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Su Lin #7
The Yellow Rambutan Tree Mystery
'One of Singapore's finest living authors' South China Morning Post
'Simply glorious. Every nook and cranny of 1930s Singapore is brought richly to life' CATRIONA MCPHERSON
'Charming' RHYS BOWEN
'One of the most likeable heroines in modern literature' SCOTSMAN
________________
The next title in the Mystery Tree series, exploring Singapore after the Japanese retreat and in the aftermath of WWII.
________________
Praise for Ovidia
'Chen Su Lin is a true gem. Her slyly witty voice and her admirable, sometimes heartbreaking, practicality make her the most beguiling narrator heroine I've met in a long while' Catriona McPherson
'Charming and fascinating with great authentic feel. Ovidia Yu's teenage Chinese sleuth gives us an insight into a very different culture and time. This book is exactly why I love historical novels' Rhys Bowen
'A wonderful detective novel . . . a book that introduces one of the most likeable heroines in modern literature and should be on everyone's Must Read list' Scotsman
'Unassuming, brilliantly observant' SCMP
'Ovidia Yu's writing helped me peel back the layers to understand Singapore. The story and Chen Su Lin's initiative and tenacity, set against a backdrop of wartime Singapore, intrigued both the historian and the mystery lover in me' Kara Owens CMG CVO, British High Commissioner to Singapore
'Simply glorious. Every nook and cranny of 1930s Singapore is brought richly to life' CATRIONA MCPHERSON
'Charming' RHYS BOWEN
'One of the most likeable heroines in modern literature' SCOTSMAN
________________
The next title in the Mystery Tree series, exploring Singapore after the Japanese retreat and in the aftermath of WWII.
________________
Praise for Ovidia
'Chen Su Lin is a true gem. Her slyly witty voice and her admirable, sometimes heartbreaking, practicality make her the most beguiling narrator heroine I've met in a long while' Catriona McPherson
'Charming and fascinating with great authentic feel. Ovidia Yu's teenage Chinese sleuth gives us an insight into a very different culture and time. This book is exactly why I love historical novels' Rhys Bowen
'A wonderful detective novel . . . a book that introduces one of the most likeable heroines in modern literature and should be on everyone's Must Read list' Scotsman
'Unassuming, brilliantly observant' SCMP
'Ovidia Yu's writing helped me peel back the layers to understand Singapore. The story and Chen Su Lin's initiative and tenacity, set against a backdrop of wartime Singapore, intrigued both the historian and the mystery lover in me' Kara Owens CMG CVO, British High Commissioner to Singapore
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2023
46 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 9, 2023
2023 bk 202. Yu's mysteries are eagerly awaited in my household. First I read the new book quickly and then return to read it again and truly focus on the nuances and differences in lifestyles between contemporary midwest U.S. and 1940's Singapore. Yu has the ability to take the reader to a different time and place and reach each of the reader's five senses. At the same time she is displaying the writing of fairly complex puzzles and mysteries. This was the first one in which I had an inkling of who done it fairly early on - but had to wait as the reasons were teased out. Most series that take the reader through WWII end with the conclusion of the war - I'm glad Yu didn't stop there as Singapore itself provides a wealth of post war problems to resolve and we have the chance to see how each of our favorite characters survive and handle the trauma of war. Excellent read.
October 24, 2023
Ovidia Yu's The Yellow Rambutan Tree Mystery is the seventh book in a series of detective novels set in Singapore of the 1930s and 40s, each book named after a tree. This story is set in 1946, when the war is over, and (the Japanese having finally quit Singapore) the British are back. The series' protagonist, twenty-six year old Su Lin, lives with her grandmother, uncle, aunt and young niece, and on the third day of the Chinese New Year, finds that an old associate of her uncle's, having been refused admittance to the house (Su Lin's uncle is too unwell to meet anyone), has been murdered. In his pocket are some yellow rambutan skins...
