1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin's plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother. But in 1941 the Japanese occupy Malaya...

"Singapore, 1927. Three young people are questioning whether this in-between island can ever truly be their home. Mei Lan yearns to free herself from the stifling traditions of a famous Chinese dynasty; Howard seethes at the indignities heaped on his fellow Eurasians by the colonial British; Raj, fresh off the boat from India, wants only to work hard and become a successful businessman. As the years pass, and the Second World War sweeps through the...

"The Allies have defeated Germany in Europe, but Japan refuses to surrender the East. In Singapore, amid rumours the Japanese occupiers are preparing to wipe out the population of the island rather than surrender, a young aide is found murdered beneath the termite mushroom tree in Hideki Tagawa's garden and his plans for a massive poison gas bomb are missing. To prevent any more destruction it falls to Su Lin to track down the real killer with the...