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Harriet Gordon #4
Terror in Topaz
The next instalment in the riveting HARRIET GORDON MYSTERIES.
The chance to pursue a new opportunity takes Harriet and her brother Julian, to Kuala Lumpur, but death is waiting…
Singapore 1910: Harriet Gordon has been dismissed from the job she loved and finds herself cast adrift. When her brother receives an invitation to visit a prestigious school in Kuala Lumpur, she and Julian decide to leave Singapore behind for a few days, but their pleasant visit takes a dark turn when a visitor to the school is shot dead on the front steps of the headmaster’s bungalow.
After being suspended from the Straits Settlements Police, Inspector Robert Curran has disappeared on a personal quest to find a missing girl but his suspension is not all it appears and he receives secretive orders to investigate the mysterious Topaz Club, which seems to be at the centre of high level corruption within the colonial government of Malaya.
The uninvestigated death of a woman with links to the Topaz Club, brings Harriet and Curran together in a determination to shut down the notorious establishment for good.
But a devious criminal stands in the way and it is going to take Harriet and Curran all their resources to bring justice for the victims of the Topaz Club and in doing so, find what it is they have been looking for in each other.
The chance to pursue a new opportunity takes Harriet and her brother Julian, to Kuala Lumpur, but death is waiting…
Singapore 1910: Harriet Gordon has been dismissed from the job she loved and finds herself cast adrift. When her brother receives an invitation to visit a prestigious school in Kuala Lumpur, she and Julian decide to leave Singapore behind for a few days, but their pleasant visit takes a dark turn when a visitor to the school is shot dead on the front steps of the headmaster’s bungalow.
After being suspended from the Straits Settlements Police, Inspector Robert Curran has disappeared on a personal quest to find a missing girl but his suspension is not all it appears and he receives secretive orders to investigate the mysterious Topaz Club, which seems to be at the centre of high level corruption within the colonial government of Malaya.
The uninvestigated death of a woman with links to the Topaz Club, brings Harriet and Curran together in a determination to shut down the notorious establishment for good.
But a devious criminal stands in the way and it is going to take Harriet and Curran all their resources to bring justice for the victims of the Topaz Club and in doing so, find what it is they have been looking for in each other.
373 pages, ebook
First published October 18, 2023
About the author
A.M. Stuart
6 books403 followersAustralian author, A.M. Stuart's love affair with Singapore began in 2000 when she moved, with her family to Singapore, where she lived for 3 years, throwing herself into exploring the history and the different cultures of the island.
The idea for the Harriet Gordon Mysteries was born in the microfiche room of Singapore's National Library when she came across an advertisement in a 1905 edition of the Straits Times… "An Englishwoman undertakes Typing and Shorthand… She guarantees… absolute secrecy"!
The first Harriet Gordon Mystery, SINGAPORE SAPPHIRE, was published in 2019 and has been followed by REVENGE IN RUBIES and EVIL IN EMERALD and TERROR IN TOPAZ. There will be more to come!
Born in Kenya, her family came to Australia when she was ten years old. Outside writing, she enjoyed a varied career as a lawyer in a wide number of fields including the military and as a senior executive in the fire services. She also writes historical fiction as ALISON STUART.
The idea for the Harriet Gordon Mysteries was born in the microfiche room of Singapore's National Library when she came across an advertisement in a 1905 edition of the Straits Times… "An Englishwoman undertakes Typing and Shorthand… She guarantees… absolute secrecy"!
The first Harriet Gordon Mystery, SINGAPORE SAPPHIRE, was published in 2019 and has been followed by REVENGE IN RUBIES and EVIL IN EMERALD and TERROR IN TOPAZ. There will be more to come!
Born in Kenya, her family came to Australia when she was ten years old. Outside writing, she enjoyed a varied career as a lawyer in a wide number of fields including the military and as a senior executive in the fire services. She also writes historical fiction as ALISON STUART.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
October 12, 2023
Harriet Gordon's brother Julien, Reverend and headmaster of St Thomas Church of England Preparatory School for English Boys in Singapore, had been invited to Kuala Lumpur by the acting headmaster of the Prince Alfred School, to be interviewed toward him becoming a senior master. Julien was quite excited about the invitation and wanted Harriet to accompany him. They set out on the overnight train for KL, never expecting what was ahead of them amid the rippling undercurrents of the area.
Inspector Robert Curran from Singapore had been suspended from the Straits Settlements Police and was now under cover in Kuala Lumpur, not expecting to meet anyone he knew, but also following a personal quest in his search for the Topaz Club. His determination to uncover the corruption that surrounded the club, and the evil that encompassed it, with drugs, gambling and prostitution the most prevalent, meant he continually put himself in danger. As Curran and Harriet worked together to unearth the unscrupulous nature of all who surrounded the Topaz Club, they wondered if they would get out of it alive...
