Simla Mist

by Liz Harris

From award-winning author, Liz Harris, comes an emotional tale of love and revenge set in Simla, the summer capital of the British Raj, which lies in the shadow of the Himalayas. Simla, 1932 Life-long friends, Lilian Hunt and Daisy Chatsworth, whose fathers work for the British government in India, have travelled north with their families from Delhi to Simla, eagerly anticipating a summer of parties, dances and, dare they hope, romance. Frederick, Lilian’s ambitious father, is determined that Lilian should marry Eric, the son of his superior, Cecil Stanford, as that is what Cecil wants. Eric, however, against his father’s clearly expressed wishes, is drawn to Daisy. But Cecil objects to Eric marrying a Chatsworth, though no one knows why. Lilian decides to take matters into her hands, and help her friend to win the man she loves. Unknown to Frederick, he has an enemy in Simla, and soon after his arrival, that enemy makes his presence felt. Feeling increasingly threatened, Frederick asks a new colleague, Jack Leighton, to stay close to Lilian and Daisy without them realising he’s there to protect them. Jack has taken an instant dislike to Lilian but, reluctantly, he agrees. But the enemy is watching… Simla Mist , an unforgettably powerful story of love and revenge, is perfect for readers of Santa Montefiore, Dinah Jefferies, Kristin Hannah, Fiona Valpy and Rosie Thomas. What readers are saying about Darjeeling Inheritance by Liz Harris, the first novel in the series The Colonials, each novel of which is a standalone and is complete in itself. Liz Harris has successfully transported me to 1930s India in her five-star novel set on a tea plantation in Darjeeling! I’ve read books set in colonial India before, but Harris has a superb gift in making life during the British Raj come to life…This is a fabulous novel that needs to top your list. (Goodreads review) Darjeeling Inheritance is an entertaining, well-written historical romance, well-rooted in its geographic setting… Recommended for readers who want a well-constructed story set outside Europe or North America. Helen Hollick ( Amazon Vine Voice) An enjoyable read, full of romance, and with enough treachery and intrigue to keep interest throughout. (Historical Novel Society Review) The dialogue captures the essence of the characters and the vivid description of the landscape foreshadows dangers lurking in the lush landscape. The depth of the story rises above most romances because it pulls no punches. Linnea Tanner (Goodreads review) It is essentially a love story, but with secrets and betrayals, set in the Darjeeling area of India. The time period of the 1930's, is vividly recreated by the author, along with rich descriptions of the tea estates for which the area is famous. T.F. White (Amazon review) I bought this book to read over Christmas and finished it in two days it was so gripping.
The story is brilliant - a girl destined to marry her father’s choice and well…No spoilers here, but the course of true love etc etc… an emotional rollercoaster, entirely believable characters, breathtaking descriptions. Mo Voaden (Amazon Review)

Genres: Historical

354 pages, Paperback

Published January 26, 2023

About the author

Born in London, Liz Harris graduated from university with a Law degree, and then moved to California, where she led a varied life, from waitressing on Sunset Strip to working as secretary to the CEO of a large Japanese trading company.

Six years later, she returned to London and completed a degree in English, after which she taught secondary school pupils, first in Berkshire, then Cheshire, and then in Oxfordshire.

In addition to the eighteen novels she’s had published, she’s had several short stories in anthologies and magazines.

Liz now lives in Windsor, Berkshire. An active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Historical Novel Society, her interests are travel, the theatre, reading and cryptic crosswords.

To find out more about Liz, visit her website at: www.lizharrisauthor.com. You can sign up to her monthly newsletter from her website, and as a thank-you gift, you’ll receive a free book, Word Perfect, a romance set in California.

Reviews

[Yusuf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the injustices they were party to, and there were many, the British colonialists in India did manage to do some good. Thanks to The Niche Reader I received an advance copy of Simla Mist and I thought it appropriate to share my thoughts about it with readers. Amongst their own, and in their own way, the Brits had fun as well. Among their laudable accomplishments was the institution of the Indian Civil Service and the standards of excellence on which it stood. In the final decades of their raj, the British relented and opened the ICS to qualified Indians, thus establishing the administrative framework that made the transition to independence a far less daunting task. Simla Mist is set in the final years of the exclusively British Indian Civil Service, when prejudice, fear and resentment accompanied a willful ignorance of Indian aspirations. Summering in the cool mountain air of Kashmir, the civil administration brought its officers and their families to an annual celebration of social norms in the clubs, ballrooms, and playing fields of the hill station resort. So, what about Simla Mist? If you can get past the excruciating opening sentence, read a paragraph or two in and you’ll have the gist of the story: Up-and-coming British ICS boy meets, marries and deserts an Indian. Oh, she’s pretty. And, of course they had a child. Need anything more? Actually, the story unfolds quite nicely. Maybe a little too nicely. A new generation appears. But when the facts are revealed, no one on the British side gets hurt. The ones on the other side, however, suffer a lot and they do so with restraint and patience. The story would have been so much better if this had not been the case. The were hints early on that this might be the direction the story was about to take. But no. It is a credit to the upbringing of the offended that the British originator of their lifelong ordeal is allowed to pass silently through that good blight. To her credit, the author captures the sights and sounds of Simla as it probably was back then. If you like a feel good story, and like the Brits themselves, are possessed of a blind eye where the locals are concerned, this may provide you with a pleasant afternoon’s read, right up until tea and scones are served.

