Jennifer McVeigh is the author of Leopard at the Door and The Fever Tree. She graduated from Oxford University in 2002 with a First in English literature. She went on to work in film, television, radio, and publishing before giving up her day job to write fiction.
Praise for Leopard at the Door
“A dramatic historical period piece...[with] a harrowing,
well-paced plot. McVeigh excels ratcheting tension in the plot, and
she has a keen eye for the minutiae of everday life in Kenya....The
novel is perfect for cold winter days.”—The Free Lance-Star
“Readers who want a story that keeps them on edge will enjoy this
historical novel rich with emotional and sociopolitical
drama.”—Kirkus Reviews
“[A] captivating and thought-provoking story....McVeigh’s beautiful
prose and harrowing plot will quickly absorb readers, particularly
those interested in 1950s Africa, by sensitively approaching themes
of race, cultural evolution, and the humanness that unites us
all.”—Publishers Weekly
“McVeigh does a good job of charting Rachel’s growth amidst
political and personal turmoil, set against a backdrop of Kenya’s
wild beauty.”—Booklist
“Leopard at the Door expertly transports its reader to a
richly-depicted world that is fraught both politically and
personally. Danger constantly hums around Rachel Fullsmith as she
navigates the complex, conflicting desires of men and women, native
Kenyans and white colonists. It kept me turning pages well into the
night!”—Suzanne Rindell, author of The Other Typist
“The beating heart of Africa springs into dazzling heat-drenched
life. I could taste the sun soaked sweetness of bananas, see the
shimmering plains and smell the rippling grasslands. I could feel
the ever present sense of threat and menace. And within this
landscape populated by elephants, baboons and antelope a powerful
human story plays out. A simply stunning novel that will stay with
me: a magnificent book.”—Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tea
Planter's Wife
Praise for The Fever Tree
“McVeigh has created a fully realized sensory tour of 19th-century
South Africa....Though the book is a page-turner of the ‘who will
she choose?’ variety right until the end, the most fascinating
strand of the story is Frances, and her struggles to come to terms
with her new ideas about society, marriage, family and
love.”—Oprah.com
“Fabulous...this debut novel displays real power. McVeigh brings
alive the diamond mines, the boom-or-bust frenzy created by instant
wealth, the hostility between the Dutch-speaking Boers and the new
British colonists....History has rarely been more vividly
presented.”—USA Today
“A page-turner to tempt you.”—Good Housekeeping
“Lovely....tremendously appealing....a page-turner.”—Associated
Press
“McVeigh’s distinctive first novel is a lush, sweeping take of
willful self-deception....[t]he sensory detail and sweep of the
novel are exquisite, particularly for a debut.”—Publishers
Weekly
“Fans of romantic classics such a The Thorn Birds of A Woman of
Substance will be thrilled to discover McVeigh.”—San Antonio
Express-News
“Forceful and direct, yet surprisingly lyrical, McVeigh’s narrative
weaves top-notch research and true passion for the material with a
well-conceived plot....Overall, this story’s a gem.”—Kirkus
Reviews
“With its cinematic descriptions and compulsively readable
plotline, this debut novel may well become a book-club
favorite....With its social-justice angle; exotic, ruggedly
beautiful location; and universal theme of emotional growth, this
will have wide appeal.”—Booklist
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