Inspector Singh Investigates: A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree

When Inspector Singh, the star of the Singapore police’s murder squad, is sent to Cambodia to observe an ex–Khmer Rouge leader’s trial for crimes against humanity, he expects little but boredom. But in the Sikh detective’s fourth outing (after The Singapore School of Villainy), Singh finds himself helping the taciturn Colonel Menhay solve the murder of a key witness for the prosecution. The shrewd Singh manages to winnow down the long list of suspects, but not in time to prevent another killing. And in a country where “tourist highlights include torture chambers and mass graves,” neither the investigation nor the trial can provide true closure for all who have lost their families. Alongside this sobering message, however, the book offers charming observations on life in Cambodia, with its many contradictions—a great read for an armchair traveler who likes a chewy mystery. (Aug.)