There are several mysteries, minor and major, present and past, interwoven in the narrative here, and competently handled: satisfying enough as mysteries, even if not memorably clever. What really made this book worth the read for me was the setting. Yu brings Singapore alive: the ethnic background; the melting pot that is Singaporean society; Chinese customs and traditions; interracial relationships, especially between locals and the British. The characters surrounding Su Lin, and Su Lin herself, are vividly etched: flawed even when heroic, heroic even when flawed. Three-dimensional. There is wit, poignancy, a wise understanding of human nature.
This happens to be the first book in this particular series that I've read, but I enjoyed it so much, I'm going to go back to the beginning and read them in order. While The Yellow Rambutan Tree Mystery is satisfyingly complete in itself, I suspect the back stories of Su Lin, Le Froy, Harry Palin, Parshanti et al will be pretty interesting.
There are several mysteries, minor and major, present and past, interwoven in the narrative here, and competently handled: satisfying enough as mysteries, even if not memorably clever. What really made this book worth the read for me was the setting. Yu brings Singapore alive: the ethnic background; the melting pot that is Singaporean society; Chinese customs and traditions; interracial relationships, especially between locals and the British. The characters surrounding Su Lin, and Su Lin herself, are vividly etched: flawed even when heroic, heroic even when flawed. Three-dimensional. There is wit, poignancy, a wise understanding of human nature.
This happens to be the first book in this particular series that I've read, but I enjoyed it so much, I'm going to go back to the beginning and read them in order. While The Yellow Rambutan Tree Mystery is satisfyingly complete in itself, I suspect the back stories of Su Lin, Le Froy, Harry Palin, Parshanti et al will be pretty interesting.
June 16, 2023
I love this series, and so glad there was a new entry this month
So glad to find out what happens next for Su Lin and friends after all the heartbreak and devastion and deprivation they suffered under Japanese occupation, now that the war is over.
I find this series to be compelling, and intelligently written, and as you can see, I have developed a "relationship" and caring foe the characters in it.
Besides, I learn interesting things about the historical context of the setting--Singapore in the 1930s-40s, during the lead up to and aftermath of World War II.
Also, they are pretty good mystery stories, with Su Lin and Le Fray working together to solve them, and the bad guys (mostly) getting found out & retribution in the end.
Plus, trees, I do like trees (from this point of view, probably the Betel Nut one was the most interesting in the series--but I like them all)
So glad to find out what happens next for Su Lin and friends after all the heartbreak and devastion and deprivation they suffered under Japanese occupation, now that the war is over.
I find this series to be compelling, and intelligently written, and as you can see, I have developed a "relationship" and caring foe the characters in it.
Besides, I learn interesting things about the historical context of the setting--Singapore in the 1930s-40s, during the lead up to and aftermath of World War II.
Also, they are pretty good mystery stories, with Su Lin and Le Fray working together to solve them, and the bad guys (mostly) getting found out & retribution in the end.
Plus, trees, I do like trees (from this point of view, probably the Betel Nut one was the most interesting in the series--but I like them all)
June 12, 2023
The Best Su Lin mystery Yet!
I DEVOURED this book! I've read and loved all the Su Lin stories. As a child I lived in Singapore, surrounded by Chinese, Malays, Europeans, Indians and Tamils. The Chinese lore is particularly enjoyable as I have a Chinese daughter in law and two half Chinese grandchildren. The familiar Singapore place names and dialect evoke a nostalgia that will never quite leave me. This is an absolutely delightful read!
I DEVOURED this book! I've read and loved all the Su Lin stories. As a child I lived in Singapore, surrounded by Chinese, Malays, Europeans, Indians and Tamils. The Chinese lore is particularly enjoyable as I have a Chinese daughter in law and two half Chinese grandchildren. The familiar Singapore place names and dialect evoke a nostalgia that will never quite leave me. This is an absolutely delightful read!
October 25, 2023
Sadly, this seems to be the final in the enthralling and entertaining adventures of Su Lin. I hope she returns but, now the war is over and numerous loose ends left from previous books have been tied up, I may have to say goodbye to this delightful protaganist.
September 10, 2024
the blurb writer who said "simply glorious"? you ate bestie. those last 20 pages made me feel so alive
November 19, 2023
3.5/5 stars.
Su-Lin transitions to a post-World War II Singapore; the Japanese are gone, the British are back, most of the cast of characters are reunited, and murder hits close to Su-Lins home.
By cozy mystery standards, Ovidia Yu excels at atmosphere. You get a sense of the wrenching transition after the war. Her greatest strength here is that she takes risks with her characters, and gives true dynamism to their development. I enjoyed seeing how the war and general human relationships shaped the characters through the book. The murder as well was among the stronger in the series.
Yu's style takes some acclimating. She takes liberal tangents in the narrator's voice, and it probably requires a bit more focus than the average cozy mystery. Yu also strikes a good balance with using Singaporean English without overburdening the reader with explanations. A solid recommend for fans of historical mysteries.
Su-Lin transitions to a post-World War II Singapore; the Japanese are gone, the British are back, most of the cast of characters are reunited, and murder hits close to Su-Lins home.
By cozy mystery standards, Ovidia Yu excels at atmosphere. You get a sense of the wrenching transition after the war. Her greatest strength here is that she takes risks with her characters, and gives true dynamism to their development. I enjoyed seeing how the war and general human relationships shaped the characters through the book. The murder as well was among the stronger in the series.
Yu's style takes some acclimating. She takes liberal tangents in the narrator's voice, and it probably requires a bit more focus than the average cozy mystery. Yu also strikes a good balance with using Singaporean English without overburdening the reader with explanations. A solid recommend for fans of historical mysteries.
July 7, 2025
It's post war Singapore and Su Lin - and the rest of her family and friends - are adapting to a new normal. The Japanese have left, but life in Singapore hasn't exactly gone back to the way it was before either. There are old faces reappearing and new people causing trouble, and as ever a mystery that needs solving. And for Su Lin there is a new world for her to navigate again - she's not so much someone with a foot in two different worlds any more as someone who is perceived differently by multiple different parts of the city that she lives in and the different communities there. It's a clever mystery and there is some progress in some long running strands that I've been hoping to see.
October 27, 2023
It is February 1946 and Singapore is adjusting to the return of British rule. People are celebrating the first Chinese New Year since the end of Japanese occupation and visitors are allowed for the first time in two years. But it is the Third Day of the New Year (the Year of the Fire Dog) and callers are not expected - rather, it is a time to visit ancestral graves, to tidy them, and to avoid stirring up bad luck.
All is not well at Chen Mansion, where the occupants are recovering from what might have been food poisoning. So, when a very persistent caller arrives, Chen Su Lin (grand-daughter of the elder Chens, Uncle Chen and Ah Mah) has to leave her sick bed to deal with him. It is Botak Beng, a business ‘colleague’ of Uncle Chen, who had, in the past, managed Uncle Chen’s sea transport needs (which might have included some smuggling). Since the end of the war Botak had moved into other more dubious areas, areas in which Uncle Chen was not interested. Su Lin refuses to let him in and, taking advantage when he is distracted by another acquaintance, she closes the door. But that is not the last she sees of him. She goes out later and finds a crowd staring into the storm drain. She goes to look and is shocked to see Botak’s body and to hear someone shouting that she is the murderer.
The police make life uncomfortable for Su Lin, who had once worked for the Detective Unit of the local police force. Her former colleagues had been transferred, so she has no contacts, but, her previous boss, DCI Le Froy, has returned. He is no longer a policeman but is interested in the investigation and is there to help when the situation becomes threatening.
Su Lin narrates the story of her efforts to solve the murder, and how she copes as investigations reveal information about her family and their businesses, about other local residents, and about the new acting governor and his family. As the layers are peeled from the past, mysteries are solved, the murderer is revealed and Su Lin re-assesses her relationship with Le Froy.
