Fatal Finds in Nuala by Harriet SteelMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Just love the setting and the characters in these books--30's in Ceylon. British rule is still there and Archie Clutterbuck is the chief poombah for the Brits. In this episode his snobbish wife, Florence, is off on a cruise so Archie can get out in the field and work closely with Inspector Shanti de Silva and his two officers. Shanti is Sinalhese Buddist married to his lovely English wife, Jane. Sgt Prasanna is in his 20's, recently married and also Sinalese while Constable Nadar, a Tamil Hindu, is a bit younger and a recent Dad.
On a dark and stormy night, LOL, de Silva find himself broken down on a muddy back road with no houses in sight. He is rescued by Clutterbuck's assistant who happens by, but not before he is spooked by strange sounds emanating from the surrounding jungle..
The next day Prasanna's wife comes with an older woman to the police station to report the lady's missing husband, a villager named Venu. Before long his body is found buried in the jungle not far from the site of Shanti's disabled car. There are old coins and pieces of what appear to be gold jewelry in the vicinity of the burial. What are they doing here, did Venu have them and if so, where did he get them? The investigation is is convoluted, the characters shady. The solution is surprising. All in all a good book for a rainy day!
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