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Reviewed by J. Aislynn d Merricksson for Readers' Favorite
Sambath Meas’ The Governor's Daughter is a beautiful historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of colonial Cambodia. Anjali, against the current cultural norms, works with her father in Siem Reap doing detective work. Until now, Anjali has worked on petty crimes, theft and the like. She's ready for more, and gets the unexpected chance when the man she is quite smitten with is accused of a horrific crime, and her friend Esme is at the epicentre of a terrible event. Now Anjali is in a race against time to help the ones she loves, and stop a vicious killer on the loose.
The Governor's Daughter is lush with vibrant depictions of 1920s Cambodia, bringing its history and evolving culture to life. Historical fiction is among my favourite things to read, because of the chance to learn about different cultures in different contexts. This country and culture are not familiar to me and I found it fascinating enough to research more on my own. There I discovered the archaeology! Words in the Khmer language are woven in. Most are obvious by the context, but where they are not, a translation is snuck in.
Sadly, reading this really hit home in regards to our current US political situation. Rabid discrimination against women, folks other than whites, and those who are disabled is beginning to prevail again. We are echoing our colonial ancestors, wherever they landed, instead of learning from those mistakes and prejudices. The book seems true to the historic conditions of the Khmer people during this time, when most were treated as third-rate citizens in their own country. The story is told in first person, from Anjali’s POV. This means we get her musings and she is the one who shares with us her thoughts on the cultures and the times.
