I loved “The Henna Artist” when it came out last year, and I loved its sequel just as much, or maybe even a bit more. As I began reading it, it soon felt like a family reunion. I had come home to visit again with Lakshmi and Malik and various friends, like Maharani Indira, Manu and Kanta Agarwal, and even Madho Singh.

Just as at all family reunions, I wanted to know what everyone had been up to. Lakshmi is now living in Shimla and is married to Dr. Kumar (I saw that one coming.) Malik, just as charming as ever, has finished school and met the widow Nimmi and her two children. But Lakshmi arranges for Malik to take an apprenticeship position back in Jaipur, thus leaving Nimmi in Shimla. Malik finds that not much has changed in Jaipur - it is still all about power and money and keeping secrets. Then a tragedy strikes, and Malik is caught in the middle of it. He must make some difficult decisions in his quest to uncover the truth as to what (and who) is responsible for the tragedy.

I really love how Joshi gives the reader a glance into the lives of the various levels of society, from sheepherders and servants to royalty and the upper echelons of society. I found Nimmi to be interesting because of her cultural background. She is from a hill tribe that moves about with their flocks of sheep. Through Joshi’s descriptions, I could easily imagine the beautiful clothing and the jewels. I could almost taste the banquet of luscious Indian foods.


If you enjoy historical fiction and learning about other cultures, I highly recommend this book! But I do suggest that you read “The Henna Artist” first to get the backstory for Lakshmi and Malik. “The Henna Artist” was Lakshmi’s story and tells how Malik becomes part of her family. It also reveals Lakshmi’s relationship with her sister Radha. (I believe Book 3 will be Radha’s story.) I think there would be too many gaps in the story if you skip the first book.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I thought this follow up to The Henna Artist was fantastic. It was great to catch up with the characters from the first book and especially see how Malik has turned out. I learned a lot about aspects of India I wasn't aware of like the nomadic tribe that Nimmi is part of or the smuggling of gold. I enjoy the author's descriptive writing style and I also liked the suspense/mystery element in this book.

4.5 - Another incredibly moving, atmospheric novel set in 1969 India with a cast of characters that will stay with you forever. Alka Joshi's newest book was one I was most looking forward to this year and it did not disappoint! I loved getting to return to some of my favorite characters from The Henna artist, Lakshmi and Malik in particular, and seeing how their lives had changed in the last few years. Joshi has such a supreme talent at writing about characters from all walks of life, from a tribal, illiterate widow to Jaipur royalty and making you care so deeply about their very individual concerns and problems. The mystery at the heart of this story was compelling - Malik and Lakshmi work together to uncover what happened to cause a balcony to collapse at a cinema opening in which many people were killed. This leads them to a gold smuggling operation and the corrupt practices of a familiar man from the past. Highly entertaining and transporting, this new historical fiction book is sure to keep you entertained this summer and I cannot recommend it enough. Particularly excellent on audio if you enjoy that format. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

Malik is an intern at the facilities office of Jaipur Palace. The latest project is a wonderful cinema. But, things are not as they seem. A balcony of the cinema collapses the night of the opening. Malik comes across some unique adjustments in the project. This leads to some dark secrets which can end up threatening Malik’s life.

I absolutely adored The Henna Artist. However, this one fell a little short for me. I still love the characters and the setting. This is probably what kept me reading. But the story itself just drags in places.

I do love that this author teaches me something. I know very little about this culture. There is always something new to learn in her books.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Alka Joshi is back with The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, a follow up to The Henna Artist. We see how Lakshmi and her family are doing in Shimla, and this time, Malik plays a bigger role in the story as well, as an apprentice in Jaipur. In The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, it’s 1969 in India, and we get a glimpse into the how the people of the foothills of the Himalayas lived. And of course, we see some familiar characters in the Pink City as well, like the ever-scheming Ravi Singh and Lakshmi’s friends the Agarwal family.

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur deals with themes around what makes a family and what we need to be happy. It starts off a little slow, but don’t let dissuade you from reading it. There’s plenty of action in the second half of the book, and lots of emotion to keep the story going. If you liked The Henna Artist, you’ll enjoy The Secret Keeper of Jaipur!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with this ARC!

Alka Joshi’s Secret Keeper of Jaipur takes off twelve years after The Henna Artist. In this new tale, we follow Lakshmi, Malik and Nimmi as they battle new woes and celebrate the beauty of India, the story centers on the three characters’s points of view as Lakshmi and Nimmi create beautiful herbs to heal others. Malik is on the other side in Jaipur where he is helping create the Royal Jewel Cinema. Both Nimmi and Malik uncover mysteries that will set the stage for the glorious tale that is The Secret Keeper of Jaipur.
This tale is as beautifully written as Joshi’s first novel, The Henna Artist. Joshiis able to create scenery that is realistic and touching. Her history and first hand knowledge of India shines in this soon to be bestseller. Alka Joshi writes characters that you grow to love, hate and cheer on. Although this novel ties into Henna Artist, it is not necessary to read it first,

