It’s the spring of 1969, and Lakshmi, now married to Dr. Jay Kumar, directs the Healing Garden in Shimla. Malik, now twenty and finished his private school education, has just met a young woman named Nimmi when he leaves to apprentice at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace. Their latest project: a state-of-the-art cinema.
Malik soon finds that not much has changed as he navigates the Pink City of his childhood. Power and money still move seamlessly among the wealthy class, and favours flow from the palace, but only if certain secrets remain buried. When the cinema’s balcony tragically collapses on opening night, blame is placed where it is convenient. But Malik suspects something far darker and sets out to uncover the truth. As a former street child, he always knew to keep his own counsel; it’s a lesson that has served him well. But it is only when Lakshmi, the real keeper of Jaipur’s secrets, intervenes that things truly right themselves.
Alka Joshi enchanted readers last year with The Henna Artist, a vivid and compelling debut novel that explored one woman’s struggle for fulfilment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern. It went on to become a New York Times bestseller and was even chosen for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Now Joshi returns with her follow-up, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and I think it’s safe to say, we’ve all been looking forward to this.
The novel is set twelve years after the events of The Henna Artist, when Lakshmi arranges for her protégé, Malik, to intern at the Jaipur Palace. The novel follows multiple points of view with Malik taking on a more prominent role here. The story also introduces us to a new character, Nimmi, a young widow and tribal woman from the Himalayas whom Malik takes a liking to.
As with Joshi’s previous novel, the settings are a standout feature in The Secret Keeper of Jaipur. As I read, I felt that I had been whisked away to India in the 1960s. From the rugged mountainside to the bustling streets of Jaipur, Joshi has created vibrant, dazzling settings that are brimming with sensory detail. If like me, you’re stuck in lockdown and longing for an escape, then this is the perfect read for you.
Rich in character, atmosphere, intrigue and lavish storytelling, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is the perfect follow up to The Henna Artist and yet another incredible read from Joshi. I’ll be waiting with bated breath for the third instalment in this stunning trilogy.
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