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Big Trouble in Little Paradise
Welcome to Darat Kumut, Sabah. This is where people go to relax, feast on seafood, and maybe even try their luck at the nearby island's casino resort. Everything about it is perfect - until the bodies start piling up.
The first corpse belongs to Tommy Asandu, the town’s notorious bad boy. Given the fact that most people hated him. the news of his death was met with indifference or even outright glee.
Newcomer Wesley Lawrence Moysin, a former journalist, is drawn to investigate the case to recover some of his lost mojo. He teams up with the lovely Delilah, of the All-Convenience Store, while secretly hoping that their relationship can go further.
Together, they navigate their way through a web of deceit, money, drugs and power in order to find out if there's Big Trouble in this Little Paradise
The first corpse belongs to Tommy Asandu, the town’s notorious bad boy. Given the fact that most people hated him. the news of his death was met with indifference or even outright glee.
Newcomer Wesley Lawrence Moysin, a former journalist, is drawn to investigate the case to recover some of his lost mojo. He teams up with the lovely Delilah, of the All-Convenience Store, while secretly hoping that their relationship can go further.
Together, they navigate their way through a web of deceit, money, drugs and power in order to find out if there's Big Trouble in this Little Paradise
292 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2023
6 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 3, 2025
If nothing else, Fixi Novo's novel contest has become it's own machine. It guarantees content creation through the publication of the contest winner, duh, but also putting eyes all over their recent output, ala the criteria for any potential contestant submitting their manuscript by review any one of them. If it weren't for the contest, Fixi Novo would still be in the rear view where I left them and by extension, I wouldn't have discovered this novel.
Big Trouble In Little Paradise is the winner of the third novel contest, and at the time of writing, the original iteration of the contest because going forward, the publisher is embargoing crime fiction submission. I don't know guys, maybe the fact that the books that won were the best among the submitted manuscript and they just happened to be crime fiction? Embargoing the whole genre point blank just seem like the act of banishing Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico to the shadow realm just to see a more competitive league. Sure, we'll get to see different teams winning La Liga but by doing so, La Liga would've been a weaker league.
Joking and rambling aside, just from the summary at the back of the book shows that Big Trouble In Little Paradise is a crime novel without much bells and whistles where Toyol R Us has the added caveat of supernatural elements to its crime while Not A Monster is a police procedural that's coy with its horror element where the outcome may or may not be affected by such inclusion/exclusion so Big Trouble In Little Paradise inherently caught my attention just for being a simple crime mystery. Simple doesn't mean easy and the simplest form of the genre when done right could provide the best of the genre as I've said in a different review that a good crime novel at the hands of a masterful writer would be an analysis on the people or place/community in which the crime took place in. And this is why my favourite subgenre of crime fiction is noir. Noir is always about the crime and every facet of the crime in the people, whether it's the perp or the lowly detective and the circumstances and the setting they're in. Though the noir I'm into are the new school neo-noir, one that are beholden to James Ellroy more than they do Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett and just prior to this, I just finished two of my newly favourite novel in City of Dreams by my favourite author - Don Winslow (review here) and The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter which was my introduction to Tartan Noir, a Scottish version of the genre and one that encapsulated Winslow's sprawling crime epic in just 290+ pages (review here). Big Trouble In Little Paradise is no noir. Most of the marketing surrounding it stated that it's a whodunnit and that is one subgenre of crime fiction I myself do not dabble too much with. Not because I don't enjoy them, but it's one I'm not too familiar with beside one or two from the bibliography of Agatha Christie while most of the modern iteration of the subgenre I encounter more often than not resides on the cozy murder mystery shelf. Here's the kicker though, about a 100 page in and I can safely say that it's not really a whodunnit but a more of your basic detective/sleuth fiction and it's a pretty good one at that. As in many detective fiction, setting plays a crucial role and here we have a believable (fictional)Darat Kumut thanks to how great Nathaniel Sario wrote the small town. Darat Kumut is very much a character on its own right, shinning a light to the people and community there.
This does not mean Nathaniel Sario is less preoccupied with the characters that inhabited Darat Kumut. Far from it as the novel is very much a character driven vehicle to tell the story of Wesley Lawrence Moysin, a print media journalist on indefinite hiatus and the survivor guilt he suffered from the past. A perfect summary of his character is that "Sometimes life is like a dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel but if you keep moving, you'll come to a better place". Alongside Wesley is Delilah, a ride or die partner and one that can hold her own well in any situation. While Inspector Rabbil Harris completes the list of main protagonist by playing the role of the tritagonist, a veteran investigative officer on the case and an outsider looking in.
