimes and posts them on youtube. The story begins with their version of an SVU unit (sexual crimes) working the rape cases. New characters are introduced, such as the female officers handling the rape. I like Mislan & his crew as well as these newbies. Also there is an LGBTQ element added in. Since I've learned this is a predominant Muslim country, it was interesting to learn how they treat those cases as well as being a female cop in the division and police force.
Mislan gets involved when there's a death in one of the cases.
He doesn't work well with others so that adds an element of tension for the characters. And while I'm sure Mislan will eventually get his man, I found myself rooting for Sherry (the female detective lead of the rape case) to get there before him.
Another good one in the Inspector Mislan series. Lots of suspense, action and a great look into Malaysian police procedures. I deducted 1/2 star bc there wasn’t much wrong with the ending except that I prefer a tighter closure.
some quotes:
"...I don't know if it's possible, but if it is, I want them to monitor and also to analyze all social media comments on sites related to this video.'I'm sure it can be done, I've seen it done on NCIS. That agent McGee, and Abby, they can track anything on the net."
..."Go reread your laws, ' Lillian mocks.'I need to watch more NCIS, ' Kevin jests.
"The victomology."
'Wow, big word,' she jokes. 'What about it?'
Mislan smiles. 'Learned it form watching Criminal Minds."
And this is something my father always says when watching a TV cop show so it cracked me up to see in print. :
..."he gets caught in a traffic jam. Shit. Why is it that on TV the streets are always clear when the police dash to the crime scene?"
First, I'd recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of Harry Bosch and/or Michael Connelly's books. Inspector Mislan is the Malaysian Bosch. It's also a police procedural so I"d recommend it to those who like that as well.
This is book #3 in the series. I've never been to Malaysia so I don't really know much about it. The reason I like this series besides it being extremely well written is that while being fiction, it's a glimpse into that country and culture.
The mystery is a compelling page turner that I couldn't put down. It moves at a quick pace.
There is a serial rapist who videos his crimes and posts them on youtube. The story begins with their version of an SVU unit (sexual crimes) working the rape cases. New characters are introduced, such as the female officers handling the rape. I like Mislan & his crew as well as these newbies. Also there is an LGBTQ element added in. Since I've learned this is a predominant Muslim country, it was interesting to learn how they treat those cases as well as being a female cop in the division and police force.
Mislan gets involved when there's a death in one of the cases.
He doesn't work well with others so that adds an element of tension for the characters. And while I'm sure Mislan will eventually get his man, I found myself rooting for Sherry (the female detective lead of the rape case) to get there before him.
Another good one in the Inspector Mislan series. Lots of suspense, action and a great look into Malaysian police procedures. I deducted 1/2 star bc there wasn’t much wrong with the ending except that I prefer a tighter closure.
some quotes:
"...I don't know if it's possible, but if it is, I want them to monitor and also to analyze all social media comments on sites related to this video.'I'm sure it can be done, I've seen it done on NCIS. That agent McGee, and Abby, they can track anything on the net."
..."Go reread your laws, ' Lillian mocks.'I need to watch more NCIS, ' Kevin jests.
"The victomology."
'Wow, big word,' she jokes. 'What about it?'
Mislan smiles. 'Learned it form watching Criminal Minds."
And this is something my father always says when watching a TV cop show so it cracked me up to see in print. :
..."he gets caught in a traffic jam. Shit. Why is it that on TV the streets are always clear when the police dash to the crime scene?"
July 5, 2021
In UTube: Inspector Mislan and the Emancipatist Conspiracy, Rozlan Mohd Noor has written another excellent police procedural, enjoyable both for the mechanics of the investigation (forensics, leg work, computer savvy - and a bit of luck) and for its detailed background in Kuala Lumpur. And, of course, for its food. It seems there is always food – from nasi lemak for breakfast to chili crab for dinner.
In this third book of the series, however, Rozlan takes a slightly different approach than in the first two. Rather than having Inspector Mislan and his team as the leads on a murder case, they are seconded to a cross-divisional investigation into a series of rapes that have been carried out in an oddly “organized” way, with videos posted to UTube shortly after. Inspector Sharifah Azlina Syed Abdullah (known as Sherry) and her team, from the Sexual and Child Abuse Investigation Division, have already been working on the rapes when the roommate of one of the victims gets killed, almost by mistake, after she surprises the rapists by coming home unexpectedly. As a result, Mislan and his team end up joining the already on-going investigation, and readers get to watch as Sherry’s and Mislan’s different styles and approaches clash, and sometimes mesh. And in the end, in spite of lots of interference from above, they piece together the picture of what is going on.
