Now You See Us: A Novel

by Balli Kaur Jaswal Narrated by Angela Lin

Overview

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...

Editorial Reviews

MARCH 2023 - AudioFile

Angela Lin's spot-on accents conjure Singapore's eclectic culture and social hierarchy in this intriguing story about sleuthing maids. When their friend is accused of murdering her employer, three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore start their own investigation to clear her. Lin's portrayals of the maids and their employers bring out their very different personalities and conflicts: reserved Cora and her overly involved Ma'am Elizabeth, brazen Donita and critical Mrs. Fann, and angelic Angel and her troubles. Lin's restrained pace and tone bring out the author's simple yet powerful descriptions of the flavorful melting pot of Singaporean culture, with its excesses of wealth and exploitation of the maid trade. This engrossing audiobook may be especially appreciated by fans of Nita Prose's novel THE MAID. M.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

01/23/2023

This arresting novel from Jaswal (The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters) focuses on three vulnerable Filipina women who provide domestic labor to upper-class Singapore households. Cora, a seasoned worker, struggles with a kind, well-meaning employer, whose manipulative daughter is a source of trouble. Donita bristles at the abusive control exerted by her church leader, especially when it interferes with the relationship she pursues on her days off. And Angel takes care of her disabled employer while continuing to mourn a bad breakup with another woman. The three stay connected via a shared online chat after an incident in which they were briefly accused of shoplifting together. Despite the risks, they are galvanized into investigative action when another maid whom Donita knows is accused of murdering her employer by a police department only looking for the most obvious suspect. 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. Agent: Anna Power, Johnson & Alcock. (Mar.)

From the Publisher

"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

“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.”  — Kara Gnodde, author of The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything

“Tender and heartfelt, Now You See us also manages to be laugh-out-loud funny while offering searing commentary on misogyny, race, and class. 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

"Heart-wrenching, funny, and fabulous!" — Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of Bridgerton

"An entertaining tale with unforgettable characters that manages to also offer an insider’s trenchant social commentary."  — Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, author of the international bestseller, Sarong Party Girls

"Jaswal’s well-crafted novel blends mystery, social commentary, and human drama into a fascinating amalgam that highlights the plight of decidedly unseen women undertaking cheap labor that exposes them to all sorts of abuse. The story feels authentic and is timely." — Booklist

“A playful yet profound novel [that] moves easily from heartfelt to humorous…what may seem to be a singular story about first-generation London-bred Punjabi women evolves into a story universal to us all.” — USA Today on The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters

“Jaswal tackles serious themes (arranged vs forced marriage, traditional vs modern culture) with a light and funny touch. A page-turner your commute will thank you for.” — Glamour Magazine on Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

“By turns erotic, romantic, and mysterious, this novel of women defying patriarchial strictures enchants.” — Kirkus Reviews on Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

“Charming. . . . This is a sparkling read.” — Publishers Weekly on Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

“An absolute delight…sad, joyful, and exciting all at the same time.” — Bookpage (starred review) on The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters

“I loved this novel—it’s so big-hearted and earthy and funny. Best of all, it turns many preconceptions upside down, and opens up a world that so many of us have only glimpsed. A rattlingly good story.” — Deborah Moggach, author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, on Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

MARCH 2023 - AudioFile

Angela Lin's spot-on accents conjure Singapore's eclectic culture and social hierarchy in this intriguing story about sleuthing maids. When their friend is accused of murdering her employer, three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore start their own investigation to clear her. Lin's portrayals of the maids and their employers bring out their very different personalities and conflicts: reserved Cora and her overly involved Ma'am Elizabeth, brazen Donita and critical Mrs. Fann, and angelic Angel and her troubles. Lin's restrained pace and tone bring out the author's simple yet powerful descriptions of the flavorful melting pot of Singaporean culture, with its excesses of wealth and exploitation of the maid trade. This engrossing audiobook may be especially appreciated by fans of Nita Prose's novel THE MAID. M.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2023-02-25
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.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175913218
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos