Flash House

The novel begins in 1949 in India not long after India's Partition. On the surface it's a spy story cum romance and orphan rescue. It's the underlying history that is both fascinating and riveting and if you are not fully aware of what happened there in northern Asia, it will send you scurrying to wikipedia and history books. It's one of those books that I love that combine history with adventure without being cloying or fake. It's also one of those books that lead you to other books and writers. In this case, (for me at least,) Kipling's view of the Great Game, Sven Hedin (explorer), Robert Shaw (explorer) & others.
Aside from my love of history, I appreciated Aimee Liu's writing, a beautiful mix of description, narrative, prose, show more character development, with an outstanding grip on cultural oppression and the repercussions of war.

The ending while disappointing was indicative of war, espionage, love triangles and of abandoned children. A happy ending would have made the whole journey trite. show less

Wow! What a fantastic story this is. Intrigue, romance, family...it's all here.

The story is set in post-WW2 India and China. Aiden Shaw, an American journalist, disappears while investigating a story in Kashmir. Is he a spy? A double agent?

His wife, Joanna, runs a safe house for girls trafficked into prostitution in Delhi. She is a strong character, loyal to her husband in spite of his apparent desertion of her, and in spite of her love for another man.

Joanna has rescued a young girl from a brothel. Kamla is another very strong heroine who struggles to survive and to help Joanna survive as well.

The plot is riveting, with enough twists and uncertainties to keep me guessing and turning the pages. The powerful writing, though, does more show more than tell a good story. There are major themes here about loyalty, survival, guilt and betrayal. Amazing book. show less