Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder-Shamini Flint

Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder
Shamini Flint
Minotaur, Jul 6 2010, $24.99
ISBN 9780312596972

The Singapore Police Brass assigns Inspector Singh to travel to Kuala Lumpur to oversee a homicide inquiry involving a citizen of his country. Former Singaporean model Chelsea Liew has been accused of murdering her affluent abusive Malaysian husband Alan Lee. Singh is not to interfere, but insure his compatriot receives fair treatment.

Singh knows he must work fast before Liew is given local justice, execution style. He investigates the murder of the timber mogul as youthful local Police Sergeant Shukor accompanies him. Corpulent Singh knows his handsome escort is with him to insure he learns nothing to change the obvious outcome. Chelsea sued for divorce from Alan and wanted custody of their children. When her spouse used a religious ploy by proclaiming he was converting to Islam and their sons will also in order to move the marriage dissolution from civil court where she will win to religious court where he will win; she threatened to kill him just before someone did. Thus she had motive and opportunity.

This is a great Malaysian investigative thriller with a terrific legal twist involving religious vs. secular courts as the case takes several other spins. Action-packed, readers will relish Shamini Flint’s insightful whodunit with courageous cops. The visiting Singapore inspector must discretely conduct his inquiry with covert assistance from Shukor; while Malaysian Inspector Mohammad watches both of them but also conducts his discrete inquiry. The discerning look at Malaysian system of justice makes for a great tale.

Harriet Klausner

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