Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Miss Cassidy #2

The Enigmatic Madam Ingram: A Novel

Rate this book
Finalist for the 2023 Epigram Books Fiction Prize

In this exciting sequel to the multi-award-winning novel, The Formidable Miss Cassidy, Letty Ingram, a half-Malayan lady raised in the UK, has suffered under a strange curse her whole life. Her beautiful and fearsome mother, from an unknown island in the Malay Archipelago, is the key to the mystery. Letty arrives in Singapore in 1906 to seek the help of the Chinese medium, Madam Kay. But Madam Kay’s whole family gets involved, including her sister, her father…and their unusual mutual friend, the formidable Miss Cassidy.

Author Meihan Boey illustrates the lengths Letty will go to in order to save her own soul, and reveals how Miss Cassidy's past has caught up with her, in the shape of a worthy opponent: a terrifying jungle spirit the native folk call the Bungadarah.

512 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2023

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Meihan Boey

12 books105 followers
Meihan Boey is the author of novels The Formidable Miss Cassidy (co-winner of the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize and winner of the 2022 Singapore Book Award for Best Literary Work) and The Enigmatic Madam Ingram (finalist for the 2023 Epigram Books Fiction Prize), and science fiction novella The Messiah Virus. She is also the vice president of the Association of Comic Artists of Singapore and has scripted several comics, including Supacross and The Once and Marvellous DKD. She is a dedicated comic book and manga fan, an enthusiastic gamer, a persistent triathlete, and not yet a Super Saiyan, though she keeps trying.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
115 (33%)
4 stars
150 (43%)
3 stars
58 (17%)
2 stars
14 (4%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
Profile Image for BookwormBraggings.
123 reviews
September 16, 2026
The Enigmatic Madam Ingram by Meihan Boey is the literary equivalent of being invited to afternoon tea by someone who may or may not have murdered a person before dessert.

Set against a wonderfully atmospheric Singapore, the novel serves up mystery, history, family secrets, and just enough eccentricity to make you wonder whether everyone involved needs a detective—or a therapist. Madam Ingram herself is, naturally, the sort of woman who enters a room and immediately makes you suspect that she knows where the bodies are buried. Possibly because she does.

What makes the book particularly enjoyable is the way Boey blends the intrigue of a mystery with the richness of Singapore's past. There’s a delicious sense of peeling back layers: every revelation answers one question while casually producing three more. At times I found myself thinking, Surely things can't get any stranger than this. The book would then politely prove me wrong.

Boey’s writing has a lovely sense of place, and the historical details give the story an extra dimension without turning it into a dusty history lecture. The characters are memorable, the secrets are plentiful, and the atmosphere is deliciously uncanny.

If you enjoy mysteries involving complicated families, buried secrets, fascinating historical settings, and characters who are absolutely terrible at simply telling each other the truth, The Enigmatic Madam Ingram is well worth picking up.

Rating: 4 out of 5 suspicious cups of tea.
One star withheld because I now trust absolutely no one who says, “There’s something I need to tell you…”
Profile Image for starduest.
701 reviews12 followers
May 14, 2026
This was a little all over the place and seemed to drag on a bit, which is a shame as the concept was interesting and introduced new characters
Profile Image for lemmespoilyou.books.
226 reviews4 followers
October 23, 2026
Fantastic, immersive, intriguing, and genuinely creepy at times. Madam Ingram's dilemma and history revealed itself beautifully and I really loved having all the characters from book one involved, particularly Miss Cassidy and Mister Kay. The magic, the unpredictability both had me turning pages late into the evening. The creepy dancing shadow that shows up randomly but can't speak found her way into my dream (she reminded me of a praying mantis because of the shadows on the cover of the book haha). I LOVE that! Creepy and memorable. I really enjoy the author's lyrical storytelling and surprising things pop out all over the place, keeping me enraptured to find out what happens next. I'm absolutely continuing on with The Mystical Mister Kay because that ending was exciting!