[Suzanne Stokes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid I didn't finish the book - and after reaching 50% I was irritated by the repetition of the the storyline, which seemed to go round and round. Lilian is supposed to fall in love with Eric and marry him, but Eric and Lilian's friend Daisy are the ones who are in love. The charade set up to cover this by the girls just gets silly - and 'fools' the handsome Jack into thinking Lilian is a flirt, so he takes against her. Although I expect they ended up together at the end. The girls are going to paint (please get on with it) Simla, but there are further boring complications with chaperones and bodyguards to keep them safe. And although the appalling British attitude to the Indians is well drawn, it doesn't produce the tension it should.
I felt the dialogue was in serious need of an edit, as it was often banal - even at one point, two of the male characters discussing the flowers in the garden. Long drawn out conversations about whether Lilian remembered a house...and one of the most annoying things in any story set in a country with another language is the italic word in, in this case, the Indian dialect, followed by the translation and repetition of it all through the book.
So, I'm sorry - I know how much hard work goes into writing a novel - but this one needs a serious re-think and a professional edit.

[Isabelle D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this new book set in colonial India (like the previously published Darjeeling Inheritance and Cochin Fall) and I'm now pleased to report I greatly enjoyed it.
Lilian is a lively heroine and a very good friend to Daisy, although Jack can't be blamed for thinking otherwise at first, as he wasn't aware of the reason why it looked like Lilian was trying to divert his friend Eric's attentions from Daisy.
As often in books with multiple points of view, I liked knowing things that some of the characters didn't, and seeing how secrets affected the story. But in this book what I liked the most has to be the way Lilian and Jack talked to each other - it was fun, while much more reserved Daisy and Eric were cute (which I really liked too).
This may be my favourite book in the "series" (no relation between characters, just a common theme, so they can be read in any order)... although I'm not 100% sure I wouldn't change my mind if I read one of the others again. 😉

[Siâni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel from The Niche Reader.

I risk sounding like a character from the novel describing the book as 'charming', but it was!

This is my first historical fiction set in India during the 30s and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The novel revolves around a handful of central characters, all keeping their secrets and following their agendas while seeking their happily ever after in Simla.

The story is propelled forward by Frederick marrying Binita, a local Indian woman. Frederick promised to love her always and never to leave her.

We can see where this is going.

The main story takes place 24 years later when Frederick is not married to Binita. He has his own family, a wife, and a daughter, Lilian, who is now ready to look for a partner in marriage. Here we are introduced to the complications of marriage in the 30s in the upper classes. Lilian does not like Eric, but Eric's father wishes for him to marry Lilian, despite the fact Eric actually loves Daisy, Lilian's best friend. Lilian and Daisy come up with a plan to help please their parents, as well as their own fancies, and this is the main crux of the novel.

I really enjoyed Lilian's character. She may have been my favorite. Daisy is quite a dismissive character, which explains how she and Lilian work so well together as they balance each other out. Despite Lilian being outspoken, witty, and beautiful, we do see her reflect on her character and how this may come across to other people. We do see her act as a typical young adult, worrying about how others think of her as she navigates society in order to find a man.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read. There's a bit of everything in here; deception, love, banter, history, revenge.

I will be reading more of Harris's work after reading this novel.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a peak and then immersed into British Colonial India, specifically at Simla, during the 1930's, you'll see the rigidity in the British customs and traditions, and how everything in daily life had to follow the rules. And on the other hand you'll see some glimpses of Indian life and how different both worlds were.
The author researched extensively in order to write this book and it shows on every single page,
But as much as the book depicts every day life, at the core is a love story, between two young people who fight their attraction until they realize that there is no point in fighting it, but also we have the British-Indian love represented in two couples separated by the span of 20 years, and shows how nothing really changes during the years.
The book can be described as charming, but with dark twists here and there.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simla Mist, the latest book by Liz Harris was an excellent read. The main narrative is set in the 1930s, in Simla, the summer retreat of the British. It tells the story of Lillian's attempts to help her friend Daisy spend time with the man she wants to marry. There are various sub plots interwoven into the developing romances throughout the novel which add to the suspense. Overall, a well-researched, enjoyable read.

[Mimi Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great description of India but

Could have been a far more developed and intricate story but failed.
Beautiful accurate portrayal of Simla and the mixed race situation of the time but dragged and failed to live up to the previous books in the series.

[Katalin Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant historical fiction. I couldn't put it down. I felt I was there. Good book.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light romance with a good touch of history. Harks back to the time when Shimla was the summer capital of India. The story was a little predictable but good.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This was a fascinating glimpse into what live was like for both the British and Indian people living in India between the wars. The reader also learns how the attitudes and expectations affected the people. There was quite a difference between how the British lived and how the Indians lived. In this story we follow the lives of three families, the Hunts, the Chatworths and the Stanfords. Their lives seem to be one round of pleasure with some work added in. There is a romance or two in this story but not all are straightforward. There is also a mystery as to who may be causing problem for Fredrick Hunt. Although, I must admit, this was easily worked out. I did enjoy this entertaining story but I would have liked an epilogue.
I received a copy via Niche Reader and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.