Nimmi, Malik, and Lakshmi tell this twisty and engaging tale that's both a mystery and a romance. Nimmi, a young widow with two children, separated from her tribe and sells flowers in the Shimla market, where she meets Malik. Malik, an orphan, was fostered by Lakshmi, a henna artist now married to a physician. She's taken aback a bit when Malik declares his love for Nimmi. She sends him to Jaipur to work as an apprentice at the Royal Palace. Malik is the only one who realizes there's something amiss with the accountings for bricks and concrete to be used in the construction of a new theater and then, on opening night, a balcony crashes. At the same time, in Shimla, two children appear with a sheep which has gold bars sewn into its fleece. How do these two things connect? No spoilers from me. There's palace intrigue, profiteering, and mysterious goings-on. Read this as much for the characters though- Nimmi and her children leap off the page, Malik is a smart kid, and Lakshmi, much loved from the previous book, is both wily and thoughtful. Don't worry if you missed the first book- this will be fine as a standalone Do not, however, miss the afterword which includes a glossary, interesting info about gold and food, and a recipe. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Great read.

Read if you like: family sagas, historical mysteries.
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Taking place twelve years after the Henna Artist, we follow three characters as they navigate life and change in an independent India. I loved Lakshmi in the first book, and this one was no different. She helps run a healing center and just wants to protect her family.
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My favourite was Nimmi's section. I loved learning about life and traditions in her nomadic tribe, and how hard she had to work when she decides to leave her tribe and settle in Shimla.
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CW: violence, murder, death of a loved one, minor sexual content.

'Joshi was born in India, but has lived in the United States since she was nine. This new release is the sequel to the best-selling book "The Henna Artist". As readers we move ahead 12 years to 1969 and reencounter Lakshmi living in Shimlu and running an herbal healing center in connection with a clinic. She is now married to Dr. Jay Kumar, who works at the clinic. Malik, who has worked for her from a very young age, has now finished his private school education and has fallen for a young widow with two children. Lakshmi sends him to Jaipur to get some experience working for an engineering company. He quickly realizes something funny is going on in the building of a large cinema and when a balcony collapses on opening night he is determined to figure out why and who is to blame. Since knowing the backstory is important I recommend customers read "The Henna Artist" before this one, but for fans of the first this is a great recommendation.

It is 12 years later, Lakshmi now lives a very happy, satisfying life in Shimla, working with Dr. Kumar and growing her own herbs in the Bradley Healing Garden. Malik has graduated from the Bishop Cotton School for Boys and returns to Jaipur as an intern for an old family friend, Manu Agarwal.
The book begins with the opening of the Royal Jewel Cinema. The theater is filled to capacity and everyone is awed by its beauty, enjoying the show and the evening - until the balcony collapses. Everyone believes it was an accident and chalk it up to too many people being in the balcony. However, Malik stumbles upon something and realizes that it may not have been an accident but something else. Meanwhile, back in Shimla, Lakshmi and Malik’s girlfriend Nimmi stumble into their own mystery.
Both, The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi, are beautiful stories. We grow to love some of the characters and hate others. Even though The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is a continuation of the characters lives, it is not necessary to read The Henna Artist first. Yes, you know the characters better if you do, but Ms. Joshi does a good job of explaining all of the characters and their relationships in her second book.

How lovely to immerse myself into the lives of Lakshmi and Malik again. I read The Helena Artist as an audiobook and would have preferred to read this the same way, somehow the richness of India came across better when read aloud, but the book is still wonderful on its own. The author does an excellent job of balancing character development and setting with a swiftly moving plot. I don’t feel either one has been sacrificed on the alter of the other (a problem that seems quite common in my more recent reads). The addition of Nimmi as a character was lovely. I enjoyed learning about her heritage and how it fit into Indian society. I will read whatever this writer produces next.
I received this book as an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#TheSecretKeeperofJaipur
#AlkaJoshi

Namaste! Bonjour! Welcome!

The second in the trilogy, the first of which was #TheHennaArtist published in 2020, it was good to revisit familiar characters of Lakshmi and Malik; and to make new acquaintances.

It is 1969. Thirteen years have elapsed. Lakshmi, the henna artist of Book 1, is now married and settled in Simla. She works, along with her husband Dr Jay Kumar, running The Healing Garden. Malik, her young helper, is now a twenty -year old, having secured a good private education, and is ever thankful to Lakshmi, his Aunty-Boss. He has struck up a romantic friendship with a young woman, Nimmi, in Simla when he has to leave for Jaipur to apprentice with the Jaipur Royal Palace in their latest project: a state of the art cinema.

Nothing much has changed, Malik discovers. Power and money call the shots and bury secrets. When the cinema’s balcony collapses on the day of the grand inauguration, blame is placed on a convenient head. Malik however, is not satisfied and sets out to unravel the truth. As a street child he has learnt the important of keeping his senses alert but to keep counsel to himself; a temperament which will stand him in good stead as moves into the quagmire of deceit. A parallel story - of gold smuggling - is emerging in Simla. Is there any way this and the incident at Jaipur are related?

