Dark Clouds over Nuala (The Inspector de Silva Mysteries) Paperback – May 22, 2017

These are such well written stories set in a kindle and gentler age. The characters are believable especially the intelligent Inspector de Silva. And the plot is well paced. This series will brighten and sweeten any day.

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.

Although I have not been to Sri Lanka, I have been to India, and the series always brings back memories of the land and people in that part of the world. I like the loving relationship of the couple, and the acknowledgement and respect the inspector shows for his wife's intelligence and education. I have read criticisms of the reality expressed in the books of the times and the interrelations with the occupying English, but when read In sequence, the inspector does slowly earn respect, and I think that would have been possible. Prejudice even when rampant, does not infect everyone completely.

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.

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!!

Loved the first mystery in this series, set in 1930s Ceylon. In this second installment there is a deeper delving into the lead characters and the lives they live in this tropical paradise. Several unique situations present themselves at the same time to make this a lively, entertaining read that had me puzzling out the solutions right along with Shanti and Jane. Don't miss this series, it's a treat!

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.