I was SO excited to hear Terror in Topaz isn't the final in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series. A.M. Stuart made an 11th hour decision to continue with it! So now I'm happily waiting for #5!! This one was just as fast paced and tension filled as the previous three have been, with the mystery and intrigue surrounding everything in KL, the cloying humidity, the beauty but trepidation of the Batu Caves outstanding. Terror in Topaz is based on an actual murder which took place in KL in 1911 - the Author's Notes at the end are fascinating. A fabulous read, Terror in Topaz is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Inspector Robert Curran from Singapore had been suspended from the Straits Settlements Police and was now under cover in Kuala Lumpur, not expecting to meet anyone he knew, but also following a personal quest in his search for the Topaz Club. His determination to uncover the corruption that surrounded the club, and the evil that encompassed it, with drugs, gambling and prostitution the most prevalent, meant he continually put himself in danger. As Curran and Harriet worked together to unearth the unscrupulous nature of all who surrounded the Topaz Club, they wondered if they would get out of it alive...
I was SO excited to hear Terror in Topaz isn't the final in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series. A.M. Stuart made an 11th hour decision to continue with it! So now I'm happily waiting for #5!! This one was just as fast paced and tension filled as the previous three have been, with the mystery and intrigue surrounding everything in KL, the cloying humidity, the beauty but trepidation of the Batu Caves outstanding. Terror in Topaz is based on an actual murder which took place in KL in 1911 - the Author's Notes at the end are fascinating. A fabulous read, Terror in Topaz is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2023
The fourth book in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series. I have read them all and am happy to discover that there will be another book.
It is the year 1910 and, in Singapore, Harriet Gordon has just lost her job. Her employers have at last found out that she was a suffragette and has been to prison and is therefore, in their eyes, unfit for her work. So when Julian is considering another job and travels to Kuala Lumpur Harriet accompanies him. Coincidentally Inspector Robert Curran is also in KL on an undercover mission.
Of course Harriet and Curran meet up, she helps him in a very dangerous mission, and the relationship between the two of them begins to escalate - something else to look forward to in the next book. I wonder what it will be called. Maybe Devil in Diamonds? Danger in Diamonds?
This is an excellent series with lots of interesting historical background, some lovely characters and always good stories. Highly recommended.
It is the year 1910 and, in Singapore, Harriet Gordon has just lost her job. Her employers have at last found out that she was a suffragette and has been to prison and is therefore, in their eyes, unfit for her work. So when Julian is considering another job and travels to Kuala Lumpur Harriet accompanies him. Coincidentally Inspector Robert Curran is also in KL on an undercover mission.
Of course Harriet and Curran meet up, she helps him in a very dangerous mission, and the relationship between the two of them begins to escalate - something else to look forward to in the next book. I wonder what it will be called. Maybe Devil in Diamonds? Danger in Diamonds?
This is an excellent series with lots of interesting historical background, some lovely characters and always good stories. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2023
I am absolutely loving this series, I picked this one up and didn’t want to put it down, Harriett is one of my favourite characters and this time she is off to Kuala Lumpur with her brother Julian to check out a new school, but again there is a death and Harriet is caught up in it, come along for a compelling journey.
1910 in Singapore and Harriet has been working for Inspector Robert Curran typing up reports but she seems to do more than that, but since Curran was suspended and a new inspector appointed Harriet has lost her job, so she accompanies Julian to Kuala Lumpur to check out the new school, things turn bad when a visitor the school is shot and Harriet and Julien are required as witnesses.
Robert Curran has been given a secret case to investigate, the Topaz Club in Kuala Lumpur, this is going to give him the chance to also uncover the whereabouts of people who are close to him, there seems to be a lot of corruption going on, drug dealing and who knows what else, there are some very nasty people involved and finding people he trust is not easy but as always Curran is determined to find the truth. He of course does not expect Harriet to be there as well and before long they seem to have teamed up again to investigate another very dangerous case.
Another fabulous and compelling story in this series, MS Stuart brings the setting and characters to life, I felt like I was there in danger with them all, Harriet and Curran work so well together but not only that are they finally going to realise that they could be more than work colleagues, will they both open up about their feelings as they solve another case.
I loved this story so much and I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good historical mystery, but start from number one you will not be sorry and I am thrilled to know that the series is going to continue, everyone should get to know Harriett Gordon.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
1910 in Singapore and Harriet has been working for Inspector Robert Curran typing up reports but she seems to do more than that, but since Curran was suspended and a new inspector appointed Harriet has lost her job, so she accompanies Julian to Kuala Lumpur to check out the new school, things turn bad when a visitor the school is shot and Harriet and Julien are required as witnesses.
