The secret keeper of Jaipur

More than a thousand people flock to Jaipur's Royal Jewel Cinema on the new movie palace's opening night. But as intermission ends, the balcony comes crashing down. As the dust clears and blame begins to be cast, the secrets hidden in the theater's construction threaten to bring down one of the city's most powerful families. It's 1969, and Malik, the irrepressible eight-year-old street child from Joshi's debut novel, The Henna Artist (2020), is now 20 and more polished, thanks to an expensive private-school education. The education came courtesy of Samir Singh, who had previously tangled with Malik's beloved boss, Lakshmi, the former henna artist herself. Now Lakshmi is happily ensconced at a hospital in the Himalayan foothills, but when Malik becomes involved with widowed mother Nimmi, Lakshmi worries about what his future will hold. She sends Malik to work for Singh's construction company, where his concerns about accounting anomalies are brushed aside until the theater collapse. Joshi excels at creating strong characters, the addition of Nimmi being no exception. As Lakshmi and Malik uncover the cause of the disaster, their loyalties are put to the test in this applause-worthy encore.

Joshi's gorgeous sequel to The Henna Artist turns on a royal construction scandal and a black market in 1969 India. The story begins with the collapse of a new cinema during its star-studded premiere in Jaipur, bringing embarrassment to the palace and the Singh-Sharma building firm. Twelve years have passed since henna practitioner Lakshmi Kumar was forced to leave Jaipur in shame; she moved to rural Shimla with her orphaned, street-wise ward, Malik, married an esteemed doctor, and established a healing herb garden. Malik, now 20 and educated, is back in Jaipur as a builder's apprentice; Lakshmi arranged Malik's job to protect him from getting wrapped up in the local drug and gun-running outfit, which happened to the brother of Nimmi, a nomadic young Himalayan widow Lakshmi has been watching over. Malik suspects fraud was behind the ill-fated cinema project after he uncovers sketchy contracts and doctored invoices. Lakshmi returns to Jaipur and calls on her royal connections to help Malik bring out the truth. Meanwhile, Malik and Nimmi have developed an attraction, to Lakshmi's dismay. Joshi's sensuous descriptions of food, local color, and Lakshmi's art make this worth savoring. Fans of the series will hope there's more in store. Agent: Margaret Sutherland Brown, Folio Literary Management. (June)

This follow-up to The Henna Artist picks up the story 12 years later, and is told alternatingly in the voices of henna artist Lakshmi; her protégé Malik; and Nimmi, Malik's beloved. It's 1969, and Malik is studying the building trade under the tutelage of the Singh family and apprenticing at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace. When a section of their largest project, the Royal Jewel Cinema, collapses on opening night, blame is quickly assigned. Meanwhile, Lakshmi is running the Lady Reading Healing Garden, while her husband, Dr. Jay Kumar, heads up the Community Clinic. They invite Nimmi to coordinate the healing garden, creating opportunities for the facets of Malik's life--personal/professional and traditional/modern--to intersect. As Malik tries to clear the person blamed for the cinema collapse, he uncovers nefarious connections between his mentors and his life back in Shimla, which may put Nimmi in danger. It's only after Malik employs the help of Lakshmi, and her connections at the Royal Palace, that justice may be served. VERDICT With lush details, a return to favorite characters, and emotional complexity, this story satisfies on every level.--Tina Panik, Avon Free P.L., CT