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It’s no secret that I am a fan of Dinah Jefferies and this is as beautifully and vividly readable as one would expect. Slip back into history and join Belle Hatton who travels to Burma in 1936 to become a nightclub singer, accompanying her is a newspaper clipping suggesting her parents left Ragoon 25 years previously in mysterious circumstances. Two time frames sit side by side, in 1921 we meet Belle’s mother, lost and traumatised, while in 1936 Belle finds her life increasingly in danger. I adore the descriptive detailing, you can almost close your eyes and take in a deep breath of a bygone era. The colour of the place and people just pops with intensity. Belle begins a relationship with a man, yet it doesn’t take centre stage, it is important but certainly not the be all and end all of this particular story. There is one unforgettable moment, using an event from history that is shockingly dramatic and provocative, I saw with Belle’s eyes, felt the pain and fear. I feel as though I could pick up a Dinah Jefferies book without knowing the author and would instinctively know it was hers, each book is completely individual yet the style of the author remains. The Missing Sister is richly and expressively eye-catching, it swept me up into the pages, releasing me only at the very satisfying ending.
A stolen sister. A daughter determined to uncover the truth. Belle Hatton has embarked upon an exciting new life far from home: a glamorous job as a nightclub singer in 1930s Burma, with a host of sophisticated new friends and admirers. But Belle is haunted by a mystery from the past - a 25 year old newspaper clipping found in her parents' belongings after their death, saying that the Hattons were leaving Rangoon after the disappearance of their baby daughter, Elvira. Belle is desperate to find out what happened to the sister she never knew she had - but when she starts asking questions, she is confronted with unsettling rumours, malicious gossip, and outright threats. Oliver, an attractive, easy-going American journalist, promises to help her, but an anonymous note tells her not to trust those closest to her. . . Belle survives riots, intruders, and bomb attacks - but nothing will stop her in her mission to uncover the truth. Can she trust her growing feelings for Oliver? Is her sister really dead? And could there be a chance Belle might find her?
Closing date: 01/11/2020
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can click here to read the full reviews.
Enjoyable, if a little predictable. A book to escape into while nursing a cup of tea and a piece of cake. Full review
Belle gets a job as a hotel singer in 1930s Rangoon and delves into the disappearance of the sister she never knew. An intriguing story which paints a vivid picture of the hustle and bustle of Rangoon. Full review
A sweeping tale, beautifully written in a wonderful setting, heart rending yet ultimately up lifting. Gorgeous. -- Katie Fforde on 'The Sapphire Widow' My ideal read - I couldn't put it down -- Santa Montefiore on 'The Tea Planter's Wife' Dinah Jefferies has a remarkable gift for conjuring up another time and place with lush descriptions, full of power and intensity. - Kate Furnivall
ISBN: 9780241985434
Publication date: 21/03/2019
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241985663
Publication date: 28/02/2019
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Audiobook
| ISBN: | 9780241985434 |
| Publication date: | 21st March 2019 |
| Author: | Dinah Jefferies |
| Publisher: | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 320 pages |
| Genres: | Books of the Month, Reader Reviewed Books, Crime / Mystery, Family Drama, Historical Fiction, Relationship Stories, |
| Categories: | Historical romance, Historical fiction, |
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. Dinah Jefferies is our Putting Authors in the Picture feature for March 2019. Click here to read more about her author journey on our blog.
More About Dinah Jefferies
