The Sandalwood Tree

Simla 

Simla

 Simla, the foothills of the Himalayas 

 Christ Church, a chapel built during the British Raj period  

Simla,  a cool mountain retreat the British developed to escape the summer heat of Calcutta

  Built during the British Raj period in Calcutta

 Built during the British Raj period in Calcutta

 Diwali, India Festival of Lights

 Bustees 

 I had a real dilemma after I finished reading Stieg Larsson, Dragon Tattoo series of books.  

There wasn't a book that interested me for months.  I struggled through a few books before I found 

'The Sandalwood Tree' by Elle Newmark

 On opening the pages of this wonderful book, I'm being transported to different time periods during the reign of the British Raj, in India.  The descriptions of places, people, sights and sounds is intoxicating!

From the Back of the Book

"Everything was easy in our closed little world.  Even when we argued, it never amounted to much because Martin always let it go.  I was naive enough to think we were just that special.

It is 1947 and Evie and Martin Mitchell have just arrived in the Indian village of Masoorla with their five-year-old son.  But cracks soon appear in their marriage as Evie struggles to adapt to her new life and Martin grapples with unbearable wartime memories.

When Evie finds a packet of damaged letters concealed deep in the brickwork of their rented bungalow, she finds herself drawn to another world, a hundred years earlier, and to the extraordinary friendship of two very different young women.

As Evie's fascination with her Victorian friends deepens, she unearths powerful secrets.  But at what cost to her present, already fragile existence?'

  

Just thought I'd like to share!