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| 2025 Inspector De Silva #15 My thanks to the author for my copy of the book to review |
With the big day when Ceylon becomes independent of the British fast approaching, Inspector Shanti de Silva is busy with plans for policing excited crowds and elephant processions.
Everything is going smoothly until a new mystery raises the stakes. A wealthy and popular plantation owner is suddenly taken dangerously ill, and his glamorous young wife vanishes in suspicious circumstances. If they are to uncover the truth behind the family’s accusations and satisfy his boss Archie’s demand to wrap up the case before the big day, Shanti and his wife Jane will need to work fast.
It’s always a real pleasure to return to Ceylon especially as I’ve followed this charming series from the beginning and to have the lead up to the country’s independence from British Colonial rule highlighted is a real treat as the author brings this world to life in such an authentic way, from the history, to the people, everything feels beautifully recreated and to be back with Inspector Shanti de Silva and his wife Jane is a real delight.
In this fifteenth book of the series there is a sense of change as Ceylon gets ready to embrace independence but with any momentous change there is also a sense of uncertainty and this is expressed as Shanti is having to face the mysterious illness of a wealthy plantation owner, combined with the worrying disappearance of the plantation owner’s wife. With the possibility of foul play, the inspector soon discovers that there is more to this case than at first appears however, even with his usual flair for leaving no stone unturned, de Silva starts to feel the pressure of trying to solve this complicated case before Independence Day arrives.
There are the usual cast of characters who we have come to appreciate and the interaction between de Silva and his wife Jane is a real delight especially as Jane is usually the sounding board for Shanti’s dilemmas and continues to be a real support to him in all aspects of his life.
Beautifully written, with fine attention to detail, Changing Times in Nuala is a lovely continuation of the series. I hope there are still more stories to come as Inspector Shanti de Silva navigates the ever changing world around him.
About the Author
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
Harriet is married with two daughters and lives in Surrey. When Harriet is not writing, she likes reading, long walks and visiting art galleries and museums.
Twitter @harrietsteel1
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