Palmyra

by Karen Barrow

Winner of the Whistler Independent Book Award for Fiction
Finalist for the Guernica Prize, the Page Turner Award, and the Eric Hoffer Award

In 1976, a Canadian woman travels to a cocoa estate in Trinidad, seeking answers about her family’s past. Her arrival stirs long-buried memories for Joseph Chang, a reclusive man in his nineties who has spent a lifetime trying to forget the events of his youth on the once-thriving estate, Palmyra.

Told through the eyes of eleven-year-old Joe—the precocious son of the housekeeper—Palmyra is a lush, Gothic tale of family secrets, fractured loyalties, and unbridled ambition. As Joe bears witness to the lives of the estate’s wealthy owners, a world of intrigue and hidden betrayals unfolds, revealing how the echoes of the past can reverberate across generations.

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley, and The Vanishing Half, this award-winning novel richly evokes the landscape and social complexities of turn-of-the-century Trinidad.

Genres: Mystery, Book Club, Historical Fiction

325 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2024

About the author

Karen Barrow is a Trinidad-born Canadian author. Her post-secondary studies brought her to Canada, where she eventually settled. Years later, Karen fulfilled a lifelong dream by combining a love of storytelling with her passion for travel to inspire her historical fiction novels.

Palmyra, her debut novel, won the Whistler Independent Book Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the Guernica Prize, the Page Turner Awards and the Eric Hoffer Award. She lives in the scenic Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, where she practices yoga, hikes, bikes, paddleboards, and is an envious kite surfer groupie.

For more on Karen, go to https:/www.kamabarrow.org/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Reviews

[Ladouceurkelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so enjoyable to read a well written book. Kudos to Karen Barrow, a new Canadian author, whose richly worded prose, dramatic layers and researched details, within Palmyra, quickly captures your curiosity and then builds to a suspenseful crescendo. Her references to nature and the draw of the setting, bind the book together seamlessly.

[Susan Gower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palmyra is an engaging narrative about a series of mysterious occurrences at a cocoa plantation in Trinidad during the turn of the 20th century. The story is told through “young Joe’s” eyes as he races around the plantation, eavesdropping but generally enjoying the remnants of his childhood.

The author portrays Joe’s keen awareness of the hierarchy and inequality that exists in his world, yet simultaneously captures the youthful exuberance, optimism and curiosity that define his character.

What truly shines in Palmyra are the vivid descriptions of Trinidad's landscapes and the intricacies of life on the island at that time. The author clearly knows her setting and has done the historical research to make this a very interesting read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Barrow is my new upcoming and inspiring author.

What a captivating mystery she has written! You can feel the suspense rising the more you read. The extensive research Karen Barrow did on Trinidad history brings the story alive with elegant and engaging prose. In addition, this is no ordinary mystery plot, she weaves the story into a gripping crescendo that was most surprising!

I loved this book and can’t wait for her next one, hope you enjoy it also!

[Vals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.25

With a vivid and rich narrative, Karen Barrow tells a layered and complex story of family, betrayal, and love through the eyes of a mixed-race young boy living on a cocoa plantation in the Caribbean. Moreover, she shows how the choices made by people in the past live on to affect those remaining, and how from pain and suffering new possibilities can arise, bringing good news with them.

The plot is well-structured, with Joe's recollection of his childhood and teenagehood on the estate as the main story, brought up by the inquiry of a Canadian visitor asking about her grandfather and his relation to Palmyra, the estate where tragic events occured at the turning of the century. Issues of race and racism are portraited thoughtfully and with an appealing focus on mixed race and the internal hierarchy based on race in the society of the time.

The addition of a hint of mystery is intriguing, and keeps the plot even more interesting, without turning it into a mystery book or overshadowing the main narration of the family's story.

Barrow'a prose is smooth and never feels heavy, not even when specific words about race and indentured workers are used nor when creole or patois words are used. Regarding this, I really appreciate the presence of local customs through references to food, beliefs, and habits.