As mentioned, the novel is a character-centric but it's hardly slow. It meanders about, from talking about books that I'm sure are the inspirations to Nathaniel Sario in the construction of this novel to pop culture references to learning about the town but the pacing were never plodding. In fact it's a page turner. The story follows Wesley and Delilah with Inspector Rabbil on the side of the law, trying to get to the bottom of the murder of Tommy Asandu, the town pariah. The writing is also one that I can say as the best I've came across written by a Malaysian writer and this include someone like the Booker Prize nominated Tan Twang Eng that epitomise the boring and stiff textbook style I found on most Malaysian written fiction or the eye rolling YA style from someone like Hanna Alkaf. It's slick and easy to go through without being dumb-down and felt like I wouldn't have know it to be a locally written if I wasn't told it was.
That said, the central mystery weren't particularly interesting and was the least interesting thing about the book. Sure, the investigative section were great and interesting but they were great because of the characters. If the characters or setting weren't so well written, I probably couldn't care less about this novel. That, and the the way the way the mystery was resolved, at least to me anyways, while I wouldn't say ruin the novel, but still weren't the best to put it mildly.
While the central mystery weren't the best, at least for me, you would think that's it for a mystery focus crime novel but the characters and the setting were levels above most mainstream detective fiction and the true highlight of the novel for me. Kudos to you Nathaniel Sario, you have a fan in me.
Big Trouble In Little Paradise is the winner of the third novel contest, and at the time of writing, the original iteration of the contest because going forward, the publisher is embargoing crime fiction submission. I don't know guys, maybe the fact that the books that won were the best among the submitted manuscript and they just happened to be crime fiction? Embargoing the whole genre point blank just seem like the act of banishing Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico to the shadow realm just to see a more competitive league. Sure, we'll get to see different teams winning La Liga but by doing so, La Liga would've been a weaker league.
Joking and rambling aside, just from the summary at the back of the book shows that Big Trouble In Little Paradise is a crime novel without much bells and whistles where Toyol R Us has the added caveat of supernatural elements to its crime while Not A Monster is a police procedural that's coy with its horror element where the outcome may or may not be affected by such inclusion/exclusion so Big Trouble In Little Paradise inherently caught my attention just for being a simple crime mystery. Simple doesn't mean easy and the simplest form of the genre when done right could provide the best of the genre as I've said in a different review that a good crime novel at the hands of a masterful writer would be an analysis on the people or place/community in which the crime took place in. And this is why my favourite subgenre of crime fiction is noir. Noir is always about the crime and every facet of the crime in the people, whether it's the perp or the lowly detective and the circumstances and the setting they're in. Though the noir I'm into are the new school neo-noir, one that are beholden to James Ellroy more than they do Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett and just prior to this, I just finished two of my newly favourite novel in City of Dreams by my favourite author - Don Winslow (review here) and The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter which was my introduction to Tartan Noir, a Scottish version of the genre and one that encapsulated Winslow's sprawling crime epic in just 290+ pages (review here). Big Trouble In Little Paradise is no noir. Most of the marketing surrounding it stated that it's a whodunnit and that is one subgenre of crime fiction I myself do not dabble too much with. Not because I don't enjoy them, but it's one I'm not too familiar with beside one or two from the bibliography of Agatha Christie while most of the modern iteration of the subgenre I encounter more often than not resides on the cozy murder mystery shelf. Here's the kicker though, about a 100 page in and I can safely say that it's not really a whodunnit but a more of your basic detective/sleuth fiction and it's a pretty good one at that. As in many detective fiction, setting plays a crucial role and here we have a believable (fictional)Darat Kumut thanks to how great Nathaniel Sario wrote the small town. Darat Kumut is very much a character on its own right, shinning a light to the people and community there.
This does not mean Nathaniel Sario is less preoccupied with the characters that inhabited Darat Kumut. Far from it as the novel is very much a character driven vehicle to tell the story of Wesley Lawrence Moysin, a print media journalist on indefinite hiatus and the survivor guilt he suffered from the past. A perfect summary of his character is that "Sometimes life is like a dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel but if you keep moving, you'll come to a better place". Alongside Wesley is Delilah, a ride or die partner and one that can hold her own well in any situation. While Inspector Rabbil Harris completes the list of main protagonist by playing the role of the tritagonist, a veteran investigative officer on the case and an outsider looking in.