Robert Curran has been given a secret case to investigate, the Topaz Club in Kuala Lumpur, this is going to give him the chance to also uncover the whereabouts of people who are close to him, there seems to be a lot of corruption going on, drug dealing and who knows what else, there are some very nasty people involved and finding people he trust is not easy but as always Curran is determined to find the truth. He of course does not expect Harriet to be there as well and before long they seem to have teamed up again to investigate another very dangerous case.
Another fabulous and compelling story in this series, MS Stuart brings the setting and characters to life, I felt like I was there in danger with them all, Harriet and Curran work so well together but not only that are they finally going to realise that they could be more than work colleagues, will they both open up about their feelings as they solve another case.
I loved this story so much and I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good historical mystery, but start from number one you will not be sorry and I am thrilled to know that the series is going to continue, everyone should get to know Harriett Gordon.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
October 30, 2023
2,5 stars. DNF at Page 112, end of Chapter 18. It's an interesting plot but the pace is too slow for me.
SYNOPSIS: "The chance to pursue a new opportunity takes Harriet and her brother Julian, to Kuala Lumpur, but death is waiting…
Singapore 1910: Harriet Gordon has been dismissed from the job she loved and finds herself cast adrift. When her brother receives an invitation to visit a prestigious school in Kuala Lumpur, she and Julian decide to leave Singapore behind for a few days, but their pleasant visit takes a dark turn when a visitor to the school is shot dead on the front steps of the headmaster's bungalow.
After being suspended from the Straits Settlements Police, Inspector Robert Curran has disappeared on a personal quest to find a missing girl but his suspension is not all it appears and he receives secretive orders to investigate the mysterious Topaz Club, which seems to be at the center of high-level corruption within the colonial government of Malaya.
The uninvestigated death of a woman with links to the Topaz Club, brings Harriet and Curran together in a determination to shut down the notorious establishment for good.
But a devious criminal stands in the way and it is going to take Harriet and Curran all their resources to bring justice for the victims of the Topaz Club and in doing so, find what it is they have been looking for in each other. "
SYNOPSIS: "The chance to pursue a new opportunity takes Harriet and her brother Julian, to Kuala Lumpur, but death is waiting…
Singapore 1910: Harriet Gordon has been dismissed from the job she loved and finds herself cast adrift. When her brother receives an invitation to visit a prestigious school in Kuala Lumpur, she and Julian decide to leave Singapore behind for a few days, but their pleasant visit takes a dark turn when a visitor to the school is shot dead on the front steps of the headmaster's bungalow.
After being suspended from the Straits Settlements Police, Inspector Robert Curran has disappeared on a personal quest to find a missing girl but his suspension is not all it appears and he receives secretive orders to investigate the mysterious Topaz Club, which seems to be at the center of high-level corruption within the colonial government of Malaya.
The uninvestigated death of a woman with links to the Topaz Club, brings Harriet and Curran together in a determination to shut down the notorious establishment for good.
But a devious criminal stands in the way and it is going to take Harriet and Curran all their resources to bring justice for the victims of the Topaz Club and in doing so, find what it is they have been looking for in each other. "
January 11, 2024
Mrs. Harriet Gordon was a woman of her time: 1910 to be precise. Widowed, ward of a young boy, Will, and typist extraordinaire for a police department, she had her hands full. But change was to come in big way.
I believe the Harriet Gordon mystery series books need to be read in order. The relationship between the two MCs continued to evolve. I found the author's atmospheric and detailed accounts of turn of the century Malaysia interesting. There was a subplot actually based on a murder that really happened.
I won't deny it, I read the book to see which direction Harriet and Curran's relationship would take them. I am excited to know that Ms. Stuart plans to continue with the series. Lastly, a message to the author: I love a good mystery but more Harriet and Robert Curran on each page, please.
I believe the Harriet Gordon mystery series books need to be read in order. The relationship between the two MCs continued to evolve. I found the author's atmospheric and detailed accounts of turn of the century Malaysia interesting. There was a subplot actually based on a murder that really happened.
I won't deny it, I read the book to see which direction Harriet and Curran's relationship would take them. I am excited to know that Ms. Stuart plans to continue with the series. Lastly, a message to the author: I love a good mystery but more Harriet and Robert Curran on each page, please.
Want to read
September 23, 2022I have purchased Evil in Emerald, but am saving it until Terror in Topaz is in my hands. Friends have told me Emerald is riveting, but I will not be able to wait a year to find out "want happens next". Love this series and want to read straight through these two books!
This is such a unique and extremely interesting series! Anyone who enjoys complex characters living in a now forgotten community should not miss these books.
This is such a unique and extremely interesting series! Anyone who enjoys complex characters living in a now forgotten community should not miss these books.