Thank you to the author and Harper Perennial for the gifted paperback copy free for review, this review is given voluntarily and all opinions are my own. I truly enjoyed this opportunity!
14 reviews
August 21, 2026
I appreciate the attempt to bring in different mythologies/characters but it felt a bit disjointed. Sometimes simpler is better. This felt like it was trying too hard to conjure a mystical spirit. I loved the first book in the series enough though to want to continue to the third.
Profile Image for Vanessa Tay.
4 reviews
November 8, 2023
Absolutely breathtaking, I can barely find the words to describe the world that Meihan Boey has brought to life through mere words on paper. I was taken away by her first book and was waiting earnestly for the second, and had naively assumed it might not match up to its predecessor. However, she managed to switch it up with the introduction of refreshingly different characters, elements and storylines, whilst still keeping the mesmerising and fantastical wonder of the first book. I might even say it is better!

I am utterly devastated that I will have to wait a long while before a third book, but I cannot wait to see what this author writes next.
Profile Image for Liz.
1,037 reviews
May 31, 2026
I didn't find this as engaging as the first book - I only kept reading bc I wanted Mr. Kay and Miss Cassidy to be together, and the first book left that unclear. Madam Ingram was interesting, and I liked all the ways the various characters overlapped and intersected, but I found the mythology harder to follow than in the first book (I think 3 different Ingram women, all with some sort of magic, all with multiple names, was too much to keep track of, particularly in an audiobook).

Still planning to read the third book, assuming it is the last book in the series.
103 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 16, 2026
This was a bit confusing.
Profile Image for Lauralee.
Author 2 books31 followers
September 16, 2026
The Enigmatic Madam Ingram is the sequel to The Formidable Miss Cassidy. Letty Ingram has just arrived in Singapore. She has no memories of her past except that she knows she is cursed. She reaches out to Madam Kay for help in breaking her curse. Madam Kay doesn’t know how to help her. However, Miss Cassidy has the knowledge to help Letty. Under Miss Cassidy’s guidance, Letty begins unraveling her memories and to break the curse that has long haunted her. Could Letty find a way to break her curse and find her own freedom?

Letty is an entirely new character from the Miss Cassidy trilogy. The story in this book revolves around her. I found Letty to be a tragic figure. She is in a loveless marriage for security. She also forgot where she is from. The only thing she knows is that she is cursed. I sympathized with Letty’s story as her sad and lonely past begins to be revealed. I was fascinated by her story, and I wanted to know her conclusion.

Overall, this book is about love, sacrifice, and secrets. I like the new characters in this novel. It was also refreshing to read about the characters from the previous novels. Mr. Kay is still searching for Miss Cassidy. I liked that we learn more about Miss Cassidy’s past. I also liked the mythological creatures that are in this novel. I loved the setting! One drawback to this novel was that some parts of the story were confusing. There were also times when the novel tended to drag and seemed drawn out. Nevertheless, it was a fun and entertaining read! I am eager to read the final novel, The Mystical Mr. Kay! I recommend this novel for fans of The Ghost Bride, The Girl with Ghost Eyes, and Bitter Spirits!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
80 reviews
June 5, 2026
3.5 stars.
I liked going back to the world of Miss Cassidy, the folklore is really interesting and I like how all the different cultures mythology converge and mix.
This one follows Madam Ingram, who is trying to reveal parts of her life that she’s missing and how her life intersects Miss Cassidy.
The settings are mainly in Singapore and Scotland. We get more of Miss Cassidy’s lore and character development for her, flaws and all. Mister Kay is featured and we get a little more development with their relationship.
The book is layered and the reveals come all throughout the book. Your understanding of the plot and lore has to build up as you read on, so the mystery works really well.
I’m really intrigued to pick up the next one is the series.
Thanks to Bolinda Audio on NetGalley for the audiobook to review.
58 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2025
3.5
Still ! The concept is so cool ! I want to like it more
Profile Image for Hannah.
404 reviews7 followers
February 22, 2026
I am touched by how MeiHan Boey encapsulates the spirit and culture and workings of the Malayan life, the hardworking multicultural flavours of different languages and races living together, the values that bind families across generations. “But the Kay twins were wives and mothers now, and wives and mothers cannot tarry forever. Madam Kay and Mrs De Souza, with a good, strong grip on each other’s hands, were determined to stay the course.…” I can see it all, feel it all, things and people and food and folktales I grew up with. Lovely
Profile Image for Vanya.
313 reviews
May 21, 2026
Glad to have finished this because this book was unnecessary long. It peaked my interest at the start because of the mysteries and questions that needed unravelling but I ended up getting annoyed because there were just too many layers.
Profile Image for Kam Yung Soh.
1,034 reviews53 followers
July 26, 2025
A fantastical tale that further expands the world inhabited by Miss Cassidy. Goddesses and female spirits (and the occasional male ones) from various western and Asian pantheons mix in this story about the relationship between a terrible spirit that wants to be loved by her 'daughters' and her daughters desire for their freedom from her. Into this conflict steps Miss Cassidy and her mortal 'companion', Mr. Kay, whose efforts may help to resolve it; or not.