As mentioned, the novel is a character-centric but it's hardly slow. It meanders about, from talking about books that I'm sure are the inspirations to Nathaniel Sario in the construction of this novel to pop culture references to learning about the town but the pacing were never plodding. In fact it's a page turner. The story follows Wesley and Delilah with Inspector Rabbil on the side of the law, trying to get to the bottom of the murder of Tommy Asandu, the town pariah. The writing is also one that I can say as the best I've came across written by a Malaysian writer and this include someone like the Booker Prize nominated Tan Twang Eng that epitomise the boring and stiff textbook style I found on most Malaysian written fiction or the eye rolling YA style from someone like Hanna Alkaf. It's slick and easy to go through without being dumb-down and felt like I wouldn't have know it to be a locally written if I wasn't told it was.
That said, the central mystery weren't particularly interesting and was the least interesting thing about the book. Sure, the investigative section were great and interesting but they were great because of the characters. If the characters or setting weren't so well written, I probably couldn't care less about this novel. That, and the the way the way the mystery was resolved, at least to me anyways, while I wouldn't say ruin the novel, but still weren't the best to put it mildly.
While the central mystery weren't the best, at least for me, you would think that's it for a mystery focus crime novel but the characters and the setting were levels above most mainstream detective fiction and the true highlight of the novel for me. Kudos to you Nathaniel Sario, you have a fan in me.
June 3, 2025
Finally, a book that sets in my home-state. Is it good though?
Big Trouble In Little Paradise is the debut novel of Nathaniel Sario who had it published by winning the 3rd Fixi Novo novel contest. I for one am glad he won it, mainly because I don't need another seedy, edgy and grim-dark writing set in Semenanjung that is the Fixi Novo's catalogue. It gets boring and I wanted something different, something fresh or at least represented.
In Big Trouble In Little Paradise, We follow Wesley Lawrence Moysin, an ex journalist now living in a "little paradise" as it were ended upon and chasing a story in an exciting and fast-paced murder mystery set in a sleepy town in Sabah. It's a whodunnit that explores the dark side of tourism and development.
Character wise, I thought it was the best aspect of the novel. The protagonist - Wesley is great. He felt lived through. At the start of the novel, he is laying low in this paradise called Darat Kumut after experiencing survivor's guilt from his old journalist career. His dynamic and interaction with the side characters felt believable and at times, I'm just way into the slice of life nature of their conversation. Delilah, who is Wesley partner in crime here also felt like her own person, not just a sidekick. She sounded different and acts in a different way than Wesley, which is something an author often doesn't do a very good job to differentiate their characters. Bad or mediocre writers often just gave different traits to different characters and call it a day but as you read on, the characters all talk the same way and acts the same way or in a way the plot dictates them.
Delilah is the more active/reactive of the two and you can see it in her actions while Wesley is often pondering and dwell on his course of action before he acts or decides to act. There are times he acts fast but mostly as a reaction to Delilah being in a pickle. Past some chapters, the characters are just serving the role they are assigned to but they are strong enough as their own person even the antagonistic third character - Inspector Rabbil who is the external but parallel force, running opposite of Wesley and Delilah is a good character of his own. Another character I wanted to highlight is the setting itself - Darat Kumut. Like LA is a character in Conelly's Bosch series or Chandler's Marlowe series. It's central to the plot. You get to know intimately with every corner, every crevices of the sea-side town.
As for the plot, it is pretty straight forward. It does split the scenes between Welsey and Delilah with Inspector Rabbil. It doesn't flip flop between the chapters to show two opposing side rather that it bleeds into the other from scene to scene to form a chunk of the puzzle in certain area, rinse, repeat. It's nothing new, it's very structured. You can pinpoint where the 12 steps of hero's journey are - where one step start and where it ends and the tropes present in a scene. I'm in love with the characters and the setting more than I do the actual plot or the mystery. Give me a slice of life of Wesley and Delilah for north of 300 pages and I would probably gobble it up still.
For the cinematography of the book - the writing, the prose, I thought it was good. It's written in a third person POV with narration that is omniscient so it does get into the head of our characters a fair bit. The author though, does a good job by not just making the inner monologue as a device to tell us how the characters feel, we hear their thoughts and see their action and decipher the subtext of what's in between. While I wouldn't say the writing and prose are spectacular, that does not mean it's bad. It doesn't get in the way of the character but the prose itself is not bland in ala the George Orwell's school of writing that seem to be default style of most Malaysian fiction writers (in English) whether it's YA or something more in the realm of literary fiction or genre fiction. It fits in well with the conventional genre fiction tone of the book and it made sense with the authors namedropped by Nathaniel Sario throughout the novel (aside from Virginia Woolf) that I would assume served as his influences.
