Summary

Leaving a troubled marriage in Colombo, Kiyama heads to the home of a friend from her university days. Perhaps by staying with her friend in a quiet rural place she can find some clarity and peace. Vino had moved to the countryside to take over the rubber plantation which she inherited from her uncle. She has seemingly adjusted well to running the business and is happy to have her old friend come to stay. But the quiet life doesn’t appear to be as much of a retreat as Kiyama hoped. Soon after her arrival, the body of the local English teacher is found in a paddy field and it soon appears that Vino may be a suspect. Not trusting the police, Vino and Kiy decide that they are going to find out who the real killer is.

My Thoughts

I was very excited to find a mystery series set in Sri Lanka and I have hopes for this one as the series continues. The two friends make a fun detective team.

What stood out most to me is the universality of urban and rural divides. No matter where you are in the world, city people are always in for a bit of culture shock when they arrive in a small country village. It doesn’t take long for city people to realize that – 

• Everyone knows everything about everyone else.

• Newcomers are viewed with a degree of suspicion.

By placing the mystery in a rural area unfamiliar to Kiyama, the author was able to add extra dimensions and challenges to the investigation for both the police and amateur detectives.

The mystery had its strengths. There were good motives for the murder. Even as amateurs, the women had some good ideas about how to proceed with the investigation. I didn’t figure out who the murderer was, which speaks well for the way the author crafted the mystery. At the same time, there weren’t many clues or red herrings dropped along the way and the pool of suspects was meager. 

What Else I Liked

Kiyama and Vino are very likable characters.

• Kiy, who has been traumatized by discovering her husband’s infidelity, is feeling moody. She acknowledges that even in the best of times she has issues with anger and this is not the best of times. Admittedly, she also doesn’t respond well to authority or being told to do something – even by a friend. So she can be a bit prickly. At the same time, she is intelligent, independent, and knows what she likes (western foods) and what she doesn’t (wearing a saree). 

• Vino, on the other hand, has become a successful business woman and has learned to adapt to the ways of the village. She is confident in her work and very compassionate to others, especially her friends. Her sense of humor is a bit quirky, but fun. Like Kiy, she is a very loyal friend. 

• There was a nice bit of humor. Kiy pretending to be a clueless city tourist was a good moment

• I feel like I learned something about Sri Lanka, its educational system and rubber plantations.

• A good summer read

What I Didn’t Like

I wish the writing had a stronger use of rich imagery. I love it when writing engages my senses and draws me in to the world of the characters, but sadly that did not happen this time.  Here there was a lot of telling, but not much showing. The most vivid description in the book was actually of the rubber trees and I craved more of that.

Potential Triggers or Upsetting Events

• Talk of gambling
• Talk of infidelity
• Sexism/Sexual harassment

Rating 3/5

About the Author

Nadishka Aloysius is a Sri Lankan self-published author, drama and English language teacher, and mother of two who loves chocolate and coffee. She has written across a number of genres, including fantasy and mystery, as well as for all ages, from children to adults. She has received awards and nominations for her illustrated books for children. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook or Amazon.

• Cover art from Goodreads
• Rice paddy photo by ctrlaltdck from Pixabay
• Sri Lankan town photo by Kanishka Ranasinge from Pexels