In this follow-up to Singapore Sapphire, A. M. Stuart has his protagonist, Harriet Gordon, enjoying her new job as a typist with the Straits Police Force and living with her brother, Julian, and ward, Will.  She is drawn into the murder investigation of the much younger wife of an army officer when she is asked by Inspector Robert Curran to accompany him to comfort the family as he questions them.  Her friendship with family members of the military community allows her to help Curran with his case.

Harriet Gordon is a recent widow who moved to Singapore to live with her brother. With the suffragist movement is gaining ground in England and some of the social mores loosening in the Empire's outposts, she is employed as a typist by the local police department. There, she types for friend, Inspector Curran. The story uses the frame of the small world of the military base in Singapore after the wife of their Colonel is found bludgeoned to death. Sylvie was a recent arrival to Singapore on the arm of her new husband and the military closes ranks to the South Straits police, burns evidence and are altogether not as forthcoming as they could be. I loved the twists and turns the story took. The history that unfolds about the regiment was interesting and although I kept thinking about those rubies, didn't guess the reveal too easily. Stuart's attention to historical detail for the time period was very good. I was so interested in the setting, that through a bit of Googling, I was able to see photos of some of the real places used in the book, like the tea room at John Little's.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley (Thank you), and was well into the story before I realized it was the second in a series. But that didn't prevent me from enjoying the story, and follow the characters. 
I loved the setting of early 20th century Bangkok, and the character of Harriet Gordon. I will go back and read the first book.

I very much enjoyed the era and the setting of this story The mystery was solid with multiple clues and twists, that had me guessing.  The writing style was atmospheric and was rich in detail. 
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Harriet Gordon Mysteries series takes place in Singapore, 1910. Harriet and her brother, Julian, are unexpectedly summoned by Harriet’s friend, Priscilla Nolan. When they arrive they find that Inspector Curran is already there because Ms. Nolan’s sister-in-law was found dead in her bed. Harriet, Curran, and the police department quickly find that they’re hunting a serial killer.

The Harriet Gordon Mystery series has become one of my favorite historical mysteries. The characters are great and the descriptions are fantastic. Just when I thought I figured it out, there was a twist that kept my guessing. If you like strong female characters or historical fiction and mysteries, you’ll probably like this series. I recommend you start with the first book, Singapore Sapphire, as it gives a little more backstory on the characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is not a fast-moving, full of tension mystery. It is thoughtful, full of details and gives a deep view into the characters. The setting is unusual; Singapore 1910, and the author describes it beautifully. The main character Harriet Gordon is clever, resourceful and daring in a quiet way. I liked this book enough to buy the first in the series and look forward to reading any future ones.

Police report typist Harriet Gordon has settled into life in Singapore, 1910. A brutal murder upsets her world, though, and tests her detective and social skills. The murder of Sylvie Nolan, wife of Lieutenant Colonel John Nolan, also threatens the local close-knit military community. Can Harriet help Inspector Robert Curran discover the killer before someone else is murdered? 
I enjoyed reading "Revenge in Rubies." The story flows well and includes plenty of twists and turns as it unfolds and we discover who committed the murder. 
The second in a series, I think the book stands alone, but I also think there's a lot of content I would have understood better if I had read the first book in the series. Also, I did expect the title to make sense sooner, but I get why the author waited and didn't introduce the rubies until close to the end of the book.
I would definitely read more books in this series.

I liked the first book in the series and I enjoyed coming back to these characters in this engaging historical mystery. 

Inspector Robert Curran and our heroine Harriet, who is also the force’s typist, are investigating the murder of the battalion commander.’s wife in Singapore in 1910. Harriet wasn’t meant to be involved in solving the murder but she’s determined. The case ties back into events that occurred years ago and reading as this unfolded kept me on the edge of my seat. 

The characters were all multi dimensional and I was interested in following their story. The well written details kept me engrossed and I enjoyed the historical details. I’m looking forward to a third book in the series!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

I am a fan of historical mysteries, and the Victorian/Edwardian eras are most appealing to me.  Revenge in Rubies, the second mystery featuring Harriet Gordon, is an absorbing tale with an exotic atmosphere full of murder with an honor before all sentiment set in British Colonized Singapore at the turn of the twentieth century.

After fleeing her past in London, Harriet has settled in Singapore, living with her cleric brother Julian and ward Will while working for the local police.  She is thrown into an investigation when her boss is called to investigate the gruesome murder of Sylvie, the young wife of the local regimental commander.  The near impenetrable military community’s reluctance to accommodate Inspector Curran and his current ill health make investigating difficult.  However, Harriet’s friendship with Sylvie’s sister-in-law provides an in to make inquiries.  As the body count rises and secrets are revealed, both military and familial suspects abound, and Harriet and Curran must do their best to solve the mystery.