Unlike the previous book, which is a linear tale mainly told from Miss Cassidy's viewpoint, this one is multilayered in both time (past and present) and with multiple viewpoints. It starts off with the first person viewpoint of Madam Ingram, who travels to Singapore to find Madam Kay (the daughter of Mr. Kay) for help with her ailment that has caused her to be labelled a madwoman in the west. The story then skips backwards in time as Madam Ingram starts recalling her past life with her mother and father, including events that she has strangely forgotten about.

The story then alternates with third person viewpoints from Miss Cassidy and Mr. Kay. As the story develops, it turns out that Miss Cassidy has encountered Madam Ingram and her mother in the past, while Mr. Kay is pulled into the half-world between the mortal and spiritual realms in an effort to resolve the mystery around a bizarre dancing spirit that may be related to Madam Ingram.

As the past (and present) slowly comes into focus for Madam Ingram, Miss Cassidy and Mr. Kay, it becomes apparent that they are facing a possessive and powerful spirit that wants her daughters to return to her and will not let Miss Cassidy (or others) get in her way. It would require all the help Madam Ingram can get from Miss Cassidy, Mr. Kay and others to face her mother and decide her own fate.

While the main tale is mysterious and grim in the telling, the atmosphere of the book itself is light-hearted and humorous, especially the bantering between Mr. Kay and Miss Cassidy. The goddesses featured in the book also inject some fun in the story via their interactions with Miss Cassidy. In this world, there are rules about how the various gods, goddesses and spirits can interact with each other and with the human world: breaking (or bending) the rules will eventually land Miss Cassidy in a lot of trouble.

By the end, the tale would involve journeys to the British Isles, France and India before returning to Singapore to focus on the final confrontation. It would also (somewhat unexpectedly) involve characters and situations encountered by Miss Cassidy in the first book, before being resolved in a manner that would leave both mother and Madam Ingram content with the resolution.

This is a story that starts with a mystery and ends with a mighty resolution that, of course, sets things up for the third part of the series.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
1,687 reviews53 followers
September 10, 2026
Meihan Boey’s The Enigmatic Madam Ingram joined me for an early-morning coffee, and before I knew it I was bouncing between Singapore, Scotland, ghosts, goddesses, curses, and enough family secrets to make that coffee go cold. Thank you to Harper Perennial for the gifted copy. Have you ever started a book thinking you knew exactly what kind of story you were getting, only to realize a few chapters later that it was MUCH bigger than you expected?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Letty Ingram travels to Singapore believing something is terribly wrong with her, and that search eventually brings her into the wonderfully strange orbit of Miss Cassidy and Mr. Kay. What unfolds is part mystery, part historical fantasy, and part story about mothers, daughters, love, possession, and what happens when someone’s idea of loving you starts looking a whole lot more like controlling you.

