Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder

Flint's promising first in a new series introduces portly Inspector Singh of the Singapore police. Singh's bosses send him to Kuala Lumpur to see that former model Chelsea Liew, a Singaporean accused of murdering her abusive Malaysian husband, timber tycoon Alan Lee, gets justice rather than summary execution. Singh has few leads, and an annoyingly fit, young, and handsome Sergeant Shukor of the Malaysian police hounds his steps, ostensibly to help—but really to spy on him. It is, on the face of it, an open and shut case. Chelsea had been suing for divorce and the custody of her children when Alan's lawyer announced that his client had converted to Islam and had declared his minor sons Muslim as well so that only the religious courts had jurisdiction over the custody hearing. At this point Chelsea threatened to kill Alan, who was found fatally shot soon after. Flint (Three Stars and other children's books) keeps the reader hooked right up to the unexpected resolution. (July)