The novel is set in Malaysia around the time of their independence, and it centers around the story of Jonny Lim, a cloth merchant who may also be a gangster, a communist or a collaborator with the enemy. It's told from three viewpoints, and it's clear by the end that nobody has the whole story about who Johhny really was. It took me a bit to get into the book, but after the first 30-40 pages, I was hooked. I recommend it and would like to read more by the author.