Dark Clouds Over Nuala (The Inspector de Silva Mysteries Book 2)

Having now read the first two Nuala books, I find de Silva and Jane are becoming friends of mine. I have read probably hundreds of quality mysteries over the decades, and these are ranking with some of the best. I like Hercule Poirot, the Miss Silver series, Miss Marple, Inspector Chopra, and others who either were Golden Age mystery writers or who wrote in that style. Harriet Steel is joining that elite group. I look forward to many more in this series.

After having read the first book in the series, Trouble in Nuala, I looked forward to reading the second entry. I was not disappointed. I enjoy the relationship between the biracial couple of de Silva and his wife Jane. They met and married later in life, and not only are they deeply in love, but de Silva also values Jane's opinions on all sorts of subjects. It doesn't hurt that Jane is an Agatha Christie fan so she can provide some help in solving her husband's mysteries.Set in the 1930s, Steel's series shows some of the problems and culture clashes of colonial-era Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). In Dark Clouds Over Nuala, these problems mainly consist of native-born de Silva circumventing the British Old Boys Network in order to solve a crime involving a prominent British family. The mystery is a convoluted one, but I recently watched an episode of Miss Marple that helped me find my way through all the clues. (No, I won't tell you the episode!)The author does an excellent job of providing enough background in each book so readers won't feel lost if they pick up a volume in the middle. This also helps if a reader just wants to sample and not to commit to the entire series. Steel's books satisfy on several levels: characterization, mystery, and the food and culture of Sri Lanka in the 1930s. I'll be coming back for more, and-- if you sample one of Inspector de Silva's mysteries-- chances are that you will be, too.

Good storyline interesting characters along with a glimpse into another time. Well worth reading.Good storyline Interesting characters along with a glimpse into another time. Well worth reading.

Dark Clouds is the second book in a series set in late 1930's Ceylon. Like the first entry, this story follows an almost Agatha Christie like cozy mystery pattern. There are again many stock characters--and some predictable situations. HOWEVER!!!! (And this is what will lead me to read more in the series) The main characters-de Silva, his English wife Jane and the other officers are becoming more fully rounded in this entry. The difficulties of life under British rule are explored. De Silva wonders about what will happen in the years to come as he hears about "this Hitler man" and sees trouble ahead "over there in Europe" and what that will mean for Ceylon. There is also a revealing subplot: One of the junior officiers at the station falls in love with an "unsuitable" girl. His mother will oppose the match for cultural/ethnic reasons. The de Silvas help "bring Mother around" to accept her son's future wife. Unfortunately, bigotry can exist everywhere.

This is the second book in this series. I found it more enjoyable than the first.It is challenging to read a book marked by British colonization; however, the author doesn't try to paint a pretty picture of it. This helps to set the book historically and she manages to capture the challenges faced by locals.Overall, the characters are interesting and the story was engaging.

I like this author’s writing style…the characters are well developed, she gives you an insight of the beauty of Ceylon (Myanmar), and gives a clear picture of life there in the 1930s under British rule. Of course, there is a mystery to be solved, but you won’t read of gore, filthy language, or sex scenes.

Oh my! I liked Harriet Steele's second Nuala book even better than the first, which was pretty darn good itself. In this one, we have English titled society with a mystery involving them with something that happened in Australia! The first chapter is a puzzle of identity--who are these men? But as all is slowly revealed to Inspector de Silva, this turns into a gripping story triggered by an "accident" at World's End, a precipice along a scenic route in Sri Lanka. The local color and detail of the horse races, so popular with everyone in Nuala, the gracious Lady Caroline whose family is the center of the mystery, and of course de Silva and his gathering of clues to the true identity of the nefarious characters, all braid into a page-turner of a book. I didn't see the solution coming and loved having it gradually uncovered. Unfortunately, uncovering it brings a bit of violence to de Silva that is unexpected!The little sub-plot of Sergeant Prasanna and the village girl, Kuveni, gives fascinating insight into village politics and class prejudice and we cheer when Inspector de Silva's wife Jane figures out a way to keep Kuveni close by until Prasanna can make his case.I cannot wait for the third book in this trilogy!!

…class and sophistication. Is it a mirage? Can a current author write a book without offending this reader with needless vulgarity and graphic violence? On to the next book. This author must be extremely intelligent.

This is the second book in the Inspector De Silva mysteries series and it just felt like coming home. This story is set in Ceylon 1935 in the beautiful and normally tranquil hill town of Nuala. I can imagine sitting out on the veranda sipping ice tea in the sweltering heat but with a constant reminder of the wilder side of Ceylon just over the other side of the high garden fence. Just stunning!Inspector Shanti De Silva is very happily married to Jane an English lady and ex governess to a colonial family in Ceylon, so they come from very different cultural backgrounds. Jane often teaches cook English recipes for her husband to try and although he eats them I love how he is thinking the best ways that he could spice things up by adding a little bit or this and that, he would of course never suggest this to Jane. He really worships Jane and Jane him. De Silva’s position through his work allows them to brush shoulders with the upper classes of Nuala, They fit into this role perfectly.There is quite a buzz in town when a very handsome and potentially wealthy couple come to visit Lady Caroline Petrie from Australia on route to England. Ralph Wynne Talbot claims to be the lost heir of the Earl of Axford and so he and his wife are returning to England to claim his inheritance.  It isn’t very long before tragedy strikes and a missing person soon turns into a death that has to be investigated. Is it suicide or something more sinister?I love how De Silva keeps his lovely wife up to date with all the investigating that he does and how she makes little suggestions to help him. De Silva is a very laid back character. Don’t get me wrong he will keep at something until he solves it but it certainly has a very different pace in Ceylon.  There is a bit of a romance brewing too with Sgt. Prasanna, a very handsome and polite young man that is forced into making a life changing decision that Jane has to get involved with. She is so sweet and a sucker for romance.This is turning out to be a lovely laid back murder mystery series. Hope the next book won’t be too long.

This enjoyable, well-paced whodunnit is set in 1930s Ceylon. It is pretty well-written and plotted and held my attention, though somehow the characters did not come fully alive to me. I liked them but I did not love them or laugh at them or get annoyed with them. Possibly, the central characters, though flawed, were all just a little bit too nice and well-mannered. Nevertheless, the setting is unusual and interesting and provided me with a bit of education as well as entertainment. I would certainly read more in this series.

The books not bad ,but could not read many of Inspector Shanti de Silva mysteries as find he and his wife are just too nice to each other. No couples are that affectionate all the time. The story builds up well and is set in an interesting country.

Just discovered these books , wonderful descriptions of Ceylon , and the life styles of the people living there , the poor and the rich during a period in the 1930s . I love Shanti and his English wife Jane , also the fact that although they are murder stories , the tales are not too gory , and there is a great deal of humour in them too .Hope the author will write more !

The period is nicely evoked and the storyline unfolds at just the right pace with the requisite number of twists and turns. A most enjoyable read that unfolds quite easily.