Offstage in Nuala

The Inspector de Silva Mysteries #3

by Harriet Steel

MP3 CD Format Inspector de Silva is caught up in the excitement when a professional theatre company comes to Nuala, but matters take a dark turn when the company's actor manager is murdered. Our inspector has a new case to solve and he has to consider some very unpalatable motives for the crime. He will need all his persistence, coupled with his wife, Jane's, invaluable help to unmask the villain of the piece.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Historical, Cozy Mystery

1 pages, Audio CD

First published October 24, 2017

About the author

Harriet Steel wrote several historical novels before turning to crime with the Inspector de Silva mysteries, inspired by time spent in Sri Lanka (the former Ceylon)). Her work has also appeared in national newspapers and magazines. Visit her website, https://harrietsteel.com/ to sign up to her monthly newsletter for information on new releases and offers.
Harriet is married with two daughters and lives in Surrey. When she’s not writing, she likes reading, long walks and visiting art galleries and museums.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is proving to be such a good series - each book is warm and comfortable and reassuring. There are still good things, kind people and friendly places out there in the world.

The setting of Ceylon in the 1930's is perfect. The main character's mixed race marriage must have been unusual at the time but it works and Jane and Shanti support each other all the way. There are gentle, implied criticisms of the English and their role in the country, and historic details such as the abdication of the King to marry Wallis Simpson.

There is an interesting and quite tricky mystery which I only half guessed correctly and a number of well rounded characters. These are absolutely excellent books to act as 'palate cleansers' in between those other books which deal with less pleasant topics. I am already looking forward to the next one.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these truly engaging stories and have already thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the series. This one is no different as I began to read and drifted swiftly back to 1930’s Ceylon and Inspector Shanti de Silva and his lovely wife Jane, a former Governess before she married him. The Inspector and his wife had moved to Nuala so that they could enjoy the quieter life away from the cities but he still found himself spending hours on cases. Thorough he was and often with a helping hand and sound advice from Jane, who has a quick mind and a keen eye like him but from a woman’s point of view. His position in society and reputation was well-respected.
The Inspector and his wife were all set to enjoy a night at the theatre to watch a production of Hamlet when they were spotted by Shanti’s boss Archie Clutterbuck, Assistant Government Agent for the area, and his wife Florence. So it wasn’t going to be quite the relaxing evening that they had intended. Then things just went from bad to worst with the discovery of the body of Alexander Danforth, an Actor and head of the travelling theatre company. There was no doubt that the man had been murdered so the Inspector went into investigation mode while Clutterbuck seemed to hinder his every move.
These books really are a must read. The murders that happen in them are more on the whodunit side then the gruesome which makes them pretty good reading for most people but it is the writing itself that I just love. The way in which Harriet Steel describes different scenes, from the land scape to this connection between Shanti and Jane are just beyond outstanding. You really won’t experience anything else like it, Harriet Steel just takes over your imagination and opens your eyes to seeing the world differently and it is awesome.
I love the two sides to Shanti from the gentle man that he is with Jane, who is a strong-willed woman who has a sensitive and delicate side to melt him at any time, to the determined and straight Inspector that seeks justice no matter who is involved. Then back home to ponder over the days events in a garden that I can smell with its fragrant descriptions.
Yet again a book that I put down with total satisfaction and a sigh but only till the next one.

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice detective story. Awaiting more posts on audible.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment of the Inspector de Silva series takes Shanti and Jane to the theater for Hamlet. Only, its not long after that the lead actor is killed, de Silva struggles to figure out how someone could have done it, and his boss is behaving strangely and seems to be impeding the investigation.

I adore this series set in 1930's Ceylon with a Sinhalese detective, his English wife, and a fun colorful cast of British, Sinhalese, and Tamal characters lending an engaging backdrop to a clever mystery.

The blend of historical fiction, exotic location, diverse nationalities, and cozy mystery is done well. I can't wait to pick up the next one and highly recommend the series.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Review

Shanti de Silva takes his wife Jane to the newly opened playhouse in Nuala when a traveling Shakespearean theater troupe arrive in town. It is not long before Hamlet is enacted in real life and Inspector de Silva must work out who brought the final curtain down on the lead actor.

