The Mimosa Tree Mystery

Su Lin #4

by Ovidia Yu

Mirza, a secretive neighbour of the Chens in Japanese Occupied Singapore, is a known collaborator and blackmailer. So when he is murdered in his garden, clutching a branch of mimosa, the suspects include local acquaintances, Japanese officials -- and his own daughters.

Su Lin's Uncle Chen is among those rounded up by the Japanese as reprisal. Hideki Tagawa, a former spy expelled by police officer Le Froy and a power in the new regime, offers Su Lin her uncle's life in exchange for using her fluency in languages and knowledge of locals to find the real killer.

Su Lin soon discovers Hideki has an ulterior motive. Friends, enemies and even the victim are not what they seem. There is more at stake here than one man's life. Su Lin must find out who killed Mirza and why, before Le Froy and other former colleagues detained or working with the resistance suffer the consequences of Mirza's last secret.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Asia

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2020

Reviews

[Xueting · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The first half was pretty good, but the revelation was underwhelming and ending was a rushed mess. And the writing, especially the dialogue, got awkward at times. I liked how the author portrayed 1930s Singapore, the nature and sense of community felt vivid and warm. I also really appreciated that the book was diverse in its cast of characters and addressed the racism in Singapore. It had a tight theme running throughout of survival, loyalty, and race which made the Japanese Occupation setting feel more urgently real, and the question it raised about why helping the Japanese was bad while helping the British wasn’t is a very interesting one. So all in all, there was potential but the execution was quite weak, especially nearer to the end of the book. For all the good points though, I might still consider reading the rest of the series.


Thanks to Pansing Singapore for the review copy!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The seachange in the characters and the overall atmosphere of this book grabbed me from the first paragraph. Thrust into a changed Singapore I became aware that everything was different and it was a new and brutal world for the characters. So many secrets were disclosed that I didn't see coming and the conclusion was both uplifting and shattering. I usually don't like there to be major reveals after the mystery has been solved but it really worked in this book and again took me by surprise. Ovidia Yu has turned a corner in her writing and I think she will become a major player in the Mystery genre. She has me breathless for the next book.

[Pallavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star

Japanese have taken over Singapore and British are thrown out.
Su Lin has lost her job at British Police station but is approached by Hideki Tagawa (former spy from last book) who is in power now to solve the murder of Su Lin's neighbor Mirza. Her uncle Chen's life is also at stake as he is falsely accused of the murder. Su Lin, now has no other option than to investigate the murder.
Su Lin is still a strong girl with a solid head. She is clear on her identity and even though once in a while emotion take over. It took a while for me to adjust with the absence of Le Froy and Japanese. It was a good mystery and an interesting read!
Happy Reading!!

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up for the effort and prose flow. It was not bad, but it also did not truly hold the right "tone" either. It just didn't. Perhaps I was the wrong audience. My most favorite series Tenko was about Singapore under the Japanese. And this parsing absolutely didn't jive with the horror of those camps. Not just for Europeans but for nearly all who were not Japanese ethnically and by citizenship.

The plot was ok. Not a fan of using historical fiction in aspects of dialogue or of relationship that assumes as much as this one did. Like having a seamstress or violinist at Auschwitz or Treblinka as if they just worked. UGH! Don't get me started on the WWII era present placed fiction that calls itself Historical. Witness of such times and places remember things quite differently than do the characters in these books.

Rushed and insufficient endings most often occur too just like in this one- when you have a most tragic situation as base of the hierarchy.

But I wouldn't read more of these primarily because the writing style is very circuitous.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series goes from strength to strength.
Set in the midst of the Japanese occupation of Singapore, Su Lin is finding ways to survive in the midst of the impossible.
I am eager to read the next book.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* rounded up to 5*

[An · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth instalment of the Crown Colony series and probably my favourite one so far. Things pick up considerably in Su Lin’s life and the stakes are high — the book takes place in the 1940’s amidst the Japanese invasion of Singapore and Yu doesn’t shy away from the violent realities of living under Japanese occupation.

