Warlight by Michael Ondaatje

The first sentence in this novel made me think I was in for a fun ride, " In 1945 our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals".  It never was quite as much fun as I'd hoped.  The parents are theoretically going to Singapore for business.  They are not.  The men are family friends who could be trusted.  They are not.  They are criminals - well one of them is.  Nathaniel tells the story of he and Rachel from his adult perspective, once he learns the truth (?) of his parents.  The "Moth" and the "Pimlico Darter" as the two men are affectionately (?) known are a little dangerous, a lot quirky, and never quite who you think they are.  Is this a spy novel? Just like The English Patient and The Cat's Table, I'm never quite sure what it is I am meant to understand.