This is the third of the Inspector de Silva mysteries set in 1930's Ceylon with a Sinhalese detective who must always do a balancing act between the Colonial British government and the local peoples of whom he is one as he solves crime in Ceylon mountain city in the heart of tea plantation country. Shanti is a progressive and intellectual man who chose to marry warmhearted former governess, Jane. They share a tender and friendly loving relationship along with an interest in crime-solving, but also must deal with the nuances to their marriage that come from being an interracial couple.

Each of these historical cozy mysteries are a delight for the details of the 1930's world of Ceylon and having the main character being non-British. This aids and hinders his work in turn.
The mysteries are not devilishly twisting, but they are not too easy to figure out, either. I enjoy seeing Shanti gather the facts here and there, consult Jane's take, engage in other daily affairs, and then have an intense action-packed final scene when he exposes the killer.

The narrator, Matthew Lloyd Davies, does a stellar job of voicing gender, age, many international accents, and bringing out nuances in the story with a good handle on pacing and tone. I get lost in his storytelling each time I listen in to this series.

In summary, these are a wonderful escape to the past and an exotic setting with a clever murder and engaging characters. Definitely recommend to those who enjoy this genre.

My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Maya Gopalakrishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy mystery

The usual Naula fare with a warm weather, spice filled food, even an elephant! The mystery is not much and the story dragged on more than expected with inspector De Silva going back and forth to the half wrecked theatre which is the murder scene. The book was almost irritating in the middle given De Silva's hardly did much and Jane seemed to have only a limited time to play. Liked the first 2 books better.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Ceylon during the mid 1930's, Inspector de Silva and his English wife, Jane are in the rural town of Nuala. A visiting troop of English theatrical players comes to town. Soon old romances flare again and then the main man is found murdered. Lots of jelousies and old wounds surface. A riviting book delivered in an 1930's style that I enjoyed. Read on to find if the good guys win through. There are enough twists to win any reader to the series. Recommended. 4 stars.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another satisfying mystery set in 1930s Ceylon.

[Cookie M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story just fell apart for me at the end. To me the murderer seemed to be the most unlikely of all the candidates and for all the least likely of reasons. It just didn't work for me.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hard to figure out mystery set in the theater in Nuala with a travelling theater company. Loved it!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun,quick read. Simple plot, but I enjoy the characters and I love the setting in India. It's a nice change.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My how I am enjoying this series!

The deSilva mysteries are almost a throwback to the early days of Dorothy Sayers when books contained, in addition to foul murder, intelligent conversation, the use of correct grammar, and general civility. They are also actual mysteries with the solution only gradually becoming clear, and are often surprisingly complex in the end. The hero is also engagingly normal, not an intellectual superman, and I find his relationship with his new wife endearing as well as brave for the time. Heartily recommended!

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5 Stars. I am enjoying this series as a relaxing break in my day. Steel often includes information I find either fascinating or amusing. Steel is a new-to-me author.

1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I ENJOY THIS; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).

A sultry November, 1936 ~
Local Inspector deSilva, 40’s, and his English wife, Jane, attend a presentation of Hamlet by a traveling British company at Nuala’s local theatre. Several nights later, deSilva is dismayed with the news that the celebrity actor-manager has been discovered murdered. Did the actor bring trouble with him, or is his death connected to someone local?

Quote ~
> “He remembered the words Jane had told him for groups of slugs and snails - a cornucopia of slugs & a wok of snails. English was a marvelously expressive language - parliaments of rooks, conspiracies of ravens, murders of crows”. deSilva
> “He wasn’t fond of eating alone. Food tasted best in good company.”
deSilva

