Sulari Gentill is an Australian author, born in Sri Lanka. She initially studied astrophysics before becoming a corporate lawyer. She gave up law to become an author. Sulari is the author of the award winning Rowland Sinclair Mysteries, a series of historical crime fiction novels set in the 1930's about Rowland Sinclair, the gentleman artist-cum-amateur detective.
PAVING THE NEW ROAD, A ROWLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL
KRIS: This is Book 4 in the Roland Sinclair novels. It is set in the 1930's. Eric Campbell, an Australian fascist has travelled to Germany in the hope of meeting and making an alliance with Adolf Hitler. The clandestine armies of the establishment have been mobilised to prevent Campbell from meeting Hitler but the man sent to do the job has been murdered. Wilfred Sinclair is meant to go to Germany to sabotage Campbell's efforts. As Roland, Wilfred's younger brother, speaks fluent German and is more expendable, he is asked to go instead. The story is well researched and based on real events. It was a very interesting and entertaining read.
WENDY: She has read all the Roland Sinclair novels. Roland, an artist cum amateur detective always travels with his loyal companions, Milton, a poet, Clyde an artist and Edna a brazen sculptress. This time they go to Germany under the guise of buying artworks. They befriend Nancy Wake. Wendy enjoyed the read.
JO: The story about pre World War 11 Germany was very interesting. Jo enjoyed the read.
GENTLEMEN FORMERLY DRESSED, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL
BEV: This is Book 5 in the Roland Sinclair novels. Roland is the black sheep from a very conservative and wealthy Australian family. The story is set in the 1930's. Roland Sinclair, with his three companions, have been spying in Germany. After being shot at and having his arm broken, Roland, with his companions, flees to London with the help of Nancy Wake. A member of the aristocracy is stabbed to death in a hotel and once again, they are compelled to find the killer.
ALL THE TEARS IN CHINA, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL
ROSEMARIE: This is Book 9 in the series. It is set in Shanghai in the 1935. When Wilfred Sinclair cannot go on the wool buying trip to Japan, his younger brother Roland goes in his place. While he is in Shanghai there are two murders. He and his usual travelling companions try to solve the murders. Rosemarie really enjoyed the book, especially the historical part dealing with the Japanese prior to World War 11.
JOAN: Soon after arrival in Shanghai, Rowland befriends a Russian dancer who shortly after their encounter is found murdered with Rowland becoming the main suspect. Rowland, his mates and a culturally diverse collection of locals then embark on a "WHO DUNNIT" to snare Alex's killer. They get caught up with Chinese gangsters, corrupt police and officials with vice thrown in. The whole thing reminded me of a "Five go Adventuring Again" tale but with these adults, not kids, frantically running around getting further into trouble and totally out of their depth in a foreign land. If the purpose was to impart the political, moral and cultural aspects of life in Shanghai at the time, this attempt felt shallow and far fetched. It proved disappointing.
A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL
JULIA: This is Book 1, the first book where she introduces Roland Sinclair. It is set in Australia in the great depression of the 1930's. It is researched really well and Julia enjoyed reading about this era as she didn't know much about the depression. As Julia loves crime fiction she enjoyed the mystery of this detective story. There are interesting newspaper snippets at the beginning of each chapter. Julia also liked the headings at the beginning of each chapter eg. Chapter 5 - Filth and Hate. At the beginning of the book there is an article about the murder of Roland Sinclair. It is actually the uncle of the Roland in this series. Julia enjoyed the read.
PAMELA: She found the news snippets at the beginning of each chapter not relevant to that particular chapter and quite annoying. The story was interesting but by the time she got to a certain page she was so annoyed by the excessive wealth and behaviour of certain characters she decided not to read anymore.
LYN: Roland Sinclair has opposite views to his family. Sinclair was a respectable and well known name. Roland uses his extensive wealth to support himself and his 3 artistic friends in a wonderful life. Lyn enjoyed the writing style. She learnt a lot about the history of the time.
TAM: The story was set in the Snowy Mountains around the 1930's. Tam liked the book, although sometimes it was a bit over the top. It was almost liked two plots were happening, one being cattle rustling. It was a bit overwhelming. Other than that it was a good book.
CROSSING THE LINES
JUDY J: This is a work of meta-fiction. The story is about an author writing about an author who also writes about an author. Madeline d'Leon is a lawyer who writes part time. She has a brilliant idea about a character, Edward McGinnity who is a serious writer. He wants to differ from his usual writing and writes about Madeline d'Leon, a writer of detective fiction. There is a mystery and near murder. Judy said it was a good read. The name of the book has been changed to AFTER SHE WROTE HIM.
A TESTAMENT OF CHARACTER, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL
VAL: This is book 10 in the Roland Sinclair series. It's like a Boy's own Adventure. It's set in Boston in the 1930's. A murder of a wealthy American happens on the first page. Roland Sinclair and his three companions go to deal with it. They found out he was actually shot. Val thoroughly enjoyed it even though it's a bit over the top.
A MURDER UNMENTIONED, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL
CONNIE: This is the sixth book in the series. Roland is accused of shooting his father when Roland was only 14yrs old. He is now 28. The whole book is about finding the killer of his father. It is set in Yass in the 1930's on a big farm. There are plenty of servants. Roland and his three companions are now adults. Their friend, Charles Kingsford Smith is going to teach Roland to fly a plane. Connie didn't like the way they lived or the portrayal of the Aussie slang.
A DECLINE IN PROPHETS, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL was also read by Connie. This is Book 2 in the series. The first murder takes place on a boat. The boat is returning to Australia from England via New York. She enjoyed the bits of news at the beginning of the chapters. Connie didn't think the foursome made very good detectives.
MILES OFF COURSE, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVEL
ED: This is Book 3 in the series. When Ed first started reading it she didn't really like it. Roland's friend Edna is recovering in the Blue Mountains. An Aboriginal stockman disappears from the Snowy Mountains property. Roland goes to investigate. Someone is trying to kidnap Roland and when he gets captured, the Aboriginal man is found to be held prisoner by them.
THE PRODIGAL SON, A ROLAND SINCLAIR NOVELLA
JUDY A: After publishing seven books in the Roland Sinclair Mysteries Sulari Gentil wrote this prequel. When Roland first returns to Australia his home seems conservative and dull but then an old friend persuades him to go to Art school. He is drawn into an avant-garde world of art.
RAGTIME BY E.L. DOCTOROW
CLAURENE: She did not read a Sulari Gentill novel but instead read Ragtime. She just loved it. She said it was impossible to do it justice. It is set in America covering the decade before the 1914-1918 war. The story begins with a rich family. Houdini's car breaks down in front of the family home. It was chosen as one of best 10th novels. Claurene enjoyed it very much.
Kris
JUNE: We will be reading books by Jhumpa Lahiri including The Namesake, Interpreter of Maladies and the Lowland.
