The Separation

The Separation Synopsis

A country at war with itself, a family divided and betrayed, a bond that can never be broken...Malaya, 1955. Lydia Cartwright returns from visiting a sick friend to an empty house. The servants are gone. The phone is dead. Where is her husband Alec? Her young daughters, Emma and Fleur? Fearful and desperate, she contacts the British District Officer and learns that Alec has been posted up country. But why didn't he wait? Why did he leave no message? Lydia's search takes her on a hazardous journey through war-torn jungle. Forced to turn to Jack Harding, a man she'd vowed to leave in her past, she sacrifices everything to be reunited with her family. And while carrying her own secrets, Lydia will soon face a devastating betrayal which may be more than she can bear...

The Separation Reader Reviews

• Joanne Nuttie - 'Wow… I loved this book, it was full of intrigue, mystery and left me at times in suspense. Read full review >
• Phyl Smithson - 'This was a story that hooked me at the start, left me frustrated with the slowing down of the initial pace as it progressed but then it recovered and I was again addicted.  Perfect for a lazy holiday.'  Read full review >
• Sophia Ufton - 'Oh Wow, so moving! Brought me to tears, but was amazing! A beautiful story of the love of a parent who loses her children and what a parent will do to find this love again no matter what.' Read full review >
• Suzanne Marsh - 'Gripping, powerful and emotional. I can certainly see why Dinah Jefferies is classed as an extraordinary story-teller.' Read full review >
• Edel Waugh - 'This is a remarkable tale by an incredibly talented storyteller.  This story just blew me away!' Read full review >
  
• Jean Diamond - 'I hope to be able to read more powerful novels by Dinah Jefferies in the future and enjoy them as much as I enjoyed reading The Separation.' Read full review >
  
• Cathy Burman - 'An excellent, exciting, powerful novel. A guaranteed page turner. Highly recommended.' Read full review >
  
• Glynis Elliott - 'Within the first couple of pages I was hooked line and sinker.' Read full review >
  
• Rebecca Whymark - 'I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters have a depth to them that makes them more believable and means that you can really identify with them in one way or another.' Read full review >
  
• Nicola Kingswell - 'An emotional rollercoaster of a story about relationships, deception and abandonment.' Read full review >
  
• Susan Walsh - 'An outstanding book. I couldn’t wait to turn each page.' Read full review >
  
• Amanda Keeling - 'The Separation drags you in by the scruff of your neck from the first few pages and doesn’t let go until you have ridden the ups and downs of every chapter in this emotional roller coaster of a story.' Read full review >
  
• Evelyn Love-Gajardo - 'Looking for a good holiday read? Then this is the book for you!' Read full review >
  
• Jocelyn Garvey - 'This is a gripping, fascinating book set in an era that we know little about. A really good read.' Read full review >
• Jayne Burton - 'It took a while for me to get into this book and nearly gave up – but very glad I didn’t.' Read full review >

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All versions of this book

ISBN: 9780241966051
Publication date: 22/05/2014
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback

Book Information

About Dinah Jefferies

Dinah Jefferies was born in Malaysia and moved to England at the age of nine. She has worked in education, lived in a commune and exhibited work as an artist. Dinah's first novel,The Separation, was published by Viking in 2014; The Tea Planter's Wife is her second novel. She is a contributor to the Guardian and other newspapers and lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.

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