Celebrate Small Business Month with our most popular business-only savings Shop Savings Guide>
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$3.99 with 64 percent savings
Print List Price: $11.02

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Ann Bennett
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Amulet: A heart-breaking novel of love and loss set in WW2 Singapore (Echoes of Empire: A collection of standalone novels set in the Far East during WWII) Kindle Edition

by Ann Bennett (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 3,196 ratings

From award-winning author Ann Bennett, comes a new, heart-breaking novel set in Singapore, during World War Two.

Perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop.

After her mother’s death, Lara discovers a beautiful amulet amongst her belongings, engraved with the words “for Suria.”

Suspecting Suria to be the grandmother she never met, Lara travels to Singapore to find out why her mother was committed to the care of a local orphanage during World War Two.

In 1941, Suria, a poor Malay girl working in a tailor’s shop and living in a communal warehouse, is befriended by a British officer, Charles Simmonds. They start to grow close, but war threatens to engulf Singapore and tear them apart.

While delving into her grandmother’s past, Lara is forced to confront betrayal and brutality as she learns some disturbing truths about families and friendships…

Praise for Ann Bennett

'A vivid account of a brutal period, and a searing exploration of trauma, memory and loss..' The Lady Magazine.

‘Have just discovered this writer … So descriptive of the Far East. Harrowing in parts but unputdownable! Best author I have read in a very long time.’ Amazon Reviewer.

‘This was a story of love, passion and cruelty I could not put down ….’ Lizeanne Lloyd - Lost in a Good Book

I raced through this book in just over twenty-four hours … I literally could not put it down.’ Bibliobeth – Goodreads.

‘I really loved this haunting, powerful and beautiful novel.’ Amazon Reviewer

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Part of series
    Echoes of Empire: A collection of standalone novels set in the Far East during WWII
  2. Print length
    350 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 15, 2020
  6. Reading age
    16 - 18 years
  7. File size
    1.4 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 9 books in this series.
  • Kindle Price:
    $16.69
    By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  9. Cochin Fall (The Colonials)
    Kindle Edition
    $0.99
  26. The Elephant Keeper's Daughter
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  29. The Road Back (Distant Places)
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
Next page
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Brilliant story

This is an epic story, told with great sensitivity. Brilliantly written. I loved the storyline told through two timelines.

Highly recommended. FIve Stars - Amazon Reviewer


survival against the odds

Beautifully written complex story of love and loss during WW2 set in the Far East.Highlights the atrocities carried out by soldiers against defenceless people. A family history where a child survives and learns the truth about her grandmother. Five Stars - Amazon Reviewer



About the Author

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway. Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club and The Amulet are also about WWII in South East Asia, all six making up the Echoes of Empire Collection. Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are published by Bookouture. Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.co

Product details

  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 3,196 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ann Bennett

Ann Bennett

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own journey to uncover his story. It won the Asian Books Blog prize for fiction published in Asia in 2015, and was shortlisted for the best fiction title in the Singapore Book Awards 2016.

That initial inspiration led her to write more books about WWII in Southeast Asia - Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club, The Amulet, and The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu. Along with The Lotus House, published in October 2024, they make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also the author of The Oriental Lake Collection - The Lake Pavilion and The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, set in French Indochina.

The Runaway Sisters, USA Today bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture. Her latest book, The Stolen Sisters, published on 29th November 2024 is the follow-up to The Orphan List (published by Bookouture in August this year) and is set in Poland and Germany during WWII.

A former lawyer, Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details, please visit her website www.annbennettauthor

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
3,196 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's story quality, with one review highlighting its two timelines and wartime drama elements. The book receives positive feedback for its readability, with one customer noting how it keeps readers engaged. Customers appreciate the well-developed characters.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Story qualityReadabilityCharacter development
11 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story of this WWII novel, with one review highlighting its dual timelines and another noting the author's expertise in wartime drama.

"...This story has two timelines, but both are equally compelling...." Read more

"...of WW2 and the Japanese aggressive March on the far East is told in novel form...." Read more

"...The plot is predictable and very straight forward." Read more

"...So tragic and sad and still I read into the night unable to put it down. Humanity at its worst...." Read more

9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and interesting, with one mentioning it keeps them wanting to continue reading.

