A Shipwreck in Fiji - (A Sergeant Akal Singh Mystery) by Nilima Rao (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Fiji, 1915: when a purported sighting of Germans on the run from WWI turns deadly, Sergeant Akal Singh must (reluctantly) take up the investigation in this vibrant follow-up to A Disappearance in Fiji.

Sergeant Akal Singh, an unwilling transplant to Fiji, is just starting to settle into his life in the capital city of Suva when he is sent to the neighboring island of Ovalau on a series of fool's errands. First: investigate strange reports of Germans, thousands of miles from the front of World War I. Second: chaperone two strong-willed European ladies, Mary and Katherine, on a sight-seeing tour. And third: supervise the only police officer currently on Ovalau, an eighteen-year-old constable with a penchant for hysterics.

Accompanied by his friend Taviti, who is visiting his uncle, the local chief, Akal sets off on these seemingly straightforward tasks. Instead, they become embroiled in a series of local issues: the gruesome death of an unpopular local and the imprisonment of a group of Norwegian sailors in Taviti's uncle's village. To add to Akal's woes, Katherine, the charming aspiring journalist, harbors an agenda of her own. Will Akal be able to keep her--and himself--out of trouble before anybody else gets killed?

Nilima Rao's debut, A Disappearance in Fiji, was a critical darling and award-winner, ending up on multiple best-of-year roundups. This next installment in the Sergeant Akal Singh series has all the charm and sparkle of the first book, with even more fascinating historical insight into the realities of life on Fiji at the start of the twentieth century.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Shipwreck in Fiji

A Library Journal Mystery Pick of the Month

"Rao's detailed portrayal of Singh's and the Fijian people's struggles against race and class prejudices laced with multiple murder mysteries makes for an engaging read . . . Highly recommended."
--Historical Novels Review

"With a gripping detective storyline and a layered look at identity, cultural clashes, and political tensions, Nilima Rao delivers a story that's far more than just your average whodunit . . . Akal's sharp, driven, and quietly haunted by his past, and part of the book's pull is wondering whether solving this case will help him carve out a place for himself -- or leave him even more adrift . . . A must-read."
--Bestsellers World

"A lively story with engaging characters and fascinating bits about British colonial governance in Fiji . . . [A Shipwreck in Fiji] is first-rate."
--Library Journal, Starred Review

"Part of the appeal of the Sergeant Akal Singh mystery series . . . is the intense 'stranger in a strange land' dynamic faced by the hero . . . Singh doesn't fit in with the Fijians, Indians, Australians, New Zealanders, or the British, who rule the island colony . . . and must use his wits to battle the obstacles in his path. Intriguing history-mystery."
--Booklist

"Immersive . . . Through Singh, who's an outsider both to Fijians and his British superiors, Rao deploys sharp observations about colonial rule and classism . . . The author ties [the book's subplots] together in shrewd and satisfying ways. Historical mystery fans will enjoy this."
--Publishers Weekly

"Akal is a compelling protagonist, at the center of a deeply researched novel about a fascinating moment in history . . . [A] sensitively told story of class and racial tensions during World War I."
--Kirkus Reviews

Praise for A Disappearance in Fiji

Winner of the 2024 ALA Reading List for Mystery Fiction
Booklist's Top 10 Debut Mysteries and Thrillers
Library Journal Best Crime Fiction of the Year
An Amazon Best Debut of the Year
CrimeReads Best Historical Fiction of the Year
A Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine Best Debut Mystery of the Year
An Amazon Editors' Choice - Best Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense
A Historical Novels Review Editors' Choice

"Akal finds himself learning about the harrowing effects of colonialism, indentured servitude and caste. Rao expertly juggles the weighty themes and, in Akal, has the makings of a memorable series detective."
--Sarah Weinman, The New York Times Book Review

"Alive with well-drawn characters and deftly plotted with a number of twists."
--The Washington Post

"Combining a tightly plotted mystery with a thoughtful critique of colonialism, A Disappearance in Fiji establishes debut author Rao as a writer to watch."
--Parade

"We were completely spellbound and charmed by this debut . . . Eye-opening depictions of colonial racism and the harshly enforced caste system are leavened by warm wit and humor--especially in the character of Akal--and rich historical detail. More, please."
--Amazon Book Review

"A magnetic and atmospheric mystery debut set against the backdrop of 1914 Fiji. Rao expertly layers themes of classism and racism with an immersive storyline of kidnappings and colonialism."
--Ms. Magazine

"This is an utterly charming novel. The setting is exotic and the characters are intriguing. Nilima Rao is an author well worth discovering."
--Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series

"Meet Sergeant Akal Singh, the complex and charming hero of a thoroughly original mystery set in 1914 Fiji. Fans of Golden Age mysteries will relish this debut novel by a compelling new talent, Nilima Rao. More, please!"
--Sujata Massey, Agatha Award-winning author of The Widows of Malabar Hill

"A poignant and entertaining read . . . Sergeant Akal Singh is a charmingly imperfect and captivating protagonist. I love Akal and hope we'll be seeing a lot more of him!"
--Ovidia Yu, author of the Aunty Lee Singaporean Mysteries

"A slow-boil, effective whodunit that exposes exploitative colonial practices."
--The Christian Science Monitor

"A Disappearance in Fiji is a page turner, an impressive debut novel."
--India Today

"A Disappearance in Fiji is that rare and perfect combination of historical detail, social criticism, engaging character portraits, and a carefully plotted mystery with no loose ends. A great start to what will hopefully become a long-running series."
--CrimeReads

"A captivating story that will make you want to immediately find out what case Akal will take on next."
--Book Riot

"Rao delivers a tightly wound mystery that surprises until its stunning conclusion, spearheaded by an endearing protagonist who will delight readers. A Disappearance in Fiji is a gem of a debut novel and the start of an exciting new series not to be missed."
--BookBrowse

"With Rao's deeply researched plotting and characterization, the novel immerses readers in a rarely explored era. Occupied Fiji is filled with colonial torments, petty striving, and lovely, if afflicted, physical atmospheres . . . While Singh is slowly changed by the dreadful realities he discovers, so, too, is the reader."
--Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

"A marvelous debut that beautifully paints life in a part of the world that few of us have a chance to visit. The highlight of Nilima Rao's well-crafted novel set in Fiji in the days of British colonial rule is the collision of cultures and class and how one man is charged with the task of unlocking the mysteries they create. A pleasure to read."
--Colin Cotterill, author of the Dr. Siri Paiboun Mysteries

"A gripping, authentic and brilliantly told mystery story that brings to life colonial era Fiji with a wealth of intriguing characters and underlying tensions. I have found a new favorite mystery series!"
--A.M. Stuart, author of the Harriet Gordon Mysteries

"Rao's take on early twentieth century Fiji is pretty singular--there isn't a lot of fiction that probes the history of Pacific islands, and fewer that are mysteries . . . The strong sense of historical place and a well-clued mystery makes for a promising debut."
--Madison Public Library

"A vivid read . . .The novel focuses on some wide societal issues―white colonialism, systemic racism, indentured servitude, and corporate greed―in the context of an excellent story . . . [Akal is] an endearing and iconic hero."
--Historical Novels Review

"[A Disappearance in Fiji] joins the likes of Qiu Xiaolong and Alexander McCall Smith, authors who write as much about place as they are about the crimes at hand."
--Asian Review of Books

"An absorbing mystery . . . An insightful, determined main character, the unearthing of the wrongs of indentured servitude, and a compelling plot make this a promising start to a new series. Fans of Harini Nagendra's The Bangalore Detectives Club (2022), also about the wrongs inflicted under British colonialism, should love this mystery."
--Booklist, Starred Review

"Rao skillfully weaves descriptions of the treatment and living conditions of Indian workers into the propulsive plot and draws a host of vibrant characters. This is an exceptionally promising debut."
--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"The Punjabi Sikh Akal Singh and the mystery of colonial Fiji will appeal to fans of Abir Mukherjee's mysteries set in India."
--Library Journal, Starred Review

About the Author

Nilima Rao is a Fijian Indian Australian who has always referred to herself as "culturally confused." She has since learned that we are all confused in some way and has been published on the topic by Australia's Special Broadcasting Service as part of the SBS Emerging Writers Competition and now feels better about the whole thing. When she isn't writing, Nilima can be found wrangling data (the dreaded day job) or wandering around Melbourne laneways in search of the next new wine bar. A Disappearance in Fiji was her first novel.