Introduction

'Great protagonist, great setting - this is a delightful book' Morning Star

When Victor Glossop is found dead, his body covered in bizarre symbols and soaked in betel nut juice and investigations into his beautiful fiancée’s past reveal a dead lover, as well as a husband, aspiring journalist Su Lin agrees to chaperon Nicole at the Farquhar Hotel, intending to get the truth out of her somehow. But as the secrets she uncovers trigger further deaths, Su Lin realizes she may not be able to save Nicole's life - or even her own.

The second novel in Ovidia Yu's delightfully charming crime series set in 1930s Singapore, featuring amateur sleuth Su Lin.

'Charming and fascinating with great authentic feel. This book is exactly why I love historical novels' Rhys Bowen

'I really enjoyed this wonderful gem of a book. The diversity and rich history portrayed in the book are what make The Frangipani Tree Mystery a brilliant read. The fact that it's a fusion of crime and historical fiction adds brownie points to the package!' Bookloves Reviews

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Excerpt

After the waiters had done what they could and left, Dr Covington leaned across me to say something to Parshanti and Kenneth. He was looking at them and talking to them but at the same time he put one arm on the back of my chair, his hand clasping my shoulder. His other hand moved onto my lap under the tablecloth. As he talked animatedly about tides affecting travelling time, his fingers stroked my thigh through the thin, silky fabric of my borrowed dress and moved upwards, squeezing painfully. I sat, feeling terrified and stupid, and frozen in a nightmare because no one else had noticed. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. Did you find it easy or difficult to relate to the characters, the location and the time period?
2. Ignoring race and gender for the moment, who do you identify with most in the book?
3. What do you think of the colonial bias (eg some career options only open to white people) Have you observed similar imbalances based on race, money or status? How does that make you feel?
4. Did anything about the book make you feel uncomfortable?
5. If you were to write a book set in this time period (1930s between the two world wars) inspired by your own family’s experiences, where would you set it? What stories would you tell?
6. Habits like chewing betel may be hazardous to health but have also become part of culture and tradition, as with smoking and sweet desserts. How would you deal with these issues in life? In art?
7. It’s often said that the one thing all Singaporeans take seriously is food. Did you find any of the food in the book appealing? Can you trace any of your favorite dishes to your parents’ and grandparents’ childhoods?

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