Murder at Halcyon Manor

Murder at Halcyon Manor is a traditional, puzzle-driven mystery set in the 1920s in British Malaya, before the advent of advanced forensic science. Harking back to old-school mysteries, this is a story steeped in the local pre-Merdeka atmosphere with a twisty narrative exploring logic, psychology, and careful observation, the very elements that make the Golden Age mysteries enduringly beloved.

The novel takes place in Fraser’s Hill, a colonial hill station, and follows a young detective constable fresh out of the academy, Keeri Babu Mogan. By chance, he teams up with his eccentric landlord: an English professor and naturalist, Rhenwick Wolfe, whose love of animals colours his worldview and deductive methods. Together, they navigate a complex web of clues involving both local Malayans and British colonists. The mystery unfolds through classic fair-play structure, with evidence seeded throughout, culminating in the final revelation of the murderer.