When her neighbour Mirza is murdered, Su Lin's uncle is falsely accused and arrested by Japanese forces. With the majority of the British police — including Detective Le Froy — being held as Japanese prisoners of war, Su Lin is forced to investigate the murder in order to free her uncle. Using all the skills she’s learned so far, she navigates a new and brutal Singapore in search of answers. It was wonderful seeing Su Lin completely in her element, and while this book wasn’t as cozy as the previous ones, the writing was crisp and the mystery had me hooked throughout. Looking forward to picking up the next one!

[loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been enjoying these little mysteries. The author gives the reader, along with the mystery, the history of the time period and captures the island’s levels of culture as well as the racial and wealth disparities that existed. The characters are interesting and their assets and flaws contribute greatly to the stories.
Ms. Yu has created a captivating series.

[Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mimosa is more than just the best book in a good series; it is a gripping story that stands alongside some of the best historical mysteries that I have read. This is, quite simply, an outstanding work of fiction.

The story, in short, follows the protagonist Su Lin--a character who over the previous three volumes solved mysteries in Colonial Singapore and who had a fluency in local and governing cultures--as she tries to solve a mystery while navigating the complex power dynamics and murky alliances in occupied Singapore. I really enjoyed how nobody felt 'safe' in their environment and the complex motivations of the characters, elements which give Mimosa the feel of a good noir mystery. Given that this is the fourth entry in a series, at a minimum anyone looking to read Mimosa should start with the first entry (Frangipani), and at least one of the two other books in order to get a sense of the characters, and how they operated before they are thrown into their current situation. I would give this my strongest recommend to fans of historical mysteries, and I look forward to see where Yu takes her characters form here.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of The Mimosa Tree Mystery, set in Singapore during the Japanese occupation of World War II.

Chen Su Lin used to work for the British Police and is now trying to get through the occupation unnoticed. This changes when the Japanese, in the guise of suspected spy Hideki Tagawa, arrest her uncle Chen and use it to coerce her into helping them solve the murder of known collaborator Mirza. She must navigate a web of lies, hidden agendas and treachery to keep her friends and family safe.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Mimosa Tree Mystery which is an interesting read both in plot and historical detail. It is told entirely from Su Lin’s first person point of view so the reader has no difficulty getting immersed in her story and perspective. Equally the reader knows what she knows so is able to hypothesise alongside her. It didn’t take me long to get involved in her world as she has a distinctive voice and a somewhat sly take on life. I haven’t read the previous novels in the series but I understand that this is quite a change in situation for her with the British gone and the Japanese in charge. The reader gets a great sense of the anger, uncertainty and above all fear this has engendered in Singaporean society. It’s a do what you have to to stay alive mentality, but if you can get one over on them, even better. I did like, however, that the Japanese characters are multi-faceted and one size doesn’t fit all.

The plot is not overly complicated in its premise but it is very detailed and sometimes gets lost in that morass with secret clues, codes, personal agendas and a distinct lack of trust. It seemed to me that it was trying too hard when a more simple investigation would have stood up equally well due to the quality of the characterisation and the difficult situation. Less would probably have been more in this case.

The Mimosa Tree Mystery is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 bk 348. This book begs to ask the question - What would you do if your country were occupied by foreign military forces and a member of your family taken hostage. In Su Lin's case, the one person she probably wants to not attract attention from takes her along, even as she begs for her uncles release. Knowing she had worked with leFoy and had an ability to solve problems she is really offered no choice. Help the Japanese solve the mystery of who killed her neighbor and their collaborator. This book could have been titled, The Fine Art of Walking a Narrow Line. An excellent mystery and well done story of choices.

[Jan Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense story set in intense times.

I love this series,the humility of su Lin the traditional bonds of her culture and the perilous times are a winning combination for this story. We hear so much of the suffering of Europe during the world wars ,Olivia Yu brings to light how the upheaval effected
all of humanity and gives those people a voice.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The previous books in this series were set in 1930s Singapore. But now, the Japanese have conquered the city and Su Lin is without her Chief Inspector Le Froy (which is brought up many times - she almost thinks about him too much). She is tasked with figuring out who murdered a collaborator. There are some interesting revelations about her parentage.

