Untitled Novel 3

Uncover secrets and mystery in this evocative new novel

Gujarat, 1902

Returning to her husband’s English country home from their tobacco plantation in India, Ruby’s unconventional family find themselves adrift.

Where the open Indian skies were rich with jasmine and cardamom, Merriment Manor is shrouded in mist and tangled woods, and a chilling darkness seeps through the walls. It’s not a place for outsiders.

As Ruby’s rebellious daughter struggles against rigid English propriety, they seek respite in the mimosa-scented heat of the French Riviera. But relief won’t come, and when deadly secrets loom, the family are pushed to breaking point.

Now each new scandal could alter their course forever…

Reviews

Praise for Dinah Jefferies:

'Absolutely sumptuous. Dinah Jefferies at her best. I devoured every page of this stunning novel with enormous pleasure' SANTA MONTEFIORE

‘I was totally absorbed by this page-turning tale of love, loss and heartbreak … The island is beautifully evoked, the characters gloriously alive and passionate' RACHEL HORE

'A powerful story … the women are strong and complex … this is Dinah Jefferies' best yet' GILL PAUL

'Transportative, addictive, and tremendously moving' JENNY ASHCROFT

'Transports you away to a dreamy place [and] keeps you hooked, reading into the night to the very last sentence’ LIZ TRENOW

'Sumptuously written and pacy, too … a family drama with a mystery at its heart … loved it' TRACY REES

'A beautifully written story [that] kept me wondering to the end. I could not put it down' CAROLINE MONTAGUE

'Dinah Jefferies weaves a breathtaking plot, shot through with grief, passion and love' JANE BAILEY

'Dinah is such a good storyteller and this book has it all: family secrets, historical intrigue, sizzling love affairs and the unmistakable Corfu setting' FREYA NORTH

'A sweeping, epic novel about love and loss’ Woman's Weekly

'Immersive, gripping and entertaining, this is Dinah Jefferies at her very best in a story filled with intrigue, secrets, and passion’ People's Friend

About the author

Dinah Jefferies began her career with The Separation, followed by the No.1 Sunday Times and Richard and Judy bestseller, The Tea-Planter’s Wife. Born in Malaysia, she moved to England at the age of nine. In 1985, a family tragedy changed everything, and she now draws on the experience of loss in her writing, infusing love, loss and danger with the beauty of her locations. She is published in 29 languages in over 30 countries and lives close to her family in Gloucestershire.