Wednesday 11 May 2022

πŸ“– Book Review ~ Break from Nuala by Harriet Steel




10 March 2022

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book


It is autumn 1940, and Inspector de Silva and his wife Jane are looking forward to a well-earned holiday. But their hopes of a relaxing break in the picturesque city of Galle beside the Indian Ocean are dashed when death, mysterious illnesses, and a missing guest cast a gloomy shadow.

As they’re drawn into the investigation, the mystery deepens. Is there a villain amongst their fellow guests or further afield? The search for answers will lead them into great danger that has repercussions far beyond the island of Ceylon.

The paperback edition of Break from Nuala contains a copy of Christmas in Nuala, previously only published as a Kindle Short Read.

πŸ“– My Review...

Inspector Shanti de Silva, and his lovely wife Jane, are enjoying a short holiday away from Nuala when they are inadvertently drawn into the mysterious disappearance of a guest from the hotel in which they are staying. With the inspector's fine eye for getting into the very heart of a mystery it's not long before he is piecing together the minuscule clues which the local police inspector seems determined to ignore.

As most of the previous books in the series have taken place in Nuala, the hill town which the inspector and his wife call home, it was good to explore another place in 1940s Ceylon, this time we discover something of Galle, a pretty coastal town, with an interesting history. With the intrepid inspector determined to enjoy his holiday at the beautifully named Cinnamon Lodge there is a more relaxed feel to the story however, as the mystery starts to deepen we are treated once again to all the elements we have come to enjoy from this well established series. There is the usual well developed sense of intrigue, more than a hint of danger and a cast of quirky characters who, it would seem, all have something to hide. Spending time in the company of the intrepid Inspector de Silva is always such a joy as this wonderful cosy crime series just goes from strength to strength.

Break from Nuala is the eleventh book in the series and whilst it is perfectly possible to read it as a standalone story, it does make sense to start at the beginning of the series in order to enjoy getting to know more about the time, place and people which this talented author brings so creatively to life.


🍜Best read with... a restorative bowl of mulligatawny soup









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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