But I found the plot a bit difficult to follow as there was some stuff about a Buddha and some stuff about a resistance camp up-country etc etc that made me lose some focus. This is why so many detective stories have a Watson - Su Lin has to be both Sherlock Holmes and his scribe, but we wind up on the one hand with too much reflection and rumination, sometimes after every single snatch of dialogue, which makes the book feel rather heavy - I prefer revelations to be made in dialogue. On the other hand there's not enough clarity that would be gained from a dumber person talking to the sleuth and having them summarise the state of affairs every once in a while.

Nevertheless the atmosphere was good - you can feel the fear and humiliation of the populace - and the mimosa code was very clever. I enjoyed that. I will be probably continue reading this series as long as books keep on coming out.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick read in the setting of WWII Japanese-occupied Singapore. The history and conflict between different cultural and national groups, especially during occupation, was interesting. I did like seeing more of Su Lin and Ah Ma’s relationship. However, the multiple mysteries and solutions were a bit of a muddled mess. I think the author tried to weave in so many characters and varied storylines, none of which felt sufficiently and logically resolved by the end. I’m also still somewhat confused as to how old Su Lin is actually supposed to be.

Readers should also be aware that the book, possibly even more than the rest of the series, includes several conversations about Su Lin’s worth and attractiveness due to her disability, and although these are probably unfortunately fairly accurate portrayals of attitudes for this setting, it’s still hard to read. Also one random use of the “r” word which did not seem necessary even in context of the character who used it.

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The British have been defeated and the Japanese have settled in to rule Singapore during WW2. The family has squeezed into Chen mansion and are attempting to survive. Many of the characters of the previous books have scattered to the wind, and Su Lin finds out more about her mother. Good mystery, very well done sense of time and place. My only nitpick is the when Formosa Boy drops a very important clue and our very, very perceptive Su Lin doesn't immediately pounce on it.

[Stephanie Tanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Crown Colony series. Set in Singapore during the Japanese occupation in WWII, this historical mystery is a great way to experience the effect of the occupation on the residents. After the British gave up Singapore to Japan, the people were shocked by the cruelty of the Japanese. Sue Lin navigates through the politics to save her family.
A fascinating read.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the second book I read in this series and they were all thoroughly enjoyable.
I like the vivid setting, the well rounded characters and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's an engrossing an entertaining read that i recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Sheila Suzanne Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

Thank goodness for a good book Finally! This is book four and I was anxiously awaiting it..Ms. Yup outdid herself. As a plus I feel as if I am learning about Singapore too. Fascinating story. I highly recommend all four books ! Can't wait for book 5!

[Susan Colmenares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ovidia Yu is amazing!

Ms. Yu’s style is impeccable polished. She shares her extensive knowledge of Singaporean history and culture with her readers, making both her characters and plots completely credible. I have read all of her mysteries and she never disappoints.

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. I know very little of the Japanese invasion of Singapore.

The loss of one star is because i found some of the personal revelations a bit ham handed (Ruritanian, comes to mind).

[Leona the avid dash user · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard not to compare any Malaysia/Singapore-based historical fiction to Tan Twan Eng's Gift of Rain and How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee. Set during the tumult of World War II, both books record the heartbreaking stories of living under the Japanese Occupied Malaysia & Singapore. However, The Mimosa Tree Mystery is not quite like that.

Here, we follow Su Lin, a clever local chinese girl, to solve the mystery behind the murder of Mirza, a Japanese collaborator in her neighbourhood. Su Lin was approached by a Japanese high ranked officer, Hideki to find out who murdered Mirza as an exchange of her Uncle's life.
However, Su Lin later discovered that Hideki came to her not only because of her proficiency in English and Japanese, but he also possessed an ulterior motive and a secret that linked to Su Lin's dead parents.

