In Malaysia, cosmopolitanism and tradition coexist. Legally, there are two parallel systems for Muslims: civil law for most matters, and Islamic Sharia for family issues. A husband can divorce verbally ("I divorce you"), but if there are no witnesses, it must be proven by a religious court. No cause is required. A woman, on the other hand, can only request a divorce in cases of cruelty, abandonment, or incapacity. Two exit doors, but one much narrower than the other.

Meet Inspector Singh, a curry-addicted, overweight, sweaty, less-than-elegant, and hardly diplomatic Singaporean police officer. His superiors are constantly looking for creative ways to get rid of him and send him on complicated missions all over Asia, but Singh is good. Very good.

In this first novel of the series, he confronts this complexity. A famous Singaporean former model is accused of killing her ex-husband after a bitter divorce. There appears to be a motive: they wanted to take custody of his children through a legal loophole under Sharia law.

Inspector Singh believes in his innocence and wants to solve the crime, but he has a major problem: the Malaysian police refuse to cooperate. Only his skill, his cunning, and his intelligence can help him in this intricate situation… and some unexpected allies who will gradually join his cause.