Now you see us : a novel

Title:

Author:

Jaswal, Balli Kaur, author.

Personal Author:

Jaswal, Balli Kaur, author.

ISBN:

9780063161603

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

306 pages ; 24 cm

Abstract:

"CRAZY RICH ASIANS meets THE HELP! From Reese's Book Club veteran Balli Kaur Jaswal comes an absolute tour de force-the wildly entertaining and sharply observed story of three women who work in the homes of Singapore's elite, and band together to solve a murder mystery involving one of their own"-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Women household employees -- Fiction.

Filipinos -- Singapore -- Fiction.

Social classes -- Fiction.

Murder -- Fiction.

Genre:

Detective and mystery fiction

Summary:

Holds:

Available:*

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Summary

Crazy Rich Asians meets The Help! From Reese's Book Club veteran Balli Kaur Jaswal comes a wildly entertaining and sharply observed story of three women who work in the homes of Singapore's elite, and band together to solve a murder mystery involving one of their own.

"Tender and heartfelt, Now You See us also manages to be laugh-out-loud funny. An uplifting story of courage and hope that will keep you enthralled until the very last page."--Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee

"A truly irresistible read. Intricately plotted, propulsive, and provocative, NOW YOU SEE US showcases an author at the peak of her talents."--Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit

Corazon, Donita, and Angel are Filipina domestic workers--part of the wave of women sent to Singapore to be cleaners, maids, and caregivers.

Corazon: A veteran domestic worker, Cora had retired back to the Philippines for good, but she has returned to Singapore under mysterious circumstances. Now she's keeping a secret from her wealthy employer, who is planning an extravagant wedding for her socialite daughter.

Donita: Barely out of her teens, this is Donita's first time in Singapore, and she's had the bad luck to be hired by the notoriously fussy Mrs. Fann. Brazen and exuberant, Donita's thrown herself into a love affair with an Indian migrant worker.

Angel: Working as an in-home caregiver for an elderly employer, Angel is feeling blue after a recent breakup with the woman she loves. She's alarmed when her employer's son suddenly brings in a new nurse who may be a valuable ally...or meant to replace her.

Then an explosive news story shatters Singapore's famous tranquility--and sends a chill down the spine of every domestic worker. Flordeliza Martinez, a Filipina maid, has been arrested for murdering her female employer. The three women don't know the accused well, but she could be any of them; every worker knows stories of women who were scapegoated or even executed for crimes they didn't commit.

Shocked into action, Donita, Corazon, and Angel will use their considerable moxie and insight to piece together the mystery of what really happened on the day Flordeliza's employer was murdered. After all, no one knows the secrets of Singapore's families like the women who work in their homes...

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

A Filipina domestic worker is accused of murdering her employer in Singapore. Corazon Bautista, who was once an advocate for workers like her, has returned to Singapore after a spell in the Philippines, older and wearier after having suffered a devastating loss in her home country. She is placed with Elizabeth Lee, a widow whose compassion causes Cora more complications than she could have imagined. Her old friend Angel has a broken heart and her own set of challenges, especially from the college-aged son of her longtime employers. But Cora's and Angel's troubles are no match for those of proud, young, persistent Donita, who's stuck working for the vicious Mrs. Fann, whose cruelty has communitywide ripple effects. When the news breaks that a woman named Carolyn Hong has been murdered and Flordeliza Martinez, her maid, has been taken into custody, Cora, Angel, and Donita find their position in Singaporean society has become even more precarious overnight. They shouldn't get involved given their pasts and their present circumstances, but the mystery of what really happened and who's to blame engulfs them anyway. Author Jaswal weaves this captivating story with superb skill. Cora, Angel, and Donita are engaging characters with rich inner lives and personal histories. Their relationships with each other; their employers and the Republic of Singapore; and their families and homeland provide extraordinary texture to the violent crime at the story's center. The novel doesn't shy away from contemporary politics but doesn't preach, either. Rather, it examines the lives of people who are part of a complex, often exploitative global system that devalues the lives of women and the profound responsibilities that are classified as women's work--the rules these women must abide, both spoken and unspoken, their hopes and aspirations, and their varied grief. It's a layered, compelling read. This novel explores the lives of maids and caregivers in Singapore with admirable craft and care. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.