Monday 6 July 2020

Book Review ~ Taken in Nuala by Harriet Steel

53211259
18 April 2020

Inspector de Silva Mystery #8

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

When an American millionaire and his glamorous daughter visit Nuala, the splendour they bring to the town's high society is soon tragically tarnished by a vicious crime.With many avenues of inquiry to follow, including the involvement of a mysterious fortune teller, Inspector de Silva will need all his resources to unravel the evidence and avert further disaster.A gripping mystery with lots of twists and turns set in the colourful and fascinating world of 1930s Ceylon.

What did I think about it..

Whenever I step back in time to 1930s Ceylon in the company of Inspector de Silva and his lovely wife, Jane, I know that I am in for a real treat, as not only is the history of the time beautifully recreated, but also I know that there will be a sharp mystery for the intrepid Inspector to solve.

Taken In Nuala focuses on a mystery surrounding the daughter a wealthy American businessman and from the very start it is obvious that there is more to this investigation than at first appears. The Inspector and his associates have to get to grips with a particularly intricate crime and as always it's fascinating to see the Inspector working alongside all the regular characters we have come to love and appreciate from reading the other novels in the series.

For those who haven't read the series, and Taken in Nuala is now the eight book, each story can be read as a standalone mystery as the author includes, at the start of the book, a useful description of each of the major characters. That Inspector Shanti de Silva is the star of the series is without question, his attention to even the smallest detail of the crime ensures that there is no stone unturned in his quest for justice. His lovely wife, Jane, is the still small voice of calm in Shanti's world as she helps him make sense of the complicated crimes he invariably gets drawn into, but it is the homely interludes between them which work so well, along with the sumptuous descriptions of Shanti's favourite meals and his beautiful garden.

This series really has caught my imagination and I look forward to the next story in this cosy crime series. For a sleepy Ceylonese town there is much going on and I am sure that before too long, this talented author, will involve the intrepid Inspector in another complicated crime mystery.








Harriet Steel wrote four historical novels before turning to crime with the Inspector de Silva mysteries, inspired by time spent in Sri Lanka (the former Ceylon)). Her work has also appeared in national newspapers and magazines. Visit her blog to sign up to her monthly newsletter for news of new releases and great offers, Blog 

She’s married with two daughters and lives in Surrey. When she’s not writing, she likes reading, long walks and visiting art galleries and museums.


Twitter @harrietsteel1




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