The Tea Planter's Wife

Praise

“Love, suspense, guilt, and hidden secrets with an underlying theme of race relations seamlessly blend together in a timeless story of an innocent young Englishwoman struggling to find her place in colonial Ceylon against unexpected circumstances and facing cruel choices.”—New York Journal of Books

“[A] dramatic tale of jealousy, deceit, secrets and heartbreak.  The intrigue and suspense, add a Gothic flair to Jeffries fast-moving plot and  the evocative atmosphere  along with the realistic characters will captivate readers.”—Romance Times Book Review

“Spellbinding . . . effortlessly elegant, lushly descriptive . . . Combine this with the vivid, evocative manner in which Jefferies describes the beauty of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and the captivating cast of characters she has created, and you have a superbly written novel that readers of historical fiction as well as women’s fiction will treasure.”—Booklist (starred review)

“An engrossing tale of mystery, manners, and prejudice set against the backdrop of Ceylon (current-day Sri Lanka)…Jeffries shows that she can weave a suspenseful tale in which characters’ complex motivations converge in surprising ways.”—Publishers Weekly

“Rich and incredibly evocative, The Tea Planter’s Wife is historical fiction at its very best. It’s just spellbinding.”—The Sunday Express
 
“Locked doors, old dresses, even a boathouse mystery, this is Rebecca with crocodiles. Very enjoyable…mystery (and) full-blown escape into the past.”—The Independent
 
“My ideal read; mystery, love heartbreak and joy—I couldn’t put it down.”—Santa Montefiore, author of The Beekeeper’s Daughter
 
“Beautifully written and heartrending, this has a magical setting with a real sense of period.”—Katie Fforde, bestselling author of A French Affair
 
“A terrific emotional and atmospheric read.”—Elizabeth Buchan, author of Separate Beds
 
“Dinah Jefferies has once again created a gloriously atmospheric and tension-filled novel. Immensely enjoyable, poignant, and compelling.”—Isabel Wolff, author of Shadows Over Paradise
 
“I was spellbound from beginning to end.”—Deborah Rodriguez, author of A Cup of Friendship
 
“A wonderful book, deeply touching, and an unforgettable read that swept me away. I loved it.”—Kate Furnivall, author of The Italian Wife
 
“Vibrant and compelling–Dinah Jefferies perfectly captures the flavour of colonial Ceylon.”—Rosanna Ley, author of The Villa
 
“Dark secrets lie at every turn, hidden beneath layers of 1920s racism and the fearfulness of a crumbling colonial power, making for a thoroughly gripping tale.”—Liz Trenow, author of The Forgotten Seamstress