Having read the first two books in the series, I liked seeing familiar characters like Mislan, Detective Sergeant Johan Kamarudin, and Mislan’s amazing boss, Superintendent Samsiah. (Although I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the first two books before reading this one, it probably helps a bit.) It was also fun to hiss at the somewhat one-dimensional press-attention-seeking OCCI, Burhanuddin Sidek. But I think I enjoyed meeting the new team even more, including Sherry, Detective Deena Sofea Azman, thier boss Superintenent Lillian Wong Wee Sin, and the IT-techie Saifuddin Rahim. I hope we get to continue to see these folks in the ongoing series. All-in-all, UTube is a quick and fun read, and I look forward to more titles coming out in e-book. And my thanks to Arcade Crimewise for the advance review copy.
In this third book of the series, however, Rozlan takes a slightly different approach than in the first two. Rather than having Inspector Mislan and his team as the leads on a murder case, they are seconded to a cross-divisional investigation into a series of rapes that have been carried out in an oddly “organized” way, with videos posted to UTube shortly after. Inspector Sharifah Azlina Syed Abdullah (known as Sherry) and her team, from the Sexual and Child Abuse Investigation Division, have already been working on the rapes when the roommate of one of the victims gets killed, almost by mistake, after she surprises the rapists by coming home unexpectedly. As a result, Mislan and his team end up joining the already on-going investigation, and readers get to watch as Sherry’s and Mislan’s different styles and approaches clash, and sometimes mesh. And in the end, in spite of lots of interference from above, they piece together the picture of what is going on.
Having read the first two books in the series, I liked seeing familiar characters like Mislan, Detective Sergeant Johan Kamarudin, and Mislan’s amazing boss, Superintendent Samsiah. (Although I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the first two books before reading this one, it probably helps a bit.) It was also fun to hiss at the somewhat one-dimensional press-attention-seeking OCCI, Burhanuddin Sidek. But I think I enjoyed meeting the new team even more, including Sherry, Detective Deena Sofea Azman, thier boss Superintenent Lillian Wong Wee Sin, and the IT-techie Saifuddin Rahim. I hope we get to continue to see these folks in the ongoing series. All-in-all, UTube is a quick and fun read, and I look forward to more titles coming out in e-book. And my thanks to Arcade Crimewise for the advance review copy.
August 22, 2021
This is my second "Inspector Mislan" book - the first was 21 Immortals: Inspector Mislan and the Yee Sang Murders - see below for link to my review and the background for both that and this book (so I won't go into detail here).
Readers who in the past have focused mainly on UK and US based crime fiction, should come into the international scene with an open mind. The reader cannot assume that the UK/US version is how policing and crime works elsewhere, and that the same cultural norms apply.
Having said that, this book focuses less on the personal life of Mislan but on his interactions with his fellow officers in their pursuit of a serial rapist who uses technology to highlight their crimes and taunt the police in modern-day Malaysia. Keeping the ever open mind, this book also explores a sub-culture, one that goes against the grain of existing "cultural norms", and yet the same prejudices and attitudes are strangely not that much more different than our own when confronted by things we do not fully understand. It is a slow build, however, even as more arrests are made, the team is no closer to solving the case. And as always, there is an abundance of food (leaving the reader particularly hungry) - though consider how much time UK/US based investigators spend in the pub or getting coffee.
Noor's experiences as a serving police officer come to the fore when describing both the landscape and its peoples, as well as the inner workers of the Malaysian police force. Well worth giving this series a go!
Review >> Melisende's Library - 21 Immortals
Readers who in the past have focused mainly on UK and US based crime fiction, should come into the international scene with an open mind. The reader cannot assume that the UK/US version is how policing and crime works elsewhere, and that the same cultural norms apply.
Having said that, this book focuses less on the personal life of Mislan but on his interactions with his fellow officers in their pursuit of a serial rapist who uses technology to highlight their crimes and taunt the police in modern-day Malaysia. Keeping the ever open mind, this book also explores a sub-culture, one that goes against the grain of existing "cultural norms", and yet the same prejudices and attitudes are strangely not that much more different than our own when confronted by things we do not fully understand. It is a slow build, however, even as more arrests are made, the team is no closer to solving the case. And as always, there is an abundance of food (leaving the reader particularly hungry) - though consider how much time UK/US based investigators spend in the pub or getting coffee.