There is a LOT happening here. The story moves through different time periods and places, with memories slowly coming back and pieces of Letty’s past beginning to connect. I’ll admit there were moments when I had to stop and mentally sort out where—and when—I was. This is definitely one of those books where casually skimming a page while thinking about your next cup of coffee is not recommended. 😂

But I loved the mixture of cultures, folklore, spirits, and mythology. Boey brings together Eastern and Western traditions in a way that made me want to look up several of the legends afterward. And amid all that supernatural chaos, Miss Cassidy and Mr. Kay were probably my favorite part. Their banter brings some much-needed humor when the story gets darker, and Mr. Kay’s ability to land himself in trouble while trying to help had me shaking my head more than once.

Underneath all the ghosts and magic, though, this really became a story about different kinds of love—especially the uncomfortable line between loving someone and refusing to let them go. That emotional piece ended up being what stayed with me most.

A wonderfully unusual historical fantasy with plenty of mystery, mythology, humor, and heart.

What’s a book that sent you down a rabbit hole looking up the history or folklore behind the story?

#TheEnigmaticMadamIngram #MeihanBoey #BookReview #HistoricalFantasy #FantasyBooks #Bookstagram #BookRecommendations #BooksCoffeeBrews
Profile Image for Kari.
635 reviews6 followers
October 26, 2026
Book rating: 4⭐️
Genre: historical fantasy
Themes: family secrets, folklore,
📖 Read if you like: Thistlemarsh, The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains

Thank you to Harper Perennial for a gifted copy of this strange, unpredictable and utterly enchanting book.

I have not read The Formidable Miss Cassidy so her character and her former pupils were new to me, but this did not detract from this story in which the half Malay and half Scottish Letty Ingram seeks to unravel the curse that has plagued her. It starts with an idyllic childhood with her beautiful and fearsome mama and her charming papa. But these memories are only loosely held for there is some magic at play here and all is not quite as it seems. When an apparition encourage Letty to go to Singapore and search out the Chinese medium Madam Kay, the truth will begin to unravel.

I liked that the jungle spirit Bungadarah was not judged for behaving in a manner true to her nature. It is easy to assume morality has a black or white scale, yet the supernatural elements in this narrative searched for the mercurial depth and rational of figures from south Asian folklore. There were many thought provoking arguments on human nature, cause and effect, and observations on motherhood and protection that I found most illuminating.

The writing and setting were so atmospheric that I disappeared into this wild tale. There was history, myths, mystery and plenty of eccentricity. It featured complicated family dynamics, buried secrets and old wounds, characters that are each battling their own demons and are deeply flawed and a really lush landscape.

The uncanny came in several forms I did not see coming, which made me appreciate the storyline all the more. I did find that this also introduced a lot more chaos into the story, which made it difficult to follow at times. I struggled to actually like Miss Cassidy and found her to be a nosy busybody, though I suspect many may feel differently. The other characters were all layered and given plenty of intrigue to keep the mystery engrossing.

Overall, this new to me author and series was a hit! There was a lot to unravel, but I found it to be an elaborate and evocative tale the blended lore and history within a really unique family drama.
Profile Image for Kirsty.
72 reviews
October 31, 2026
The Formidable Miss Cassidy was the second book I reviewed on NetGalley and I absolutely DEVOURED IT! I could NOT WAIT to get my hands on The Enigmatic Madam Ingram, yet I got approved to review it in May, I started listening around July and somehow I only finished it on the last day of October.

I think this is mostly circumstantial. I am out of the habit of listening to audiobooks; it was also summer, so busy. However, a part of me thinks if an audiobook was that good, I would find the time.

OK, this is a long way of saying if I say I found this book a bit confusing at times, it might not be entirely the book's fault. It is considerably longer than Miss Cassidy with more characters. I loved Letty's backstory, but got a bit lost with Amira's. How did she become Amy? The flitting between timelines combined with the big gaps in reading probably didn't help.

