A Richard & Judy Bookclub pick

Ceylon, 1935. Louisa Reeve, the daughter of a successful British gem trader, and her husband Elliot, a charming, thrill-seeking businessman, seem like the couple who have it all. Except what they long for more than anything: a child.

While Louisa struggles with miscarriages, Elliot is increasingly absent, spending much of his time at a nearby cinnamon plantation, overlooking the Indian ocean. After his sudden death, Louisa is left alone to solve the mystery he left behind. Revisiting the plantation at Cinnamon Hills, she finds herself unexpectedly drawn towards the owner Leo, a rugged outdoors man with a chequered past. The plantation casts a spell, but all is not as it seems. And when Elliot’s shocking betrayal is revealed, Louisa has only Leo to turn to…

‘A sweeping tale, beautifully written in a wonderful setting, heartrending yet ultimately uplifting. Gorgeous.’
Katie Fforde, author of A Secret Garden

‘The sights, smells and atmosphere of Ceylon are beautifully depicted. This is Dinah Jefferies at her best.’
Lucinda Riley, author of the Seven Sisters series