What do you think?
Rate this book
Death of a Perm Sec
Shortlisted for the 2018 Singapore Literature Prize for Fiction
Finalist for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize
In 1980s Singapore, a top civil servant is found dead. It appears to be suicide, by a cocktail of morphine, alcohol and Valium. But upon investigation by a CID inspector, who might not be what he seems, the family discover there may be far more sinister circumstances behind his death, reaching the uppermost echelons of government. Death of a Perm Sec exposes the dark heart of power politics, from the country’s tumultuous post-independence days to the socio-political landscape of the 1980s.
Finalist for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize
In 1980s Singapore, a top civil servant is found dead. It appears to be suicide, by a cocktail of morphine, alcohol and Valium. But upon investigation by a CID inspector, who might not be what he seems, the family discover there may be far more sinister circumstances behind his death, reaching the uppermost echelons of government. Death of a Perm Sec exposes the dark heart of power politics, from the country’s tumultuous post-independence days to the socio-political landscape of the 1980s.
284 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2016
20 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Wong Souk Yee
4 books3 followersWong Souk Yee, 57, is a playwright and former political detainee, who contested the 2015 General Election as a member of the Singapore Democratic Party. An adjunct lecturer at the National University of Singapore, she co-founded the now-defunct theatre group Third Stage. In 1987, she was detained for allegedly taking part in a Marxist conspiracy against the government. She co-directed and co-wrote the play Square Moon, staged in 2013, about detention without trial.
Wong holds a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of New South Wales, Sydney; a Master of Arts (Honours) in Creative Writing from the University of Western Sydney; and a Bachelor of Accountancy from the then University of Singapore.
Wong holds a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of New South Wales, Sydney; a Master of Arts (Honours) in Creative Writing from the University of Western Sydney; and a Bachelor of Accountancy from the then University of Singapore.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 9, 2016
This is a novel I can't place; the blurred lines between national history and fiction coupled with idiosyncrasies of an authentic every day Singapore experience leads one to question if this is the Singapore voice.
I did not read the author's bio prior to reading the book, neither did I know of Ms. Wong's background. In the first couple of chapters, I had the distinctive feeling of reading a political play not unlike those by The Necessary Stage.
This is a page turner to say the least; I finished it in one sitting.
I did not read the author's bio prior to reading the book, neither did I know of Ms. Wong's background. In the first couple of chapters, I had the distinctive feeling of reading a political play not unlike those by The Necessary Stage.
This is a page turner to say the least; I finished it in one sitting.
June 20, 2016
My favourite of the three i've read in the Epigram collection. It's a page turner no doubt and charges through to the main object - the intrigue of a man's murder and why... and the why reflects the iron-handed rule of Singapore's early ministers, which is a pretty cool premise. The ending is chilling and well done. Bear through the opening, it picks up deliciously by the 1/4 mark as it shifts its pace, and sheds off didactism, bringing you into a solid story.
January 31, 2022
A crash course on Singaporean political history, sociopolitical commentary, and character study rather than the whodunit that I was expecting. Engrossing read.
March 15, 2017
The prose is awkward in places, like a GP essay trying too hard, but the characters are compelling (especially Yang), and the ending is gripping, if rushed.
Didn't realise the author's background until I reached the end, which cast the events of the book in a different light.
___
Suicide [It] is a high price to pay for a few million dollars, yet he knows it's always about face and disgrace. Never about the crime and the hurt.
He saw that the climate in his own country of revering authority was due to the overhanging clouds of the ancient Chinese belief that it is unseemly and unprofitable to question authority.
She felt she had the right to look down on the less fortunate, for she had not arrived at her blissful state through inheritance, but pure determination. The poor had themselves to blame, for they had not applied themselves to achieve goals in life.
That's always the trouble, he curses under his breath. Parents always talk too much about their children.
Didn't realise the author's background until I reached the end, which cast the events of the book in a different light.
___
Suicide [It] is a high price to pay for a few million dollars, yet he knows it's always about face and disgrace. Never about the crime and the hurt.
He saw that the climate in his own country of revering authority was due to the overhanging clouds of the ancient Chinese belief that it is unseemly and unprofitable to question authority.