Noor's experiences as a serving police officer come to the fore when describing both the landscape and its peoples, as well as the inner workers of the Malaysian police force. Well worth giving this series a go!
Review >> Melisende's Library - 21 Immortals
October 29, 2024
Spoilers ahead. I have been enjoying this series a lot. These are detective procedurals set in Malaysia and the author does a good job. The characters are well done, the detective part is well written and there is a lot of interesting food and culture. This is my 6th inspector Mislan book.
A single woman is raped in her apartment. She wakes up with the rapist already in the bedroom standing over her. What is worse is that an accomplice is there recording the rape which is uploaded to the eponymous UTube video website.
In a short matter of time another woman is raped the same way. However this time she has a roommate who apparently surprises the rapists who kill her. Since a death occurs, Mislan is called in.
They find that both women are lesbians but it seems to take the police a rather long time to figure that their sexual orientation is what ties both crimes together. Meanwhile another rape takes place in a neighboring state.
Good police work eventually unravels the case. They start by identifying the place where the video(s) were uploaded, then the MAC address of the laptop. They discover the laptop was stolen but they find out who stole it. The continue up the trail of clues until they find who is ultimately responsible. At this point the author seems to aim for a quick ending because I found it somewhat unsatisfactory. But nonetheless, this book has all the ingredients which made this series good. I will continue to look for the other Inspector Mislan books until I read them all.
A single woman is raped in her apartment. She wakes up with the rapist already in the bedroom standing over her. What is worse is that an accomplice is there recording the rape which is uploaded to the eponymous UTube video website.
In a short matter of time another woman is raped the same way. However this time she has a roommate who apparently surprises the rapists who kill her. Since a death occurs, Mislan is called in.
They find that both women are lesbians but it seems to take the police a rather long time to figure that their sexual orientation is what ties both crimes together. Meanwhile another rape takes place in a neighboring state.
Good police work eventually unravels the case. They start by identifying the place where the video(s) were uploaded, then the MAC address of the laptop. They discover the laptop was stolen but they find out who stole it. The continue up the trail of clues until they find who is ultimately responsible. At this point the author seems to aim for a quick ending because I found it somewhat unsatisfactory. But nonetheless, this book has all the ingredients which made this series good. I will continue to look for the other Inspector Mislan books until I read them all.
July 1, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an advanced copy of this police procedural.
UTube, the third book in the Inspector Mislan Latif series, written by Rozlan Mohd Noor, finds the Malaysian police officer seconded to a task force investigated a series of brutal assaults. Adding to the task forces' pressure is that the crimes are being broadcasted on social media, causing further agony and fear in the city.
This is the second Mislan book I have read and I enjoy the character and his support characters immensely. Mislan can be annoying, as a partner he'd probably get you in trouble, and as an officer he would probably get a division sued. The character has such a drive, for justice, to answer the question why, why did this person need to suffer, why did this person carry out this plan, that I find most interesting. Mislan acts impulsively, in some cases unethically and illegally, but always for the best of intentions. That is more of an excuse than a reason, but he is willing to bear with the consequences right or wrong.
Also I can not stress the one character that seems inescapable in these books. Food. Characters are always eating, stopping for street food, or restaurants, buying food for suspects, or ordering in as they work the investigation. I will have to look up some of this food and how to prepare it correctly.
A very compelling entry in an enjoyable series. I can't wait to read more.
UTube, the third book in the Inspector Mislan Latif series, written by Rozlan Mohd Noor, finds the Malaysian police officer seconded to a task force investigated a series of brutal assaults. Adding to the task forces' pressure is that the crimes are being broadcasted on social media, causing further agony and fear in the city.
This is the second Mislan book I have read and I enjoy the character and his support characters immensely. Mislan can be annoying, as a partner he'd probably get you in trouble, and as an officer he would probably get a division sued. The character has such a drive, for justice, to answer the question why, why did this person need to suffer, why did this person carry out this plan, that I find most interesting. Mislan acts impulsively, in some cases unethically and illegally, but always for the best of intentions. That is more of an excuse than a reason, but he is willing to bear with the consequences right or wrong.
Also I can not stress the one character that seems inescapable in these books. Food. Characters are always eating, stopping for street food, or restaurants, buying food for suspects, or ordering in as they work the investigation. I will have to look up some of this food and how to prepare it correctly.
A very compelling entry in an enjoyable series. I can't wait to read more.