"...This story has two timelines, but both are equally compelling...." Read more

"...Interesting and very touching." Read more

"It is an entertaining book with some good tips around Singapore's history during WWII. The plot is predictable and very straight forward." Read more

"Really enjoyed this book in the sense that it keeps you wanting to read it...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book.

"...of the war, the innocents that are thrown into it, are portrayed beautifully in her novel. You feel that you are there, and you wish you weren’t...." Read more

"This book gives a lot of detail about WW2 and the characters make it very personal. Interesting and very touching." Read more

"This one kept the pages turning. Interesting, well developed characters. Good history intermixed. This is my second book by this author." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • GrandmaLu OK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but heartbreaking story
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Usually I read WWII stories that are based in England or the European front. Now it is the Asian territory that is capturing my interest. This story has two timelines, but both are equally compelling. The hard parts of the war, the innocents that are thrown into it, are portrayed beautifully in her novel. You feel that you are there, and you wish you weren’t. Thank you for reminding us how bad it really was.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kathryn Spurgeon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing
    Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book gives a lot of detail about WW2 and the characters make it very personal. Interesting and very touching.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sandi Barnard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Ann Bennet winner
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The history of WW2 and the Japanese aggressive March on the far East is told in novel form. The audacity of the Emperal Egomania of Japan sent the brutal Troops into China, Russia, and many defenseless small nations. Finally they made the fatal blunder by their sneak attack on That fateful Hawaiian Sunday, December 7, 1941. I remember that day and that War. 2 of my 3 teenage brothers who joined the Navy were deployed to The Pacific while the eldest was in the Mediterranean. This story of love, family and devotion tells the truth...
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fall of Singapore
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The Amulet by Ann Bennett is the shocking story of ravaged Singapore during World War Two. Every human should read this book. It speaks of the unthinkable nightmare of a young woman among the many people who suffered at the hands of the Japanese military. So tragic and sad and still I read into the night unable to put it down. Humanity at its worst. I highly recommend this book to all of the historical novel lovers. Bravo!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Carlos Pasos
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok book. Very predictable.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    It is an entertaining book with some good tips around Singapore's history during WWII. The plot is predictable and very straight forward.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Weimdogz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good as have all of Bennett's books. Tells a lot about Southeast Asia & WW 2. Awe 1
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    We know about the war in Europe but not so much about Southeast Asia where there was so much war.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sue T. McKay
    5.0 out of 5 stars You have got to read this book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I had no idea this was going on in Asia. The story has stuck with me for days. Last week I could not put it down. YES! I would recommend this book to my friends, as a matter of fact I did that this morning. We know a lot about the war in Europe but very little about what was happening in South East Asia. Two weeks ago I had never heard of Ann Bennett now I want to read everything she has written.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars The amulet
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    An I interesting story of the types of events that happened to the Malay people during the events of World war two.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • J Barwell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly wonderful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Having read nearly all of this author's books, her description & detail made it yet again another of her titles that I wanted to know the end, but didn't want the book to finish

    Absolutely a wonderful read
    Report
  • Dodie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Singapore in WW11 and family secrets
    Reviewed in Australia on August 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I have read many Ann Bennett books. They follow a formula; granddaughter finds her grandmother's secret after grandmother's death and goes to S.E. Asia to find out more. In the Amulet, the family secrets take a young woman to Malaysia and Singapore. She is able to learn about her grandmother's background and the great-grandmother's experiences in WW11 in Singapore.
    Parts of the story are very confronting, especially the details of cruelty by the Japanese soldiers towards the comfort women.
    Ms Bennett writes well. She has been able to present many different personalities and experiences with insight and sympathy.
    I read this book really quickly as I wanted to find out how the story progressed. I wanted to get to the end but at the same time I didn't want to find out.
    I enjoyed the book in spite of the war time cruelty.
    Report
  • Anne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Read
    Reviewed in Canada on March 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great story plus history lesson as well. The time-slips were smooth and the story rolled out seamlessly across the years.
    Report
  • Sub
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story
    Reviewed in India on May 13, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    It’s a must read. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are well described and well written story. Tragic but good ending. I loved reading it
    Report
  • Celia Holman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging
    Reviewed in Canada on September 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was a very engaging story. It's not the best Anne Bennet book that I've read, but I still recommend it.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report