She felt she had the right to look down on the less fortunate, for she had not arrived at her blissful state through inheritance, but pure determination. The poor had themselves to blame, for they had not applied themselves to achieve goals in life.
That's always the trouble, he curses under his breath. Parents always talk too much about their children.
March 19, 2023
Second book that I brought back from Singapore, definitely a lot different from the first one.
This wasn’t really a murder mystery ~whodunit~, more of like a historical fiction/family drama. At its core it’s about a family dealing with the repercussions of their father who made some very immoral political choices for a strong nationalist government. It was cool to read because I know zilch about Southeastern Asia’s history honestly.
But because of that, it took me a while to get into. It was hard for me to familiarize myself with all the characters and to understand a lot of the intricacies of the political conflicts between Singapore and Malaya and within the Singaporean political parties too. I think if I read it a second time I’d pick up a lot more now that I have my bearings which took my about halfway though the book to get.
This wasn’t really a murder mystery ~whodunit~, more of like a historical fiction/family drama. At its core it’s about a family dealing with the repercussions of their father who made some very immoral political choices for a strong nationalist government. It was cool to read because I know zilch about Southeastern Asia’s history honestly.
But because of that, it took me a while to get into. It was hard for me to familiarize myself with all the characters and to understand a lot of the intricacies of the political conflicts between Singapore and Malaya and within the Singaporean political parties too. I think if I read it a second time I’d pick up a lot more now that I have my bearings which took my about halfway though the book to get.
March 17, 2017
A decent debut novel that reads like the book adaptation of Glen Goei's political whodunnit ‘The Blue Mansion’, right down to the vague rumours about Lee Kuan Yew and his family. After an extremely shaky start, leaden with awkward prose and dull pacing, author gains some strength but builds to an overly dramatic and slightly rushed ending. While her experience with political detention informs the novel, its grand conspiracy theories and dark secrets about the battle against communism feel passé in this day and age.
November 13, 2020
Highlights
Never mind she couldn’t hear them most of the time with the thumping music. She was part of the group as long as she smiled or nodded at appropriate moments, hoping only that no more questions would be directed at her.
Don’t just be angry. Do something.
Never mind she couldn’t hear them most of the time with the thumping music. She was part of the group as long as she smiled or nodded at appropriate moments, hoping only that no more questions would be directed at her.
Don’t just be angry. Do something.
August 11, 2022
ok and somewhat educational politically but quite boring as a story. more of a family drama or political memoir rather than a crime story. lowkey relate to some of the children's experiences in terms of sense of identity and other Singaporean stuff. 👍
January 12, 2024
first 20 chapters = 2.5-3 stars, last 10 chapters = 4 stars. an interesting premise but execution was not consistent. makes sense that the last part was better since it was congruent with the author’s lived experiences.
August 30, 2018
Plot was rather slow moving at certain parts, but overall the story was intriguing
December 7, 2021
“A thrilling whodunnit, exploring Singapore’s political history in a no-holds-barred fashion. Through the various tribulations of members of the Chow family, Wong sharply sketches how dissent can lead individuals to the edge of poignant self-discovery.”
— Alfian Sa’at, poet and playwright
“Wong Souk Yee, in a wryly ironic yet affectionate tone, pulls off a compelling thriller while sensitively portraying a family grappling with the secrets left behind by he ‘honourable’ patriarch after his untimely demise.”
— Philip Jeyaretnam, Senior Counsel, former president of the Law Society of Singapore and author of Raffles Place Ragtime and Abraham’s Promise
“Not many contemporary Singaporean novelists would have had the unfortunate opportunity to inform the description of the innards of the beast—the detention experience at Whitley Road Detention Centre.
Truth is often stranger than fiction, and this sufficiently engaging work of fiction points to more sobering truths of political history and more importantly, sheds some light on our political culture even in these contemporary times in Singapore”
— Chew Kheng Chuan, former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience, 1986–89, who was detained in Operation Spectrum or the so-called Marxist Conspiracy
“Souk Yee masterfully puts together a cocktail of murder, political power play and subjective agency—always a recipe for a potent novel—and serves up a page-turner in Death of a Perm Sec.”
— Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party
“Part murder-mystery, part-fraught family drama, this novel starts with the death of Chow Sze Teck, the permanent secretary of the Ministry Of Housing, after he is hit by accusations of corruption. What follows is a breakneck romp of not only the trials and tribulations of the family he leaves behind, but also of Singapore's political history.”
— The Straits Times
— Alfian Sa’at, poet and playwright
“Wong Souk Yee, in a wryly ironic yet affectionate tone, pulls off a compelling thriller while sensitively portraying a family grappling with the secrets left behind by he ‘honourable’ patriarch after his untimely demise.”
— Philip Jeyaretnam, Senior Counsel, former president of the Law Society of Singapore and author of Raffles Place Ragtime and Abraham’s Promise
“Not many contemporary Singaporean novelists would have had the unfortunate opportunity to inform the description of the innards of the beast—the detention experience at Whitley Road Detention Centre.
Truth is often stranger than fiction, and this sufficiently engaging work of fiction points to more sobering truths of political history and more importantly, sheds some light on our political culture even in these contemporary times in Singapore”
— Chew Kheng Chuan, former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience, 1986–89, who was detained in Operation Spectrum or the so-called Marxist Conspiracy
“Souk Yee masterfully puts together a cocktail of murder, political power play and subjective agency—always a recipe for a potent novel—and serves up a page-turner in Death of a Perm Sec.”
— Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party
“Part murder-mystery, part-fraught family drama, this novel starts with the death of Chow Sze Teck, the permanent secretary of the Ministry Of Housing, after he is hit by accusations of corruption. What follows is a breakneck romp of not only the trials and tribulations of the family he leaves behind, but also of Singapore's political history.”
— The Straits Times
July 28, 2016
Boy, what a ride. And don’t get me started on the great opening line.
Death of a Perm Sec takes place in eighties Singapore and it tells the story of a top civil servant’s blood-curdling murder case. The plot is engrossing and the characters are suspicious and menacing. A classic whodunit, it’s a novel full of darkness.
Aside from the chaotic pace, Death of a Perm Sec does have its magnificent winning points. One of them is none other than the author’s epigrammatic writing style – it effortlessly hooks the reader in. Another noteworthy mention is the clever and astonishing premise. No one will see it coming.
A finalist of the Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2015, Death of a Perm Sec has proven itself to be a strong contender.
Review also seen on
Death of a Perm Sec takes place in eighties Singapore and it tells the story of a top civil servant’s blood-curdling murder case. The plot is engrossing and the characters are suspicious and menacing. A classic whodunit, it’s a novel full of darkness.
Life does not end with death but with a return to our ancestral shrine. It is only in his vinegar-pickled brain that this mortal coil overshadows everything else. Then it becomes clear. He thinks he knows why his father had been so haunted.
Aside from the chaotic pace, Death of a Perm Sec does have its magnificent winning points. One of them is none other than the author’s epigrammatic writing style – it effortlessly hooks the reader in. Another noteworthy mention is the clever and astonishing premise. No one will see it coming.
When night falls, her body gives way and she slides down the wall onto the bunk. It gives her soul a brief respite, before another day, when she will have to reckon with every second and every minutes, again and again and again.
A finalist of the Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2015, Death of a Perm Sec has proven itself to be a strong contender.
Review also seen on
August 3, 2021
I struggled with how I should rate this book - I get what the other commenters are criticising. I also had to pause sometimes while reading to figure out why certain scenes were written and there were odd moments like how the inspector had seamlessly blended in with the other authority figures or how we only had 60 pages to unpack the ending.
However, I gave this book a 5 because in the parts describing the detainees’ spirits (Ming’s interrogation, Ling’s final moments at the conference of a Hail Mary to her journey in detainment) reminded me awfully lot of the same emotions and rawness in the 1987: Untracing the Conspiracy documentary that was slapped with a R21 rating a while back. This is of course in part due to the author’s own experience, but the way the words captured the same environ and atmosphere and visualised it for the readers just made for an incredibly unique and immersive experience. I wouldn’t recommend this book as a mystery/thriller, but I’d recommend this as like a pseudo ARG companion to those who are interested in reliving the political atmosphere of the past.
