I’ve read two books of the author and both are just okay for me. The only reason I read this one because it featured Filipinas in the story and it centers around them. After reading it, I don’t know how to feel about this book, I didn’t love nor like this book.

Now You See Us is a story about three Filipina domestic workers, Corazon, Donita and Angel, working in the wealthy part of Singapore. News about a Filipina domestic worker, Flordeliza Martinez, is arrested for the murder of her employer. Though the three do not know her well, they know she is innocent and they must help her, despite their own personal struggles. She could be any of them, accused and scapegoated for crimes they didn’t commit.

There are so many going ons in my mind while reading this book, the good, the bad and the ugly:

(The good one) I like how the story brings about the sorry plight the domestic workers working outside their home countries, not just of Filipinos but to all workers working hard to give better life to their families back home. Not that everything is bad but the fact that they leave their families behind to give them a better life, they work doubly hard just to send money for food, schooling, and other expenses are true heroic deeds. Also, I like that the main characters here come together for one another and turn to one another for help. And from someone not a Filipino, the author knows what she’s talking about, I can commend her for that.

(Then bad one) But I will feel uncomfortable telling stories about other people’s culture just so you lived in their home countries and have domestic helpers. Also, while I appreciate the book brings about the plight of the workers, I don’t like it solely concentrated on just Filipina workers, giving bad light to Filipinas in Singapore. That actually gives a bad taste in my mouth, to be honest, as there are other voices that can be given focus here.

(Now, the ugly one) I love Singapore and it will always be one place I would love going back again and again. Though this book will give readers only a small glimpse of the situation of the domestic workers there, I hope it won’t give bad impressions to Singaporeans. There might be cases of maltreatments and helpers treated as second class citizens but not everybody treats their helpers badly. This happens everywhere and not just in Singapore. There will be always be horror stories and good stories as well.


My other random thoughts on the book:
I don’t consider this a mystery / thriller book, far from it. This feels like a social commentary, too many happening all at once, from the main characters themselves as well as their homeowners. The murder aspect here is just a small part of the story. Another thing, I listened to this and honesty I got turned off with the narrator, maybe that was partly why I didn’t like this book. While I appreciate the Filipino accent of the characters, there is one, Donita, that talked not with Filipino accent but with Singaporean accent and it just irritates me as to why. And fyi, not all Filipinos speak with heavy accent with the p and f, lol!