The Secret Keeper of Jaipur

The Jaipur Trilogy consists of The Henna Artist (2020), The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (2021), and The Perfumist of Paris (2023). The author based the central character, Lakshmi, on her mother, whose life choices were limited by the dictates of her culture. Joshi’s mother wanted her children to have the freedom of self-determination that was denied to her, and the three novels in the trilogy all examine this issue—not only as it plays out in Lakshmi’s life but also as it relates to her adopted son and sister.

The first installment in the trilogy, The Henna Artist, details Lakshmi’s struggle to break free of an abusive marriage in a small village. She succeeds in establishing a successful business as a henna artist and herbalist but is sabotaged by a member of the social elite, who spreads gossip about her. This causes Lakshmi to retreat to a small mountain village, where she finds a new life purpose as a holistic healer. She’s welcomed by the local community, which is suspicious of the healing modalities offered at the Western hospital in town.

Lakshmi performs a dual role in the novels. She fights for her own right to self-determination but denies this same right to others on more than one occasion.