I find this historical thriller refreshing as I rarely see a war-time-crime novel from a teenager perspective in the landscape of SouthEast Asia literature. Although the author shows the merciful side of Japanese soldiers towards Su Lin, she does not attempt to escape the facts that Japanese had committed terrible war crimes to the locals. These war crimes had been voiced out by Su Lin as an observer to what happened in another village and to other girls. Also, I praise the author's meticulous research on racism & racial relationships during Japanese occupation as we can see that one is ready to betray another group of people in order to secure the survival of their family. I also love it when the author draws comparisons between British-ruled & Japanese-ruled Singapore and highlights that none of them was better than each other. Hence, this book deserves a solid 4.2 stars.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read and it's fun to find out which character(s) are trustable. It missed a little bit from five stars not because of the execution, but because Ive read something better. Highly recommend this book to the fans of Gift of Rain and How We Disappeared.

Thank you Definitelybooks and Pansing for the review copy.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Japanese now occupy Singapore and everyday Su Lin and her family wonder if it will be their last. When the Japanese round them up for a late night bout of someone accusing them of being traitors and Su Lin's Uncle is pointed out, they fear they will never see him again. But there's been a murder in their neighborhood, of Mr. Mirza down the road, and Hideki Tagawa wants Su Lin's help in solving the case. In return, she's been promised the freedom of her uncle. Su Lin feels like she is walking a fine line of placating the Japanese while remaining true to her own ideals, especially when she starts to realize the case may have ties to the local resistance.

We've now moved into the heart of WWII for Su Lin and Singapore. It is interesting to see this from a local perspective, as most books I've read about this have been from the allied perspective in POW camps. It really highlights how the Japanese treated different people groups on the island, and the challenge the locals had in surviving during this time period. The mystery itself is intriguing and part of that is why the Japanese are even investigating a murder when they kill hundreds of locals every day. What is different about this one? On top of that, Su Lin starts learning more about her own parents, something her grandmother has never talked about. Another intriguing mystery that really stands out for the actual history woven in.

Notes on content: A handful of minor swears. No sex scenes. In the course of the investigation it is revealed that one unsavory man has left a trail of women pregnant and run out on all of them. Two other woman likely turned to prostitution/sleeping around to survive. No lurid details. At one point Su Lin is threatened by a man that he will violate her but he is stopped long before anything happens. Deaths in the war are mentioned. Three murders, one on page. Minimal gory details. Racism is still something that is constantly an issue for Su Lin and others.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Japanese have occupied Singapore, and life is terrifying for Su Lin and her family. They know that many locals and English people have been killed by the Japanese. Su Lin doesn't know what's happened to the detectives she worked with. However, when her uncle Chen's life is threatened, Su Lin begs in the aristocratic Japanese she learns in the last book for him to be released from a round-up of locals. Su Lin draws the attention of a character who was a more minor character in the previous book, the cousin of her Japanese teacher. He puts her to work in finding out who killed her neighbor. He becomes a major character in his importance to Su Lin in this book, as she believes his protection will keep her and her family as safe as is possible in these perilous times.

Once again, Su Lin's language and ciphering skills are put to use, though she's deeply conflicted about working with the Japanese, when they'd killed so many of the ethnically Chinese people living in Singapore and so many others. Although the British also occupied Singapore, they believed somewhat more in the rule of law. At least, that's what I got from Su Lin's opinions and my own bias. The British seem by far the lesser evil to Su Lin.

