The Girl in the Window

Inspector Samuel Tay #4

by Jake Needham

Singapore is a good house in a bad neighborhood. Three hundred million Muslims live in Indonesia and Malaysia completely surrounding the barely five million people living in the secular city-state. Islamic terrorism in Asia may not get much attention in America or Europe, but it gets plenty in Singapore.

They’ve been hit once already. Not long ago, coordinated truck bombs laid waste to three American hotels in Singapore. Thousands were killed and injured. And everyone knows it’s just a matter of time before Singapore gets hit again.

Abu Suparman is the messianic leader of a radical group of Indonesian Muslims fighting for ISIS in Southeast Asia. Most people think Suparman was personally responsible for the Singapore hotel bombings. When Singapore receives a tip that Suparman is slipping into the country to meet a sister having cancer surgery, Inspector Samuel Tay gets the job of finding him before something nasty happens.

It seems at first to be a straightforward assignment. Tay is given two officers to work with him: his own sergeant, Robbie Kang, and Sergeant Linda Lee, a capable officer with whom Tay once had a disastrous and blessedly brief personal relationship. All they have to do is keep the sister under surveillance until she leads them to Suparman, right?

But things go bad. Really bad.

The surveillance turns into a shambles, people die, and Suparman vanishes. Tay’s only clue to what really happened that rainy night on Serangoon Road where everything went down is a girl he briefly glimpsed watching it all from a building next door.

Tay’s quest for the girl in the window takes him on a terrifying journey into a no man’s land where there are secrets so big governments will kill to protect them. With the help of John August, a shadowy American with murky connections, Tay battles governments determined to bury the truth in order to unmask the politicians using their power and position to hide their own crimes.

Tay knows exactly how to do that.

If he can just stay alive long enough.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2016

About the author

JAKE NEEDHAM received the Barry Award at Bouchercon 2024, the world's largest convention of mystery readers, for BEST PAPERBACK MYSTERY OF 2024. He is a three-time Barry Award nominee, as well as a nominee for the International Thriller Writers' award for BEST PAPERBACK THRILLER OF THE YEAR.

Needham is an American screen and television writer who has lived in Thailand for over thirty years. He started writing crime novels when he realized he really didn't like movies and television all that much. Since then, he has published fifteen popular mysteries and thrillers in two different series — The Inspector Samuel Tay Novels, and the Jack Shepherd Novels — as well as the international bestseller, THE BIG MANGO.

"Jake Needham is Asia's most stylish and atmospheric writer of crime fiction," says the Singapore Straits Times. "Jake Needham is Michael Connelly with steamed rice," says the Bangkok Post.

Reviews

[Greg Tymn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I included my review on this site but, apparently, I was distracted and missed giving any props to Jake. No matter. I found that TGITW has been nominated for a Barry Award this year. Congrats Jake.

And special recognition ought to be forthcoming for writing a novel where all of the gun technology and deployment is accurate! That deserves a star of its own.

I've always enjoyed the Samuel Tay novels. Set in Singapore. Equatorial heat and a laconic, cynical detective. It all fits. Adding to the novel is Jake's very accurate descriptions of the culture, geography and political environment.

The plot is direct with very few sub-plots and a bit of time spent on recollections and prior book adventures. Overall, if you've read Jake's novels before, you'll enjoy this one. If you haven't, go back and read "The Ambassador's Wife" first.

A fine novel for those steeped in the genre.

[Edwin Tipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve spent any time in South East Asia, then reading any of Jake Needham’s crime novels set in Bangkok, Macau or Singapore where Sam Tay is based will, if you’re anything like me, enhance my reading pleasure because I recognize some of the districts he’s showing us.
But perhaps one aspect we aren’t very familiar with, is the way the police take control of those cities. Yes, we’ve all heard – when in Singapore – it’s probably not a good idea to spit or discard chewing gum on the pavement unless you want your butt whipped in public! But this story is more serious and about how the various authorities engage with themselves, their workforce and foreign organizations without losing face.
Take the example of one Sam Tay: certainly one of the best detectives in the Singapore PD, as his record shows; true he can be a little curmudgeonly; yes, he’s getting a little bit long in the tooth, too. But is that any reason to take this likable character off a potentially lethal terrorist case? Hell no, even if those upstairs think Tay will be an embarrassment! Terrorism v embarrassment: Sam has more than his hand’s full juggling these – but between you and me I don’t think he’s really bothered about those upstairs.
And what of Sam? In this tale we get to know him a little more: will he give up smoking; will he eat properly; where is the woman in his life; and how will he deal with the loss of … I guess the answers to some of those questions might have to wait just a little longer.
If you’ve never been to Singapore I suggest you try it for a few days and take Jake’s book along with you.