July 2, 2019
Phew! Habis! 🙌
Aku tak pernah berminat dengan subject matter/victims sebagaimana dalam naskah ni. Tapi aku tak hesitate untuk baca. Sebab ini naskah dari penulis yang aku gemari. Seperti yang dijangka, ia tak pernah mengecewakan 😊
Walk the investigation process, walk the reality. Itu yang aku rasa setiap kali baca buku beliau. The tension, the terror, panic, frustration etc all lump-sum in one fast-paced story telling. Dibandingkan dengan 2 buku terdahulu; 21 Immortals dan DUKE, aku rasa naskah ni paling laju pace dia. Setiap masa mendebarkan. Kurang dari segi pemerihalan campur tangan politik, motif di hujung buku tapi semuanya diadun dengan begitu baik. Seperti biasa, kemas dan lancar malah aku rasa semakin baik. Menakjubkan bagaimana naskah ni boleh berbeza dengan yang terdahulu 😂
Aku suka watak Inspektor Sherry. I wish she transfer to D9 😝 Aku suka adanya watak Detektif Deena where at the same time, Johan still being the loyal Johan & takde fling2 dlm ni. Don’t do that, I’ll get jealous 😝😝 And then the ending... 😪 Mislan being Mislan 😂
Now that aku dah habiskan buku ni, aku cuma berharap Inspektor Mislan will be saved dan ada sambungan utk Soulless. I need him and Johan active and kicking again. In my mind, nothing from other local author(of the same genre) beats these books written by Rozlan Mohd Noor.
Aku tak pernah berminat dengan subject matter/victims sebagaimana dalam naskah ni. Tapi aku tak hesitate untuk baca. Sebab ini naskah dari penulis yang aku gemari. Seperti yang dijangka, ia tak pernah mengecewakan 😊
Walk the investigation process, walk the reality. Itu yang aku rasa setiap kali baca buku beliau. The tension, the terror, panic, frustration etc all lump-sum in one fast-paced story telling. Dibandingkan dengan 2 buku terdahulu; 21 Immortals dan DUKE, aku rasa naskah ni paling laju pace dia. Setiap masa mendebarkan. Kurang dari segi pemerihalan campur tangan politik, motif di hujung buku tapi semuanya diadun dengan begitu baik. Seperti biasa, kemas dan lancar malah aku rasa semakin baik. Menakjubkan bagaimana naskah ni boleh berbeza dengan yang terdahulu 😂
Aku suka watak Inspektor Sherry. I wish she transfer to D9 😝 Aku suka adanya watak Detektif Deena where at the same time, Johan still being the loyal Johan & takde fling2 dlm ni. Don’t do that, I’ll get jealous 😝😝 And then the ending... 😪 Mislan being Mislan 😂
Now that aku dah habiskan buku ni, aku cuma berharap Inspektor Mislan will be saved dan ada sambungan utk Soulless. I need him and Johan active and kicking again. In my mind, nothing from other local author(of the same genre) beats these books written by Rozlan Mohd Noor.
May 8, 2021
This has become my favorite non-English police procedural from anywhere in the world. Luckily there will be a lot more books since those being translated are from the early teens. The Main character is Inspector Mislan with assorted sidekicks and other high level police that are part of the KL (Kuala Lumpar) Police. His group is homicide but in this book he ends up working with the equivalent of SVU (Sexual and Child Abuse).
A woman has been raped and the rape was videotapes and put on line. The victim is so distraught that she commits suicide. After a second rape (where there is also a murder) Mislan begin to work with Inspector Sherry and her team from SCA. Both teams are confused as to the intent of the rapist who call themselves 'Emancipatist'. They just upload the rape and don't brag or make anything as to what they do. This makes the case especially hard because the rapist uses a condom and wears a mask, leaving no clues.
Reading how the Malaysian Police work through both the political and religious (mostly moslem country) minefields. The banter among the different officers and departments has a 'real' feel to it and they constantly comment about US TV shows and how come things don't work that way for them.
A woman has been raped and the rape was videotapes and put on line. The victim is so distraught that she commits suicide. After a second rape (where there is also a murder) Mislan begin to work with Inspector Sherry and her team from SCA. Both teams are confused as to the intent of the rapist who call themselves 'Emancipatist'. They just upload the rape and don't brag or make anything as to what they do. This makes the case especially hard because the rapist uses a condom and wears a mask, leaving no clues.
Reading how the Malaysian Police work through both the political and religious (mostly moslem country) minefields. The banter among the different officers and departments has a 'real' feel to it and they constantly comment about US TV shows and how come things don't work that way for them.
