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Review:

Now You See Us is a murder mystery, but it also describes the ways in which Filipina domestic workers are treated by their employers in Singapore. One day off per week, curfews, constant pregnancy tests and the threat of deportation are just a few of the things these women deal with to make a living in Singapore. This story revolves around Cora, Donita and Angel, three Filipina maids working in Singapore. Each of the women has a personal story that is compassionately told.

Cora is grieving the death of her nephew, Raymond, of a drug-related crime. Her employer’s daughter knows her secret could ruin Cora’s life. Donita has a terribly abusive employer, Mrs. Fann. She constantly berates Donita and takes away her cell phone as punishment, as if Donita is a child. Angel is secretly suffering heartbreak and caregiving for a stroke patient while also dealing with her patient’s two spoiled adult children. It seems as though all these women are on the edge of society, and one mistake could send them back to the Philippines with no income or options.

Balli Kaur Jaswal sets up the story with the women and their situations. Then Donita’s friend, Flordeliza, is accused of murdering her employer, Carolyn Hong, while no one else is home. Donita, Cora and Angel take it upon themselves to prove her innocence. Donita won’t be able to live with herself if Flordeliza is found guilty. The women use their street smarts to reveal clues about the real killer. The author draws from a true story of a domestic worker who was accused of murdering her employer in Singapore and was executed for the crime. Jaswal was struck by how differently the crime was discussed in Singapore and in the Philippines, where the accused was from.

There are other side plots, including Donita’s romance with an Indian migrant and Mrs. Fann’s involvement in a women’s rights organization, yet the story moves along well. I learned a lot about Singaporean society, which I didn’t know much about. There are glimpses of Singapore’s police state and the Philippines’ brutal drug war. The author describes the precarious way the migrants live in order to take care of wealthy families and yet are treated and spoken about like throwaway items. It reminds me of the way migrants are talked about in this country, too, when people are searching for better lives for themselves and their families.

The author’s note mentions how one-quarter of the world’s 11.5 million migrant workers are from the Philippines and this book is her attempt at telling just a few of those stories. It’s a reminder that migrant workers not only care for families, but they are also managing life in a foreign country. They keep the household running yet are kept hidden. And they are carrying secret heartaches of the lives they left behind.

This is a well-written mystery that is also about Singapore and how it treats women and domestic workers. If you’re looking for a murder mystery that reveals much more, then this might be the book for you.