A loveable cast of characters in a town well describe I can feel I'm there myself but the okay at best murder mystery plot does knock it down a fair bit. It’s both memorable and disposable in its own way. Still an incredibly enjoyable read and Nathaniel Sario's talent as a writer can't be deny.
Big Trouble In Little Paradise is the debut novel of Nathaniel Sario who had it published by winning the 3rd Fixi Novo novel contest. I for one am glad he won it, mainly because I don't need another seedy, edgy and grim-dark writing set in Semenanjung that is the Fixi Novo's catalogue. It gets boring and I wanted something different, something fresh or at least represented.
In Big Trouble In Little Paradise, We follow Wesley Lawrence Moysin, an ex journalist now living in a "little paradise" as it were ended upon and chasing a story in an exciting and fast-paced murder mystery set in a sleepy town in Sabah. It's a whodunnit that explores the dark side of tourism and development.
Character wise, I thought it was the best aspect of the novel. The protagonist - Wesley is great. He felt lived through. At the start of the novel, he is laying low in this paradise called Darat Kumut after experiencing survivor's guilt from his old journalist career. His dynamic and interaction with the side characters felt believable and at times, I'm just way into the slice of life nature of their conversation. Delilah, who is Wesley partner in crime here also felt like her own person, not just a sidekick. She sounded different and acts in a different way than Wesley, which is something an author often doesn't do a very good job to differentiate their characters. Bad or mediocre writers often just gave different traits to different characters and call it a day but as you read on, the characters all talk the same way and acts the same way or in a way the plot dictates them.
Delilah is the more active/reactive of the two and you can see it in her actions while Wesley is often pondering and dwell on his course of action before he acts or decides to act. There are times he acts fast but mostly as a reaction to Delilah being in a pickle. Past some chapters, the characters are just serving the role they are assigned to but they are strong enough as their own person even the antagonistic third character - Inspector Rabbil who is the external but parallel force, running opposite of Wesley and Delilah is a good character of his own. Another character I wanted to highlight is the setting itself - Darat Kumut. Like LA is a character in Conelly's Bosch series or Chandler's Marlowe series. It's central to the plot. You get to know intimately with every corner, every crevices of the sea-side town.
As for the plot, it is pretty straight forward. It does split the scenes between Welsey and Delilah with Inspector Rabbil. It doesn't flip flop between the chapters to show two opposing side rather that it bleeds into the other from scene to scene to form a chunk of the puzzle in certain area, rinse, repeat. It's nothing new, it's very structured. You can pinpoint where the 12 steps of hero's journey are - where one step start and where it ends and the tropes present in a scene. I'm in love with the characters and the setting more than I do the actual plot or the mystery. Give me a slice of life of Wesley and Delilah for north of 300 pages and I would probably gobble it up still.
For the cinematography of the book - the writing, the prose, I thought it was good. It's written in a third person POV with narration that is omniscient so it does get into the head of our characters a fair bit. The author though, does a good job by not just making the inner monologue as a device to tell us how the characters feel, we hear their thoughts and see their action and decipher the subtext of what's in between. While I wouldn't say the writing and prose are spectacular, that does not mean it's bad. It doesn't get in the way of the character but the prose itself is not bland in ala the George Orwell's school of writing that seem to be default style of most Malaysian fiction writers (in English) whether it's YA or something more in the realm of literary fiction or genre fiction. It fits in well with the conventional genre fiction tone of the book and it made sense with the authors namedropped by Nathaniel Sario throughout the novel (aside from Virginia Woolf) that I would assume served as his influences.
A loveable cast of characters in a town well describe I can feel I'm there myself but the okay at best murder mystery plot does knock it down a fair bit. It’s both memorable and disposable in its own way. Still an incredibly enjoyable read and Nathaniel Sario's talent as a writer can't be deny.
November 9, 2023
Big Trouble in Little Paradise is a fast-paced and action-packed whodunnit set in Darat Kumut, Sabah. It's a page-turner for me, and the only reason I didn't finish it in one sitting was due to the other responsibilities on my plate that needed to be carried out. The setting is written in such a simple yet vivid way that you would feel as if you knew the crook and crevice of the town even though you've never set foot there.
One of the things I liked most about the book is the realistic portrayal of the characters. From the murder victim/town pariah Tommy Asandu to the eccentric cop Rabbil who couldn't live without smoking a pack of cigs whenever he's stressed; these characters were a joy to experience. Our main character, Wesley, was once a journalist, haunted with survivor's guilt and looking for some peace of mind that was hard to achieve even in Darat Kumut.