July 2, 2021
This is a well done procedural that despite being part of a series works well as a standalone. Inspector Mislan and DS Johan find themselves wrapped into a series of assaults against women that must be solved quickly. Someone is taping them and posting on the internet. It's complex and twisty but the best part, for me, is the setting. Mislan, Johan, and Inspector Sherry might all feel familiar to fans of this genre but gosh it's interesting to read a novel set in Kuala Lumpur. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A quick and entertaining read.
March 10, 2022
This is the second in this series that I have read and there is at least one more translated into English. The series is set in Malaysia, and the crimes and their solutions are quite relatable. I like Mislan, this one is concerning a serial rapist with anti-LGBTQ leanings, something that could happen anywhere, but not for the feint of heart. Recommended, especially if you like Colin Coitrell's books
June 5, 2025
I'm not anywhere near in support of LGBTQ. I do though enjoy Mislan's antiques. I'm frustrated too that again, he doesn't get satisfactory closure the direct way. He pairs well with Sherry and I enjoy his chemistry with Johan and Audi. The pig Bahahaha something continues to be an asshole. After three series of Mislan, I'm now envious of Dr Safia.
October 27, 2021
This is the 3rd book so far in this series. I’ve read 2 of the 3 extremely well written self standing stories and now on to the remaining book.
This was a hard to put down police mystery book and hope there are many more.
Well done, Rozlan Mohd Noor!
This was a hard to put down police mystery book and hope there are many more.
Well done, Rozlan Mohd Noor!
March 30, 2019
Tak pernah mengecewakan. Terasa seperti berada bersama Inspektor Mislan dan Johan.
July 7, 2021
Utube by Rozlon mohd noor.
Inspector mislan latif #3.
A brilliant read. A sensitive subject. I still enjoyed it. Sherry was my favourite. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
Inspector mislan latif #3.
A brilliant read. A sensitive subject. I still enjoyed it. Sherry was my favourite. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
January 9, 2022
This series takes place in Malaysia. Need to wait for the 4th but like reading secretive books that give me insights into other cultures.
October 31, 2024
Ebook.
Wait, whattttt??! It can't just end like that!
Wait, whattttt??! It can't just end like that!
September 21, 2022
Wow! SVU: Malaysia. Sex crimes and cyber security create a unique challenge for Mislan as he is forced to take second seat to Special Investigations. The investigation leads to the murky world where crime and politics intersect, but Mislan shows there is more than one way to get justice.
August 14, 2022
Third book after 21 immortals and DUKE. I'm not sure this book is a lot better than the first two because this one is a locally published one or because the writer have improved.
In this book, inspector Mizlan has more sense of humor and feels more human. The characters that involve two police division working together make the story more exciting and interesting.
In this book, inspector Mizlan has more sense of humor and feels more human. The characters that involve two police division working together make the story more exciting and interesting.
June 20, 2013
The plot is nothing new but given the context of taboo of the matter in the society I lived in, it made for an interesting topic. I'm not really familiar with crime fiction, and what little I know the excitement from such a book stem from the "who's the culprit" suspense and the process of finding the culprit. And from that point, I say this book excel on it. And also, the writer's former police background helped made the interview scenes, crime scenes and such much more believable. Not like the incredulous everyone's sharp eyes on CSI, the detectives and police in Utube were more prone to human mistakes as well as emotion.
The pace of the book was okay, and I pretty much enjoy the police works done here. I was curious about the supposed "corrective rape" theme, though this was not the case (you have to read the book to find out). Safe to say the writer is a noble person as none of the victims were looked upon with contempt for their sexual orientation. The theme may be sensitive but somehow the writer managed to avoid playing out the sensitivities too much. The level of professionalism displayed by the characters when dealing with the case was high since none of the characters were involved emotionally in what was going on. They had fixed on their minds that a serial rapist or rapists were on the loose, women terrorized for their sexual orientation and justice need to be upheld. There were emotion involved but not too much to disturb their focus and I quite liked this perspective.
The writer also got a good sense of humor but some scenes were unintentionally hilarious and dumb. There was one scene where the characters actually had to explain to one another that the word "gay" can be used for lesbians that was actually laughable. I mean, it was like telling your friend that the "sun is a star". But then again, it made sense considering how ignorant the society in the book was towards LGBT community especially when the police here were dealing with people who had in their stomach to do to these women what they did. It was good however that the book did not linger too much on the LGBT matter as if it was something so foreign and unbelievable, and focused instead of getting the villain to justice.
