The Secret Keeper of Jaipur: A Journey of Self-Discovery, Resilience and Courage Amid the Glamour and Intrigue of Jaipur's Royal Court (The Jaipur Trilogy, 2)

Favorite Quote: Be humble for you are made of earth Be noble for you are made of stars. Story Synopsis: The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, book two of Alka Joshi’s Jaipur Trilogy, continues the stories of Lakshmi, Malik, and the high society and royalty of Jaipur. Set in 1969, twelve years after the events in The Henna Artist, Joshi shows us a changing India and the growth and mistakes of those with societal power – and those without that power. I found the first book, The Henna Artist, through Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. I loved it and thought it was a great standalone novel. Imagine my delight when I discovered, quite randomly, that The Henna Artist was the first book of a not-fully released trilogy. I immediately pre-ordered The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, which arrived around the end of June. Joshi does a great job of keeping you engaged and exhilarated without overwhelming the plot or over-fictionalizing the story. Thoughts & Feelings: I loved this book, not because I already connected to the intelligent and headstrong Lakshmi or clever and humble Malik, but because Joshi writes about human nature. The protagonists make mistakes, and the antagonists elicit understanding and empathy. I also loved how the characters progressed and developed from The Henna Artist to this book – but it’s hard to say more without spoilers! There wasn’t anything I disliked about The Secret Keeper of Jaipur – other than I want to dive into the third book! Joshi delivered another great story and packed it with adventure, realism, kindness, honor, and love.

This book is the second in a trilogy set in India in 1969. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Henna Artist which is the first book in the series. This book picks up 12 years after the Henna Artist, and it includes many of the same characters. You really should read the Henna Artist before you read this book, but it is a very good story so reading it will not be a hardship. After the 12-year gap, Malik is now a young man instead of a child, and his life has center stage. These are books that sweep you away into the pages and the stories. The author has done a wonderful job creating characters that you can care about. And, then she places them in a rich complex plot inside of a well-detailed setting. In these books, India is a land of great contrasts between nomadic shepherds and an incredibly privileged and powerful upper class and between rural Himalayan mountain passes and teeming great cities. All these elements are woven into the story. I won’t retell the plot here because it is better if you learn it as intended by the author. Bottom line: Very good. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I will be looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

I can't wait to read the third book. I'm the sort of reader that loves learning from a different culture while enjoying a good book. This series is outstanding in both regards.

I read the Henna Artist and fell in love with the nice people and remained skeptical of the villains. In this version, I was correct to form a beware opinion on two as they were my main concern for worry. However, good prevailed over evil. I love how Lakshemi is such a strong woman and her good character brought me the happy ending I was hoping for. This is a story of goodness, courage, believing and corruption. I can’t wait to finish reading book 3 of this trilogy.

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur is the 2nd in the Trilogy by Alka Joshi. This book begins 12 years after the Henna Artist. It is best to read the first one but you can read out of order. There are almost 100 pages in the beginning that goes over much of what happened in the Henna Artist which seemed a little long but still interesting. The characters are much the same but Lakshmi is now married to Dr. Jay Kumar. Malik is now a young man trying to make his way and torn between a new career and life that Lakshmi wants for him and the old life of the Himalayas and love for Nimmi and her children. Joshi is a wonderful and descriptive writer that you can imagine all the colors of India. The story unrolls into many different trials for the characters that will keep the reader's attention and love of these characters. I really like that she puts all the Characters names in the beginning and Indian words definitions in the end. It is very educational and interesting.

Malik is a fantastic character that was worth his own story. Characters from the first book are here along with some nee ones that really added depth to Malik. I liked the story and development along with the way this book concluded. I would recommend. I do suggest reading book one, The Henna Artist, first as you need some of that background.

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.

“The Secret Keeper of Jaipur” by Alka Joshi ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I adore India! The country is such a living dichotomy of riches (the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich) woven together to form a vibrant and rich culture. I really love reading about the mid 20th century (1950-1970’s) in India as the people walk the line between embracing the modern and relishing their historical ways. BUT… This book, sequel to “The Henna Artist,” unfortunately disappoints in the way many sequels can. The Indian cultural aspect was the real highlight for me. The prose is beautiful and the writing is top-notch. However, the story is just entertaining enough to keep me reading and I had a really hard time caring about the characters. Specifically, Nimmi: she wasn’t particularly likeable and her arc wasn’t interesting (for me). Also, Malik and Lakshmi fell a bit flat for me in this story (whereas I LOVED them in “The Henna Artist”). Overall, a semi-disappointing sequel that felt like a means to an end. There are some great parts, so I recommend to lovers of Indian culture or those highly invested in the characters from “The Henna Artist.” I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did I miss something that everyone else loved? DESCRIPTION: It’s the spring of 1969, and Lakshmi, now married to Dr. Jay Kumar, directs the Healing Garden in Shimla. Malik has finished his private school education. At twenty, he 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 favors flow from Jaipur’s Royal 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 will serve him as he untangles a web of lies.