I loved his dynamic with Delilah. She was a highly functioning partner in their (not so) little murder mystery. She filled the gaps that he left behind, supporting his endeavors regardless of the situation at hand. Though there were other side characters like the security guards at the resort, Wes' aunt Zara, and even the burger stall owner, their existence within the book's pages weren't for naught. Even Lucky the dog and Margie the niece played important roles in Wes and Delilah's quest to solve the murder of Tommy Asandu.
Another thing I enjoyed was that the case involved various people from all over the town, including the townspeople themselves, the staff at the casino, and those in the legal department such as the police officers and medical examiners. Some small-town whodunnits tend to limit their settings to a few spaces and have the several important characters solve things in a bubble. Tommy Asandu's murder/drug-lord case was messy. In a good way.
It is not meant to bore you. Instead, it takes you to the various parts of town as we get to know more and more people through Wesley's eyes and unravel the truth with the help of the most unexpected companions (such as Bella, one of the staff members of the resort). I will not mention too much about the drug dealing scene and the main villain of the story because that would ruin your fun, but the way the story tied up nicely towards the end (though still with loose ends) felt satisfactory.
So, I guess that leads to one thing that I didn't enjoy as much as I did with the rest: the ending.
Like I mentioned earlier, these characters are realistic. Of course the ending should be realistic too. If they solved everything from A to Z and celebrated their win with some mocktails and sandy beaches, then it would feel too forced, wouldn't it? However, though I understand the ending, I wish we got more. It feels as if the point where we find out Tommy's murderer and the resolve of the book are too close. Everything happened so fast, that the next thing you know, you're out of pages to turn.
I wish we had more background story to Wesley's trauma and survivor's guilt, at least more than what we witnessed through Ashini's appearance as a figment of his imagination. We only learn this through his thoughts, scattered throughout the narrative. It'd also be great if we had more time unraveling the truth from the murderer than what we got. The scene with Priscilla was definitely longer, and she didn't even give up the most important information.
All in all, it was a good read and I'd definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a murder mystery taken over by a close-knit community where even the harshest secrets could be buried and bought with money.
One of the things I liked most about the book is the realistic portrayal of the characters. From the murder victim/town pariah Tommy Asandu to the eccentric cop Rabbil who couldn't live without smoking a pack of cigs whenever he's stressed; these characters were a joy to experience. Our main character, Wesley, was once a journalist, haunted with survivor's guilt and looking for some peace of mind that was hard to achieve even in Darat Kumut.
I loved his dynamic with Delilah. She was a highly functioning partner in their (not so) little murder mystery. She filled the gaps that he left behind, supporting his endeavors regardless of the situation at hand. Though there were other side characters like the security guards at the resort, Wes' aunt Zara, and even the burger stall owner, their existence within the book's pages weren't for naught. Even Lucky the dog and Margie the niece played important roles in Wes and Delilah's quest to solve the murder of Tommy Asandu.
Another thing I enjoyed was that the case involved various people from all over the town, including the townspeople themselves, the staff at the casino, and those in the legal department such as the police officers and medical examiners. Some small-town whodunnits tend to limit their settings to a few spaces and have the several important characters solve things in a bubble. Tommy Asandu's murder/drug-lord case was messy. In a good way.
It is not meant to bore you. Instead, it takes you to the various parts of town as we get to know more and more people through Wesley's eyes and unravel the truth with the help of the most unexpected companions (such as Bella, one of the staff members of the resort). I will not mention too much about the drug dealing scene and the main villain of the story because that would ruin your fun, but the way the story tied up nicely towards the end (though still with loose ends) felt satisfactory.
So, I guess that leads to one thing that I didn't enjoy as much as I did with the rest: the ending.
Like I mentioned earlier, these characters are realistic. Of course the ending should be realistic too. If they solved everything from A to Z and celebrated their win with some mocktails and sandy beaches, then it would feel too forced, wouldn't it? However, though I understand the ending, I wish we got more. It feels as if the point where we find out Tommy's murderer and the resolve of the book are too close. Everything happened so fast, that the next thing you know, you're out of pages to turn.
I wish we had more background story to Wesley's trauma and survivor's guilt, at least more than what we witnessed through Ashini's appearance as a figment of his imagination. We only learn this through his thoughts, scattered throughout the narrative. It'd also be great if we had more time unraveling the truth from the murderer than what we got. The scene with Priscilla was definitely longer, and she didn't even give up the most important information.
All in all, it was a good read and I'd definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a murder mystery taken over by a close-knit community where even the harshest secrets could be buried and bought with money.
