Beginning of a lovely series set in Sri Lanka….Sinhalese inspector with English wife. Enjoyed the food references. Plot secondary. Tea plantation owner murdered…who did it? ( )

I came across Trouble in Nuala while looking for a “straightforward” cosy mystery. That is, one without witches or ghosts or cute pets that help find clues. (Nothing wrong with those, but I fancied something without fantasy elements.) Inspector de Silva’s case fits the bill nicely, set as it is in historic Sri Lanka.

It was an easy read with a gentle pace. There are plentiful descriptions of places and people, as de Silva ambles around (metaphorically) picking up various clues, with ample opportunities for refreshments. I have no idea what police protocols would have been in that time period, and sometimes his methods seemed odd (though I easily accept how a 12th Century Benedictine monk goes about his investigations). For example, I raised my eyebrows at the thought of evidence rattling around loose in the boot of de Silva’s car until he remembered it was there.

Overall, a pleasant cosy mystery in an unusual historic setting.

This is a nice start to a series of mysteries set in Sri Lanka, or Ceylon, of the 1930s. The author has tried to prepare a base for the future novels in the series by establishing the major characters and their backgrounds. The setting is very fresh and the characters are quite charming, and I hope the series develops into a memorable one.
Though the mystery is not extraordinary, the overall product is very enjoyable. I would have liked the author to consult some native people before deciding on the names of some of the characters―they do not fit the locale and the ethnicity at all.
In short, this one is a short, sweet mystery with a fresh setting and some fine characters, deserving 3.5 stars. ( )

Moving to the small town of Nuala, in 1934, Inspector Shanti de Silva hopes for a more peaceful position. Unfortunately one of the plantation owners is accused of doing harm to one of his workers, and the owner is later found dead. de Silva is convinced that that man was murdered, but who had a motive.
An enjoyable well-written mystery, a good start to a new series. ( )

Ceylon, 1930s, law-enforcement, lawyers *****

1930s Ceylon, the police, the overbearing British, and murder. It's not hard to figure out who will be the victim, but the who and how are posers til the end of the book! An excellent listen on its own merit, but listening to Matthew Lloyd Davies is a real treat. ( )