Comments ~
1) OFFSTAGE IN NUALA is bk3 in Harriet Steel’s Inspector deSilva Mystery series, set in Ceylon/Sri Lanka, mid 1930’s. I imagine it is possible to read OFFSTAGE as a Standalone title but certain secondary characters (deSilva’s colleagues and families) feature in each book with relationships which have developed over time. I prefer beginning with bk1, TROUBLE IN NUALA.
2) Along with other genres, I enjoy reading Classic Crime Mysteries (set in the 1920’s+). Steel’s deSilva series occurs during this period, and with Ceylon a British Colony at the time, certain historical and societal elements overlap. I am finding this aspect of the series intriguing.
3) I enjoyed working out the mystery. I thought the final scene was a bit unrealistic but was involved with the characters till the end.
4) I like the character deSilva. I can identify with his reluctance to “dress up” for public occasions (in the heat!) and emphasize with certain social situations he must accept (as a Ceylonese inspector in a country ruled by the British). His character, especially as performed by Davies, truly reminds me of Peter Falk in television’s Columbo (1968-1978+), which I found quite likable. DeSilva is a quiet, “seemingly” plodding Inspector, thorough, observant, intuitive, tolerant of his (occasionally) condescending superiors. I find this series a restful read - a pleasant escape to another place and time.
5) I understand only the first 4 books in this series are available as autobooks. The performance by Matthew Lloyd Davies is delightful although his accents for certain characters are strong. I purchased the digital format, as well, so I could switch back and forth at will. At times I found reading less demanding.
6) I recommend Steel’s Inspector deSilva Mystery series to readers who enjoy:
> Classic British Mysteries
> British Mysteries set during the 1920’s-1940’s.
> Mysteries set in unique locales
> Cozy Mysteries (slower paced, Clean format)
> Seasoned main characters
> Police Procedural mysteries
> Historical Mysteries

READER CAUTION ~ Suitable for most readers who enjoy Cozy Mysteries
PROFANITY - None.
VIOLENCE - Minimal.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offstage in Nuala is the third book in the Inspector de Silva mysteries which takes us back to the 1930s, and to the days of Colonial Ceylon.

A travelling theatre company has arrived in Nuala and there is great excitement when their production of Hamlet opens to a packed audience. The great and the good of the community are gathered there, including Inspector de Silva and his lovely wife, Jane.

Just a few nights later, the Inspector receives a telephone call, informing him of an incident which has occurred at the theatre where, to his consternation, he discovers that the company's actor manager has been murdered. Fraught with complications from the very start of the investigation, the inspector finds that he has several possible leads to consider however, tracking down the perpetrator of this heinous crime is never going to be easy, especially when de Silva seems to be thwarted at every turn by his superior, Assistant Government Agent, Archie Clutterbuck.

What I love about this series is the absolute authenticity of the historical detail. From de Silva's leisurely drive to work in his stately Morris, to relaxing on the veranda in the cool of the evening, the Ceylonese way of life comes to life. The colonial splendour of the Residence, Clutterback's palatial home, is often the scene of some delicious humour and de Silva's obvious discomfort at visiting his boss there always leaves me with a smile on my face,

The mystery at the heart of the story is well contrived and I enjoyed trying to figure out the clues alongside the Inspector, who, as always, has great support from Jane, who continues to be his sounding block and that still small voice of calm when all seems to be going awry. That the investigation has its complexities is what gives the book its characteristic sharpness and it is in the small details where the author really excels.

The writing is as crisp as ever and just as sharply observed with some very fine attention to detail, particularly about what happens backstage in a provincial theatre. I enjoyed exploring the nooks and crannies of Nuala's Gaiety Theatre with its crumbly corridors and dodgy stage trap.
The Inspector de Silva mysteries are beautifully written historical crime stories with more than a hint of humour and quite enough mystery to keep you guessing from start to finish.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
I’m enjoying this very entertaining and colourful series very much and it was lovely to get reacquainted with the engaging and genteel Inspector Shanti de Silva and his charming wife, Jane. Not to mention Sergeant Prasanna and Constable Nadar. De Silva met Jane in Colombo, where he began his career as a police officer, and Jane was a governess. When they married, De Silva was offered and accepted the position of Inspector in the much more pleasant and quieter small hill town of Nuala.
Offstage in Nuala opens with the de Silvas attending a play performed by a visiting professional theatre company. There they meet up with Archie Clutterbuck, the assistant government agent for the area, and his wife, Florence.

It’s not long before there’s another case for de Silva to solve – the murder of Alexander Danforth, actor and head of the theatre company. De Silva needs to harness all his determination and persistence as he feels Archie Clutterbuck is hampering the investigation, giving the impression he may have something to hide. Clutterbuck was not about to share the reasons for his behaviour with de Silva. Nevertheless, de Silva explores every development thoroughly, even if it means climbing to dizzying heights in the theatre, and helped by his always supportive wife.