January 2, 2024
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Big Trouble in Little Paradise won the 2023 FIXI Novo Competition, and it was truly worth it. There are several aspects of this novel that I deeply appreciate. Firstly, the chapters are delightfully short. Secondly, the pacing remains consistent from beginning to end. I was pleasantly surprised at how swiftly I read through this novel. The author cleverly referenced other books and films within the story, which I found enjoyable. I admired the author’s writing style—crisp and occasionally spiced with clever wordplay and humorous situations, which will keep readers engaged in the story. Wesley and Delilah's character development was amazing. The supporting characters were also compelling, each serving a purpose in propelling the story forward, including the adorable fur boy, Lucky. The dialogues were realistic and well-crafted. Overall, Big Trouble in Little Paradise is an impeccably written whodunnit that never fails to captivate.
Big Trouble in Little Paradise won the 2023 FIXI Novo Competition, and it was truly worth it. There are several aspects of this novel that I deeply appreciate. Firstly, the chapters are delightfully short. Secondly, the pacing remains consistent from beginning to end. I was pleasantly surprised at how swiftly I read through this novel. The author cleverly referenced other books and films within the story, which I found enjoyable. I admired the author’s writing style—crisp and occasionally spiced with clever wordplay and humorous situations, which will keep readers engaged in the story. Wesley and Delilah's character development was amazing. The supporting characters were also compelling, each serving a purpose in propelling the story forward, including the adorable fur boy, Lucky. The dialogues were realistic and well-crafted. Overall, Big Trouble in Little Paradise is an impeccably written whodunnit that never fails to captivate.
January 28, 2024
Devoured this in a day! Bought this book because my shelf was severely lacking in books based in Sabah (probably due to my lack of effort in finding said books). So I love love loved how the author takes us to this quaint little paradise. Throw in a dash of murder(s) here and there, and I’m ultimately sat to read along the thought processes of these delightful characters as they slowly unravel the mysteries of this whodunnit.
Did I enjoy the ending? Unsure. But the last chapter was most definitely a //realistic// conclusion. Money and power ultimately protects and serves the rich and nasty!
I would’ve definitely enjoyed more native/sabahan speak/dialect between characters, other than the occasional ‘bahs’ inserted throughout the book for sure! Still devoured the crumbs I got…makes me miss being back home in KK 🥹
Did I enjoy the ending? Unsure. But the last chapter was most definitely a //realistic// conclusion. Money and power ultimately protects and serves the rich and nasty!
I would’ve definitely enjoyed more native/sabahan speak/dialect between characters, other than the occasional ‘bahs’ inserted throughout the book for sure! Still devoured the crumbs I got…makes me miss being back home in KK 🥹
July 20, 2024
I've read crime novels, but this novel hit differently. It's probably because it sets locally. It just gives a different feeling because it feels familiar and close to home.
Or... maybe because it is amazingly written! The description is unbelievable. I feel like I'm in Darat Kumut myself and personally know all the characters. The story is fast-paced and packed. Every scene tells something and leads somewhere. I was totally invested in the story.
Initially, I was slightly unsatisfied with the ending. But when I ponder about it, it is actually a befitting ending for this story. It's highly unlikely for Wes, Delilah, and Rabbil to bring down someone powerful just like that. This may be the ending for this novel, but this is the beginning of something new for Wes as a journalist.
Or... maybe because it is amazingly written! The description is unbelievable. I feel like I'm in Darat Kumut myself and personally know all the characters. The story is fast-paced and packed. Every scene tells something and leads somewhere. I was totally invested in the story.
Initially, I was slightly unsatisfied with the ending. But when I ponder about it, it is actually a befitting ending for this story. It's highly unlikely for Wes, Delilah, and Rabbil to bring down someone powerful just like that. This may be the ending for this novel, but this is the beginning of something new for Wes as a journalist.
September 4, 2024
I was intrigued by Nathaniel reading off from his other work at a spoken word sharing session in KL by Sharon Bakar. I'm glad she organised this because it gave me the opportunity to purchase this wonderful book from him.
Without sharing spoilers, I enjoyed the setting of the story, the characters, and the plot. Perhaps it is because I heard Nathaniel reading once, I could imagine his voice narrating the rest of the story.
If you're looking for crime fiction and would love to give local writers a chance, this is definitely one to recommend!
Without sharing spoilers, I enjoyed the setting of the story, the characters, and the plot. Perhaps it is because I heard Nathaniel reading once, I could imagine his voice narrating the rest of the story.
If you're looking for crime fiction and would love to give local writers a chance, this is definitely one to recommend!