[Bill Heilner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Samuel Tay novel to date! It was well written, fast paced, with a believable and interesting plot. Jake's knowledge of Asia and of Asian culture is evident in his writing, he opens up a window into Asian culture for all to enjoy. I highly recommend his body of work to those that are traveling to Asia or are considering Asian travel in the future.

[Dlmrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[David Berkowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th of Needham's Inspector Tay novels. As I have said before, Tay is very much the Singaporean Harry Bosch.

This novel deals with Tay being assigned to assist ISD, the Singapore Secret police, in apprehending a notorious terrorist. Tay realizes that he is being set up so that if the operation fails that his department can be blamed. Tay ignores his instructions so that he may do some real investigation. And from that point on, things just get worse and worse.

Tay fans will recognize the supporting characters. Those who haven't yet read a Tay novel may want to start with #1, The Ambassador's Wife. But that isn't mandatory. Each of the novels are very satisfying on their own. I'm hoping Needham has many more Tay stories coming.

Recommended to those who like police procedurals and especially those that take place in foreign lands.

[Thomas Treichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singapore, sometimes called "Singabore", may be boring, but the action set in Singapore in Jake Needham's latest Inspector Tay thriller is definitely not. Singapore, once a place of dynamic entrepreneurship, it has over time become a heavily regulated place managed by a faceless bureaucracy who seems to control every aspect of its citizens' life and whose main objective seems to be to protect its own interests above those of its citizens. An authoritarian pseudo democracy, Singapore is hardly a hot tourist destination - except for the weather - where there is nothing interesting to see or to do and where heat and humidity keeps everybody inside air-conditioned hotels, casinos, restaurants and shopping arcades.

Enter the action set in this sanitized city state which is fast paced with the main character being as compelling as he is in the three previous Inspector Tay books. Perhaps he is now even more convincing in this new suspense thriller that has the reader guessing to the end. Tay is chasing a notorious terrorist who has sneaked into Singapore with the tacit support of the government, the news of it the bureaucrats do not want to get out into the open. An upsetting event causes Tay, true to himself, the outsider who does not play by the rules and is notorious for being politically incorrect, to take action which perhaps reveals more about his character than what we have seen previously. I had read the earlier books in the series and had each time been eagerly looking forward for the next one. And I am looking very much forward to yet the next Inspector Tay adventure that may tie up some endings that are left open in this one for the reader to guess.

Highly recommended.

[Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, smart, funny, not overly graphic, this mystery could be set in Rome, Miami, Mexico City or any place where heat, corruption, and intrigue braid a rope to strangle the truth. But this book is set in Singapore, a city/state known for its efficiency and cleanliness. Inspector Tay knows better. Tay is like a Southern style Poirot. Instead of scurrying brusquely ferreting out clues, Tay languidly leans against a wall, smokes his cigarette and notices what no one else sees.  As he inexorably peels the layers of the onion the truth is revealed. But what then? What to do with your dead mother who keeps interrupting your sleep? What to do when you know the truth and it's going to kill you. This Tay book is fourth in a series and the best yet. It is a standalone. If you haven't read the series dash to the Amazon store because that's about the only place you'll find the first three books and they are all worth it. Every. Single. One.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Jake Needham’s previous books I looked forward to THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW as if I was waiting for an invitation to an amazing party.
Getting to have a cup of coffee and a cigarette on Inspector Sam Tay’s patio while he contemplates his case is a delight. Jake Needham has an uncanny ability of putting the reader along side of the characters.
Sam’s sense of humor about Singapore and the situations he finds himself in is the perfect balance to the fast pace intriguing cases he is working. Keeping up with Inspector Sam Tay is a test to your page turning abilities!
You don’t have to read the previous Inspector Tay’s books prior to this one, but you will miss out on really thrilling reads!
Some authors, when writing a series seem to get bored and it shows. Jake Needham has just started to tell his tales about Sam and I can’t wait for the next one!

