“The Red Thread is an intense and passionate book—it will stir and intrigue the reader in equal measure.”
–Nigel Barley, bestselling author of In the Footsteps of Stamford Raffles and Rogue Raider
“When Charlotte MacLeod journeys from her home in Madagascar to faraway, exotic Singapore in the 1830s, little does she realize how very different her new life will be. Her brother Robert has just been named head of the local police force, and her social position, together with her boundless curiosity and formidable intellect, leads her into friendships and affairs with men and women of many nationalities, religions, and political beliefs. Farnham’s debut is bittersweet and contemplative, a leisurely exploration replete with richly detailed landscapes both physical and interior. Multiple protagonists and perspectives, both Eastern and Western, and elaborate description transport the reader to a fascinating time and place brimming with mystical and poetic flourishes.”
–Booklist (Journal of the American Library Association)
“Charlotte and Robert are sibling orphans, now adults, who initially moved from Madagascar to Scotland and now reside in Singapore in the 1830s. Robert has been fortunate enough to secure a post as head of the police, and sends for Charlotte, knowing their future lies in this exotic but quickly evolving prosperous land. Charlotte quickly falls in love with the town she thinks of as “varied and faceted as a fabulous jewel.” The foreign characters are intriguing as well, such as Coleman, the architect Irishman who has built most of the town in solid, beautiful style to rival any European city yet with its own natural shapes and flowers to enchant every view. Then there is the small group of wives and mistresses who come from their own mysterious Asian backgrounds yet have created an insular camaraderie to strengthen them in the terror-laden moments from both native men and beasts.
But the real threat to their security lies in the slowly emerging love between Charlotte and Zhen, a coolie who also belongs to a powerful Chinese triad group. Theirs is a passionate affair doomed to disaster. Zhen is assisted in attaining this love by his fellow coolie, Qian, a man unsure of where his sexual interests lie. Yet Zhen relies on his faith in Taoist poetry to surmount all difficulties.
How will it all end or begin? The Red Thread is an exceptionally well-written novel whose descriptions and subplots concerning the land, religious beliefs, and relationships are so engagingly presented that the reader is sure to want to keep this passionate novel, which celebrates meaningful union rather than division. A beautiful story to relish on every page.”
–Review of the Historical Novels Society (Viviane Crystal)
“Immaculately researched, Dawn has an encyclopedic recall of all the people, places and mores of the time when Singapore was a nascent colony on the edge of the world.”
–Think
“It takes prodigious research and some imagination to bring old Singapore to life. Tae a walk through High Street/along the Singapore River/Chinatown, and meet the colourful characters who built Singapore. Thoroughly enjoyable historical romance.”
–Lifestyle
“The main plot follows the cross-racial love story of two fictional characters, Zhen, initially a lowly Chinese coolie, and Charlotte, a white waif of the British Empire, who hails from Madagascar, via Scotland.
The story of Zhen and Charlotte is interwoven with an account of the real-life cross-racial relationship between George Coleman, the Irish architect who built early Singapore practically from scratch, and his Armenian-Dutch-Javanese mistress, Takouhi.
The novel feels immaculately researched, and Dawn seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of topics as diverse as Chinese secret societies, sexual customs amongst the officers of colonial power and might, tiger attacks, what the fashionable girl was wearing in the 1830s, and how the not-so fashionable girl avoided pregnancy.
So it will be no surprise to learn that she turned to fiction partly because she was determined to share her love of Singapore’s history with the widest possible audience.”
–The Daily Telegraph

“In this mesmerising sequel to The Red Thread, Dawn Farnham continues the sage of Charlotte as the pursues passion and duty in 19th century Singapore and Java.”
NIGEL BARLEY, bestselling author of Rogue Raider and In the Footsteps of Stamford Raffles.