October 31, 2023
Harriet accompanies her brother to Kuala Lumpur to check out a position as a classics master at a school there. What she finds is way more than he expected. Her hostess kills a man supposedly in self defence. Curran is here undercover investigating the murky area of blackmail, drugs, trafficking and more. Then there’s Curran’s half sister who has disappeared rumoured to have been taken to work in the Topaz club. So exciting I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one go!
A.M.Stuart has produced some amazing characters, flawed and human. Wow!
A.M.Stuart has produced some amazing characters, flawed and human. Wow!
October 22, 2023
Another great book in this series
November 1, 2023
4.5 stars
The important part first: This is a solid and very satisfactory conclusion to this series of historical mysteries. *
The author did a great job of tying up all the loose threads from previous books while delivering an exciting adventure and complex mystery. There were twists aplenty, one of which took me by surprise. I was glued to the page and stayed up much to late in a race to find out what happened next. I closed the book with a smile on my face.
I don't want to get into a plot synopsis as I think that most readers will want to dive right in. The author did a good job of bringing this reader up to speed what was going on in Harriet's and Curran's lives as this story opened. I liked the set-up she used to get Harriet into the same area as Curran and the clever way way she linked their two separate mysteries together.
Though I am very happy with the ending, I am sad to say good-bye to Harriet, Curran, and friends. If the author ever decides to revisit these characters I would be happy to see them.*
*ETA: It looks like this is just the conclusion to the story arc started in Singapore Sapphire. The author has recently said that she's working on book 5. Hooray!
The important part first: This is a solid and very satisfactory conclusion to this series of historical mysteries. *
The author did a great job of tying up all the loose threads from previous books while delivering an exciting adventure and complex mystery. There were twists aplenty, one of which took me by surprise. I was glued to the page and stayed up much to late in a race to find out what happened next. I closed the book with a smile on my face.
I don't want to get into a plot synopsis as I think that most readers will want to dive right in. The author did a good job of bringing this reader up to speed what was going on in Harriet's and Curran's lives as this story opened. I liked the set-up she used to get Harriet into the same area as Curran and the clever way way she linked their two separate mysteries together.
Though I am very happy with the ending, I am sad to say good-bye to Harriet, Curran, and friends. If the author ever decides to revisit these characters I would be happy to see them.*
*ETA: It looks like this is just the conclusion to the story arc started in Singapore Sapphire. The author has recently said that she's working on book 5. Hooray!
September 27, 2023
I just love this series and heartily recommend this latest installment. If you haven't read the others, go do that now as I think you really do need the background of the characters to fully understand what's happening in this book. The series follows Harriet Gordon, a suffragette who has moved to Singapore to join her minister/teacher brother after being imprisoned for her suffragette activities, and Robert Curran, the head of the local police. In this book, the action moves from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur where Harriet becomes involved in an actual historical murder case and Robert is investigating local corruption and a personal matter that involves the shadowy Topaz Club.
The setting is beautifully described and really takes you to the time and place of Kuala Lumpur in the early 1900s. It is easy to imagine the Batu Caves (which are gorgeous...look them up), the cantonment area with the local clubs and churches, the surrounding jungles, and the surrounding areas where the locals live and work, largely separate from the British who rule the community. You can feel the heat, the tension, and the gossip that seems to pervade the local society, especially as a certain local woman is accused of murdering her lover and the British close ranks.
Side characters from the other books join us in KL...Harriet's brother, Maddox the newspaperman, and Sergeant Singh. All of the characters are very well drawn and because their characters have been so well-drawn throughout the series, they really feel like old friends and it's a relief when they appear to help both Harriet and Curran get through these latest murky circumstances.
Harriet really is a great character. She's vulnerable, intelligent, emotional, caring, and strong throughout the series. Curran continues to grow through a series of increasingly difficult life circumstances and throughout the novel you hope that he can get past these challenges to a happier and stabler life.
I really loved this book in the series. The author says it is the last, but I'm hoping she can be prevailed upon to continue building up this world. The characters are all wonderful, the setting and time are unique, and the mysteries were all a delight. Even if she doesn't write more in this series, please be assured that it does end in a way that will not disappoint readers. Everything wraps up nicely and there are no annoying cliffhangers. I just feel that it also ends in such a way that there is definitely opportunity for these characters to continue in new ways.
I very much recommend this if you like historical mysteries, books set in the early 20th century British empire, and just enjoy really good characters. I will definitely reread the whole series in the future and hope very much that more Singapore adventures await our characters. Ms. Stuart - please write more!
The setting is beautifully described and really takes you to the time and place of Kuala Lumpur in the early 1900s. It is easy to imagine the Batu Caves (which are gorgeous...look them up), the cantonment area with the local clubs and churches, the surrounding jungles, and the surrounding areas where the locals live and work, largely separate from the British who rule the community. You can feel the heat, the tension, and the gossip that seems to pervade the local society, especially as a certain local woman is accused of murdering her lover and the British close ranks.
