I recently read Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and really enjoyed it and it reminded me of Aunty Lee. I read Aunty Lee's Delights for a Halloween Bingo a while ago and this seemed to be a good time to visit Singapore again. I had forgotten what an unstoppable force Rosie Lee can be!
It seems that everyone knows Aunty Lee, by reputation if not personally. And she is interested in other people, analyzing them via food: what do they like and how do they eat it? She sees Edmond Yong sneaking the more expensive food items from her buffet and know that he's cheap, but he also eats as much as he can, revealing that he's short of money.
Rosie is willing to go visit people she barely knows, people she knows a bit, old friends, whoever might have the information she craves. She always packs up a selection of delicious food to grease the wheels of social interaction and give a reason for her visit. As the police inspector observes, trying to stop her is like attempting to prevent ice from melting in the sunshine.
When everyone else is satisfied with the simple answer, Aunty Lee wants the correct answer. She's like a dog with a bone, unwilling to let go of a problem until she's sure she's found the truth. I love her determination and willingness to go after the information. Like Miss Marple, she's willing to act like a dotty old lady to disguise her purposes. I will be happy to read more of her adventures.
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