It's now more clearly a world of double-agents and triple-agents. Who to trust is a tough challenge for Su Lin. The best she can hope for her sifu, Chief Inspector Le Froy, is that he's still alive in prison. Su Lin is anxious to solve the murder so that her Uncle Chen will be freed. Other people die, too, and she also tries to figure out why they died. She almost accidentally saves the life of a higher-up in the Japanese government. Su Lin's grandmother has already befriended a soldier nicknamed "Formosa Boy" because he's from Taiwan. Formosa Boy loves her cooking.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid step up in the Su Lin mystery series. Many of the things I've found fault with in previous volumes rectified themselves with Mimosa Tree. First of all, the level of language was much more to my taste. It's not that it became arcane or complicated. Far from it. It's easily accessible. But its expression is more complex and satisfying. Second, except for a few moments when the story of Shen Shen and her impoverished family's selling her to the Chen family, the story coheres and focuses. For the first time, I didn't want to put down the book. The wartime setting was different and attention grabbing. Most stories I've read about Singapore during the war dealt with its fall or the capture and captivity of Anglo soldiers and colonial officials. This is the story of what happened to Chinese, Indian, and Malay families. Su Lin tells their story with humor that is often sarcastic, albeit still softly sarcastic. And Su Lin herself is a likeable protagonist who has enough heft to carry this story and many others as well. Dialog works better, here, too. It sometimes still has a contemporary feel, but I think lifting the story to the mid 1940s gives it more cultural currency than the earlier books set in the 1930s. An interesting question throughout: why was Su Lin's cooperation with the Japanese occupiers worse than her earlier one with the British occupiers. Both committed slaughters, wanted expanded empires, practiced racial supremacy, and held the "natives" in semi-contempt. Yes, I'd side with the British, too. But for someone caught up during the war itself, where survival depends collaboration, if not sympathizing, it makes for interesting speculation. This is a good, mature mystery that is far and away better than the three earlier works.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my favorite of the series so far. Unlike in the previous book, Su Lin is back to her clever self. This mystery is interesting because it introduces more of peoples that consider themselves Singaporeans. The murder victim is a Muslim who was valued by the English and now the Japanese solely for his business dealings, including blackmail. Otherwise he and his family were avoided (at best) or vilified (most likely) for being more different than the other different people in Singapore.

The Japanese have occupied Singapore for at least two years. There are occasional rebellious attacks and brutal reprisals. Whenever anything goes wrong (a daily occurrence), locals are rounded up, tortured, and killed. Thousands of people - English colonizers, Chinese and Malaysian locals, other whites - are missing and presumed incarcerated or dead.

The terror and suspicion affect every person, every interaction. No one knows who’s a spy, for whom they’re spying, or if they’re an informant getting back at neighbors they didn’t like.

I was intrigued by the daily life of ordinary people in an occupation. Their behavior changes - they have to conceal their hatred and resentment or they’ll be shot on the spot. There’s an example of a man killed because he didn’t bow low enough. There’s little food so people have to eat things previously considered inedible. They have to devise codes for communicating without the Japanese knowing they’re even looking at a message. The mimosa leaf code is brilliant. They have to work in factories under grueling conditions of violence, and act grateful for the privilege.

As always, I love these books for the history. The mysteries are interesting but not as much as this period and location that’s new to me. I’m delighted I bought the series.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

They keep getting better

The Japanese have taken over Singapore and ousted the British (former) rulers (who are also now busy with war in Europe, we presume), and things have gone from bad to worse for locals who are living under more oppressive conditions than ever, with curfews and blood-thirsty soldiers wandering arresting and decapitating people in the streets; many people have disappeared into the jungle, or are missing with no news if they are alive or dead. Meanwhile, soldiers arrest Su Lin's Uncle Chen, and she is "hired" by the Japanese governor, and his strong man to figure out who murdered her neighbor, and while she is at it to also solve the mystery of how the resistance are passing messages via the "stone codes", and maybe for good measure, who blew up the Japanese fleet in the dock and has been diverting their (stolen) wartime treasury--and if Su Lin can solve all these mysteries, maybe her uncle will be released from gaol and allowed to come home to his wife and daughter! But Su Lin can't figure out whom to trust, and she definitely doesn't like any of these people--certainly not the governor nor the samurai-descended strongman, nor the spiteful English mistress of the governor, nor the too-handsome socially-climbing (but ethnic-Korean with the painfully bad Japanese accent) soldier with the seriously awkward marriage proposal(s), or the older or younger daughter of the murdered man--both of whom are lying about his time of death, and his qualities as a father--but why--what are they hiding?--and what does Dr. Shankar know and why is he being so hostile to Su Lin? We also learn more about Su Lin's backstory, but--I should stop here, spoilers, I probably just said too much. Anyway, I know I have to read on.

