Very nice writing style...rich descriptions, beautiful sentences, etc. The story itself was "eh" - I lost track of some of the characters but pressed on just because it was enjoyable to read.

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This is not a fast paced mystery book but it's a book that is to be savored. It's lush, layered and reveals itself bit by delicious bit like the jungles of Sri Lanka, the country where the story is set. The story is set in Sri Lanka pre-WWII at a time when the British colonial influence is very strong. The main character is English in all but appearance. He is an upper class Sri Lankan educated in England. He returns to Sri Lanka to practice law and is quite good at it. His involvement in a famous murder, the Hamilton Case, is at the core of the story and transforms him at a time Sri Lanka is undergoing radical transformation from colonialism to self-determination. His delicate sister and their flamboyant beautiful mother are the other main characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's something you can read more than once for the author just has a way with words. I just love the way she writes. It's gorgeous if you can call writing gorgeous. Her words evoke images that are very powerful. You learn so much about colonialism and its effects, Sri Lanka, life in a hot tropical climate, etc.

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good read

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