Crown Colony Mysteries

Ovidia Yu

In Japanese-occupied Singapore, a secretive collaborator is found murdered in his garden with a sprig of mimosa in his hand, drawing suspicion toward neighbors, officials, and even his own family. When her uncle is detained as part of the authorities’ reprisal, resourceful teenager Su Lin is compelled to investigate the killing, using her language skills and intimate knowledge of the community to navigate a dangerous web of loyalties. As she probes the victim’s hidden dealings, she encounters shifting alliances, wartime fear, and secrets that place far more than one life at risk. Richly atmospheric and sharply observed, this historical mystery combines an engaging coming-of-age voice with a nuanced portrait of Singapore under occupation.