This book evokes a forgotten period of time with a strong intriguing story that is written brilliantly. An emotional roller-coaster a that has fully developed main characters and, though romantic, avoids rose tinted bubble wrapped romance instead opting for the challenges and tragedies of real life. It develops to an uplifting a hopeful ending having taken the reader through a tough journey of intrigue, betrayal and determination..

What a heart-wrenching story but at the same time it captures your attention. The Separation is gripping, powerful and emotional. I can see why Dinah Jefferies is classed as an extraordinary story-teller. Dinah is a major new writer that millions of women readers are just going to love and I just see her fan base grow and grow. I think book clubs should snap this novel up as there is plenty of points up for discussion. I for one hope that in the future that further books by Dinah Jefferies will be published. About the author Dinah Jefferies was born in Malaya in 1948 and moved to England when she was age nine .The Separation is set in Mayala. Emma and Fleur were expecting their mother to collect them from school, but their father did instead. Emma questioned where is mummy?. Their father just seemed to ignore their questions and simply said we are going away to England. On the last day of their house in Malacca Emma kept rushing to the window to stare her mother home. She wanted her mother home in time to leave for England. A trunk was packed with just Emma's and Fleur's clothes and their fathers ready for them to take on the ship with them to England. With no sign of their mother home before they left for the ship Emma wrote her mother a letter to say that she miss her and that she is looking forward to seeing her in England. Emma wanted to leave her letter on the table inthe hall but her father took the letter saying he will take care of it. When their mother arrived home she shouted out to Emma and Fleur mummy's home she fought of a pang of how the house was too silent. As Lydia climbed the stairs and went into the bedrooms she noticed the wardrobes open and could see straight away that they were practically empty. She fought for breath thinking to her self that there must be a rational explanation to where her children and her husband had gone. Every time Emma asked her father where is her mum her father always had given her a reason for her delay. Will Emma and Fleur see their mother again?. This is a really good story. I hope that may readers will enjoy this story as much as I have.

I really enjoyed this novel. As a Mum I could understand how Lydia felt about the disappearance of her beloved daughters and husband and was compelled to read on as the story unfolded. With the author's experience of Malaya helping to paint a vivid picture in my mind I was glued to this debut. If you like Kate Morton and Jojo Moyes you will love Dinah Jefferies.

Partly set in England and partly set in Malaya 1955, this is the story of an English woman Lydia, who returns home in Malaya to discover her husband and two daughters have vanished. This book completely gripped me from the get go. There are so many twists and turns you just have to keep reading. The whole way through you champion for Lydia and her daughters, particularly Emma, the elder one. It's emotional, heartbreaking and satisfying. I really hope other people discover this little gem and fall in love with it as much as I did!

Lydia Cartwright has been away visiting a sick friend. She is so excited that she will soon hold her two young daughters in her arms again, she has missed them so much whilst she was away. As soon as she enters the house, she knows something is not right. Where are her girls Fleur and Emma, and her husband Alec? The house is empty, stripped bare - their clothes are missing, the servants have left. Lydia is alone. Malaya in 1955 is a frightening and dangerous place to be during 'The Emergency' and Lydia is desperate to find her girls. She sets out on what becomes a nightmare of a journey with the fear of a guerilla attack at any time and the vulnerability that her white skin gives her. When Lydia is told of the fate of her family, she is devastated and it is the support of a young abandoned Malay boy, Maznan that makes her grief just a little more bearable. Alongside Lydia's story, the reader learns the real fate of her two daughters. Narrated by Emma, the elder daughter, we hear of their long voyage to England and Emma's despair over the loss of her beloved mother whilst dealing with life in a strange land, The Separation is a splendidly written story that portrays the unbreakable bond between a mother and her children whilst also providing a vivid and powerful insight into the history of Malaysia. Dinah Jefferies has drawn on her own experiences to expertly bring to life the tension-filled times during the time of 'The Emergency'. The stifling heat, the fear, the tropics spring to life from these pages. The mother-daughter bond is the key theme of The Separation and is weaved so cleverly into the story, that it becomes the heart and soul of the novel. Lydia and Emma's bond is never broken, even though at times, their own individual characters are pushed to the very edge. The Separation is a complex story, told in two voices and from two continents, yet it is never overly complicated, or dull, or slow. The characters are fully formed, both the heroes and the villians and I loved some characters and hated others, passionately. This is very fine debut from an author whose writing is full of authenticity and hope. It is a beautiful, yet heart-breaking story.