An entertaining and intriguing mystery set in Singapore during the Japanese occupation. The characters are interesting and illustrate the various nationalities and cultures in Singapore. Some background in Singaporean history is useful prior to reading the novel. ( )

Even though I’ve enjoyed the previous three entries in this series, I hesitated over this one. The first three were pre-WWII, but The Mimosa Tree Mystery moves the series into Japanese occupied Singapore. I couldn’t see how Yu would be able to write a story that maintained the gentility of a traditional mystery in the middle of a Japanese occupied war-torn setting and maintain any semblance of authenticity.

Yu not only managed, she outdid her previous efforts. There’s no sugar-coating the atrocities perpetuated by the Japanese during that time – Su Lin and her family are Chinese, and the story starts in the middle of a roundup into a killing field – but by focusing on Su Lin and the murder mystery the author avoids the story being overwhelmed by the horror of the times.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I liked the previous ones, but I had a hard time becoming invested in the characters. This time around it wasn’t a problem – the story was riveting enough and the pace fast enough that whether I became wholly invested in the characters didn’t matter. My only complaint was the denouement scene. I understand that the point was the murderer wasn’t rational, but Yu did the job too well and it became extraordinarily difficult to follow along with who supposedly was working with whom and who ordered what, etc. It was a small thing in the overall enjoyment of the story, but it was at the end, so it stuck.

I now find myself eager to dive into the next book, The Cannonball Tree Mystery to find out what happens next with Su Lin, her family, and (former) detective, now POW, Le Froy.

I read this for 2021 Halloween Bingo. It fits the Tropical Terror square rather well, as it is set in Singapore (Tropical) during the WWII Japanese occupation (Terror). ( )

I have been following Su Lin, Ovidia Yu's likable teenage Chinese detective, since book #1, but I think you could comfortably read this as a stand alone. If you do begin with this one, though, I recommend seeking out the first three soon, as they each include a puzzling mystery as well as her growing friendship with Detective Le Froy.

This novel takes place during the Japanese occupation of Singapore during WWII, and the story begins with Su Lin being asked to investigate the murder of a neighbor (considered a spy) in exchange for the release of her Uncle Chen from prison. Told in the first person, Su Lin realistically describes the stressful occupied environment of the town, the cleverness of Su Lin's grandmother in keeping her family fed during wartime, the uncertainty of who can be trusted, and the cultural differences between the Chinese and Japanese.

Once again Su Lin solves the murder mystery by asking pertinent questions as she observes the behavior of those around her - colleagues and family of the murdered man, the military leaders, and even her family friends. The outcome comes to a satisfying conclusion, with a few twists and surprises along the way.

What makes this series a stand out is Su Lin - her love of books and reading, her persistence in seeking out the truth, and her perceptive observations - all described by Yu with a witty sense of humor even when the subject is a serious one.

Thanks to the author for a gifted copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own. ( )