Meet the Mirza family of Flagstaff, Suva.
Laila Mirza has recently earned her law degree and is determined to build a future of her own. Intelligent, observant, and quietly fearless, Laila has a habit of noticing the things other people miss. What begins as curiosity often leads her toward secrets the community would rather keep buried.
Her older brother, Rahul Mirza, serves as a corporal in the Fiji Police Force. Calm under pressure and deeply committed to justice, Rahul believes in discipline, duty, and protecting the people around him. While Laila follows instinct, Rahul relies on procedure, yet together they make an unexpectedly effective team.
Their father, Imran Mirza, is a retired Police Inspector whose reputation still carries weight throughout Suva. Years spent investigating crimes have given him a sharp understanding of human nature, and his guidance continues to influence both of his children.
At the heart of the family is Amina Mirza, a retired history teacher with a deep love for Fiji’s culture, traditions, and stories. Wise, compassionate, and quietly strong, Amina has spent her life teaching others to value the past and the lessons hidden within it.
Together, the Mirzas navigate life in 1970s Fiji where family, faith, community, and secrets are often more intertwined than they appear.
the toorak temple case: a laila mirza mystery
Suva, Fiji. 1970s.
A temple bell rings earlier than it should.
And in that single, misplaced moment, something is set in motion.
In a city alive with gossip, tradition, and change, the sound does not go unnoticed. It stirs questions that many would rather leave buried.
When law graduate Laila Mirza finds herself drawn into a mystery that unsettles her Indo-Fijian community, she refuses to look away. What begins as a quiet disturbance soon unravels into something far more complex.
With her brother Rahul, a young police corporal determined to prove himself, Laila follows a trail of whispers through temple corridors, crowded marketplaces, and tightly woven community ties. Rumor and truth blur as they uncover layers of temple intrigue, cultural tension, and long-buried secrets.
Available now in paperback.
Previously published asThe Temple Bell Never Rang,this edition features a new title and cover.