This was a great historical novel about the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. I was at school with girls who lived in Kenya during the uprising and this story brought all their tales back to me. British Colonialism has a lot to answer for but did provide somethings which enabled these countries to eventually become self sufficient and more developed but they didn't know when to step back.. Fascinating read.

Leopard at The Door by Jennifer McVeigh.
Stepping off the boat in Mombasa, eighteen-year-old Rachel Fullsmith stands on Kenyan soil for the first time in six years. She has come home. But when Rachel reaches the family farm at the end of the dusty Rift Valley Road, she finds so much has changed. Her beloved father has moved his new partner and her son into the family home.She hears menacing rumours of Mau Mau violence, and witnesses cruel reprisals by British soldiers. Even Michael, the handsome Kikuyu boy from her childhood, has started to look at her differently. Isolated and conflicted, Rachel fears for her future.But when home is no longer a place of safety and belonging, where do you go, and who do you turn to?
A lovely read with brilliant characters. What she went through. Moving and shocking. 5*. Netgalley and penguin books UK.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jennifer McVeigh, although I do remember hearing good things about her first novel, The Fever Tree. This latest one, Leopard at the Door, sounded appealing too – and I did like it, although it was a much darker novel than I’d been expecting!

The novel opens in 1952 with our narrator, Rachel Fullsmith, arriving in Kenya after an absence of six years. Rachel was born to British parents but spent her childhood in Kenya until, after losing her mother at the age of twelve, she was sent to England to live with her grandparents. Now, as an eighteen-year-old, she is returning to the place she still considers to be home, only to find that everything has changed…and not in a good way.

Trouble is brewing in Kenya, with unrest threatening to spill over into violence as the group known as Mau Mau begin to rebel against British rule. Rachel has fond memories of her friendships with the Kikuyu people and at first she isn’t too worried, but with increasing reports of oaths being sworn to the Mau Mau and attacks on both Europeans and on Kikuyu who try to resist the movement, she realises how serious the situation is. The Fullsmith farmhouse is not a safe haven either, though; Rachel’s father has a new partner, Sara, who makes no secret of her contempt for the ‘natives’ and who can barely hide her hostility towards Rachel. Turning to her childhood tutor, Michael, for support, Rachel is glad that she still has one true friend left – but, as a Kenyan, Michael is torn between helping the cause of his own people and loyalty to the white people he has lived and worked with for so many years.

The Mau Mau Uprising of 1952 played a significant part in Kenya’s history, but although I had heard of it, I really knew nothing about it – the events leading up to it or what the rebellion itself involved – until reading this book. As you can probably imagine, it’s not pleasant to read about; although the cover may look light and romantic, the story is anything but. This was a harsh and violent time, with people killed for refusing to swear an oath and men, women and children murdered in their own homes or hacked to death with pangas (and I should warn you that there are also some graphic descriptions of the slaughter of animals). The characters in the novel provide us with a range of views and attitudes, from Sara’s racism and prejudice to Rachel’s horror at the brutality but desire to understand. As someone with no prior knowledge of the rebellion, I thought the author did an excellent job of explaining what happened and why, and of trying to show both sides of the story.

Rachel’s personal story is interesting too and again it’s quite dark. When she first returns to Kenya she is full of excitement and nostalgia, but she quickly has to reconcile her happy memories with the reality of the present day – with the violence surrounding her, the distance between herself and her father, and her struggle to find any common ground with Sara. Some horrible things happen to Rachel over the course of the novel, particularly near the end, but she does still have some moments of happiness; she also has a love interest, although I didn’t find their romance very convincing and I felt that this was the one element that let the book down.

Jennifer McVeigh writes beautifully about Kenya, bringing to life the vast landscape, the heat of the sun, the animals and birds. There is a lot to enjoy in this novel even if, due to the subject, it’s not always the easiest of reads. It reminded me at times of Dinah Jefferies’ The Separation, which is about a similar uprising in Malaya, so if you have read that novel I would recommend trying this one too.

This was a stunning thought provoking read that was full of the horrors and atrocities of terror and political unrest in Africa in the 1950's. Aged 12 Rachel Fullsmith's world had been rocked with the death of her mother, her father felt it would be best for his daughter to go back to England and stay with her grandparents. So not only had she lost one parent but she was also to feel the loss of another feeling abandoned thousands of miles away from her home in Africa. Six years later Rachel was determined to return to Africa, to her home but it wasn't just her home anymore. A lady friend of her fathers had moved in along with her son and Rachel was feeling very lost in her home. She didn't understand the new dynamics in the household and didn't like the hold that this new woman had over her father.

Returning to Africa has brought back memories of a time Rachel wished she'd never witnessed, a time that was fraught with danger and political unrest. The country is now facing a heightened fear of political unrest and images from the past are now haunting Rachel especially when a face from this time comes to life. Rachel doesn't know who to turn to as her own father is so obsessed with other issues that Rachel feels she cannot speak her concerns with him. Rachel renews a friendship she had when she was a child with a young African native, Michael, but is Michael all that he appears to be? However, the need for friendship and comfort is so great Rachel feels almost pulled to be with Michael.

Fear escalates and terror draws closer to home. Lives are in danger and people are doubting who to trust.

The author Jennifer McVeigh has written a compelling story based loosely on the real life unrest of a stunning country that many from England moved to to start a new peaceful life enjoying it's natural beauty but this wasn't to last. Greed, betrayal, terror, political unrest and a forbidden love were spun cleverly through this gripping story.

I absolutely adored Leopard at the Door. I devoured it in one sitting because I couldn’t stop reading.

This normally isn’t the kind of book I’d read but the blurb intrigued me so I decided to give it a shot. I’m glad I did.

The setting is amazing. The author really brings Africa to vivid, unforgettable life. I felt like I was really there experiencing Rachel’s life.

The characters are great, well written, fleshed out and painfully real at times. Rachel is telling the story and I loved her voice. The other characters, especially her father and his new partner are wonderfully complex. At times, I disliked her father and his partner and some of the choices they made but I understand their rationale for their actions.

Leopard at the Door is quite a dark novel, especially in the latter chunk, when the violence affecting the rest of Africa reaches Rachel and her family. I was moved to tears at times, especially by what happens to Rachel in the final few chapters.

Leopard at the Door is riveting.

I loved this book. I was immediately drawn in. \The characters and the description of the landscape was enthralling. It was as though I was there surrounded by the beautiful scenery. Absolutely wonderful.

I love books which take the reader on a journey to another time or place and this book did both. Set during the time of the Mau Mau rebellion in 1950s Kenya, it attempts to show the cause and effects from both sides, mainly through the eyes of Rachel, who returns to her childhood home after an absence to find everything changed.Trying to find the happiness she knew as a child before the death of her mother, I felt a lot of empathy towards her, especially when she is warned not to return by her father; whether this is concern for her safety or for ulterior motives I'll leave you to judge.
As you might expect, the subject matter, though not gruesome, is nevertheless dark and although I enjoyed the book, it did leave me feeling very unsettled.

I enjoyed Jennifer McVeigh's first book, The Fever Tree, and this is even better. It evokes Kenya in the 1950s so well I could almost taste it and it doesn't pull any punches over the rising political situation there at the time. Rachel, returning to Kenya after years away at school, is a great character, full of compassion, love for Kenya and struggling to come to terms with how things are now that she has returned both at home and in a wider context. It really is excellent, proper historical fiction with romance thrown in but gritty and unrelenting in exposing shameful actions by the white settlers. I thoroughly recommend this book.

This is a powerful book set in British colonial Kenya in the 1950s. It is set in the period of the Mau Mau uprising, a brutal period in Kenyas history. Rachel the main character has just returned to Kenya and she struggles with her loyalties. The descriptions are extremely good: you can almost feel the heat and the dust on your skin. At points this book is graphically violent, so some may struggle with that. However, these were violent times so it's difficult to describe the period without depicting the atrocities. The characters are great, with full personalities, some of them are absolutely horrible! This author definitely has a talent for creating characters that draw an emotional reaction from the reader. If you like a slice of historical fiction, a good setting and well written characters then this one may appeal to you.

A young woman returning g to her home in Kenya after years of exile living with her dead mothers parents. Slightly predictable love story set against the Mau mau rebellion of the 1950's , which is redeemed by its historic detai. Of a period I history I have not come across before I. A novel. An enjoyable read never-the-less

Whilst at times difficult to read due to the nature of the story, it was an excellent book - well written and researched and I couldn't put it down.