This is the seventh in the series of Tree Mysteries. It is full of interesting and fascinating information about the lives of the inhabitants, their traditions and beliefs, and about the Rambutan tree of the title. The characters are well-described, the story holds the interest and Su Lin is a very likeable heroine. It does work as a stand-alone, but readers may feel that the story of Su Lin, her family and friends, which begins in 1936, is worth reading from the beginning.
------
Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood
Other books in this series: The Frangipani Tree Mystery, The Betel Nut Tree Mystery, The Paper Bark Tree Mystery, The Mimosa Tree Mystery, The Cannonball Tree Mystery; The Mushroom Tree Mystery
All is not well at Chen Mansion, where the occupants are recovering from what might have been food poisoning. So, when a very persistent caller arrives, Chen Su Lin (grand-daughter of the elder Chens, Uncle Chen and Ah Mah) has to leave her sick bed to deal with him. It is Botak Beng, a business ‘colleague’ of Uncle Chen, who had, in the past, managed Uncle Chen’s sea transport needs (which might have included some smuggling). Since the end of the war Botak had moved into other more dubious areas, areas in which Uncle Chen was not interested. Su Lin refuses to let him in and, taking advantage when he is distracted by another acquaintance, she closes the door. But that is not the last she sees of him. She goes out later and finds a crowd staring into the storm drain. She goes to look and is shocked to see Botak’s body and to hear someone shouting that she is the murderer.
The police make life uncomfortable for Su Lin, who had once worked for the Detective Unit of the local police force. Her former colleagues had been transferred, so she has no contacts, but, her previous boss, DCI Le Froy, has returned. He is no longer a policeman but is interested in the investigation and is there to help when the situation becomes threatening.
Su Lin narrates the story of her efforts to solve the murder, and how she copes as investigations reveal information about her family and their businesses, about other local residents, and about the new acting governor and his family. As the layers are peeled from the past, mysteries are solved, the murderer is revealed and Su Lin re-assesses her relationship with Le Froy.
This is the seventh in the series of Tree Mysteries. It is full of interesting and fascinating information about the lives of the inhabitants, their traditions and beliefs, and about the Rambutan tree of the title. The characters are well-described, the story holds the interest and Su Lin is a very likeable heroine. It does work as a stand-alone, but readers may feel that the story of Su Lin, her family and friends, which begins in 1936, is worth reading from the beginning.
------
Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood
Other books in this series: The Frangipani Tree Mystery, The Betel Nut Tree Mystery, The Paper Bark Tree Mystery, The Mimosa Tree Mystery, The Cannonball Tree Mystery; The Mushroom Tree Mystery
October 17, 2025
Reading these Su Lin mysteries in order of publication does pay off. It's especially true with Yellow Rambutan Tree following right after The Mushroom Tree Mystery. That latter volume had ended with the Japanese defeat in World War II, and its entire setting is Singapore's Botanical Gardens. Rambutan moves directly into the postwar period, and contrast could not be greater. The claustrophobia and deprivation of wartime Singapore disappears into a flood of open spaces, reunions with friends and families, and a return to relative abundance. From page one, you feel right along with Su Lin that you're breathing freely again. Alas, it doesn't last, because more murders occur and serial attempted poisonings come into Su Lin's family. Who is responsible will become clearer faster than in the other Su Lin stories, but it is also a "mystery" that is cleaner and more efficiently told than in those past works. And frankly it's good to see Su Lin working again with friends and family to uncover bad things. For the first time in the series, that also means we travel with Su Lin to some of Singapore's seamier streets and alleyways.
