A Disappearance in Fiji Launch with Nilima Rao

A charming debut historical mystery set in 1914 Fiji. Nilima Rao’s sparkling debut mystery offers an unflinching look at the impact of colonialism, even as it brims with wit, vibrant characters and fascinating historical detail.

‘This is an utterly charming novel. The setting is exotic and the characters are intriguing. Nilima Rao is an author well worth discovering.’  - Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series

‘Meet Sergeant Akal Singh, the complex and charming hero of a thoroughly original mystery set in 1914 Fiji. Fans of Golden Age mysteries will relish this debut novel by a compelling new talent, Nilima Rao. More, please!’ -  Sujata Massey, Agatha Award–winning author of The Widows of Malabar Hill

Nilima Rao is a Fijian Indian Australian who has always referred to herself as ‘culturally confused’. She has since learned that we are all confused in some way (and has been published on the topic by Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service as part of the SBS Emerging Writers Competition, so now feels better about the whole thing). When she isn't writing, Nilima can be found wrangling data (the dreaded day job) or wandering around Melbourne laneways in search of the next new wine bar. A Disappearance in Fiji is her first novel, and she is currently working on the second in the series.

Sunil Badami is a writer and academic. His work has been published in every major Australian media outlet, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Monthly, Guardian Australia and Good Weekend, as well as in Meanjin, Southerly, Island, Seizure, Best Australian Stories and Best Australian Essays. He’s on the board of the Canberra Writers’ Festival and a manuscript assessor and mentor for the Australian Society of Authors. He lives and works on Wongal land in the Eora Nation.