The story is about Rachel, who when her mother died when she was young, was sent to England to live with her Grandparents - but was mainly in a boarding school. She dreams of returning to the Kenya of her youth, but when she finally does return it is vastly changed. For a start her father is living with a very unsympathetic woman called Sara and her son Harold has taken over her bedroom, and Sara has firmly taken her mother's place.

The Mau Mau upraising colours her wold, and changes her relationships with the familiar figures of her youth.

At times horrifying, it is an excellent book.

a beautifully written book, the reader is taken to Kenya in 1953 at the time of the Mau Mau uprisings. Rachel's forbidden love of her childhood tutor,Michael, enables us to sympathise with the Kenyan natives and feel her torn emotions between Michael and her father and the other settlers. A riveting book seating the reader in the middle of modern African history .

Wonderful writing, telling a story of a little know period of British history.

Leopard at the Door is set in Kenya in 1952, just before the Queen's coronation and during an important time in the fight for independence from British rule. Rachel returns to the family home after 6 years away in England. Her mother had died, leaving Rachel to spend the rest of her childhood in boarding schools away from her father. On her return, her family home and Kenya itself are not what she lovingly remembers from childhood.

It isn't long before the Mau Mau are introduced to the reader. They are a secret society who have been blamed for grass fires in neighbouring towns, and are the root of the uprising in Kenya. They are reported to be forcing workers to rebel against the British farm owners with ever increasing violent acts. As time passes, the farm owners feel the increasing threat to their lives creeping up on them. Nobody knows where the Mau Mau will strike next, or how they will find a way to destroy another family home. There are some very graphic, hard hitting and emotional scenes in this book that will stay with me for a long time.

My two favourite characters were Michael, the mechanic, and Sara, the new memsaab. Sara treats the locals with such contempt, it is difficult to see any kindness in her. Nothing pleases Sara, despite all her efforts to control those around her. Micheal encourages a respectful and accepting view of the black people in Kenya whilst teaching Rachel as a young girl. The contrast between the two was a highlight of the book, and encourages real empathy in the reader.

There were also characters that I loved to hate. The deception, violence and manipulation were in stark contrast to Rachel's own nativity after spending so long away from Kenya. I'm still not sure who the Leopard in the title really is; the animal at the barn door, the Mau Mau, or someone closer to home.

Firstly, McVeigh writes lovely, fluent prose and her descriptions, especially, flow off the page. This book is also well-researched enough to be attentive to the disproportionate numbers killed on both sides in the Mau Mau rebellion.

That said, the book overall has a YA feel to it with its naive first person narrator (writing in the present tense), the predictability of the plot arc, and the thinness of characterisation - the wicked step-mother with her crude, racist views; the sadistic British officer who is not just a murderer of Africans but also a wannabe-rapist.

Rachel herself, the 18-year old narrator, is cloyingly naive and generally passive - and extraordinarily ill-informed about African politics for someone born in Kenya: "But the Europeans didn't steal their land. There was no-one at Kisima when my father came."

Much of the politicised content is delivered via the voice of Michael who gives some fascinating (but clumsily-inserted) 'lectures' on African politics and economics, as well as the experience of a Kenyan who fought for the British Army in Burma during WW2. It's typical of Rachel's naivety that when he attempts to show her that British press reports might not be the whole truth, she refuses to accept it.

The crossing-the-tracks love affair feels both clichéd and also extremely unlikely (how old is Michael if he taught her as a child?), and the Gothic development at the end feels like it's been parachuted in from a Victorian novel...

For all my misgivings, McVeigh has a good story to tell and lovely prose to tell it with: a more sophisticated and complex approach to characterisation would have made this a better book that felt less YA and more adult: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh begins with Rachel’s return to Kenya. Rachel hasn’t been around since her mother died about six years before. Coming back, she quickly realizes that Kenya is not what it used to be. The country is undergoing some changes which have caused insecurity. The land is hostile and even more so when Rachel finds that her father has a new woman in his house.

I was really excited when I received an ARC of this book. I have read plenty of books set in colonial era. My favorite ones were by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. I was curious about this story for various reasons. First of all, I haven’t read any books set in the period that are narrated from the POV of a settler. Secondly, the book mentions Mau Mau. The world has a negative perception about this rebel group. I know that they committed all sorts of atrocities against white settlers and their Kenyan supporters. However, for most Kenyans, the rebels are referred to as heroes. To date, we have monuments to celebrate and honor them such as the Dedan Kimathi statute at the heart of Nairobi. The British government was not going to give Kenya independence. Dialogue had failed and so the only way to get freedom was through an armed struggle and so young men went into the forests and planned their attacks, many sacrificed their lives for their countries. I was curious about the representation of the group in this book. Would the author demonize them or give the Mau Mau a fair representation? Lastly, one of the MCs in this book was Kikuyu. Honestly, that is something that I never imagined that I would ever see in an ARC. Kikuyu is one of the 42 ethnic groups in Kenya and that is my community.

As you can already tell, I had high expectations with this book. I loved the setting. I think the author did a fantastic job in portraying colonial Kenya. She described the setting in an accurate, vivid manner. The lack of roads was interesting to read about. It made me think about how we take things for granted. There was a time when a trip that now takes two hours used to take a day. I also liked the description of the wild in the ranches. Before the government established parks, animals used to roam free in Kenya and I liked how the author was able to bring that aspect into the story. The author had also really researched Kenya. Most of the places that are mentioned in the book still exist like the Mathari mental hospital and the towns such as Nakuru, Mombasa and Nairobi.

The MC was a likeable character. I liked how Rachel was able to fit into the new environment. She got along well with the Kikuyus on the ranch. She adapted to the environment and this could be seen in little things that she did like fishing. On the other hand, I really disliked Sara. I can’t talk much about her but let me just say, she really got on my nerves. Her treatment of the Africans was terrible. It reminded me of all the ugly, racist stories that I have heard about the era. And if Sara was terrible, then Steven Lockhart was a disgusting human being. He made my skin crawl. There are other characters that stood out such as Michael, the Kikuyu who befriended Rachel. I liked his background story. Other minor characters that were memorable include Logan, Mungai, Njeri and Kihika. Rachel’s dad was one of the MCs though his presence was not felt as much as the others. In short, the characters were very well crafted.

Of course I have to mention the Mau Mau. This group was described as ruthless. They killed and forcefully administered oaths of loyalty. The group was a character in the book. What I liked about their representation was the fact that it was balanced and depicted reality. The book had characters in support and against the secret society. I also like that there were characters that supported the struggle but not everything that was done by the group. It made me smile when I saw references of Dedan Kimathi and Jomo Kenyatta. I just loved how realistic the story-line was.

This book was quite a joy to read. The author took me to the colonial era and made me reminiscent of stories of the past. It reminded me of my mother’s story about the night of independence when Kenya’s flag was raised on Mount Kenya. The author managed to tell the story in such a way that the era came alive. My only issue with the story was the use of local language. As a speaker of both Swahili and Kikuyu, some words and phrases felt off to me. For instance; some dogs were referred to as shenzis. That cracked me up. Shenzi is Swahili for idiot so I am not sure how that fits with dogs really but anyway, perhaps these were phrases that were used before my time. Shenzi though… lol.

Another thing that I really liked was the tension in the book. The book made me feel nervous. I was terrified of the imminent attack by the MauMau. With every news report, I wondered when it would happen and I feared for some of the characters. The tension kept me anxiously turning pages. I imagined the MauMau from the POV of the settlers and I was terrified. This was a suspenseful, engaging read with very memorable characters. If you are interested in historical fiction set in Africa then I definitely recommend Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh. Lovers of Kenyan literature will also enjoy it. If you read this book, let me know, I would love to discuss it with you.

My favourite genre to read normally is mystery, crime or thrillers, but I try to choose different genres from time to time. I need to rest from investigations and murders, that’s where historical fiction, YA and other books come in. This book is no exception; I needed something to clear my mind, and it really done the job.

Let me begin by saying, that I loved the environment used in this book. Author portrayed the surroundings and places in this book with great detail, and made me actually feel the African spirit. So, all her travels through Africa, really helped her to describe what she felt to the reader.

The main character in this book was Rachel, and she was the one to share her life with a reader. This novel had a huge variety of very diverse characters, some of them positive and dear to the heart, and some of them really negative, which made me really angry about them. Unfortunately, I did not have any favourite character in this book, as I felt they were not fully developed and opened up to the reader. I would’ve liked to read different perspectives and have more insight into different personalities. Even though I really tried to like Rachel’s rebellious views and kind heart, I think some of her decisions were really silly and disappointing.

The narrative of this novel starts in 1952, when British Empire is on a verge of collapsing, and Kenya wishes its independence. I absolutely adored all the details about Mau Mau, their ideology and ways of action. I loved Michael’s thoughts about war and his country’s independence. I think, this book was really well researched and the whole spirit of the book was shared just gorgeously. The whole story was flowing very smoothly, with some turns and twists, which kept me interested. There was a great love story going on in this book, but I would’ve liked it to be a bit more passionate than it was. Author discussed some interesting topics in this book, such as: Life after mother’s death and relationship with a stepmother; feelings, when you don’t have anyone to turn to; love and betrayal.

The writing style of this novel was not difficult to read, but it contains some African words, which were explained at the end of the book. (If you read it on Kindle, it’s not very helpful) The chapters of this book have decent length, but it might drag a little, because there is not much action going on in this novel. The ending was quite interesting and done the justice to the book and Rachel, but still left me questioning about “What happened to Michael?” So, overall, I actually enjoyed this story of wish for independence, unexpected love, family difficulties and betrayal, and I would recommend immersing yourself into this beautiful Kenyan setting.

Leopard at the door deals with fear, difference, the past, identity and power, all through the viewpoint of an 18 year old girl returning 'home' to a Kenya which is rapidly changing, just as she is. This is a gripping bildungsroman in an unusual setting - 1950s colonial Kenya. I had only the vaguest knowledge of the Mau Mau uprising and Kenyan history before reading, and found myself quickly involved in the narrative while also wanting to know more about the history behind the novel.

While the story is clearly from the perspective of the white, colonial inhabitants of rural Kenya, it seemed McVeigh did a good job of including the black/Kenyan perspective; though I don't feel qualified to know how accurate this portrayal was. This was my only hesitation about the novel - Kenya's struggle for independence is used as a backdrop/mirrors Rachel's struggle for independence from her father, and while the metaphor is helpful in thinking about Britain's role in Kenya, I wondered if it was actually another example of colonial paternalism.

This story is set in Kenya in the 1950s when it was a British Colony. The uprising of the Mau Mau, rebelling against the imposed regime is the focus of this sad and cruel story.

Rachel lost her mother when she was eleven years old. She was sent back to England to stay with her grandparents and her education when she was twelve. She missed her beloved Kenya but, her father didn't encourage her to return.

Rachel is now eighteen and makes her way back to her father's farm, her birth place. Robert, her father hasn't kept her informed of the developments in his life and she is surprised to find that he is living with Sara. She has a son and is very much the mistress of the house. Unlike Rachel's mother, she is a bigot and treats the natives with contempt and cruelty. She doesn’t like Rachel and her father goes along with her whims. He is no longer, the father she grew up with.

Rachel no longer has a sense of belonging. The restrictions that Sara has imposed on the staff makes it even more difficult. She feels more at ease in Michael's company. He used to teach her when she was young and things were different as he was allowed to have an education. He now works as the mechanic and keeps his distance but, they gradually gain each other's trust. A forbidden relationship. Rachel starts having backflashes from her childhood and they will be the root of her downfall.

The unrest has everyone on edge. The natives want to keep what is rightfully theirs, whilst the settlers want to keep what they have acquired. They live in comfort whilst the natives live in poverty and have to endure cruelty and humiliation.

Most of the characters, including Michael have a dark side, although, his reasoning is more logical. Rachel is naive but, she is the most compassionate, just and strong character in the story. What happens to her towards the end is enough to bring tears to your eyes.

The story is well researched and narrated. It reflects the atrocities from both sides of the conflict and the ones caught in the middle. The settlers' superior attitude and cruelty are horrific. The resulting massacres are barbaric. It's a distressing story which captures the colonisation of Kenya and the mass murders during that time. It's a part of history that is not widely broadcasted!

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Rachel has spent six years away from home at boarding school and with her grandparents after her mother died and so when she turns 18 she is determined to go back to her beloved Kenya. When she arrives however things are not the same - her father has moved his new partner and son into the house

Outside things are different too there is a lot of unrest with the local population and as a white girl she is treated with suspicion even by her old friends....her father's new partner Sara makes it clear she thinks she shouldn't be mixing with the locals but that is not Rachel's way

A good interesting book - I didn't know much about that period in history and so really enjoyed it - the pace was quite slow moving but that wasn't a problem - not a light read worthwhile reading