I really like Harriet.  She is obviously resilient, intelligent, and ever curious.  She does occasionally make missteps, some with big consequences, but she, overall, makes an admirable sleuth.  Inspector Curran is diligent, respectable, and perceptive.  Readers learn quite a bit about him and his love Li An.  Other characters are well drawn and engaging.  I appreciate that Stuart does not sugar-coat the inequities and treatment of both the Chinese and Indian residents in Singapore.  The British are not depicted as devils or saints making it feel like an appropriate representation of colonial life in 1910.  The murder mystery is well executed with plenty of twists and turns.  I did not figure out whodunit until quite late in the story.  The pace is steady throughout and the story compelling.

I greatly enjoyed Revenge in Rubies and look forward to many more adventures with Harriet and Inspector Curran.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Revenge in Rubies is the second in the Harriet Gordon mystery series.  A delightful historical fiction set in the early 1900s in Singapore, this is a great novel to curl up and spend the day in.  Harriet works as a typist for the Straits Settlements Police Force and loves her job.  She has a ward, Will, who has finally become used to his home with Harriet and Julian, her brother and she is content in her life.  The peace is shattered when her boss and good friend Robert Curran is called to investigate a murder.  It is a horrible situation - the young wife of Lieutenant  Colonel John Nolan was killed in her bed.  Asked to comfort the woman's family, Harriet finds herself embroiled in a rash of killings, a military community that prefers to close up rather than help the investigation, and a situation that puts Inspector Curran and herself in increasing danger..  This was an exciting read.  I had no trouble keeping up,  even though I have not read the first in the series.  I plan to do so as soon as possible!!  I appreciate the opportunity to read the ARC.

When harriet took a job as a typist she never knew it would lead to getting entangled in a mystery. Keeping you guessing and shocking at each turn

Not having read book one in this series (SINGAPORE SAPPHIRE), I had no problem jumping right into REVENGE IN RUBIES without feeling lost.  The Singapore setting is novel and a nice change of pace form my usual historical mysteries set in England.  Granted, the story takes place in British colonized Singapore in the early twentieth century, but it is still exotic while being firmly grounded in the familiar.

This tale finds police typist and stenographer Harriet Gordon settling nicely into her new life with her cleric brother Julian and ward Will after leaving behind her traumatic past in London.  She finds herself embroiled in the investigation in the gruesome murder of the young wife of the local regiment’s Lieutenant Coronel.  As a friendly acquaintance of the deceased’s sister-in-law, she finds herself fully invested in the mystery, especially when her boss, Inspector Curran, is mostly incapacitated by a malaria flare-up.  There are plenty of suspects both among the military and Sylvie’s own family, and as the body count rises and secrets are revealed, Harriet and Curran both find themselves searching for answers.

I really like Harriet. She is strong, intelligent, and curious without being annoyingly nosy.  Curran is stalwart in his occupation and dedicated to moving beyond his father’s disparaging military reputation.  I appreciate author Stuart allowing Curran to be both vulnerable having a debilitating illness and sharp with his investigative mind.  I also respect Stuart’s willingness to realistically portray the inequitable treatment of the Chinese and Indian residents of Singapore during this time in history.  

The murder mystery is nicely plotted and quite the puzzle.  The supporting characters are varied and well developed.  There are plenty of suspects and motives to keep readers guessing throughout the book.  I did not figure out the culprit until very near the end of the tale.  

REVENGE IN RUBIES is a nice change of pace in the historical mystery world, and I look forward to helping Harriet and Curran solve many more mysteries in future installments.  Highly recommended.

I gratefully received and ARC of this title from Berkley through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Murder, mystery, intrigue, suspense underlying stories and all set in a country full of culture and at a time when the world was changing. What more you could you want in an excellent read.  This is the second in the series and was just as good as the first.  You don’t need to read the first but it is nice to meet old characters from the last book. This book kept me turning the page and unlike a lot of murder mysteries, it didn’t take more than a few pages to get straight into the story. I liked the way Ms Stuart often refers to the relationship of the character helping you keep track of who is who. There was just so much going on but you didn’t get sidetrack because it is so well written. Whether you like historical or contemporary books, I think this is one for everyone. There was no real romance in this book but it is full of relationships which is lovely. I received this as an ARC and freely give my review.

With Harriet Gordon accompanying her employer, Inspector Robert Curran, to the home of Lieutenant Colonel John Nolan to provide comfort to the family of the victim, she had no idea of the horror and grim circumstances which would confront them. Nor what it would lead to. The brutal murder of Nolan’s young wife was a shock which rippled through the community and Curran’s job would be a tedious and drawn out one.

