{"product_id":"secrets-of-the-sakura-girls","title":"Secrets of the Sakura Girls","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt is Singapore in 1870 and Aoki is a karayuki-san.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAged fifteen, Aoki was sold by her father and shipped to Singapore from Japan, where she was bought into the world of prostitution. In a chance encounter with Reverend Harry Gilmore and his nine-year-old son Rupert from England, she finds herself drawn to their domicile life. Indomitable, empathetic and resolute, she is determined to break free of her life of prostitution and live the life she has always dreamt of. Against the backdrop of the savage decapitation of one of Aoki’s Chinese customers, Aoki and Harry’s feelings forge themselves into an unexpected bond. Meanwhile, detective superintendent Karupan, of the island’s police, strives desperately to solve the crime and fend off possible religious riots. In a race against time, will the dreadful crime be solved and will Aoki and Harry’s budding emotions grow into something permanent?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaul Callan\u003c\/strong\u003e is the author of three previous historical novels. \u003cem\u003eThe Dulang Washer\u003c\/em\u003e was published by MPH of Malaysia in 2012, and was long-listed for the IMPAC award (Malaysia Tatler wrote: “[It] kept me engrossed for seven hours straight.”). \u003cem\u003eShadows beneath the Fronds\u003c\/em\u003e was published by MPH in 2013 (Book Review: “A very good book that tells the reality of the lives of the Tamils in [Malaysia]”). Epigram Books published his third novel, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/epigrambookshop.xyz\/products\/the-brigadier-s-daughter?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=375ba467f\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Brigadier’s Daughter\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, in July 2017. (Malaysia Tatler described it as “The Book of Love.”)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Times Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39251133923441,"sku":"9789814914024","price":24.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/Secrets-of-the-Sakura-Girls.jpg?v=1623736044","url":"https:\/\/epigrambookshop.xyz\/products\/secrets-of-the-sakura-girls","provider":"Epigram","version":"1.0","type":"link"}