Alka Joshi has a way with words and keeps you enthralled from the word go. It’s like an Insta-reel which unfolds quickly and moves from scene to scene not letting the reader sit back for a single second. From the lanes of Jaipur to the large bungalows to the Maharani’s palace; to the Babudom and colonial hangover in clerical offices; intermingled with the Himalayan hill ranges and the life of the nomadic shepherd community, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is a visual delight. The sounds and smells of India are equally evoked and true to Novel 1 recipes and a glossary are appended at the end of the book. The tension in this read is a couple of notches higher than in The Henna Artist. Book 1 had laid down the foundation with more of a historical context. Book 2 is high on intrigue and emotion justifying its faster pace. Sequels are hard to live up to especially if the first was a runaway success. But it seems Book 2 has taken flight successfully.

Pre-order now for this read which will be published June 22, 2021. Thank you Harper Collins, Mira Press and Alka Joshi for making a digital e-ARC available.

I wish the book much success and look forward to Part 3.

Note: Book 2 can be easily read as a stand-alone but it would be good for the reader to enjoy Book 1, The Henna Artist, as well, to fully enjoy the references and the characters.

The research that Alka Joshua puts into her books is phenomenal. Reading this book was like getting to see old friends again, the new characters were also great. If you loved The Henna Artist, this is a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read The Secret Keeper of Jaipur

Although this story follows some of favourite characters from The Henna Artist, it was so different than the Henna Artist in so many ways that it didn’t really feel like a sequel.
Much of what I enjoyed in The Henna Artist - the history, the art, the complex family relationships - are not what this books is about ( well there are some different types of complex family relationships ) It’s more of a cozy mystery almost - with drug trafficking and collapsed buildings and a “who done it” factor.

The story is told from the perspective of three individuals:

✔️I loved Nimmi - her strength , her stubbornness , her love of her children and Malik - I was sad that she really didn’t feature much in the second half of the book. I loved learning about the nomadic lifestyle of Nimmi and her family.

✔️Lakshmi is back - and more or less the same as in the first book - a strong woman always fixing others problems and thinking she knows best . I loved that we saw a bit softer, insecure side of her in this book.

✔️And Malik - little Malik was one of my favourite characters in The Henna Artist - he grows up to be a smart, resourceful and loyal young man.

An accident on the opening night at the Royal Jewel Cinema brings to light secrets, lies, and smuggling. This book was wonderful. I kept trying to figure out all the angles but since I am terrible at that sort of thing I got to enjoy the ride. Amazing story, very atmospheric from the cool mountains to the heated overcrowded cities this books was a colorful visit to India with an intriguing mystery for company.

Twenty-year-old Malik is an apprentice at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace when their latest construction project, a movie theater, collapses on opening night. He immediately suspects the use of subpar construction materials. But it soon becomes clear that a cover-up is going on. Can he protect himself and his family from the powerful players in the conspiracy?

This sequel to THE HENNA ARTIST can stand on its own. But I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book in the series first. The relationships are complicated. Fortunately, the author provided a cast of characters at the beginning of the book, which helped.

The plot was compelling once I got my bearings, and the storytelling beautiful. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. It's a sweeping story of a particular time and place, told through important moments in the lives of the key characters.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This picks up where the Henna Artist left off. It's now 12 years later, and Lakshmi and Dr Jay are married. Malik is just finished with school, and Lakshmi has gotten him and internship with Manu in Jaipur. When the Palace's new theatre collapses on opening night, the palace must blame someone. Malik realizes that something is not right with the construction, and unless he can prove what was done, the palace is going to put the blame on Manu.

Received free through NetGalley.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Secret Keeper of Jaipur!

This book is amazing! I absolutely loved The Henna Artist, and I was super excited to read The Secret Keeper of Jaipur as well. It absolutely does not disappoint, and I thought it was the perfect continuation to the story that was started in The Henna Artist. I loved finding out what is happening in Lakshmi's life so many years later, and I especially loved seeing Malik as a grown man making his own way in the world. There are also some new characters introduced in this one that I very much enjoyed getting to know. I love that the story is told from multiple perspectives so that we get to hear the inner thoughts of several different characters and watch the events in the story unfold from a variety of angles. Joshi's world-building continues to be beautiful, and I felt like I could really imagine myself in India alongside the characters as the story unfolded. The plot is exciting and a bit more fast-paced than in The Henna Artist, and I absolutely could not put it down (I finished it in one day!).

Highly recommend!!

Malik jas left his home near the mountains in order to apprentice to a renowned builder and learn the construction business in Jaipur. But on the opening night of the new lavish theater, tragedy strikes, and a balcony collapses. Malik finds evidence that substandard building materials have been used, but no one listens to a humble apprentice. Can he somehow convince the maharani that corruption was involved, before more lives are lost?
I became so engrossed in 1970s India that I read the entire book in two sessions!

I have really enjoyed both Alka Joshi's books. I like how they are deeply rooted in Indian culture and as a history teacher, I love learning the stories of everyday people in different places and different times. I like how their are different voices to each chapter. Love how they blended in bits of the 1st book so you could remember what happened but you did not need to read the 1st book to enjoy the 2nd.