Side characters from the other books join us in KL...Harriet's brother, Maddox the newspaperman, and Sergeant Singh. All of the characters are very well drawn and because their characters have been so well-drawn throughout the series, they really feel like old friends and it's a relief when they appear to help both Harriet and Curran get through these latest murky circumstances.
Harriet really is a great character. She's vulnerable, intelligent, emotional, caring, and strong throughout the series. Curran continues to grow through a series of increasingly difficult life circumstances and throughout the novel you hope that he can get past these challenges to a happier and stabler life.
I really loved this book in the series. The author says it is the last, but I'm hoping she can be prevailed upon to continue building up this world. The characters are all wonderful, the setting and time are unique, and the mysteries were all a delight. Even if she doesn't write more in this series, please be assured that it does end in a way that will not disappoint readers. Everything wraps up nicely and there are no annoying cliffhangers. I just feel that it also ends in such a way that there is definitely opportunity for these characters to continue in new ways.
I very much recommend this if you like historical mysteries, books set in the early 20th century British empire, and just enjoy really good characters. I will definitely reread the whole series in the future and hope very much that more Singapore adventures await our characters. Ms. Stuart - please write more!
October 1, 2023
I was fortunate to have access to an advance reading copy of Terror in Topaz. This fourth episode in the Harriet Gordon and Inspector Curran series moves the action across the strait to Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. The date is 1910, pretty much at the apogee of the British Empire. Stuart really captures the zeitgeist of these colonial times, both through period-appropriate dialogue and through the behaviour of the expat Brits of these Edwardian times.
Curran is undercover in K-L looking into illegal activities at the Topaz Club – a brothel and gambling establishment, while simultaneously looking for his half-sister Kamrita. Harriet comes to K-L with her brother Julian where he is looking at a possible job at a private school. A murder takes place at the school during Harriet’s stay and she will be drawn into the investigation. There are links to Curran’s case and the two, who have for each other a deep mutual respect (and suppressed romantic feelings) will join forces.
Many characters from the previous stories are either mentioned or are active participants. The journalist, Griff Maddocks is there. Sergeant Singh is brought over to assist when things get dicey. Harriet and Julian’s ward Will is talked about but not seen. Curran’s half-brother Jayant is in K-L helping Curran to find their sister but spends most of his time in hospital with dengue. We learn more about driving forces from Curran’s early life and family history. Harriet remains the strong, independent woman we have seen in the past with feminist leanings. She and Curran share views quite liberal for the times. Will they finally admit they’re in love and act on it?
I found this fourth installment to be just as interesting and engaging as the previous ones, and I hope there are more to come.
Curran is undercover in K-L looking into illegal activities at the Topaz Club – a brothel and gambling establishment, while simultaneously looking for his half-sister Kamrita. Harriet comes to K-L with her brother Julian where he is looking at a possible job at a private school. A murder takes place at the school during Harriet’s stay and she will be drawn into the investigation. There are links to Curran’s case and the two, who have for each other a deep mutual respect (and suppressed romantic feelings) will join forces.
Many characters from the previous stories are either mentioned or are active participants. The journalist, Griff Maddocks is there. Sergeant Singh is brought over to assist when things get dicey. Harriet and Julian’s ward Will is talked about but not seen. Curran’s half-brother Jayant is in K-L helping Curran to find their sister but spends most of his time in hospital with dengue. We learn more about driving forces from Curran’s early life and family history. Harriet remains the strong, independent woman we have seen in the past with feminist leanings. She and Curran share views quite liberal for the times. Will they finally admit they’re in love and act on it?
I found this fourth installment to be just as interesting and engaging as the previous ones, and I hope there are more to come.
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February 21, 2024My review for the Historical Novels Society:
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
August 2, 2024
Terrific book and I'm so glad A M Stuart has chosen to continue this series! Her characters continue to grow, change and even surprise the reader. Terror in Topaz has a great mystery with plenty of twists and "edge of the seat" suspense up until the very last chapter. In this entry Inspector Curren goes undercover to destroy a drug & prostitution ring, while also trying to unravel his own family's secrets. But nothing goes as planned, including his attempt at anonymity. Can his friends save his skin before he ends up dead? Well, I can only say that I couldn't put it down during the last 100 or so pages!
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October 5, 2023Terror in Topaz:Terrific
Reading an ARC preview copy, I found Terror in Topaz intriguing and mysterious. Since this is Book 4 of the Harriet Gordon series read the series in order to understand the full development of the characters especially this heroine.