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Needham's books and this latest Sam Tay adventure is yet another home run. Along with the delicious Asian backdrop, Needham's first rate plot and his usual skillful weaving in of historical facts makes The Girl in the Window interesting and highly entertaining. Fans of excellent quality crime fiction, such as myself, will be thoroughly delighted. Now, if anyone knows where I can find some Powers Irish Whiskey in the States, do please let me know.

[Robert Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another FIVE STAR read from Jake Needham with THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW.
A fast-moving action-packed thriller set in Sam Tay's Singapore with twists and turns from the first page to the last.
A seriously well written crime thriller that keeps you guessing - and again it's left me aching for another short vacation to Singapore to visit Orchard Road and the little road close by where Sam lives - definitely 5 Stars for this book!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best Samuel Tay novel yet. In it Tay, a Singaporean police detective, has to fend off political pressures, personal issues and more to solve a case of international intrigue. I could not put it down and was rewarded by a perfect ending to the story.

[Deborah Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrorism in Singapore

Tay is the most anxiety ridden detective in mysteries I have read. And yet he always does the right thing (except for smoking). These stories are definitely page turners.

[Skip Torok · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one ended way too soon... I gave it a 5 because it brought me much joy. I think #4 is the last of Sam Tay, I shall miss him. I'm off to Amazon to see what else Mr Needham has up his sleeve!!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspector Samuel Tay is an oddball, fifty-year-old detective inspector in the Singapore Criminal Investigation Division. He's been a cop for twenty-five years, and he's good at his job. He's also been very good at pissing off a lot of people around him, especially those more senior officers in the Singapore Police and the Singapore Government. Tay is a loner who has virtually no friends--probably because of how unfriendly he is--and lives in the home he inherited from his father. Now, his mother is also recently deceased, although Tay hadn't had any relationship with her for decades. Tay is alone in the world, but he identifies with his role as a police detective. It's who he is, more so than what he is.

Tay also has a love-hate relationship with Singapore. It's hot and humid, and its atmosphere of a tightly controlled government society is even more oppressive. Even so, it's the only place Tay has ever lived, and is the only place he can imagine he ever will.

The Singapore Police CID, and most specifically Tay, have an awkward, antagonistic relationship with what is the de facto "secret police." When Tay is ordered by the top man in CID to assist the secret police on a stakeout to grab a dangerous international terrorist, Tay and two detective sergeants are assigned to a purely backup role.

Tay believes they've been included but excluded from the action to keep them out of the way. They're assigned and restricted to hang around in an old hotel with a view of the stakeout, but ordered to wait until they're called to do anything. It is then that Tay notices two things. One is the "girl in the window" of an old apartment building who is watching the same hotel that the Singapore Police, secret and regular, are watching. Just who the heck is she, and what's she doing? The other thing Tay notices is that there's a side exit to the hotel that the secret police are ignoring.

That's when everything starts spinning out of control. The CID officers strike out on their own and track the target to another hotel. Goons from the secret police arrive at this other hotel that they shouldn't have known existed. Shooting starts, and it doesn't end well.

Throughout all of this, Needham's narrative keeps us involved and waiting for what happens next. His characters are as unique as they are interesting, and he digs deep into our intrepid oddball inspector. We are also shown a unique look at the city-state of Singapore with all of its warts exposed.

"The Girl in the Window" is the fourth Inspector Tay story. Although it can be read as a stand-alone novel, it follows the storylines established in the first three novels. My advice to my fellow readers is to start at the beginning. That's what I'm doing. By chance, I read the seventh novel in the series, "Who the Hell is Harry Black," a great read in its own right, but then I wanted to learn how Tay had arrived at who and what he was. I decided to go back and read the series in order. I haven't been disappointed, and I don't think you will be, either.

