Singapore Sapphireby A.M. Stuart
Rating: ★★★½
isbn: 9781984802644
Series: Harriet Gordon #1
Publication Date: August 6, 2019
Pages: 367
Genre: Historical, Mystery
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
It’s a compelling start to a series, but this first book leaves the characters’ dynamic with each other unsettled at the end, so I didn’t like it as much I would have otherwise. Still the plotting was strong and well thought out, though some aspects of the puzzle were obvious to the reader, either because they were telegraphed early on, or because the reader has read too many mysteries not to see what was coming. The characters not having the benefit of 100+ years of mysteries to tap into, their slowness to pick up on what was going on was understandable, if sometimes tedious.
I have the second book in hand on my TBR, and I’m looking forward to seeing the character development in that one. That will decide me as to whether to go on with the series or not. (Assuming it continues past book 2, of course.)
What an interesting premise. There’s a manor house in Bath where the suffragette’s where taken to recover from their time in prison. Many of them had been force fed and where in poor health but they all seem to have been women of great spirit. I like the idea of one of them heading off to make a go of things in Singapore.
The character here was force fed too and her tale is harrowing, to say the least.
I’ve finished the second book and while I still have a few issues, it’s a compelling series so far.