I'm grateful to the author and the publisher for allowing me to the arc through NetGalley.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story of "Palmyra" by Karen Barrow.
Palmyra is a once thriving cocoa plantation, now tired and roundown. No longer actively a family base, busy with many cultures. Joseph still lives there and has all the stories of the golden era, awaking my senses as we emmerse in his childhood memories of the Trinidad cocoa growing plantation. Joseph is the housekeepers son, the main character, and life through his eyes is retold when a Cadett relative appears years later at the great house site. What a complex family story he has to tell!
The setting is idyllic, but the work is hard for employees. Meanwhile a hot bed of family secrets and a hunger for power sizzles amongst the owner french creole Cadett family.
Sisterly fighting underscores the main storyline, but generations of lies and deaths underpin their circumstances. Joseph's mum is on the money; predicting bad times would continue for the Cadett family.
At the same time, she encourages her son to rise above his status as mixed blood, and study hard, to unlock his own destiny.
If you love nature, history and are interested in cultures colliding in the Caribbean, you will love Palmyra too.
Thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Karen Barrow for my copy.

[Oleander · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the cusp of coming of age, 12 year old Joseph strives to make his mother proud and better his life while scandal unfolds in their early 1900’s plantation home in Trinidad.

Initially, this read was chosen for sentimental reasons; the journey that ensued was deeply unexpected. I was transported by Barrow’s vibrant prose, turning page after page to immerse myself in the food, the forests, the moments of betrayal and redemption.

Palmyra is a vivid narrative filled with nature, history, and intrigue. At its core, it demonstrates how love can be both a poison and a catalyst that shapes the lives of many generations. A poignant debut novel.

(I received this ARC via NetGalley, and am leaving this review freely.)

[Daphne Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have finished just finished reading Palmyra. It is a wonderful read and a wonderful story. The plot is layered. The descriptions make you feel like you’re in Trinidad in the late 1800’s. The characters are real. I felt as if I knew each and everyone of them, including the supporting characters. (Although, there is one character I would steer clear of. I’ll let you read Palmyra to find out who it is.) An added bonus- learning about Trinidadian cultures. Five stars all round.

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed losing myself in the vividly described scenes, flavors and events this book brings to life. The author, Karen Barrow, builds through the comings and goings of young Joe, a tapestry of connections and events which ultimately leads to not only a surprising conclusion but also to a longing to keep riding alongside this beautifully imagined character. Beautifully done! When is the next book coming out?

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe retells the mystery of Cocoa plantation Palmyra to a visitor to the plantation. He recalls the goings on of his childhood- beautifully recounting the estate at the turn of the century.

Vivid descriptions and a great mystery to unfurl.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review.

[Cathy Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have never lived on an island or visited Trinidad, but the descriptions of place as well as the characters took me there. The story carried me along, and at no point did I really know what was going to happen, but the suspense kept building...I liked the way the story was told, and the characters were well drawn. I had my favourites, right from the first chapter! A wonderful debut. Looking forward to reading more from Karen.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palmyra is a beautifully written book that transports the reader to a bustling cocoa plantation on Trinidad at the turn of twentieth century. The story is told via a precocious 12 year old boy who is the son of the head housekeeper. This gothic mystery offer richly developed characters, family secrets and suspense. A remarkable debut novel.

[Avril Torrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palmyra does a fantastic job of bringing the reader into the racial, class, and gender dynamics of the turn of the 20th century Trinidad all the while telling a compelling story of family intrigue.

[Jenn Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading it in one sitting! This book was beautifully written start to finish. The scenery and characters come to life and it hits all the gothic marks.

[Dominique Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I felt like I was on the cocoa estate in Trinidad. The characters, the plot and the ambiance were so real. A twelve year old boy tells the story and it makes everything credible yet simple. I highly recommend.

[Carol Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often rate 5 stars on my reads, but this one is much deserving. It left a mark on my heart and considering it was fictional, it was truly believable. I put it up there with some of my much memorable reads as The Book of Negros or Winter Garden, an impactful story of the holocaust.

I highly recommend it!!

[Hannah State · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-crafted story!
I found myself immersed in the novel's setting and characters, enjoying the coming of age journey of Joe and the secrets he had discovered about the residents of the Palmyra estate. This historical fiction novel had lots of suspense, intrigue, great plotting and character development. The pacing was excellent. The wonderful descriptions of the natural setting added extra depth to the storytelling. Smart and cunning. Looking forward to reading more stories by this talented author.

