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nadiahzkr's review
4.0
Big Trouble in Little Paradise is a fast-paced and action-packed whodunnit set in Darat Kumut, Sabah. It's a page-turner for me, and the only reason I didn't finish it in one sitting was due to the other responsibilities on my plate that needed to be carried out. The setting is written in such a simple yet vivid way that you would feel as if you knew the crook and crevice of the town even though you've never set foot there.
One of the things I liked most about the book is the realistic portrayal of the characters. From the murder victim/town pariah Tommy Asandu to the eccentric cop Rabbil who couldn't live without smoking a pack of cigs whenever he's stressed; these characters were a joy to experience. Our main character, Wesley, was once a journalist, haunted with survivor's guilt and looking for some peace of mind that was hard to achieve even in Darat Kumut.
I loved his dynamic with Delilah. She was a highly functioning partner in their (not so) little murder mystery. She filled the gaps that he left behind, supporting his endeavors regardless of the situation at hand. Though there were other side characters like the security guards at the resort, Wes' aunt Zara, and even the burger stall owner, their existence within the book's pages weren't for naught. Even Lucky the dog and Margie the niece played important roles in Wes and Delilah's quest to solve the murder of Tommy Asandu.
Another thing I enjoyed was that the case involved various people from all over the town, including the townspeople themselves, the staff at the casino, and those in the legal department such as the police officers and medical examiners. Some small-town whodunnits tend to limit their settings to a few spaces and have the several important characters solve things in a bubble. Tommy Asandu's murder/drug-lord case was messy. In a good way.
It is not meant to bore you. Instead, it takes you to the various parts of town as we get to know more and more people through Wesley's eyes and unravel the truth with the help of the most unexpected companions (such as Bella, one of the staff members of the resort). I will not mention too much about the drug dealing scene and the main villain of the story because that would ruin your fun, but the way the story tied up nicely towards the end (though still with loose ends) felt satisfactory.
So, I guess that leads to one thing that I didn't enjoy as much as I did with the rest: the ending.
Like I mentioned earlier, these characters are realistic. Of course the ending should be realistic too. If they solved everything from A to Z and celebrated their win with some mocktails and sandy beaches, then it would feel too forced, wouldn't it? However, though I understand the ending, I wish we got more. It feels as if the point where we find out Tommy's murderer and the resolve of the book are too close. Everything happened so fast, that the next thing you know, you're out of pages to turn.
I wish we had more background story to Wesley's trauma and survivor's guilt, at least more than what we witnessed through Ashini's appearance as a figment of his imagination. We only learn this through his thoughts, scattered throughout the narrative. It'd also be great if we had more time unraveling the truth from the murderer than what we got. The scene with Priscilla was definitely longer, and she didn't even give up the most important information.
All in all, it was a good read and I'd definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a murder mystery taken over by a close-knit community where even the harshest secrets could be buried and bought with money.
One of the things I liked most about the book is the realistic portrayal of the characters. From the murder victim/town pariah Tommy Asandu to the eccentric cop Rabbil who couldn't live without smoking a pack of cigs whenever he's stressed; these characters were a joy to experience. Our main character, Wesley, was once a journalist, haunted with survivor's guilt and looking for some peace of mind that was hard to achieve even in Darat Kumut.
I loved his dynamic with Delilah. She was a highly functioning partner in their (not so) little murder mystery. She filled the gaps that he left behind, supporting his endeavors regardless of the situation at hand. Though there were other side characters like the security guards at the resort, Wes' aunt Zara, and even the burger stall owner, their existence within the book's pages weren't for naught. Even Lucky the dog and Margie the niece played important roles in Wes and Delilah's quest to solve the murder of Tommy Asandu.
Another thing I enjoyed was that the case involved various people from all over the town, including the townspeople themselves, the staff at the casino, and those in the legal department such as the police officers and medical examiners. Some small-town whodunnits tend to limit their settings to a few spaces and have the several important characters solve things in a bubble. Tommy Asandu's murder/drug-lord case was messy. In a good way.
It is not meant to bore you. Instead, it takes you to the various parts of town as we get to know more and more people through Wesley's eyes and unravel the truth with the help of the most unexpected companions (such as Bella, one of the staff members of the resort). I will not mention too much about the drug dealing scene and the main villain of the story because that would ruin your fun, but the way the story tied up nicely towards the end (though still with loose ends) felt satisfactory.
So, I guess that leads to one thing that I didn't enjoy as much as I did with the rest: the ending.
Like I mentioned earlier, these characters are realistic. Of course the ending should be realistic too. If they solved everything from A to Z and celebrated their win with some mocktails and sandy beaches, then it would feel too forced, wouldn't it? However, though I understand the ending, I wish we got more. It feels as if the point where we find out Tommy's murderer and the resolve of the book are too close. Everything happened so fast, that the next thing you know, you're out of pages to turn.
I wish we had more background story to Wesley's trauma and survivor's guilt, at least more than what we witnessed through Ashini's appearance as a figment of his imagination. We only learn this through his thoughts, scattered throughout the narrative. It'd also be great if we had more time unraveling the truth from the murderer than what we got. The scene with Priscilla was definitely longer, and she didn't even give up the most important information.
All in all, it was a good read and I'd definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a murder mystery taken over by a close-knit community where even the harshest secrets could be buried and bought with money.
ruyanda's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Body horror
Moderate: Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Gore
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Stalking, Infidelity, Grief, and Misogyny
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