All in all a good story told well. A few spots do manage to irritate every now and then, particularly in the dialog, but they are few in number. For example, I can never imagine a British colonial officer anywhere saying, "But we got zero, zilch, nada." That's a contemporary Americanism. I'm not sure the last three words even exist in British English. Overall, Yu may tend to make her dialog sound a bit too contemporary. But then she does carry a built in excuse: every now and then Su Lin will allude to her writing these stories from the vantage point of her old age. That's at least worth a benefit of the doubt.
I've become quite fond of Su Lin, her mild sarcastic sense of humor, and her sense of duty to herself and her friends and family. There are two more volumes to come in the series so far. I do hope to see that Ovidia Yu one day lets us meet up with that old Su Lin.
All in all a good story told well. A few spots do manage to irritate every now and then, particularly in the dialog, but they are few in number. For example, I can never imagine a British colonial officer anywhere saying, "But we got zero, zilch, nada." That's a contemporary Americanism. I'm not sure the last three words even exist in British English. Overall, Yu may tend to make her dialog sound a bit too contemporary. But then she does carry a built in excuse: every now and then Su Lin will allude to her writing these stories from the vantage point of her old age. That's at least worth a benefit of the doubt.
I've become quite fond of Su Lin, her mild sarcastic sense of humor, and her sense of duty to herself and her friends and family. There are two more volumes to come in the series so far. I do hope to see that Ovidia Yu one day lets us meet up with that old Su Lin.
July 29, 2023
An entertaining story that is set in Singapore after the Japanese Occupation. The 4th instalment of The Mystery Tree series centred on Su Lin and her family can be read as a standalone. Before the war, she helped the police solve several cases as an interpreter n local liaison duties.
It begins with a friend, Botak Beng who was looking for her Uncle Chen regarding an important matter and was found stabbed in the drain nearby their neighbor's house. It's the third day of Chinese New Year, and no visits are made nor are visitors received as it is believed that evil spirits roam the earth. It couldn't have been a coincidence that Botak had been killed after he'd tried to see her uncle. Or probably because Uncle Chen has been cutting ties with his former underworld connections like smuggling and protection rackets.
The story explored relationships between families who still believed in superstitions and taboos as the way of local life. Things weren't easy but wouldn't be so bad. They working out in this new post-war world. I enjoyed the pacing and the atmosphere that the author evoked which surprised me and was well on its way. It's worth reading and I give 4.5 ⭐️
Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙
*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores
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September 16, 2024
Ovidia Yu’s “The Yellow Rambutan Tree Mystery” (2023) is set in Singapore in 1946 just after the end of World War II. This book is the seventh in a series in which the narrator and protagonist is Chen Su Lin, a young Chinese woman who had been the secretarial assistant to Chief Inspector Thomas LeFroy, head of the British Detective and Intelligence unit prior to the Japanese occupation. Su Lin now resides with her grandmother and her uncle and his family. When two of her uncle’s confederates come by the house on the third day of Chinese New Year, they are turned away as it is unlucky to have guests on this day. One of them is found dead shortly thereafter being refused entrance. Su Lin and her family are suspected of involvement, and Su Lin investigates the death to clear their names. The book is nicely written with a good plot. The discussions of the difficulties of recovering from the war are also interesting. Recommended. You should read the earlier books first to have a better understanding of many of the characters. Without that backgound, the book would be hard to follow.
July 20, 2023
Hmm, I have complained about this series before. However, when I saw this new title in the library, my heart did leap for joy! Two in a year and so close to one another? Clearly I missed when exactly the Mushroom tree mystery was released.
I liked this book, even though the potential villain was quite obvious from the start and there were still disappointments. Major SPOILER:
I liked this book, even though the potential villain was quite obvious from the start and there were still disappointments. Major SPOILER:
January 4, 2025
A perfect book to read on a 14-hour flight! Excellent historical fiction. The earlier Su Lin novels took place in British colonial Singapore; then during Japanese occupation; and now WW2 is over and the British are back. Su Lin is back living at "Chen Mansion" with her grandmother and her uncle and his wife Shen Shen who will play a bigger role in this story. Her friend Pershanti and her fiance Dr.Leask are back in Singapore after spending the occupation hiding out in the Malayan jungle. Her old boss (and ? love interest) Chief Inspector LeFroy has just arrived back from England on a secret mission. As always, Yu's writing is strong. Characterizations are vivid. We learn a lot about local culture. The Su Lin series is not growing stale and I look forward to the next book in the series.