Harriet and Curran travel to Kuala Lumpur, from Singapore where Harriet encounters an obvious murder and Curran a mysterious crime ring; and unexpectedly, they find each other. The actions that follow are suspenseful, and once again Harriet and Curran are intertwined in the crimes’ solutions.
Be cautious in your reading: Only trust the tried and true characters, everyone else is not as they seem. In the words of A. Stephens, the government liaison for Inspector Curran, “It’s impossible to know who to trust.”
From the geographic, cultural and historic settings to the captivating characters' stories and their families' histories much is explained and resolved.The author’s familiarity with the orient and the setting is rich in description and clarity. Actions tell the story, and dialog moves naturally and smoothly.
While the action is tense, the resolutions continue to the very end of the novel so don’t put it down! For Alison Stuart readers this is a must read..
Reading an ARC preview copy, I found Terror in Topaz intriguing and mysterious. Since this is Book 4 of the Harriet Gordon series read the series in order to understand the full development of the characters especially this heroine.
Harriet and Curran travel to Kuala Lumpur, from Singapore where Harriet encounters an obvious murder and Curran a mysterious crime ring; and unexpectedly, they find each other. The actions that follow are suspenseful, and once again Harriet and Curran are intertwined in the crimes’ solutions.
Be cautious in your reading: Only trust the tried and true characters, everyone else is not as they seem. In the words of A. Stephens, the government liaison for Inspector Curran, “It’s impossible to know who to trust.”
From the geographic, cultural and historic settings to the captivating characters' stories and their families' histories much is explained and resolved.The author’s familiarity with the orient and the setting is rich in description and clarity. Actions tell the story, and dialog moves naturally and smoothly.
While the action is tense, the resolutions continue to the very end of the novel so don’t put it down! For Alison Stuart readers this is a must read..
October 19, 2023
Having read and loved the first three Harriet Gordon Mysteries, I was anxious to read this fourth installment; and I was not disappointed. Terror in Topaz was spellbinding! I stayed up far too late, wanting to read “just one more chapter”. Harriet once again proved herself to be a strong, witty, compassionate heroin. I especially loved how her story paralleled and eventually intersected with that of Inspector Curran. The author’s historical note at the end was also intriguing.
With gratitude to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
With gratitude to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
January 20, 2024
Well now what am supposed to do?? I’m all caught up on the series. 😢
I love a good conspiracy— so Curran’s secret investigation was interesting. And the murder Harriet and Julian get caught up in was surprising. So the connections between the two kept me guessing!
I love a good conspiracy— so Curran’s secret investigation was interesting. And the murder Harriet and Julian get caught up in was surprising. So the connections between the two kept me guessing!
February 13, 2024
I Can’t Recommend This Series Highly Enough
First let me say that if you have not read any of the books in this series be sure to read it in order from the first book. This series is so good and the characters are so well constructed. I also love the setting in Malaya.
First let me say that if you have not read any of the books in this series be sure to read it in order from the first book. This series is so good and the characters are so well constructed. I also love the setting in Malaya.
October 3, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a free advance reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair review.
This is the fourth and final installment of A.M. Stuart’s Harriet Gordon Mystery series. The series features Harriet Gordon, an English widow with a slightly bumpy past who lives in 1910’s Singapore with her clergyman brother.
I’ve loved this series since I got the ARC of the first book, and I’ll admit that I was very disappointed when I learned the the series is ending. The setting is unique and quite fascinating and the plots are well structured and engaging, but I’ve kept coming back for the characters. Harriet Gordon is relatable and her partner in crime solving – Inspector Robert Curran – is a complicated, well-drawn man.
Terror in Topaz starts shortly after the last book left off, and the lives of the main characters are in disarray. Harriet has lost her job, and Curran is suspended from his and has temporarily left Singapore.
When Harriet and her brother are invited to visit a boy’s school in Kuala Lumpur they jump at the chance for a change of scenery. Scandal and murder intrude on their holiday, and Harriet is pulled into a mystery with deep roots.
I don't want to leave any spoilers, so I’ll stop there. I enjoyed this book and read it in one evening. The mystery itself is very strong – well-plotted and researched – and engaging. The way the series wraps up is pleasing – I have no complaints. This is a strong finish to a great series.
This is the fourth and final installment of A.M. Stuart’s Harriet Gordon Mystery series. The series features Harriet Gordon, an English widow with a slightly bumpy past who lives in 1910’s Singapore with her clergyman brother.
I’ve loved this series since I got the ARC of the first book, and I’ll admit that I was very disappointed when I learned the the series is ending. The setting is unique and quite fascinating and the plots are well structured and engaging, but I’ve kept coming back for the characters. Harriet Gordon is relatable and her partner in crime solving – Inspector Robert Curran – is a complicated, well-drawn man.