[Leslie Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had an ending that I did not expect. That is a great compliment on my part because a surprising ending is one the my greatest joys in reading. Anyone interested in Trinidad or Caribbean stories would really enjoy this story. Joe, the narrator, is a character who you want to give a hug.

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book began it was hard to fathom the direction in which it would go. I did not know if it was a historical fiction focusing on the social aspect but it went beyond that. In the midst of showing us a world long gone by, in 1978 Trinidad.

The story is set in a cocoa plantation run by a man in an unlikely setup. He is an unattached man with two nieces to care for. At the start of the story we are given the reason for the flashback to this time. Joseph Chang was born on the plantation but as a house servant and this along with his mother’s ambitions for him sets him apart from his counterparts. He recounts his life in as vivid detail as he can.

It is through these eyes we see that several races of people ( many with no say of their own) found themselves working on this island. The rich soil is what drove the colonizers to it and although this book focused only on one cocoa plantation, by extension we can see the lifestyle at play here.

A few plot points made me extremely uncomfortable but other than that I’m always glad to try a new time and place out. The author has the skill to bring the world to life well. She has lived there and that shows in the atmospheric narration. I would definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set on a cocoa farm in Trinidad, Karen Barrow's engrossing book "Palmyra" reveals long-kept family secrets through the eyes of Joe, the housekeeper's son. As Joe revisits long-forgotten memories brought on by a stranger's arrival at the estate, the narrative deftly combines Gothic mystery with coming-of-age themes, transporting readers to Trinidad's historical and cultural context. The tropical environment and its fascinating individuals are wonderfully brought to life by Barrow's descriptive language, which effortlessly immerses the reader in the action.

This book stands out for its rich detail and realistic portrayal of Caribbean history, inter-racial relationships, and ambitious characters. The mystery unfolds with many twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the final pages, while the well-developed cast makes each event feel both personal and believable. "Palmyra" delivers an engaging reading experience, perfect for anyone who enjoys immersive fiction and smartly woven mysteries.

Thank you to Netgalley and FriesenPress for the ARC.

[Shauna Clinning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this debut novel is a gifted writer, able to quickly orient the reader with only a few well-chosen words, making this story an immersive read for those who love historical fiction. As a Canadian, I especially enjoyed learning about Trinidadian culture and history at the turn of the last century. Although this story is billed as a gothic mystery, it is also a coming-of-age story, reminding me in many ways of Carson McCullers' novel, The Member of the Wedding. But instead of a young girl, we see life through the eyes of Joe, an eleven-year-old boy, as he is thrust from the wonders and whimsies of island childhood into the complicated world of adulthood. The author possesses strong powers of description, able to evoke thought and mood and longings. Highly recommended.

[Jane Mulkewich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read; a sweeping saga which is set on a cocoa plantation in Trinidad. The story brings to life the race-based tensions in a society which was only one or two generations removed from the enslavement of African people and the indentured labour of people from India and China. It is told from the point of view of a 12-year-old boy named Joe Chang who grows up as the housekeeper's son on the plantation, and as the story progresses the reader learns of the complicated connections between the plantation owners and everyone else living there (I won't give any spoilers). The only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending, which was a little too neat and tidy for such a complex story.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part coming-of-age story, part Gothic mystery, conjuring a world teeming with family secrets, divided loyalties, and unbridled ambition. Winner of the 2024 Whistler Independent Book Award.


What a beautiful book this is.


Everything about it. The author has set a stage that is just lush. The writing is beautiful and I am so glad I read this.


The characters are so well written and the descriptions really put you right there in the moment.




NetGalley/ Books Go Social March 11, 2025

[Nemone Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book - loved seeing this story through the eyes of a child narrator who is both an insider and outsider in his world. Beautiful setting and strong characters. I really enjoyed being immersed in this time and setting. A very enjoyable mystery!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing first novel by talented author Karen Barrow told from the perspective of a 12 year boy living on a cocoa plantation in Trinidad in the early 1900’s. A character driven historical fiction with enough action and mystery to keep the pages turning. Great read!

[Lori Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palmyra gripped me from the beginning. It was a well-developed story that set up the mystery well. I loved the description and history of Trinidad and the development of the characters. It's a book I couldn't put down.