However, I gave this book a 5 because in the parts describing the detainees’ spirits (Ming’s interrogation, Ling’s final moments at the conference of a Hail Mary to her journey in detainment) reminded me awfully lot of the same emotions and rawness in the 1987: Untracing the Conspiracy documentary that was slapped with a R21 rating a while back. This is of course in part due to the author’s own experience, but the way the words captured the same environ and atmosphere and visualised it for the readers just made for an incredibly unique and immersive experience. I wouldn’t recommend this book as a mystery/thriller, but I’d recommend this as like a pseudo ARG companion to those who are interested in reliving the political atmosphere of the past.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2016
On the whole, this novel is engaging and exciting, using a heavy dose of suspense and ambiguity to hook the reader. She reveals details selectively and masterfully, and has created distinct, memorable characters. However, the pacing of the novel was rather messy, with the start bordering on too slow, and leading up to a chilling but rushed ending.
March 6, 2018
A riveting counter-narrative (or is it?) which I wished had countered the seemingly inevitable conclusion of failed resistance we are so used to hearing in Singapore. Is censorship really an inevitable personal and political condition of our identity? A bold novel, that perhaps leaves its readers asking, can we be bolder than this? Even if we cannot afford it.
August 31, 2022
Death of a Perm Sec by Wong Souk Yee was not an easy read. First, the language used tended toward a flowery, almost examination essay style and that didn’t read well to me. Second, the subject matter was heavy, especially toward the end. Those of us who studied in the Singaporean education system from young know the usual narrative regarding Singapore’s birth as a nation. From the communist crisis, to merger, to expulsion, it really isn’t news. Wong, however, brings to us the other side of the story, of those detained, of those erased from history.
Yes, this is not history, the names of the main players in the Singapore story have been changed. However, as the main events in those turbulent periods of the sixties and eighties have been retained, it isn’t difficult to guess at which politician has been drawn from, quite the opposite in fact. I’m really quite surprised that no OB markers have been pinged.
Anyway, this was an eye-opening read, especially since neither humour or satire were used. I’ve grown so used to those two devices being employed in writings that run contrary to the official narrative that it was almost jarring to have jadedness give way to bleakness. I guess being detained by the ISD really shouldn’t be trivialized, thus the tone. All in all, a read that was made all the more interesting by the fact that I read it over the National Day weekend.
Diversity meter:
Chinese Singaporean persons
Yes, this is not history, the names of the main players in the Singapore story have been changed. However, as the main events in those turbulent periods of the sixties and eighties have been retained, it isn’t difficult to guess at which politician has been drawn from, quite the opposite in fact. I’m really quite surprised that no OB markers have been pinged.
Anyway, this was an eye-opening read, especially since neither humour or satire were used. I’ve grown so used to those two devices being employed in writings that run contrary to the official narrative that it was almost jarring to have jadedness give way to bleakness. I guess being detained by the ISD really shouldn’t be trivialized, thus the tone. All in all, a read that was made all the more interesting by the fact that I read it over the National Day weekend.
Diversity meter:
Chinese Singaporean persons
December 15, 2019
Eh - I knew going in that this was going to be an allusion to Teh Cheang Wan, but I didn't expect the cracks to be papered over so thinly - there's Edmund Wee (the replacement for Lee Kuan Yew) and Hoo Liem Choh (as Chiam See Tong), the lone opposition member of Parliament.
When the book starts like that, you know that there's going to end up being some dark political conspiracy that's covered up and - surprise, . To be honest, I felt that there was a dropped plotline about .
Interspersed with all this political drama are the stories of the Chow family and how they move on after their father passes away - Ming loses , Hoong .
If you don't like Lee Kuan Yew (which is not a political stance without merit), this is the book for you. It really brings out the flavour of how the state's powers can be disorienting.
2.5 stars; bumped up for being Singaporean.
When the book starts like that, you know that there's going to end up being some dark political conspiracy that's covered up and - surprise, . To be honest, I felt that there was a dropped plotline about .
Interspersed with all this political drama are the stories of the Chow family and how they move on after their father passes away - Ming loses , Hoong .
If you don't like Lee Kuan Yew (which is not a political stance without merit), this is the book for you. It really brings out the flavour of how the state's powers can be disorienting.
2.5 stars; bumped up for being Singaporean.
