Now You See Us (2023)
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Now You See Us
FORTHCOMING
MAR 2023 (UK) / MAY 2023 (US)
BY BALLI KAUR JASWAL
OR FROM THE FOLLOWING PLACES:
AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / BOOKS A MILLION / BOOKSHOP.ORG / INDIEBOUND
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.
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…
“Well-crafted characters add to the heartfelt drama... While the sleuthing maids make for an engaging plot, the nuances of Jaswal’s characters and their relationships are even more complex and intriguing. In simple yet evocative ways, she peels back the layers of each woman, revealing how their choices are restricted by their past predicaments and current circumstances.”
“Jaswal effectively balances the murder mystery plot and the dramas of the individual women; they each take agency over their own lives and find, if not truly happy endings, at least satisfying ones. This sympathetic, humane look at low-paid domestic workers will resonate with many.”
“A juicy whodunit... Set in amidst the glitz of Singapore, Balli Kaur Jaswal’s novel examines race and class with not just propulsive storytelling but humor as well.”
“A smart dissection of race, class and womanhood.”
“Intricately plotted, propulsive, and provocative, Now You See Us showcases an author at the peak of her talents. A truly irresistible read.”
“An entertaining tale with unforgettable characters.”
“An uplifting story of courage and hope that will keep you enthralled until the very last page.”
“I have stayed up far too late reading this – so enlightening and compelling. A proper page-turner of a novel.”
“Vivid, provocative and finely observed, Jaswal draws the often hidden lives of domestic workers in Singapore into the light. And not without the crack of thunder. It sparkles with humanity and humour.”