echoes of silence...

Title : Echoes of Silence
Author : Chuah Guat Eng
Publisher : Holograms
Year : 1994

The role of gender and power relations is very much highlighted in Echoes of Silence. Set in a
Post-colonial era, the main character came back to Malaysia with a white man after spending several years in oversea. The main reason she left Malaysia was due to the 1969 riots.
The plot revolves a lot around the murder of a beautiful woman in a wood. There are a lot of speculations going on and the suspected murderer was among the family members. However, there were doubts and the authority had closed the case for being afraid of bringing the wrong people for the justice.
Using a lot of flash-back, the author managed to go back and forth on the years in identifying who the killer was. It has brought the main character, Ai Lian to keep investigating about the mystery of the murder once her daughter, Anna insisted on finding out the truth.
There are a lot to be discovered and what should be focal point of the story is the discovery of oneself. Ai Lian had learn a lot especially of her involvements with the Templeton family who had been staying in Malaysia even before the 1969 riots. The relationship, the guilt, womanhood and even love which had happened in the past still have its impact in the present and could also be in the future.