Books I Read: Sri Lanka

This year I've decided to read books about a destination before I visit. I've not limited myself to any rules about this so they could be historical about the location, historical fiction, or just happen to have the city/country as the backdrop, so you'll find a mix of this in my reviews. Also, I'm no literary critic, so don't expect mind-blowing reviews here!

Before our trip to Sri Lanka, I picked up three very different books: one centered around the Sri Lankan Civil War, one cozy mystery set in modern Colombo, and one historical fiction novel set during colonial-era Ceylon. I loved that each one showed me a completely different side of the country and no two were alike.

I listened to all of these books through Audible on my phone. I have both an Audible membership and a Kindle Unlimited membership and I’ll be sure to mention how I paid for each book below. (PS if you click those links and purchase a membership or a free trial, I earn extra commission through Amazon! Thanks in advance and no pressure if Amazon memberships aren’t your thing.)

A quick heads up: I want to mention that both Island of a Thousand Mirrors and The Star of Ceylon include depictions of rape. This is a tough topic for many readers and I want you to be warned in advance.

Island of a Thousand Mirrors

If you’re researching books set in Sri Lanka, this will undoubtedly be the first one to populate. This one is incredibly popular for a reason. Set during the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009), Island of a Thousand Mirrors follows multiple perspectives through decades of conflict and displacement.

Island of a Thousand Mirrors ended up being one of my most impactful reads before visiting Sri Lanka because it gave me a much deeper understanding of the country's recent history and the events that helped shape modern-day Sri Lanka. While it took me a little time to fully get into the story, once I did, I found myself deeply invested in the characters and emotionally affected by what they experienced during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The book doesn't just explore war—it also touches on identity, family dynamics, and how something like skin tone can influence how people are treated, an unfortunate reality that exists in societies around the world. It was difficult, heartbreaking at times (several times I cried for the main characters), and ultimately one of those books that stays with you long after you finish it.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

Best for: Readers who enjoy historical fiction, emotional stories, and learning about the history behind a destination.

Purchased: I purchased this as an Audible book with one of my monthly credits.

The Body in the Paddy Field

This one uses Virtual Voice narration, and I didn't love the narrator's voice. I think that made it harder for me to really get engrossed in the book.

The story itself starts pretty slowly. For a while I wasn't sure how invested I was but I am not a quitter. Once things finally started happening - pretty close to the end of the book - I found myself paying much closer attention.

I love a murder mystery with a female lead, I liked the premise and could see the appeal of the series overall, but this was slooooow. There are several more books in this series following the main character, Kiyama Fernando, an English teacher from Colombo navigating life after a failed marriage, but I can’t guarantee that I’ll continue the series.

Would I recommend it? Meh. If you do decide to read this, I would definitely recommend actually reading this one, rather than listening to it.

Best for: Mystery readers who enjoy slower-paced stories, recurring characters, and female led mysteries. Might also be easier for someone with a closer relationship to Sri Lanka to follow.

Purchased: I purchased this one on Audible.

The Star of Ceylon

This was my favorite but I love 1800-1900’s era books.

Set in the early 1900s when Sri Lanka was still called Ceylon, the story initially follows two main characters as they cross paths in Ceylon. Norton Baxter, arriving in Ceylon for his first assignment of civil service, and Stella Polegate, following her father, his awful doctoral student, and her brother to Ceylon as her father’s unofficial research assistant. (Because of course she does the work and men get the credit in 1906.) It was an engaging historical fiction read filled with intrigue, love, tensions and everything worked out the way I wanted. However, it did end pretty quickly but the second book in this series is releasing later this month so I already know I’ll be purchasing it.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

Best for: Historical fiction readers who enjoy strong female leads and stories set during colonial eras.

Purchased: I borrowed this one on Kindle Unlimited and then paid the few extra dollars for the Audible upgrade.

One thing I loved about reading before visiting Sri Lanka was how different each book felt. One gave historical context, one offered a glimpse into modern life, and one transported me back to colonial-era Ceylon.

Did they make me an expert on Sri Lanka? Definitely not. But they made me more curious and excited about my upcoming trip to Sri Lanka, and that's the whole point.

If you love to travel, I encourage you to join me on this new tradition this year!