Lakshmi left her husband at the age of 17. She is now 30 and makes her living in Jaipur in the 1950s as a henna artist and herbal medicine practitioner. She hopes to transition to being a matchmaker to the ladies she serves, so she can finish the house she's been saving and building for since she arrived in the city ten years ago and pay off her debts. Just as she's closing in on achieving her dreams, two people from her past appear--one she knew and one she didn't.

The story follows Lakshmi, her young assistant Malik, and the stranger from Lakshmi's past as they navigate the gossipy pettiness of the upper class society members they serve. I'm excited there's a follow up, [b:The Secret Keeper of Jaipur|55004546|The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (The Henna Artist, #2)|Alka Joshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618850443l/55004546._SY75_.jpg|85724759].