Miss Cassidy and Mister Kay were very entertaining but in some way they distracted a bit. Like in Miss Cassidy, I enjoyed learning about different cultures juxtaposed with the familiar Scottish characters and scenes. I particularly enjoyed the subtle feminist and woke references. Boey wasn’t laying it on with a trowel, but she would occasionally mention things a white woman or a Chinese man could or couldn't do, with the seemingly simple explanation of why this was the way.

Just like with my review of Miss Cassidy, I am blown away by Paula Masterton's narration. Baffling how her familiar Scottish lilt morphs into French or Malay and when she does you can still tell which of the twins, Yezi and Yeling, are speaking.

The blurb for The Mystical Mister Kay hints at bringing in Greek mythology. BRING IT ON! (But hopefully at a faster pace than Madam Ingram.)


Review copy supplied by Bolinda via Netgalley
Profile Image for Ink.
1,005 reviews30 followers
June 5, 2026
The Enigmatic Madam Ingram by Meihan Boey and Narrated by Paula Masterto is a vast story tied up into a gorgeous novel of myths and legends, magic and mystery all balanced over multiple timelines

The narration by Paula Masterto is excellent, especially with being faced with a wide cast and diferent cultural and geographical references and dialogues. Nasterto's timbre is velvety and well suited to the narrative

*Note, I will be reading book 1 - The Formidable Miss Cassidy after this but this book is eually surefooted as a standalone

Letty Ingram travels to Singapore to find the formidable Miss Cassidy to free her from her childhood curse which has tormented her into adulthood. It is only when she is overtaken by an "episode" that Miss K and her father establish clarify what is very, very secial about Miss Cassidy and how she can help

This is a stunning story, full of magic and mystery (I loved the Seelie/ puppy encounter - so well done) yet it also acknowledges social themes of intolerance of other cultures in turn of the century soceit. The book travels from as far away as a child's imagination, to Scotland, Singapore, London and Paris, each having the metropolilatan and magical layers, light and dark

I absolutely loved this audiobook and it has encouraged me to get the series in print as it is utterly enthralling and thoroughly enjoyable. This book would appeal to readers of any genre, from Romanatsy to Cosy Mystery, Fantasy, Historical Fiction and beyond

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, narrator and Bolinda audio for this stunning ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Profile Image for Kathryn .
240 reviews5 followers
September 21, 2026
I absolutely adored The Formidable Miss Cassidy, so I was excited to dive into this book. I hadn't read a full synopsis, so by the title I expected this to be about a new character but set in the same world with maybe a cameo or two of characters from the previous book. I'm so glad I was wrong.
While the main character is new, the supporting cast is full of our favorite characters from the first installment. Miss Cassidy herself plays a very large role, with Mr. Kay following. I was also very excited to see our favorite twins again, as they were my favorites in the first book and I loved getting to see how they had settled into their adult lives.
Like the first book, The Enigmatic Madam Ingram is a perfect mix of darkness and whimsy. There's a wonderfully diverse cast of humans and non-humans alike, and you're sure to come away having learned about at least one new character from mythology.
The stakes felt higher in this book, and the plot was much more succinct rather than the vignette style of storytelling in the previous volume. It was full of mystery, and the slow way that Letty's past is revealed to the reader kept me absolutely hooked.
At it's heart, this story was about sisterhood, and I was touched by every show of affection between the women in the novel. It really illustrated the strength of women and the ways we are always willing to support each other.
I loved this book just as much if not more than the first one, and I can't wait to read the third one and see how Miss Cassidy and Mr. Kay's story might wrap up.

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Bookish Emili Reads.
354 reviews5 followers
September 8, 2026
Meihan Boey's The Enigmatic Madam Ingram is an engaging blend of mystery, history, and rich character work. From the opening chapters, the novel draws readers into a fascinating world filled with secrets, intrigue, and layered personalities, all anchored by the mysterious presence of Madam Ingram herself.