December 15, 2023
"Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't."
The plot, cantik & tersusun. Tak banyak sangat twist tapi masih buat pembaca tertanya-tanya.
Tapi pengakhiran tu, kurang memuaskan, mungkin penulis nak sambung ke siri ke dua.
May 11, 2024
a 4.5 for me!
"sometimes you win and sometimes you don't."
"sometimes you win and sometimes you don't."
April 4, 2024
I enjoyed Nathaniel Sario's writing as well as his portrayal of a classic "amateur-detective-gets-caught-up-in-some-big-problem" story. I hope to see more full length projects of this calibre from him.
April 1, 2024
Big Trouble in Little Paradise by Nathaniel Sario is about a man named Wesley who teams up with his colleague slash lover to solve a murder mystery of the town’s troublemaker, Tommy Asandu. The general theme around this book is drugs, whodunit, and investigation.
As a preface, a murder mystery isn’t really my cup of tea, as I often found it slow-paced, draggy, and oftentimes predictable. So I was pleasantly surprised that I lowkey enjoyed this book, although there are parts that didn’t stick out to me. Firstly, I find that the pacing of this book is pretty good. It’s enough to keep me entertained, but not in a suspenseful way. In fact, the most thrilling part I find in this book is the last few pages. Secondly, I love seeing how the relationship between Wesley and Delilah blossoms over time. It’s a cute subplot that adds warmth to the mysterious ambiance.
Now for the not-so-good part, I did guess the murderer from the very beginning so I wasn’t surprised when it was revealed. But hey, I can see why it would be surprising to many people! Also, I did find the internal mystery rather boring, and there’s not a lot of action going on, but maybe that’s just a murder mystery thing? Unfortunately, some parts, especially the interrogation parts, didn’t really hook me and I often find myself stifling a yawn. Lastly, I do think some questions are left unresolved, but I’m guessing the author is planning on a sequel? If that’s the case, I’d be excited to read it.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.5/5. This was a pleasant read, nothing too crazy, but enjoyable enough on its own. Congrats, author, on your debut novel.
As a preface, a murder mystery isn’t really my cup of tea, as I often found it slow-paced, draggy, and oftentimes predictable. So I was pleasantly surprised that I lowkey enjoyed this book, although there are parts that didn’t stick out to me. Firstly, I find that the pacing of this book is pretty good. It’s enough to keep me entertained, but not in a suspenseful way. In fact, the most thrilling part I find in this book is the last few pages. Secondly, I love seeing how the relationship between Wesley and Delilah blossoms over time. It’s a cute subplot that adds warmth to the mysterious ambiance.
Now for the not-so-good part, I did guess the murderer from the very beginning so I wasn’t surprised when it was revealed. But hey, I can see why it would be surprising to many people! Also, I did find the internal mystery rather boring, and there’s not a lot of action going on, but maybe that’s just a murder mystery thing? Unfortunately, some parts, especially the interrogation parts, didn’t really hook me and I often find myself stifling a yawn. Lastly, I do think some questions are left unresolved, but I’m guessing the author is planning on a sequel? If that’s the case, I’d be excited to read it.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.5/5. This was a pleasant read, nothing too crazy, but enjoyable enough on its own. Congrats, author, on your debut novel.
June 14, 2024
Big Trouble in Little Paradise is a fast-paced page-turner. It honestly kept me flipping pages furiously. The chapters are short, and it feels rewarding to breeze through them. I remember sitting down to read just a few pages and realizing that I had gotten through 50.
The most compelling thing about the novel was the setting. I found it easy to picture myself on the island with Nathaniel’s strong imagery and descriptions. The smell of the air, the weather, the blue cigarette smoke — everything felt immersive and beautiful the way that old yellowing photographs are beautiful.
I did feel like while the mystery was resolved in the end, I wish Nathaniel explored the internal changes in Wesley a bit more. The romantic subplot of the story also felt a little bit forced in my opinion.
Overall, Big Trouble in Little Paradise is a compelling page-turner with a picturesque local setting. Nathaniel Sario’s work in the crime genre is a breath of fresh air, marking him as a dynamic new voice to watch.
Full review here: https://chloewritesthedust.wordpress....
The most compelling thing about the novel was the setting. I found it easy to picture myself on the island with Nathaniel’s strong imagery and descriptions. The smell of the air, the weather, the blue cigarette smoke — everything felt immersive and beautiful the way that old yellowing photographs are beautiful.
I did feel like while the mystery was resolved in the end, I wish Nathaniel explored the internal changes in Wesley a bit more. The romantic subplot of the story also felt a little bit forced in my opinion.