Terror in Topaz starts shortly after the last book left off, and the lives of the main characters are in disarray. Harriet has lost her job, and Curran is suspended from his and has temporarily left Singapore.
When Harriet and her brother are invited to visit a boy’s school in Kuala Lumpur they jump at the chance for a change of scenery. Scandal and murder intrude on their holiday, and Harriet is pulled into a mystery with deep roots.
I don't want to leave any spoilers, so I’ll stop there. I enjoyed this book and read it in one evening. The mystery itself is very strong – well-plotted and researched – and engaging. The way the series wraps up is pleasing – I have no complaints. This is a strong finish to a great series.
September 27, 2023
The Harriet Gordon mysteries are some of my favorite historical mystery books to date. The setting is authentic and beautifully brought to life, the characters are so realistic that they seem like friends, and the mysteries, themselves, never feel forced, but unravel with intricate attention to detail. These books are amazing, and the fourth and final in the series is no exception. Fans of this series will want to get their hands on this book as soon as possible to find out what happens to Curran and Harriet after they face their most dangerous circumstances yet.
While Harriet deals with a murder in the house, in which she and her poor brother, Julian, are staying as guests, Curran continues in his personal quest to find someone important to him. But in the goldfish-bowl high society of Kuala Lumpar, all roads lead to the Topez club and the crimes going on behind the scenes linked to people in high places. As Harriet and Curran's paths intersect they both must confront the ghosts of the past, and dare to believe in a future in which they can both find a better, more beautiful way forward.
I loved this book, and I cannot recommend this series enough.
While Harriet deals with a murder in the house, in which she and her poor brother, Julian, are staying as guests, Curran continues in his personal quest to find someone important to him. But in the goldfish-bowl high society of Kuala Lumpar, all roads lead to the Topez club and the crimes going on behind the scenes linked to people in high places. As Harriet and Curran's paths intersect they both must confront the ghosts of the past, and dare to believe in a future in which they can both find a better, more beautiful way forward.
I loved this book, and I cannot recommend this series enough.
October 18, 2023
Thank you to the author for an ARC to review. An excellent end (maybe?) to a wonderful series. Harriet and her brother travel to Kuala Lumpur to visit a boys school where Jullian could teach and their ward, Will, could go to school after he finishes St. Tom's in Singapore. They stay with the assistant headmaster, Henry, and his younger wife, Edith. Harriet is not taken with Edith, who seems lazy and immature and sends her daughter, Dottie, off with the amah every chance she gets. Henry says that Edith is lonely with him working all the time and is desperate for female companionship but Harriet thinks that the companionship she craves is of the male variety. Her suspicious are confirmed when she sees Edith in an animated conversation with Mr. Stewart, a local mine manager. They are far too familiar with one another and, to Harriet's eye, it seems like a lover's quarrel. Is this why the other women in the club shun Edith, because she is having an affair? On their last night in town, Edith fakes a headache and stays behind while the rest of them go to dinner. They return to find Mr. Stewart shot dead and Edith holding the gun, covered in blood. She claimed that he was trying to attack her and she had to fend him off but if that were the case then why did she have to shoot him 5 times? Meanwhile, Curran is also in town, on his secret police mission to undercover the truth about the Topaz Club, which also gives him the opportunity to try to find his half-sister, Samrita, who was supposedly a prisoner of the club. His half-brother, Jayant, is with him but he gets sick with dengue and is in the hospital for most of the book. Jayant has been looking for Samrita since she went missing and he was the one who tracked her to the Topaz Club. Curran's local government contact, Stephens, keeps tabs on his progress and warns him to trust no one. But eventually Curran runs into Harriet and he enlists her help in interviewing a woman who was formerly a Topaz Club resident since he struck out with her husband. When Harriet arrives, it is clear that the woman is Samrita but that she is using an assumed name. Samrita begs Harriet to tell Curran to leave them alone but she does give her a postcard sent by her friend and fellow Topaz Club resident prior to her death. It is believed that before her death, she snuck out sensitive documents and hid them and the Topaz Club will stop at nothing to get them back. The documents, Curran believes, are the pictures they are using to blackmail government officials into doing their bidding. Curran sneaks into the club but is captured and kept prisoner with Samrita, who they kidnapped when they killed her husband because they believe that she knows where the documents are hidden. Curran is left to die by the Topaz Club owner, who is his former lover, Li An's, evil brother. But Harriet and their friends rescue him and together, with the clues on the postcard, they find the documents. They lure Li An's brother and his partner, who turns out to be Curran's government contact, Stephens, into a trap and they are caught by the police. Curran gets his job back with the police and he proposes to Harriet and they are married in the epilogue. Edith went on trial and was convicted, a murder that was based on a real life story. Edith, jealous that her lover had dumped her for a native woman with whom he was currently living, killed him rather than let him go. I highly recommend this excellent final installment of the series.
