The Jade Lily is a charm that hangs from the neck of Alexandra, a genius commodities trader, who flees a broken heart in London, only to face greater grief at the bedside of her beloved grandfather, who is dying at his home in Melbourne. Alex knew that the charm had been passed on to her by her long-dead mother, who was adopted from China by her grandparents just as World War II ended, but little else, as her family had staunchly refused to provide more information.

Woven into this engaging novel is the story of her grandmother, Romy, and her family: Austrian Jews who, after the horror and violence of Kristallnacht (when Nazis destroyed Jewish businesses and lives), fled to the only place they could reach safety – Shanghai. There, with her father, a talented and respected surgeon, the family made the best life they could, while worrying about others at home. This was a fascinating part of the novel, as I had no idea so many Jewish refugees had made their way to China, which at that time was a melting pot of various nationalities and territorial claims, and under part occupation by the Japanese, who, as history shows, would soon play a much bigger part on the international stage.

After her grandfather’s death, Alex takes up an offer of a temporary posting to Shanghai, where she hopes to discover more of her family’s story, and, of course, in that great modern city, she meets someone who might help heal her heart. She does uncover some clues, but it is her elderly grandmother who decides that some secrets no longer need to be kept.

A charming novel, its narration across characters and time is deft and often very moving. I thoroughly enjoyed it and shall look for other works by this author.

Reviewed by Lesley West