Overall, Big Trouble in Little Paradise is a compelling page-turner with a picturesque local setting. Nathaniel Sario’s work in the crime genre is a breath of fresh air, marking him as a dynamic new voice to watch.
Full review here: https://chloewritesthedust.wordpress....
May 2, 2025
I can't believe that I enjoyed this book since it is out of my usual genre. It's a fast pace novel about a former journalist, Wesley and his partner Delilah. Both of them are team up to investigate a murder of Tommy Asandu, known as the troublemaker in Darat Kumut in which the author described with detail descriptions that evoke the sights and I remembered Semporna that I have visited twice.
What stayed with me most wasn't just the mystery which was wonderfully engaging, but the quite strength of teamwork that Wesley and Delilah worked on to uncover the truth, together with the police team. As they tried to solve the mystery of the case, they confronted not only external dangers but their own personal troubles, forging a partnership that challenges their perceptions.
Personal insights :
- I love the way the character evolved especially Wesley. He's rebuilding himself where he was no longer a journalist yet that didn't make him sit still. He tried to find his purpose again by helping the local police to seek for the truth and catch the murderer.
- Even though Wesley and Delilah came from two different backgrounds, that didn't stop them from working together as a team. Their mutual trust becomes a tool for both truth-seeking and healing. It's a reflection of how real progress often happens through community and connection.
- The novel stressed more on the importance of justice regardless of what their status are. As for Tommy Asandu, the locals are relieved because he was a troublemaker. But Wesley and Delilah are determined to uncover the truth.
A thoughtful, immersive read set against a uniquely Malaysian backdrop. I truly enjoyed every page.
What stayed with me most wasn't just the mystery which was wonderfully engaging, but the quite strength of teamwork that Wesley and Delilah worked on to uncover the truth, together with the police team. As they tried to solve the mystery of the case, they confronted not only external dangers but their own personal troubles, forging a partnership that challenges their perceptions.
Personal insights :
- I love the way the character evolved especially Wesley. He's rebuilding himself where he was no longer a journalist yet that didn't make him sit still. He tried to find his purpose again by helping the local police to seek for the truth and catch the murderer.
- Even though Wesley and Delilah came from two different backgrounds, that didn't stop them from working together as a team. Their mutual trust becomes a tool for both truth-seeking and healing. It's a reflection of how real progress often happens through community and connection.
- The novel stressed more on the importance of justice regardless of what their status are. As for Tommy Asandu, the locals are relieved because he was a troublemaker. But Wesley and Delilah are determined to uncover the truth.
A thoughtful, immersive read set against a uniquely Malaysian backdrop. I truly enjoyed every page.
November 25, 2023
Reading this makes me walk down memory lane. I missed Sabah, worked in KK for nearly 10 years. The amount of time I passed by or roamed inside Suria Sabah's Metrojaya got me reminiscing when it's mentioned towards the end. Kalo ko letak 1B nah, lagilah. Thank you Nathaniel. This was indeed my nostalgic read.
Your story bah, it's fast and leisurely at the same time. The description of places and scenario was a leisurely exercise to me. I had fun imagining. The pace, where everything goes pow pow pow is exquisite! I love what you did to Su Yen. That's so chilling. I kinda need a scene describing it happening, instead of just telling us the results. You know, like how you first install Raul in the book without telling who he was? I was delighted when I identify him.
In conclusion, this is an excellent whodunnit story. The characters are alive, the crime not over the top but doable (eh haha), I had fun second guessing people. Kudos to Nathaniel Sario!
Your story bah, it's fast and leisurely at the same time. The description of places and scenario was a leisurely exercise to me. I had fun imagining. The pace, where everything goes pow pow pow is exquisite! I love what you did to Su Yen. That's so chilling. I kinda need a scene describing it happening, instead of just telling us the results. You know, like how you first install Raul in the book without telling who he was? I was delighted when I identify him.
In conclusion, this is an excellent whodunnit story. The characters are alive, the crime not over the top but doable (eh haha), I had fun second guessing people. Kudos to Nathaniel Sario!
July 31, 2025
this book is one of the fast paced and action pack story that keep me entertained eventhough i kinda procrastinate each time i read it because of my pack schedule. anywayyyyy, this story is basically a thriller, adventure and action story which is one of my favorite things to read. it's about solving a murder case related with drugs and human exploitation in Sabah, which is truly interesting. the plot twist somehow is not what i expected. but i still enjoy reading it tho. this book has kinda the vibe like metro crime series (iykyk) but more extreme and action packed. i rate this story 5.
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