As with the previous books, Harriet Steel sets the scene and paints a vivid picture of the rich and multi cultural way of life in 1930s Ceylon, with authentic dialogue and expressive prose, which completely captures the feel of a bygone era. A well crafted plot with fascinating historical details and a smoothly flowing narrative. Descriptions of the food are enticing although I’m not quite sure I would be able to eat curry for breakfast. I can’t resist finding pictures of dishes I’m not familiar with. The one I’ve included is a typical Sri Lankan breakfast dish.
I also love the descriptions of de Silva’s beloved garden and how much he enjoys it…’Meringues of cloud drifted across the blue sky and a breeze as light as a cream puff cooled him. Hidden among the trees, a golden oriole sang.‘ It sounds delightful.

I chose to read and review Offstage in Nuala for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on a copy of the book supplied by the author/publisher.

[Elizabeth Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third instalment of The Inspector de Silva Mysteries, we return to the island of Ceylon in the 1930s. The murder scene in this book is the sumptuous Gaiety Theatre, where an Asian tour by a talented group of actors, commences with a production of Hamlet. The whole cast is suspect since no-one else was seen to enter the theatre during rehearsal time and it is soon evident to Inspector de Silva that there are many secrets to uncover. But he is also frustrated by the actions of his superior, Assistant Government Agent, Archie Clutterbuck, who keeps him away from the victim’s wife, Kathleen Darnforth, and from young Emerald Watson, who may have been Mr Darnforth’s mistress.

Shanti de Silva leaves no stone unturned as he explores every nook and cranny of the old theatre and sets his sergeant and constable on thorough investigations. However, their work is interrupted by an amusing interlude involving Mrs Clutterbuck’s pet Shih Tzu dog, Angel, and a large elephant. There are fascinating descriptions of the busy market and of Shanti’s cool fragrant garden where he walks at the end of the day.

“As he turned to go back to the bungalow, something drifted into his hair. He brushed it off and smelt again the sweet, intense fragrance of frangipani. The flower’s pale yellow gleamed against the dark lawn. He remembered his mother saying that if a frangipani flower fell on your head, you would have good luck. He hoped she was right.”

Inspector de Silva will need this good luck as he homes in on the culprit, putting himself in severe danger. In a thrilling conclusion, he discovers a surprising twist which he hadn’t expected.

Once again, the complex social structure of 1930s colonial life is effectively recreated in a story about well-rounded characters in a colourful, exotic location. The guide to the main characters provided at the beginning make it possible to enjoy this novel without needing to have read the first two.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once more Inspector di Silva finds himself in the midst of a perplexing murder mystery. Hamlet, as acted by Alexander Danforth, has come to little Nuala. The cast includes his wife, Kathleen and several actors, several of whom were friends of his from their service with him in the First World War. Also in the cast is the young ingenue, Emerald Watson, who it seems is romantically involved with Danforth. When several days after the performance attended by the diSilvas, the body of Danforth is found stabbed in the neck with a pair of scissors, the Inspector has many suspects to consider. Yet, on the surface none of them had any motive for killing a man who seems to have been, not only charming and talented, but also generous in helping his friends. To compound the complexity of the situation, Archie Clutterbuck, the British government agent appears to be interfering with the investigation. His primary concern seems to be to keep Kathleen and Emerald from being interviewed about the evening of the murder.
With the insights of his wife, Jane, di Silva twists and turns with the convoluted lines of inquiry that seem to lead nowhere until finally, the culprit is uncovered and arrested. I knew upon the introduction of the guilty character their culpability but the motive and method of carrying out the deed escaped me and kept me interested to the very end. Another satisfying installment of a delightful series set in India. The differences between the Buddhist Sinhalese Inspector and his British Anglican wife are fun to explore. Their similarities and love for each other is comfortable and warm.

[Delores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, though noteworthy at times

The series is set in Ceylon, under British rule. The historical notes are interesting and the author seems to do a fair job of showing how the British affected every day life.

At the same time, the characters that employ servants, even our protagonist, treat the household help with such disrespect. It's this aspect of the series that keeps me from binge reading it. I will read more of the books only because I like the inspector but it will not be soon.

Also, I did not like the author's note at the end that encouraged positive reviews because they drive up sales.

[Beverly June Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this Series!

