The Perfumist of Paris

Lush descriptions and complex characters lead to a wholly satisfying conclusion to Joshi’s stand-out Jaipur rtilogy. Set almost 20 years after the events of The Henna Artist, this follow-up to The Secret Keeper of Jaipur takes place in Paris in the 1970s. Radha is no longer the rebellious younger sister of Lakshmi; she is now a wife and mother and has found her calling as an apprentice to a master perfumer, a position she finds challenging and thrilling. As her responsibilities at work grow, so does the tension at home. Her husband doesn’t understand why she feels the need to work when he can provide for the family on his own. Then Radha is sent to India to source fragrances for a new perfume line, and her world is further upended when she learns the son she gave up at 13 is now on his way to Paris to find her. The events that follow are heartwarming and showcase the reality of a changing landscape for working women and their families at this time.