One of the book's standout strengths is its atmosphere. Boey brings the setting to life with vivid descriptions and careful attention to historical detail, creating a world that feels immersive without becoming overwhelming. The mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace, revealing clues gradually while maintaining suspense and keeping readers invested in the outcome.

The characters are another highlight. Madam Ingram is a particularly compelling figure, balancing intelligence, complexity, and mystery in a way that makes her difficult to forget. The supporting cast adds depth to the story and helps sustain interest throughout the novel.

While the book is highly enjoyable, there are moments where the pacing slows, and a few plot developments could have been explored in greater detail. However, these are relatively minor concerns in an otherwise strong and entertaining story.

Fans of historical fiction, literary mysteries, and character-driven narratives will find much to appreciate in The Enigmatic Madam Ingram. It is a thoughtful and well-crafted novel that combines intrigue with emotional depth.
379 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2026
Rating: 5/5
Tropes/themes: adventure, mystery, mystical, gods, magic, supernatural, fantasy

Miss Cassidy comes back in a new tale centering around a new character, Miss Ingram. As we discovered in Book 1, Miss Cassidy is a mystical, supernatural being with magical friends and a penchant for meddling or helping to solve other people's supernatural problems. A Singapore-based Mary Poppins.

When Miss Ingram arrives in Singapore, in desperate need of help from one of the Kay sisters, the sisters and their father Mr. Kay soon realize her brand of help requires the assistance of Miss Cassidy, who is back home in Scotland. While trying to reach Miss Cassidy, the Kay family finds themselves smack in the middle of a giant mystery of epic supernatural proportions that spans decades.

Told in multiple POVs and with flashbacks, this mystery was unraveled masterfully!!! With such unique source material, nothing about this book was predictable. I love how we got to come back to the Kay family and see how the sisters are faring in their marriages and professions since Miss Cassidy taught the girls around the time they were searching for spouses in Book 1. Mr. Kay is the most adorably determined friend (and suitor!) to Miss Cassidy!

This world, the story, the characters are so rich and colorful and well-formed! I am absolutely loving the Miss Cassidy books, and I hope there are many more to come!
Profile Image for Sadie-Jane Huff.
2,159 reviews14 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
April 17, 2026
Isn't this cover gorgeous??

Reposting my review. Re-read and yes, I know book 3 is out but I cannot bear to end this trilogy.. so I am holding onnnnn for nowwwww... also holding out for the audiobook so I can read and listen together.

Book 100 of 365 ~ 2026

Book 298 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

@mei_the_force - How very dare you be so frigging talented and produce such a brilliant follow-up! *mindblown*

I inhaled this. Then life got in the way which annoyed the crap out of me and today I went home early and ploughed through the rest.

the characters are well developed IMHO and I am TOTALLY OBSESSED WITH @formidablemisscassidy AND MR KAY.

As per the first book, I read and listened to the book - @misspolly1998 is indeed perfection! Every character is richly brought to life by this talented narrator.

#book298of350 @harpercollinsinternational @formidablemisscassidy #amreading #singlit #tbrpile #instareads readstagram reading bookreview bookreviewer booklover booksAreLife booksForTheWin booknerds thisbookfairyisreading bookstagram bookstagrammer bookstagramfeature bookshelf booksofinstagram bookish bookworm goodreads booklovers bookaddict theSGbookfairyReads theSGtrekkiereads bookaholic bookchallenge2025 reviews lovebooks
450 reviews
June 14, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for an advance reading copy of this book.

Rating:
Plot: 5 stars. Complex, but balanced, loose ends tied up, except for an appropriate what’s next?
Characters: 4 stars. The major characters, Miss Cassidy, Mr. Kay, Madam Ingram, are fully inhabited, as much as semi-mystical beings can inhabit a human form. The next tier, Mr. Kay’s daughters, the various deities, Aminah, are less fully developed. They serve roles and are constrained by those roles. The various spirits and shades come and go, giving their messages, providing aid if they can.
Overall: 5 stars

The Intrepid Miss Cassidy, first in this series, was a charming introduction to the world of spirits in Singapore. For a novel set in a world with ghosts and ghost series, it was remarkably straightforward.

