Fiji, 1915. When rumors spread about Germans being sighted, Sergeant Akal Singh is sent to the neighboring island of Ovalau to investigate. His commanding officer believes he's sending the sergeant off on a wild goose chase-- why on earth would World War I come to such a remote place in the Pacific? To add insult to injury, Singh is also tasked with chaperoning two European ladies on a sightseeing tour. When Singh arrives on Ovalau, he realizes that he will also have to mentor the island's only police officer, an eighteen-year-old constable with a penchant for hysterics.
Accompanying Singh is his friend and fellow officer, Taviti, who is visiting his uncle, the local chief. The two men quickly find themselves involved in the investigation surrounding the death of an unpopular local and the imprisonment of a group of Norwegian sailors who have run afoul of Taviti's uncle. If that weren't enough, Singh discovers that Katherine, the young European lady journalist, has an agenda of her own. Singh is going to have his hands full trying to keep everyone out of trouble.
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A Shipwreck in Fiji is the second entry in Nilima Rao's historical mystery series featuring Sergeant Akal Singh (following A Disappearance in Fiji). I am enjoying learning about the culture and history of this area at the turn of the twentieth century.
Most readers would assume that the islands of Fiji were much too remote to be affected by World War I, but that's not true. There was a definite shortage of men on the islands, since most of them were off fighting in Europe. That's why Sergeant Akal Singh finds himself mentoring a young and extremely nervous constable when he and Taviti arrive on Ovalau.
Taviti was a welcome addition to this book, as he introduced both Singh and readers to tribal traditions, and the breaking of some of them had serious repercussions. Another aspect of Fijian life at the time was the practice of bringing indentured Indians to the islands to work for a period of five years. (Don't miss the Author's Note about this.)
The mysteries concerning the death of the local, the Norwegian sailors, and the European women's real reasons for being on the island were intriguing and certainly kept my interest; however, if one thing made me roll my eyes, it was Akal Singh's propensity to be enthralled by every pretty face he comes in contact with. This is what got him sent to Fiji in disgrace, and-- if he doesn't mend his ways soon-- it's going to get him in even hotter water in Fiji. We'll have to see what happens in the next book.
A Shipwreck in Fiji by Nilima Rao
eISBN: 9781641295482
Soho Press © 2025
eBook, 272 pages
Historical Mystery, #2 Sergeant Akal Singh mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Net Galley
This does sound interesting, Cathy! I don't know enough about Fiji, and not during this period of time, and it sounds as though Rao really places the reader there, then. I like the sound of the characters, too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Margot's comment - definitely sounds interesting and, no, I don't know much about Fiji. Certainly not during the WWI period. Will keep this one in mind.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me about this series! My library has gotten the first book sometime since you posted your review, so I'm now waiting for a copy to become available so I can visit another corner of the world and enjoy a police procedural at the same time :)
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