In Kinabalu's Shadow

by Steve Morris

This is a work of fiction woven around some of the events that actually happened in British North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia) before and during the Second World War. A powerful tale of love, violence and incredible bravery that also gives a rare and fascinating insight into the disparate cultures found in this small British colony. It is 1938 and newly married Australian Tom Field takes his young bride Mary to live on the copra plantation he manages near the small town of Kudat. Here she meets the stuffy colonial British, the friendly Chinese shopkeepers and the proud and colourful indigenous people who live in traditional longhouses. Soon after the outbreak of war in Europe they return to Australia for the birth of their second child. While they are away Japan invades Singapore and then overruns Borneo virtually unopposed. The Europeans are herded into internment camps and the Australian and British forces captured in Singapore are taken to Borneo and subjected to inhumane treatment in the POW camps in Kuching and Sandakan. Tom is recruited to help the newly formed SRD (based on the British Special Overseas Executive) and returns to Borneo to work covertly behind the lines. He contacts his head-hunter friends and they embark on a series of audacious missions against the hated invaders. After a close personal encounter with the enemy he eventually leads his fierce band of warriors to assist the Australian 9th Division in the liberation of his beloved adopted country. The author, Steve Morris, lived and worked as a volunteer in Sabah in the 1960s. He met many people, both expatriates and locals, who had first hand experience of the Japanese occupation and based this story on their reminiscences. He now resides in Histon, Cambridgeshire.

276 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2009

Reviews

[Fi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely new - to me - aspect on one of my favourite genres

[Ahimsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a 3.5 star book for me. It's a gripping story with loads of historical detail. The pacing is great, the actions scenes riveting, and the setting really well-drawn.

The bummer is the writing, which is all over the place. There's no firm POV, even within a given scene, and it's oft-times quite rambly. The prose consistently lets down the otherwise engaging story.

Still, this is a very entertaining book. I quite enjoyed it.

[Alison]

kindle 236 borneo WWII