The Enigmatic Madam Ingram is at a whole different level of subtlety and complexity. We are back in Singapore and Scotland, but we move forward and back in time, sometimes in Scotland, sometimes in London, sometimes in Singapore.

The complex plot is revealed slowly, with the actions of each character becoming clearer and clearer as we wind our way through the story.

I loved how various traditional aspects of both Malaysia and western mythology were woven (literally and figuratively) together.

The secrets of the characters and the way those secrets are slowly revealed is integral to the plot, so no spoilers.

I thought The Intrepid Miss Cassidy was delightful. I think The Enigmatic Madam Ingram is exponentially better.
266 reviews
September 16, 2026
Letty Ingram, a mysterious woman even to herself, arrives in 1906 Singapore in search of help from the renowned medium Madame Kay. As the Kay sisters search for ways to help Letty their father, and then Miss Cassidy, become involved in a mystery that spans the world over several decades and involves god and goddesses from several pantheons.

The first book, The Formidable Miss Cassidy, was a pretty straightforward ghost mystery with a bit of Western supernatural beings tossed in. This current book is a bit more complex with a plot that skips back and forth in time as well as characters that slip in and out of other dimensions. I really like the characters, and the fact we can look forward to a third book focusing on Mr Kay is something I look forward to. That said, I will admit I had a bit of difficulty understanding the nuances of the various demons, demigods, and gods that were an integral part of Letty’s story as I am not as familiar with folklore of the East as I am with the West. Even though I recognized only a few of them I still found the story compelling as we learn more about Letty and how she and Miss Cassidy are connected. As noted, I look forward to the next book. Recommended
Profile Image for Dawn Michelle.
3,502 reviews
September 25, 2026
* Many new characters. Many V E R Y creepy [one has spiders for eyes and they crawl out and all over her face *SHUDDER*, and do NOT even get me started on how one of the characters gives birth....EEK!!]. While I loved the new characters [even the creepy ones], keeping up with them all was confusing at times, and I wish I had made a list as we went on. I will do that next time [because there WILL be a next time].

* The world-building in this one was absolutely glorious. The author really brings old-world Singapore to life and I often felt I was right there with the characters. Honestly, this was some of the best world-building I have seen in a book in a very long time, and it made me love the book even more.

* The ending was V E R Y satisfying all while [sort of] prepping us for book 3, which, in my opinion, needs to be written ASAP. ;-)

This has been a really great series so far [one I am really glad I took a chance on], and I highly recommend it to any fantasy reader.

Thank you to NetGalley, Meihan Boey, and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks/Harper Perennial for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Beth Knight.
397 reviews32 followers
Review of advance copy
July 26, 2026
Uh, Goodreads this book came out in June.

And it's absolutely brilliant. It kept me up til the wee hours utterly enraptured in unraveling the mystery of the enigmatic Letty Ingram. She believes she's mad but of course this is a Miss Cassidy story so she is far from mad but she is trapped in a curse one that in fact has everything to do with all of Miss Cassidy's misadventures since she first left Scotland 50 years ago.

Mr Kay and the Kay twins return and between the twins, Mr Kay - who gets himself into all sorts of delightful trouble through stubbornness and love, and of course the formidable (😉) Miss Cassidy prepare to whirled back and forth from Singapore to London, London to the Scottish Highlands and the liminal world's between time and spaces they uncover Letty's lost memories.

Who is Bungdarah and what danger is she to Letty and those she loves?

Now if only my broke self can find a way to get my hands on the final story. I need more Mr Kay shenanigans and more Miss Cassidy being extremely, but affectionately, exasperated by his antics.
45 reviews
Review of advance copy
August 17, 2026
This read a little more like a slow cozy fantasy with a lot of heart and a light sprinkling of ghosts / local lore (with a tiny dab of irish).

The story meanders (could it be tighter, sure, but also the meandering was still fine), and it does utlimately get where its supposed to as each bit builds towards the conclusion.

We get to see the Kay twins again, with new characters (who are the MC this time round) and of course Mr Kay (and he deserved what he had coming too! Tsk tsk!) And Miss Cassidy.

Loved how the other deities get mentioned (the brief mention of all the ladies and their little disagreements during TeaTime had me grinning, as thats the last thing you expect out of legends).

And the ending? Oh my heart. I mean if everyone spoke and went for therapy (ahaha that would be a cute premise, I think) this story would have turned out differently. I loved how everything tied together in the end. All in all, tis was a tale of the different aspects of love, and chock full of compassion.
Profile Image for Jacqueline SG.
285 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2024
Surprised that there actually is a book 2 and that it is thicker than book 1. Despite very much interested to read further developments between Mr Kay and Miss Cassidy, series always make me apprehensive, will it be better than its predecessor? As the benchmark is already set high. Then it is thicker, which is ominous. Is the author and team trying to milk the success of the first book by adding unnecessary pages? So here's what I find.....

It's like the Mathematics problem sums in Singapore Primary school. The same format, just replace the numbers!

Honestly, the mystery is cleverly created so it is a page turner like the first. The mix of magical and mythical beings is exactly the same as the first which made it rather staid.

Then, it gets tricky to carry the plot when the dead don't stay dead! When the threads get tangled up, the story falls apart. So this one is on the verge. Hopefully book 3 will not be a failure.
3 reviews
July 12, 2025
I picked this book up after reading the 1st part of the trilogy - The Formidable Miss Cassidy - and thought to myself that it would be hard to top that. I was wrong. The Enigmatic Madam Ingram expands upon the colonial Malaya / Scotland multiverse by bringing us to India, Paris and London. Old characters come back (mostly as ghosts) but there are some fresh faces which add to the plot. My only complaint would be that it dovetails a bit too nicely at some parts - for one the Cik Pon that they caught at Bendemeer House is also somehow related to the new spirit in this book? A little too.. convenient. My favourite character here is Billy Bronn - seems the kindest character in the book that is just swept away by the whole narrative. But anyway I don't want to spoil the book for you, it's still a fantastic read nonetheless. Am looking forward to the Mystical Mr Kay and I hope that the author doesn't jump the shark!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
6 reviews
April 15, 2026
The Enigmatic Miss Ingram by Meihan Boey is a cleverly written novel that beautifully intertwines myth and magic against the rich backdrop of historical Singapore. One of its greatest strengths lies in how Boey breathes depth into her characters, so much so that even the supposed monsters of folklore carry an unexpected emotional weight.

Her prose is elegant and evocative, making the world feel immersive and alive. However, the multi-layered storytelling, especially with its frequent shifts through flashbacks, can at times be difficult to follow. I occasionally found myself a little lost in the structure, though that may simply come down to my own inability to focus rather than a flaw in the writing itself.

Overall, it’s a beautifully crafted and imaginative read, elevated by Boey’s lyrical style and her ability to humanise even the most mythical of beings. I was eager to read this after devouring the first in the series, and now I look forward with great anticipation to #3
1,406 reviews39 followers
June 5, 2026
I had read the previous book and enjoyed it. This definitely helped in follow the story.

A different style of fantasy story. Fantasy set in the late 1800s through to early 1900s. The story ranges between highland Scotland all the way to Singapore and beyond; with deities, at least once multitudinous deities, of all kinds involved. A story of absolute love, and what is certainly not love, but instead selfishness.

Miss Cassidy is up to her helping ways again, but has got herself into a bit of a situation. Trying to help has caused problems, that’s she’s now trying to sort out. With Mr Kay trying to looking out for her as well. The tangles are certainly going to be difficult to tease out. Bargains made must be completed.

Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews