This is the much awaited third instalment in the Inspector Singh Investigates series by Shamini Flint, a Malaysian lawyer turned author who now resides in Singapore. First line in the book: Inspector Singh sipped his coffee.
This time, the tubby turban wearing Old Spice fan inspector and his whiter than white sneakers are in his hometown of Singapore when a murder of a senior partner in an international law firm pulled him out of his easy rattan chair to crack a crime in a country where whoever commits murder shall be punished with death. (Section 302, Singapore Penal Code, Chapter 224)
Every lawyer in the firm becomes a suspect as well as the victim's ex-wife and wife. Unfortunately, one of the suspects, who happens to be Mrs Singh's distant relation, is invited by her to join the Singhs for dinner with the aim of choosing him a nice Sikh wife. How is the old school Inspector Singh going to take to a suspect on his dinner table over a meal of delectable dhal and spicy potato and fenugreek? As for the other suspects, what secrets are they hiding? All of them seem to have a believable alibi. All of them seem to be comfortable in their lifestyles. Why would they commit murder and exchange a life of prestige and riches for the noose?
Other characters: Corporal Fong, diffident and servile, lends a helping hand to the investigation and does most of the tea boy job. Superintendent Chen is the tyrant boss to whom Singh tries to avoid at all costs but, unfortunately, among a sea of unadorned heads, his two inch beehive stands out like a foghorn. Action man Sergeant Eric Chung does most of the legwork.
Flint writes lightly and with humour. She portrays the perfect blend of East and West in modern-day affluent westernised Singapore accurately. With all the twists and turns, Flint has deftly kept me guessing till the end, although the mystery of the swipe card remains unsolved. I am pleased to see a scattering of local words like kiasu (fear of losing or being second best) and Singlish (Singapore colloquial English) phrases like "What for they lie?" Yes, I can speak like that!
If you are interested in Flint's other books, do visit http://www.shaminiflint.com/ and in conclusion, I would like to say that I look forward to her upcoming books in this series and I guarantee you will warm to this kettle and teaspoon fellow!
Rating: 4/5 (Entertained)
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