With the military closing ranks on all concerned and Curran finding his way stymied at every turn, his intuition kept him directed at what he was sure of. But with malaria once again taking hold of Curran, Harriet followed her  instincts, finding snippets of information to help along the way. When another body was found, Curran knew he needed to hurry the investigation along before it was too late…

Revenge in Rubies is the 2nd in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series by Aussie author A.M. Stuart and I loved it. Harriet is an empathetic character, gentle and caring while showing a supreme strength and determination. She and her brother Julian care for their ward, Will and generally live a quiet, satisfying life – until murder gets in the way.  This was the first book I have read by this author and it was a good stand alone as well.

"Revenge in Rubies" is a mystery set in August 1910 in Singapore. This book is the second book in a series, but you don't need to read the first one to follow this story and this story didn't spoil the previous mystery. 

The detective asked good questions, looked carefully for evidence, and was able to connect the clues well. Harriet was friends with many of the suspects, so she was able to gather some information for him that the detective couldn't get. She's also observant and intelligent. There were enough people who had both motive and opportunity that I wasn't completely sure of whodunit until the very end, though there were certainly clues pointing toward whodunit.

The main characters were complex, interesting people. I cared about what happened to them, and they reacted realistically to events. The historical and setting details were woven into the story without slowing the pacing. These details brought the story alive in my imagination. There were no sex scenes. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting historical mystery.

A Brutal Murder in 1910 Singapore

Harriet Gordon and her brother, the Reverend Julian, are urgently summoned to the battalion commander’s house by his sister, Priscilla. They arrive to discover the unthinkable. The much younger wife of the commander has been brutally murdered. 

Inspector Robert Curran of the Straits Settlements Police Force is called to investigate. He is also Harriet’s boss since she is a typist for the force. From the beginning it’s clear that the military want to close ranks and keep a civilian from investigating the murder. However, since his wife was a civilian, the commander has to allow Curran to continue the investigation. 

The investigation brings up troubling incidents from the past for both Harriet and Curran. She is forced to face her unpleasant experiences as a suffragette in London. Curran, because of his conflict with one of the officers, finds his father’s past coming to haunt him.  

This is a delightful historical mystery. Harriet is a strong woman. She doesn’t thrust herself into the case, but her quiet determination helps to bring on the resolution. Curran is equally determined. He doesn’t want to let the military close ranks fearing that the crime will not be vigorously pursued. 

The setting is what drew me to this novel. Singapore is exotic and beautifully described from the heat to the colonial lifestyle. This is the second book in the series. It was easy to read as a standalone, but if you want more about the character’s backgrounds, I recommend reading the first book. 

I received this book from Berkley Publishing Group for this review.

1910 Singapore. Inspector Robert Curran is called in to investigate the death of Sylvie Nolan, the new and much younger wife of Lt. Colonel John Nolan. Mrs Harriet Gordon becomes involved as she is friend to his sister Priscilla Nolan. But what could possibly be the motive of someone who was so well liked. But then another murder occurs. What is the possible connection between the deaths, will this be the last one.
An entertaining well-written historical mystery, with its cast of well-developed characters. A story which can easily be read as a standalone book
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Revenge in Rubies is a historical mystery set in Singapore in 1910. It is the second in the Harriet Gordon series. Sylvie Nolan is found bludgeoned with a candlestick in her bedroom. Sylvie was newly married to Colonel Nolan of the South Sussex Regiment.

While Inspector Curran has to deal with the closed, often antagonistic members of the South Sussex Regiment who would rather handle the matter in-house, Harriot faces her own demons when asked to speak about her experiences as a suffragist in England.

This series has a great sense of time and place. The book is well-paced and well-plotted. The mystery is interesting and complicated. There are many suspects, clues, lies, and red herrings, I look forward to more from this author in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me a copy for review.

An historical murder mystery set in colonial Singapore.  In 1910, Singapore was still a British colony principally ruled by the British Army community.  When the regiment commander's young wife is murdered, the military community closes ranks and refuses to cooperate with the police.

As Inspector Robert Curran works against time and the regiment to solve the murder, Harriet Gordon, our tenacious typist,  is tasked with soothing emotional family members.  But Harriet's talents include more than excellent typing and she picks up clues that Inspector Curran uses to bring justice for the commander's wife.

This is the second in the Harriet Gordon series yet reads fine as a stand alone.  BUT, this is an excellent historical series and the first book gave us some early background on the recurring characters.  If, like me, you are adding this series to your TBR list, pick up the first one and treat yourself.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free digital advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this light, engaging mystery set in Singapore in 1910. Harriet Gordon the protagonist is entertaining and intelligent. She and her employer, Inspector Robert Curran together solve the mystery of a brutal murder that's tied to events that took place years earlier. I definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a light, entertaining mystery. One critique: I don't think that the final chapter (chapter 31 in the ARC) added anything at all - it was an anti-climax.