Singapore Sapphire

By: A. M. Stuart

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Early twentieth-century Singapore is a place where a person can disappear, and Harriet Gordon hopes to make a new life for herself there, leaving her tragic memories behind her--but murder gets in the way.

Singapore, 1910--Desperate for a fresh start, Harriet Gordon finds herself living with her brother, a reverend and headmaster of a school for boys, in Singapore at the height of colonial rule. Hoping to gain some financial independence, she advertises her services as a personal secretary. It is unfortunate that she should discover her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold--explorer, mine magnate and president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers Club--dead with a knife in his throat.

When Inspector Robert Curran is put on the case, he realizes that he has an unusual witness in Harriet. Harriet's keen eye for detail and strong sense of duty interests him, as does her distrust of the police and her traumatic past, which she is at pains to keep secret from the gossips of Singapore society.

When another body is dragged from the canal, Harriet feels compelled to help with the case. She and Curran are soon drawn into a murderous web of treachery and deceit and find themselves face-to-face with a ruthless cabal that has no qualms about killing again to protect its secrets.

Critic reviews

Praise for Singapore Sapphire

“Skillfully and seamlessly weaves actual people and events of the time with rich, multidimensional fictional characters.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“My favorite new mystery series! Set in a unique and compelling setting, and filled with fascinating historical research, deft characterization, and thrilling suspense, readers will devour Singapore Sapphire. One of the best books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to read Harriet’s next adventure.” – Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries


“Singapore Sapphire is a gem of a story! You will love the intrepid heroine and the exotic locale that bring this twisty tale to life. I loved every minute of this steamy adventure.”-Victoria Thompson, Bestselling author of Murder in Trinity Place.


“Filled with all the hot, decadent splendor and sultry danger of Colonial-era Singapore. Rich, atmospheric, and fascinating!”—USA Today bestselling author C.S. Harris

The whispery voice of narrator

A voice that whispers would be good for a children’s bedtime book. I had a hard time staying awake, had the volume on maximum and still had to strain to hear. The story was okay.

Entertaining

Quite respectable mystery and the narrator was superb. Best narrator on Audible. A glimpse into Singapore, then a British colony, was interesting.

Good mystery novel

This was an enjoyable listen, similar to an Agatha Christie but in Singapore, highly recommended.

Great period mystery!

I enjoyed the story immensely, and the narrator is brilliant! Looking forward to the next one.

Well written, well plotted - well done!

Set in the first decade of the twentieth century a d in an exotic location. made the atmosphere of this book fabulous. The prose is beautifully written. I felt the heat and humidity and could see the lush greenery vividly. The mystery was well constructed and the investigation kept me riveted to the story. I loved the character dynamics a d found myself quite engaged with them . The author was able to convey menace and suspense without resorting to over the top dramatics. The narrator was excellent. She moved from character to character and kept them all individual. If you like historical mysteries with great characters you will love this like I did.