[Mary's Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book came with high recommendations as a historical mystery that gives a picture of life in Singapore in 1942 when it was under Japanese occupation. This sounded very interesting. Sadly, this was a case, for me, that the book did not live up to the hype.
The storytelling was tedious and muddled. Since the entire story takes place in one small neighborhood and Japanese military headquarters, there was very little writing at all about Singapore as a city. It seemed that the writer wavered between trying to write a thriller and writing a detective novel and missed on both counts. Su Lin, our central character, frequently stops to ruminate on life and her situation. Right in the middle of the story, there is a big dump of information that reveals the purported truth about Su Lin's parents, but it changes little in regard to the story. Frequently there are non-sequiturs in the detective part of the story and then needless repetition of previous points. Characterization is very erratic, with characters swinging from villain to good guy and back with little warning or explanation. The victim, Mirza, is forced to be all things to all people--a spy, a collaborator, a scholar, a secretive father, and a master codemaster. In the end, I didn't know what to make of the story, and I really didn't care.
This is the fourth in a series of mysteries, and I have not read previous entries in the series. But this is the first to be set during WWII, so it is like a reset. I will not be reading other books in the series.
PS Perhaps it should be a requirement that mystery writers be required to read Agatha Christie mysteries so that they can study crisp plotting and writing.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for a gifted copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

I have been following Su Lin, Ovidia Yu's likable teenage Chinese detective, since book #1, but I think you could comfortably read this as a stand alone. If you do begin with this one, though, I recommend seeking out the first three soon, as they each include a puzzling mystery as well as her growing friendship with Detective Le Froy.

This novel takes place during the Japanese occupation of Singapore during WWII, and the story begins with Su Lin being asked to investigate the murder of a neighbor (considered a spy) in exchange for the release of her Uncle Chen from prison. Told in the first person, Su Lin realistically describes the stressful occupied environment of the town, the cleverness of Su Lin's grandmother in keeping her family fed during wartime, the uncertainty of who can be trusted, and the cultural differences between the Chinese and Japanese.

Once again Su Lin solves the murder mystery by asking pertinent questions as she observes the behavior of those around her - colleagues and family of the murdered man, the military leaders, and even her family friends. The outcome comes to a satisfying conclusion, with a few twists and surprises along the way.

What makes this series a stand out is Su Lin - her love of books and reading, her persistence in seeking out the truth, and her perceptive observations - all described by Yu with a witty sense of humor even when the subject is a serious one.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 4th Crown Colony murder mystery takes on so much more than murder, and is so much more than a mere mystery. Like the best of novels--I was going to write, "like the best of historic fiction" but this transcends genre, so--like the rest of the best of literature, its author has used character, action, and setting to explore universal themes that matter today. This tale of Singapore eighty years ago has reverberations far into our collective history, and will remain topical far more than eighty years from now, wherever humans may be striving, warring, oppressing, working in solidarity, scheming, stealing, hating, and loving.

Yu's way of writing subtle but spare understatements, conveying the richness of her setting and human nature's complexity without going on and on like this review--well, it's an art that should be studied by all authors.

[Rachna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book without reading the previous ones in the series and could follow the storyline, as the narration fills the gap regarding the story so far.
The story takes place in Japanese-occupied Singapore. Su Lin, a Chinese, has been asked by the Japanese to solve the murder of her neighbour, Mirza, who was helping the Japanese crack some codes. She has been chosen for the task because of her previous crime-solving experience with the British inspector before Japanese rule, her language skills, and her knowledge of local people and customs.
The story vividly describes the lives of locals under occupation and what they did to survive. The mystery is solved as Su Lin learns new information about her family. It is a good mix of history and crime-solving, along with a dose of family drama.