The characters were likeable enough. I liked Sherry best, even if she was a bit of a rookie compared to Inspector Mislan. Sherry's by the book attitude totally made up for Mislan's over the top bad cop demeanor, which made the pair quite lovable. I liked their bickering as well over the case and the level of tension between them when Mislan didn't take her seriously at first. The other characters were okay, some of them were downright dumb I was wondering how the heck they became police in the first place. But overall, the supporting characters were still good and all of them complement the main characters as well as the plot.
This book was not exactly the best I've read, but it had its own charm and that was enough to keep me entertained. I recommend this to any crime fiction enthusiasts out there.
The pace of the book was okay, and I pretty much enjoy the police works done here. I was curious about the supposed "corrective rape" theme, though this was not the case (you have to read the book to find out). Safe to say the writer is a noble person as none of the victims were looked upon with contempt for their sexual orientation. The theme may be sensitive but somehow the writer managed to avoid playing out the sensitivities too much. The level of professionalism displayed by the characters when dealing with the case was high since none of the characters were involved emotionally in what was going on. They had fixed on their minds that a serial rapist or rapists were on the loose, women terrorized for their sexual orientation and justice need to be upheld. There were emotion involved but not too much to disturb their focus and I quite liked this perspective.
The writer also got a good sense of humor but some scenes were unintentionally hilarious and dumb. There was one scene where the characters actually had to explain to one another that the word "gay" can be used for lesbians that was actually laughable. I mean, it was like telling your friend that the "sun is a star". But then again, it made sense considering how ignorant the society in the book was towards LGBT community especially when the police here were dealing with people who had in their stomach to do to these women what they did. It was good however that the book did not linger too much on the LGBT matter as if it was something so foreign and unbelievable, and focused instead of getting the villain to justice.
The characters were likeable enough. I liked Sherry best, even if she was a bit of a rookie compared to Inspector Mislan. Sherry's by the book attitude totally made up for Mislan's over the top bad cop demeanor, which made the pair quite lovable. I liked their bickering as well over the case and the level of tension between them when Mislan didn't take her seriously at first. The other characters were okay, some of them were downright dumb I was wondering how the heck they became police in the first place. But overall, the supporting characters were still good and all of them complement the main characters as well as the plot.
This book was not exactly the best I've read, but it had its own charm and that was enough to keep me entertained. I recommend this to any crime fiction enthusiasts out there.
December 9, 2021
This was my third Mislan novel after 21 immortals and DUKE. Here inspector Mislan investigates a series of rape and murder crimes. The title of the novel comes from Utube, a social media platform onto which the perpetrators posted a recoding of their crimes, perhaps aiming to entice a social unrest.
Although the novel has many of Noor’s hallmarks, it falls short of its predecessors. While it remains fast paced, gripping, and overly entertaining, it lacks the complexity and style of earlier works. It was rushed, inconclusive, with too many incredulous coincidences and sheer luck. It ended with many unanswered questions, as if it was truncated from what should have been a two-part work.
Also, while earlier works could be regarded as literary works of art, Utube reads more like a B-rated commercial fiction. Mislan was made overly obnoxious and prick in the likes of Dirty Harry, which seemed disconnected from the cultural norms of its setting. Also, the novel is short on forensic analysis that characterized earlier works and instead was heavy on melodramatic events.
Overall, very entertaining but sadly veering from what should have been a literary work to a commercial pop fiction.
Although the novel has many of Noor’s hallmarks, it falls short of its predecessors. While it remains fast paced, gripping, and overly entertaining, it lacks the complexity and style of earlier works. It was rushed, inconclusive, with too many incredulous coincidences and sheer luck. It ended with many unanswered questions, as if it was truncated from what should have been a two-part work.
Also, while earlier works could be regarded as literary works of art, Utube reads more like a B-rated commercial fiction. Mislan was made overly obnoxious and prick in the likes of Dirty Harry, which seemed disconnected from the cultural norms of its setting. Also, the novel is short on forensic analysis that characterized earlier works and instead was heavy on melodramatic events.
Overall, very entertaining but sadly veering from what should have been a literary work to a commercial pop fiction.
February 3, 2013
Suspenseful, exciting reading on the UTube story by Rozlan Mohd Noor. This is my first Malaysian/English Crime Thriller and I have certainly enjoyed reading it immensely. It took me 2.5 days to finish this book; I did not want to put it down. I am wishing wish for more.
December 29, 2012
Although the book is bit slow in the plot, the book still good to read.
February 11, 2014
Kind of disappointing. I really wish there will be a good ending, I was wrong. At the end, no one knows if there is a girl involved as well as how they planned the crime and why.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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