[Colin Garrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrorist Abu Suparman leads the fighting for ISIS in Southeast Asia and is likely responsible for recent bombings in Singapore. When police are alerted that Suparman intends meeting his sister in Singapore before she undergoes cancer surgery, Inspector Samuel Tay is instructed to find him. But Tay’s task is hindered when Sam and his two sergeants find themselves twiddling their thumbs in a down-at-heel hotel room. Not content with staying put, Tay spots two possible suspects and the team set off in pursuit. But the trail ends in tragedy and Tay is left with a mystery on his hands. His only clue is the brief sighting of an apparently unconnected woman watching the scene from a window. Facing a complicated plot that may end in his being forcibly retired by the police force, Sam struggles to work out the truth.

This is the fifth Inspector Samuel Tay book I’ve read and the fourth in the series. As with all the others, it’s an entertaining tale with the hero fighting against his superiors to let him get on with his job. This time, however, the threat to push him into a desk job or early retirement, only spurs him on to disregard his boss and hunt down a killer. As always, Jake Needham’s writing is sharp and witty and with a plot that’s a bit more complicated than usual, he weaves an edge-of-the-seat adventure that forces his hero into what might well be the most dangerous case of his career.

A thoroughly absorbing and highly entertaining read.

[Shirley]

An international terrorist, Suparman is supposedly visiting Singapore to see his dying sister. Goh from ISD is running an operation to catch him and wants CID and Tay involved. But their role is only to wait in a hotel room until called to then arrest any Singaporeans who might be involved or in the way. Sam Tay doesn't trust Goh and something about the operation doesn't add up. He decides to do his own thing which has devastating consequences for a member of his team. It soon becomes clear that someone in Singapore is protecting Suparman and anyone who knows about this is being killed. But is ISD killing police officers or is it Suparman? And of course August has an involvement in ensuring Suparman doesn't survive.

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Inspector Tay’s, once again. He sees everything differently than everyone else. He is brave, he is loyal,but does not like the way Singapore is becoming. He is old fashioned and smoke like a chimney, always thinking he is going to quit. Does not like much anything American. He has been asked to retire! Retire, I certainly hope not, he is too good to retire. They need more Sam Tay in the police. Please Mr Needham don’t retire your favorite policeman. I did not read these in order, since I find i have read book 5 and 6 before book 4. Hopefully there will be more Inspector Tay.

[David C Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. A reliable series and Tay is likeable. A bit long on exposition and description as filler (rants against anti smoking and the eradication of old Singapore get repetitive) - the actual plot is pretty elaborate but is handled perfunctorily and almost dropped - the ending is v abrupt.

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curmudgeon or hero of both

Sam Tay is an interesting character. Difficult to know, difficult to understand but under the surface, a fine man who has a specific code of honor and what's right. My thanks to the author for sharing Sam with us.

[T.W. Dittmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in the Inspector Tay series, with a serious plot line and believable action scenes. Mr. Needham does a great job with his characters, as well.

The entire mix is splashed liberally with Needham's dry humor.

[Dwight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like all of my favorite mystery series, it gets better the further you go in the series. Needham builds upon the Sam Tay character as the books proceed. Great series and I’ll be reading the next very soon.

[G.Richard Mccafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Wow what a great story San just seems to be forever I. The shut but like cream rises to the top sad about his partner and I think Linda and Claire both like him but he moves on ...vial from costs rica

[Carole D Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

Won't you start reading stories by this author you don't wanna stop he does a fantastic job of giving you a good mystery with a little bit of humor and a lot of intrigue great job

[Myra J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

Again, Tay hunts a man that the higher ups don’t want him to hunt. Again, there are paragraphs from previous books inserted here. It’s a good story full of surprises, shocking surprises.

[Hansen Tsang · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was ok but the repetitions were annoying

The author kept on copying items from prior books in the series and paste in this book. Took up a lot of unnecessary reading and very annoying for some one that follows the series.

[Rich Buickerood · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Have a Winner!

This is by far the best Inspector Tay book to date. It ties in elements from the first three novels and then introduces several new characters.

[Charles Kerns · Rating 2 out of 5]

all the formulaic elements rehashed

[Mrs P A Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant

A different kind of detective with deadpan sense of humour and a moral sense of right and wrong. Looking forward to reading the next book

[Toyce E. Southern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tay Becomes A More Complex Character

Extremely good read. Can’t ask for a better writer & series. I’d recommend reading the books be read in order.

[paul l. ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Jake Needham. In Sammy Tay he has created a character that you have to love. The plots and other characters keep you reading. I've already bought #9 in the series.