September 28, 2023
I'm glad I checked the publication dates on the books in the series, because the Cannon Ball Tree and Mushroom Tree are better read before the Yellow Rambutan Tree, even though they are numbered differently in the series. They are best enjoyed by publication date.
The Frangipani Tree Mystery (2017)
The Betel Nut Tree Mystery (2018)
The Paper Bark Tree Mystery (2019)
The Mimosa Tree Mystery (2020)
The Cannonball Tree Mystery (2021)
The Mushroom Tree Mystery (2022)
The Yellow Rambutan Tree Mystery (2023)
The Frangipani Tree Mystery (2017)
The Betel Nut Tree Mystery (2018)
The Paper Bark Tree Mystery (2019)
The Mimosa Tree Mystery (2020)
The Cannonball Tree Mystery (2021)
The Mushroom Tree Mystery (2022)
The Yellow Rambutan Tree Mystery (2023)
June 11, 2023
Another lovely Su Lin mystery
Su Lin is probably one of the most likeable protagonists ever with her quick wit, intelligence, and kindness. You will love her family and friends, the delicious food, the history, and all the beautiful intertwining cultures of Singapore. The mystery keeps you in a delightful suspense, but with enough facts to keep you guessing. It is hard to put down and I am always sad when it ends.
Su Lin is probably one of the most likeable protagonists ever with her quick wit, intelligence, and kindness. You will love her family and friends, the delicious food, the history, and all the beautiful intertwining cultures of Singapore. The mystery keeps you in a delightful suspense, but with enough facts to keep you guessing. It is hard to put down and I am always sad when it ends.
January 10, 2024
Another good but slower start that was really great by the end! (Maybe it's just taking me longer to get into books these days?) So love the continued character/family/relationships-of-all-kinds development in this series, as well as the progression through the history of colonialism and conflict in Singapore.
Highly recommend this book and the series as a whole. Already looking forward to the next!
Highly recommend this book and the series as a whole. Already looking forward to the next!
October 29, 2024
Su Lin Chen is a charming young woman whose placid exterior and silent stance hides her intelligent thought and practical logic. She is kind, giving, and forgiving with everyone. Each book is better than the last---and that is difficult for a writer to achieve. the post war era of Singapore is marred by the grasping claim of the UK to reclaim their right to occupy the island and to control its peoples. The history included in each book is a big draw for me. I do love this series.
December 14, 2024
It is the New Year in Singapore. The Japanese are gone and, while there are still food shortages, people are no longer starving. The British are trying to reassert authority but have lost a lot of legitimacy in their abandonment of the colony. Su Lin is happy just to have survived the war but is worried about her future. She has little hope in either marital or job prospects. However, when a man is murdered almost on her doorstep, she can hardly avoid getting involved.
December 16, 2024
I'm biased, because I have read all the Crown Colony books so far and care about the characters. I fully acknowledge that the solution of this mystery came rather late and haphazardly in the book, the murderer's motives could have either led to killings in previous books or none at all, and the portraits of nearly every white British colonizer are stereotypes. Still, I have enjoyed watching Chen Su Lin grow up--hard to believe she's only 26!--and there's a happy ending. Plus, I like rambutans.
January 22, 2025
Just delightful and full of the gritty details of Singapore just post WWII. I recognize some of the details which leads me to trust the whole. There's the racism and the loss of war - painful - but Ms.Yu weaves hope through the fabric.
The rhythm of her English is awkward sometimes and I find myself wishing the editor had set the type so that we could clearly identify different speakers. I've heard that the earlier books in this series are more carefully edited so I'm off to read them!