Although each book stands alone, each I s a jewel with facets of mystery, humour, and information.
Written in clear,descriptive detail. Each character is finely drawn and each one of the individuals are
an integral part of the story line. I read all of the books and enjoyed each. I could smell the flowers and feel the humidity.
I do wish there was a mystery during the courtship of the two main characters. OH!These books made me crave chai, nan and the spicy red Chutney; yum.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

Love the characters, their relationships create a structure for this engaging mystery. I especially enjoyed the nuances of perspective, and the way British colonialism is handled. However l’m not a big fan of the locked room genre of mystery, and in this case it seemed to be so central to the story that there didn’t seem as much space for the exploration of the time period, or the unique nature of Inspector de Silva and the others. Still a fun and reliable read, I would read anything else by the author with happy anticipation.

[Ena Estes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Hit!

This the third installment of colonial life in Nuala and police Inspector de Silva’s sleuthing. Always a delight to follow de Silva and the cast of characters of Nuala from British governing agents to the native culture of 1930’s Ceylon. The mystery of who murdered a cast member of a traveling troupe of British actors takes us from the local bazaars to the Crown hotel with great opulence. Murder mystery+historical tropical Ceylon+great characters=an author who knows how to create the perfect formula of intrigue. Great romp!

[Italo Italophiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting and time period are interesting in this series. After reading the earlier books in the series, and arriving at this on, I would have liked to have had the detective's household servants treated as individual human beings, rather than creatures who do all the household work inside and out, and who appear whenever Jane rings one of her little bells. The plot was a bit to obvious in this one for me, and the resolution too reliant on a confession. As with the other books, some editing for clarity could help. But overall, I am still enjoying my time spent with Shanti and Jane.

[Nadishka Aloysius · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were lots of convoluted twists and turns and the reader was kept guessing as to how the murder took place, and by whom. I liked that very much since some of the other books in the series have been rather obvious. As always the scenery, main characters and setting are what keeps me reading this series.
However, it was rather a disappointment that the Inspector was actually unable to solve the mystery on his own! The resolution was handed to him when a suspect committed suicide and left a letter explaining everything! What a letdown...

[Linda Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series. Takes place in India, in the '30s and is still a British colony. The main character is an intelligent, well trained chief inspector with few prejudices. He follows protocol in his investigations and encourages his men to do the
same. He's very fair to the men in his command. He and his staff are Indian also.
Chief Santi is married to a white English woman and they have a remarkable caring/sharing relationship. Chief Santi's immediate boss is a large English man who often interferes with the investigations.
These are good reads with compelling stories.

[Arliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better. The mystery in Offstage in Nuala was written well and while I guessed some aspects of it, I didn't have the whole thing until the end. That isn't always the most important thing about a mystery of this kind for me but I did think it was strong in this book. As always, the research Harriet Steel has done shines and that is what has fascinated me about this Sri Lanka based series from the first book. I very much enjoy Inspector de Silva as a character and I'm hoping future books in the series will deepen his character even more.

[Usha Kamat Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this author for the first time. Harriet could note a few observations for accuracy.
I live in India. My garden has a large variety of hibisci. They DO NOT have a perfume. She has described a perfume wafting from hibiscus pants in de SIlva's garden.

Also, I always thought tulips grew on short plants not trees?

The pot and characterisation was well developed, and mainatined reader interest until the end.

I look forward to reading more from Harriet Steel

[Simon Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Least favourite

I've read the first three and this, despite being a very worthwhile read, is my least favourite so far. Perhaps it's just me, I've read them back to back and it could be time for a break but I got bogged down with the complicated descriptions of the cinema and confused with the characters, some of whom seemed to come and then disappear. The end was sudden too. I'll be back for episode 4 after a break though, they are a good read.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to this author through TripFiction. This is the third book of her Inspector de Silva Mysteries series. This book continues to be an entertaining, cozy mystery set in 1930s Ceylon with humor sprinkled throughout and a scintillating cast of characters. Loved it. I hope there will be a 4th one in this series.

[Stacie Haden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this series. I find them peaceful, for lack of a better word. This one was the best of the three, so far. I highlighted a half dozen sentences that I just loved. In the previous books, I don't recall the type of writing that made me halt and highlight. I also love the relationship between Shanti and Jane, mature mutual respect.

Ceylon, 1936

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting series

I like the stories. Well written. But often I find that reflections are more modern in tone than I would expect for the nineteen thirties. I do however, appreciate the struggle of the native inspector to do his job and still have to satisfy the a British authority. So that is probably pretty realistic. Good storyline.