Set in Kenya in the 1950s against the fading backdrop of the British Empire, a story of self-discovery, betrayal, and an impossible love from the author of The Fever Tree. After six years in England, Rachel has returned to Kenya and the farm where she spent her childhood, but the beloved home she’d longed for is much changed. Her father’s new companion—a strange, intolerant woman—has taken over … intolerant woman—has taken over the household. The political climate in the country grows more unsettled by the day and is approaching the boiling point. And looming over them all is the threat of the Mau Mau, a secret society intent on uniting the native Kenyans and overthrowing the whites.
As Rachel struggles to find her place in her home and her country, she initiates a covert relationship, one that will demand from her a gross act of betrayal. One man knows her secret, and he has made it clear how she can buy his silence. But she knows something of her own, something she has never told anyone. And her knowledge brings her power.
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Great book! Takes place in the early 1950s, when a young girl returns home to Kenya as the Mau Mau uprising is taking place. She expects things to be the way they were before she left, but things have changed. Her father has taken a new partner since the girl’s mother died, but the new woman is not as kind and compassionate and liberal with the native workers.
Returning to Kenya after six years in England, eighteen-year-old Rachel has high expectations on her arrival at the family farm. But finding her father’s new partner and son are now living there, and with the memory of a horrible incident still haunting her, the young woman struggles to claw back some sense of her life before the death of her mother. With rumours of Mau Mau violence, reports of cruel reprisals by British soldiers and the surly District Officer’s unwanted attentions, Rachel finds that nothing is as she expected.
Unlike some reviewers, I did not find Rachel irritating or predictable, and while she is certainly naïve, her struggle to deal with her past and the unexpected present, are totally believable. The skill of this author is in her ability to draw in the reader, her descriptions painting vivid and realistic images throughout the book. Never having visited Africa, I was captivated by the writing from the first page, and touched by the main character, whose difficult circumstances amid the background of the Mau-Mau uprising in 1950’s Kenya, were realistic, scary and at times, heartbreaking.
A well-researched and completely enthralling read that was only marred by the very small typeface in the print edition.
The author writes about a period in the history of Kenya which most whites have probably forgotten. The situation was often exaggerated by the press in favor of the white population, which is not unusual when it comes to British colonialism, and maybe all colonialism. The events of the Mau Mau uprising colored the way the country moved forward, in a confusion of whether the population and government wanted to follow the “white plan” which is always assumed to be the “best” or to try to form and establish a government more in tune with the African culture and way of thinking. The fact that the Mau Mau rose up in the first place surprised the whites who always assumed that their ways were superior, yet never prepared the native population on how to emulate it , should they ever leave. In fact they never assumed that the Natives would ever realize how much they had been taken advantage of and therefore were sitting content that they would be able to rule forever. Actually, the uprisings in Kenya reverberated around the rest of southern Africa and made the white populations there very nervous.
To this day Africa suffers from bad governments, corruption and graft which unfortunately were the main lessons learned from Colonialism.
This book really gets you into the times when African countries were first trying to gain independence from their colonizers. The attitudes of both the Europeans and the native Africans are well portrayed so that the conflict is very understandable.
Although very graphic regarding the mau-mau uprising in Africa, the author draws in the reader to the beauty of the land.
A story about British colonies in Kenya. I loved the description of the country, it made me feel like I was there. A little bit of S__ . Another look at racial tensions.
I loved this book because I fell in love with all the characters. Rachel is a very strong woman who is forced to go live with her grandparents when her mom dies. Returning to Kenya is her dream which is idealistic memories. Then she must face the turmoil of the area and the desires of citizens rights
A great story ,beautiful description of colonialism and it’s dark side. Descriptive passages on the terrain brought back memories of my travels to Africa. All in all an entertaining read.
Not about the wildlife like I had hoped but shined a light on the prejudice of the settlers vs the blacks who were there since time began. A couple who were black/white got caught up in that and it was sad to read about.
The description of Africa were so detailed I felt it was worth the read.
A good book about a period of history I didn’t know much about. The people portrayed are realistic and flawed. I enjoyed this story.
Relives the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya and the feelings of British settlers.
Liked it very much. Good characters informative.
Good depiction of a difficult time and culture.
This is a good book to learn something of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. Skirts the deeper issues and politics but does give perspectives from various characters.
Interesting history that I was not aware of.
Surprisingly interesting and fast paced story. Really not that much action until late in the book, but there was an undercurrent of tension that drew me in. Like a drum beat steadily getting louder the reader knows something terrible is just around the corner….
Interesting read
I had no idea what to think of this book, but I enjoyed it. I like books set in different countries with different cultures, so Leopard At the Door did not disappoint. The story was totally believable, although the ending could have been a little better. I felt myself wanting a little more.
I didn’t know what to expect with Leopard at the Door. Would it give me a satisfying ending? So it took a while for me to get the flow of the story. Once I did, I ripped through the book. Rich in historical detail, interesting characters, and a steady, page-turning build up of impending danger.