Update: According to the author, she changed the ending and eliminated the epilogue that I refer to above so I’m not sure exactly how it ends but it seems that she plans more books with Harriet and Curran so I can’t wait to get me hands on ‘em!
Update: According to the author, she changed the ending and eliminated the epilogue that I refer to above so I’m not sure exactly how it ends but it seems that she plans more books with Harriet and Curran so I can’t wait to get me hands on ‘em!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
Always a pleasure to catch up with these characters.
Just caved and bought the fourth book in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series earlier today. I've been itching to see what happened after the one-two punch ending of Evil in Emerald, and I was not disappointed.
Terror in Topaz picks up soon after the fallout of the previous book, and everyone seems to have plans moving forward. Curran is on a secret squirrel mission (one that just so happens to line up with his own promise to find his half sister), and Julian and Harriet are considering a big move of their own to escape the gossip. What follows is a fast-paced murder mystery that has emotions and loyalties swinging as fadt as a pendulum. I devoured this in one sitting, and I loved it! Can't wait for the next book to be released - especially after that ending 😍.
Highly recommend this series if you're after a murder mystery set in a different culture and setting. I wasn't sure I'd enjoy Singapore circa 1910, but it adds a lot to the stories, and class divides are just so in your face wild.
Terror in Topaz 4.5/5 🌟
Just caved and bought the fourth book in the Harriet Gordon Mystery series earlier today. I've been itching to see what happened after the one-two punch ending of Evil in Emerald, and I was not disappointed.
Terror in Topaz picks up soon after the fallout of the previous book, and everyone seems to have plans moving forward. Curran is on a secret squirrel mission (one that just so happens to line up with his own promise to find his half sister), and Julian and Harriet are considering a big move of their own to escape the gossip. What follows is a fast-paced murder mystery that has emotions and loyalties swinging as fadt as a pendulum. I devoured this in one sitting, and I loved it! Can't wait for the next book to be released - especially after that ending 😍.
Highly recommend this series if you're after a murder mystery set in a different culture and setting. I wasn't sure I'd enjoy Singapore circa 1910, but it adds a lot to the stories, and class divides are just so in your face wild.
Terror in Topaz 4.5/5 🌟
November 16, 2023
Another interesting and intriguing adventure for Harriet and Curan. They each find themselves involved in mysteries in Kuala Lumpur and there's no shortage of danger. I enjoyed the read-there's several surprises along the way and a satisfying ending. Looking forward to their next adventure!
January 23, 2024
Slow starting, but once the action started I couldn't put the book down. Miss Stuart does her best at keeping the readers attention. Moving the location from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur was a wonderful move. I started reading thinking that this was the end of the Harriet Gordon but the author in her dedication announced that the series will continue. Excellent story.
September 30, 2023
I have really enjoyed this series of books and am hoping this is not the last one although it does tie up previous story arcs nicely. I think my favourite part is the feel of being in this other world - 1910 Malaysia this time. I enjoy upright Harriet although she felt a bit priggish as foil to the silly and selfish Edith. There was a lot going on and it took a while to get Curran and Harriet solving the mystery together- that's what I want more of as they make a great team.
October 19, 2023
Before I start let me just say I love this series. Love it. But this one, Harriet and Curran’s third outing, brings the tension and the pacing to almost unbearable levels - but in the best possible way. A brilliant read.
February 11, 2024
Another wonderful installment, this time set in Kuala Lumpur! Evocative and compelling, I love Harriett and this mystery, as well as the developments in her personal life, do not disappoint.
February 15, 2024
Tackling several concerns that have made their way into 21st c
Again, a totally absorbing book. There are a few incongruities in conversations but the. Intensity of the action almost wipes them away. The various love stories build nicely.
Again, a totally absorbing book. There are a few incongruities in conversations but the. Intensity of the action almost wipes them away. The various love stories build nicely.
April 25, 2024
Love this series.
Harriet and Curran are wonderful protagonists, and no matter how often I tell myself "must go to bed NOW", I wind up reading "just one more chapter" until I've finished the book.
Harriet and Curran are wonderful protagonists, and no matter how often I tell myself "must go to bed NOW", I wind up reading "just one more chapter" until I've finished the book.
October 19, 2023
Best one yet!!
The long awaited Terror in Topaz hits it out of the park. Love these characters so much that I couldn't put it down.
The long awaited Terror in Topaz hits it out of the park. Love these characters so much that I couldn't put it down.
June 20, 2024
Sadly, it is not as good as the first three books in the series. Conclusions were drawn too quickly, action was rushed, and the ending, though expected, skipped a lot of details that would have enriched the whole.
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