The rhythm of her English is awkward sometimes and I find myself wishing the editor had set the type so that we could clearly identify different speakers. I've heard that the earlier books in this series are more carefully edited so I'm off to read them!
January 1, 2026
I absolutely *love* this series and am so frustrated by the lack of editing, among other things. We know Le Froy speaks Hokkien and Malay. We don’t need to be told again less than 40 pages later.
And the ending was pretty crazy. Unlikely at best, preposterous at worst. The innovative use of the prosthesis was genius, though.
I’m looking forward to the next books in the series. I remain hopeful that the editing and wackiness will be better.
And the ending was pretty crazy. Unlikely at best, preposterous at worst. The innovative use of the prosthesis was genius, though.
I’m looking forward to the next books in the series. I remain hopeful that the editing and wackiness will be better.
June 14, 2023
Great entry in the Su Lin mystery series. Post-war Singapore is brought vividly to life as the Chen family attempts to celebrate the New Year. Also Le Froy returns. The mystery is not too hard to figure out but the family drama is interesting as their business is described in more detail here than in previous entries. Su Lin is a great character and very astute detective.
July 11, 2024
More even than the tensely paced central mystery, it is the development of the relationships of beloved recurring characters that captured and engaged my attention. Sitting down to read, I couldn’t wait to turn the page and see how things would turn out for Leask, Parshanti, Le Froy, and, of course, Su Lin herself. Wonderful story!
July 19, 2024
Good transition
Somehow I missed this when it was first published and read book 8. Reading this one afterwards made me appreciate how well it created a transition from war time to peace time living and loving. As always the characters are fascinating, as if the local and history. My only other comment is that Su Lin needs to stop keeping information to herself!
Somehow I missed this when it was first published and read book 8. Reading this one afterwards made me appreciate how well it created a transition from war time to peace time living and loving. As always the characters are fascinating, as if the local and history. My only other comment is that Su Lin needs to stop keeping information to herself!
December 29, 2025
2.5🍋🍋
this book offers a great depiction of chinese culture and how it was like in singapore during the post-war period. interesting premise but the mystery wasn’t engrossing for me :( felt like quite a bit of time was spent talking about the different characters, and the climactic points only happened towards the end
this book offers a great depiction of chinese culture and how it was like in singapore during the post-war period. interesting premise but the mystery wasn’t engrossing for me :( felt like quite a bit of time was spent talking about the different characters, and the climactic points only happened towards the end
June 15, 2023
another amazing book by Ovidia Yu
Another amazing book by Ovidia Yu!!! She’s one of 2 authors that go on my auto buy list & I always end up reading her books in 1 sitting even if I’m bleary eyed the next morning. It’s always worth it.
Another amazing book by Ovidia Yu!!! She’s one of 2 authors that go on my auto buy list & I always end up reading her books in 1 sitting even if I’m bleary eyed the next morning. It’s always worth it.
July 26, 2023
Yellow Rambutan is a good read
I found myself reading half of the entire book, before I but it down for the first time. Sure hope Singapore does not run out of trees that make unusual items. I must say, I, in pure greed want more, p!ease and thank you
I found myself reading half of the entire book, before I but it down for the first time. Sure hope Singapore does not run out of trees that make unusual items. I must say, I, in pure greed want more, p!ease and thank you
April 29, 2024
Wonderful book
Wow, this was a fantastic story, full of twist and turns for our characters. Resolving some plot lines only to open a huge new one for the journey of Su Lin. Ms. Yu is a wonderful writer, hoping this series goes on for a long time.
Wow, this was a fantastic story, full of twist and turns for our characters. Resolving some plot lines only to open a huge new one for the journey of Su Lin. Ms. Yu is a wonderful writer, hoping this series goes on for a long time.
September 8, 2023
Good period and place detail - Singapore 1945 - with complex characters in a fast paced mystery. But the reader will be lost unless the prior titles in this series are read first.
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