September 23, 2017
The story starts off strong and it really draws you in through a cast of varied and interesting characters. I was really looking forward to seeing how the plot unfolds as the stage was set up for some seemingly huge and earth-shattering conspiracy. However, it loses steam somewhere around the middle, and some of the stronger characters just drops off the story suddenly. Furthermore, the final reveal of the conspiracy which I was so eagerly anticipating turned out to be a huge letdown.
I'm not sure how much of the author's personal background affected the story but it was clear that there were potshots taken at Singapore society which were jarring and affected the flow. I might have read too much into the author's motivations but I would hazard a guess that writing the book was a sort of catharsis for the author, especially when it comes to the ending.
I would say, however, that the deliberate mix of fact and fiction does make me want to find out more about the political happenings in 1950s and 60s Singapore, something which I have been putting off for the longest time.
I'm not sure how much of the author's personal background affected the story but it was clear that there were potshots taken at Singapore society which were jarring and affected the flow. I might have read too much into the author's motivations but I would hazard a guess that writing the book was a sort of catharsis for the author, especially when it comes to the ending.
I would say, however, that the deliberate mix of fact and fiction does make me want to find out more about the political happenings in 1950s and 60s Singapore, something which I have been putting off for the longest time.
May 23, 2018
I found this novel gripping, not just because it was an intriguing story, with interesting character development, but because of the way it was situated in a particular period of recent Singaporean history, so although characters and events were fictional, some were also recognisable and rather challenging. It was certainly daring - I found myself surprised at some points that it is freely available to read, which I suppose reflects on how things have changed in Singapore, at least to some degree. One reviewer I looked at called this book an example of Singapore's 'scar literature'. This term was coined for works relating to the traumas of the Cultural Revolution in China, but for Singapore it relates to the tricky political period between 1959 and 1990, when the Internal Security Act was used to mop up political opposition and hundreds of political activists, journalists, playwrights, and intellectuals, were detained without trial, including the author of this novel. https://tantarnhow.wordpress.com/2017...
May 9, 2019
Enjoyed death of a perm sec by Wong souk Yee..... maybe not for stylistic reasons. Wsy is a political detainee, chairman of sdp and is a playwright . Interesting foray into the life of politicians / high powered people. It’s Singlit written about the “elite” class who have more to lose rather than the typical coffeeshop singaporeans. The prose is a little bit clumsy in some parts, but it does have some gems. Ended on a good note. Story sustained itself and well without being overly plot driven. Characters were well fleshed out and had good chemistry. Overall q an enjoyable read. I liked the exploration of relationships between family members and their expectations of each other. Also the treatment of the so called Singaporean antithesis ie people who live on the fringe (studied in Australia, dw to come home / unemployed alcoholics) ... Interesting insights on our political culture in our contemporary time....
Not sure I would re-read but definitely recommend.
Not sure I would re-read but definitely recommend.
June 28, 2022
I picked this up because I was interested in reading a Singaporean book and because I love a whodunnit/ mystery novel. In terms of the first reason, I definitely learnt a lot about the political culture in Singapore that I didn’t know before. The author’s personal experience definitely shines through, especially at the end. However, in terms of the second, this book is more of a study of Singaporean family, cultural, and public politics. The ‘mystery’ was lacking, making the blurb slightly misleading. Regarding the reading experience, I found a lot to interest but the writing was quite forced and jarring. None of the characters were likeable (which I guess was the point) but for me this doesn’t make for the most enjoyable read. I think if it was longer I would have given up as I didn’t enjoy it that much but because it was short I could push through.
June 2, 2018
Didn't know the author was a former political detainee until the end of the book, and I respect the author for her effort in writing a book like this. But am not sure if I am a fan of historical fiction like this - the heavy reliance on historical events yet with all the name-changing of figures. By the end of the story, I was thinking, what's the point? To raise awareness around Operation Spectrum (by drawing attention to the author herself), or to portray how draconian ISA is, or about political oppression? And it just seems a little too easy or convenient to write a story by exploiting popular conspiracy theories. I also wonder how does the family of the deceased feel about such a story.
August 17, 2024
Got about 50 pages in before giving up. The prose was really awkward, like the author felt the need to flex that they had a large and bombastic vocabulary. I think there was a 3-page segment where every line had a word that you would only find in a GMAT vocab prep guide.
