A Disappearance in Fiji

By: Nilima Rao

Narrated by: Sid Sagar

A charming and atmospheric debut mystery featuring a young Indian police sergeant investigating a missing persons case in colonial Fiji

1914, Fiji: 25-year-old Akal Singh would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in his native India and Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong.

When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, giving him strict instructions to view this investigation as nothing more than cursory. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees—but soon finds himself far more invested than he ever expected.

Now not only is he investigating a disappearance, but also confronting the brutal realities of the indentured workers’ existence and the racism of the British colonizers in Fiji—along with his own thorny notions of personhood and caste. And early interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured laborers, and native Fijians yield only one conclusion: there is far more to this case than meets the eye.

Nilima Rao’s debut is full of sparkling wit, vibrant characters, intriguing mystery-solving, and fascinating historical detail, both unflinching in its treatment of the atrocities of colonialism and hopeful for a better future.

Story Locale: 1914 Fiji

©2023 Nilima Rao (P)2023 Recorded Books

Good historical story

I really enjoyed this book. The plot is good and the historical details are interesting. I have not read too many stories about the Indians in Fiji and this was an entertaining way to learn some history. I liked the authors note and the narrator was very good.

Fun and well researched

The author tells a compelling and historically rich story, and the narrator is great. Hope there are some well-developed female characters who are neither villains nor victims in the next installment!

An Unexpected adventure in culture and the past.

Delightful mystery with a wealth of rich characters, an exotic location and insight into a bygone Era. Our protagonist is a British Poloce office from India and serving in Fiji in 1939. He faces personal and professional demons as he investigates the case of a missing woman. This is a well told story.

Great start to what I hope will be a series

I could not stop listening, finished it in two days. Wonderful narrator. Three more words are required - I wish they would go back to the old way when you could just leave stars.

Delightful

I enjoyed the characters in this story and appreciated the historical setting of the indentured Indians on the plantations in Fiji.

Highly recommend

Having spent some time in Fiji, I was curious to listen to the the Fijian Indian experience. The story did not disappoint. The performance was engaging, the characters intriguing and well developed. Engrossing and memorable storytelling.I look forward to reading more from from this emerging author. Highly recommend!

Enjoyable and Educational

I love historical fiction and learning about other cultures through stories. I thought this one was very well done. Excellent character portraits and enjoyable story. Pleasant narration. would like to see a series or sequel.

New territory

I listened to the book and found it very absorbing. I enjoyed learning about a new-to-me time and place, and I liked the main character and the intriguing storyline.

Wonderful writing and narration

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was unaware of the indentured Indians that worked and lived in Fiji in the early 1900’s. Learned a lot while I listened.

So glad I grabbed this one

The story has several twists that make all good mysteries. The characters felt real and well developed, not your average detective. I will definitely look for more from this author.