Also felt that the voice of the author was quite skeptical/scathing of the government/authority, despite supposedly being a whodunnit. I looked up the author then understood why there was that tone of bitterness.
All in all, the book didn't end up being what I expected it to be, and I didn't feel like it was worth plugging on to try to complete it.
Also felt that the voice of the author was quite skeptical/scathing of the government/authority, despite supposedly being a whodunnit. I looked up the author then understood why there was that tone of bitterness.
All in all, the book didn't end up being what I expected it to be, and I didn't feel like it was worth plugging on to try to complete it.
July 6, 2017
Very interesting book (that also got me a lot of stares on the train whenever I'm reading it). I'm still trying to process my mind around it. While there's numerous striking resemblances to the government, I think its exaggerated at parts but there is still an engaging plot and raises a lot of questions about politics and governance. The PS mind in me loves it.
I would have liked it better if it was written more clearly. There were several sentences that were just unnecessary (like describing leftover things in a pocket?) and were clunky. Overall, an illuminating read.
I would have liked it better if it was written more clearly. There were several sentences that were just unnecessary (like describing leftover things in a pocket?) and were clunky. Overall, an illuminating read.
July 8, 2022
a commentary on the political scene of singapore (perhaps of early singapore, maybe even still relevant now) under the guise of a whodunnit mystery ,, commentary was rather interesting, i did enjoy most of it, but the middle portion was a bit dull for my liking
censorship, corruption, barely any tolerance for political dissent, sg being somewhat like a dictatorship, r jz some of what were explored
would also like to add that wong has done the characters in this story sm justice, esp the siblings, in their character dev arc, was truly rooting for them 😭😭
censorship, corruption, barely any tolerance for political dissent, sg being somewhat like a dictatorship, r jz some of what were explored
would also like to add that wong has done the characters in this story sm justice, esp the siblings, in their character dev arc, was truly rooting for them 😭😭
June 23, 2025
this is a very brave story to be written in Singapore, made even more so after having read the author's background and her firsthand experience of being a former political detainee. i am not familiar with how much of the story is complete fiction and how much is allegedly inspired by real events, but still, it is a bullish feat by the author.
writing-wise, it did get very dry and draggy at times, and the characterisation and dialogues got a bit awkward at times, but i was a fan of how dark and disturbing the ending became, and the general unsettling atmosphere the story gave off.
writing-wise, it did get very dry and draggy at times, and the characterisation and dialogues got a bit awkward at times, but i was a fan of how dark and disturbing the ending became, and the general unsettling atmosphere the story gave off.
January 26, 2022
Admittedly, when I picked up this book, I had thought that it was a simple mystery book set within the Singapore context. But this book has given a lot to think about — it’s not an easy read, much heavier but I enjoyed the way different stories and characters were weaved into the book, a seeming parallel to various Singaporean ‘successful’ archetypes. I suspect that I will need some time to process and digest this book, before I can properly talk abt the plot.
April 8, 2023
A 'thrilling whodunit' (Alfian Sa'at) it could have been, but I didn't stick around long enough to find out. This reads like a plodding composition in a tone that was as soul-eroding as the bureaucratic job in the title, the characters make flat, colourless first impressions. Make the language sing, at the very least, this is what a novel should do, it would enliven and make interesting even when trading on the most tired local cliches.
May 28, 2024
I picked this up on my most recent trip to Singapore. I like to find local reads (as an excuse to visit each new bookstore I see)!
It was a fascinating blend of political history and a bit of a whodunnit. At first I was worried it was too political for me (too many scenes set in parliament at the beginning) but it picked up the story a few chapters in and was hard to put down. The ending was horrifying (and perfect).
It was a fascinating blend of political history and a bit of a whodunnit. At first I was worried it was too political for me (too many scenes set in parliament at the beginning) but it picked up the story a few chapters in and was hard to put down. The ending was horrifying (and perfect).
December 14, 2018
Plot was torturously slow-moving. Characters were given much air time but I ironically felt nothing for any. Above all, I’m not one for the writing style; it felt like a secondary school student trying too hard with a narrative piece. Also, themes of politics and murder could have been brought out in a more suspenseful manner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews