Flash House - Softcover

'An extraordinarily thoughtful and engrossing tale of romance and intrigue; of heroic individuals from disparate cultures caught in the unforgiving vise of history. A story from fifty years ago so new and pertinent it could have been written -- and lived -- yesterday' Carolyn See, author of HANDYMAN -- Carolyn See, author of HANDYMAN 'Liu brings solid literary credentials to a background in Asian politics, a combination that should engender critical interest... for this impressive novel' -- Publishers Weekly 'A beautiful story beautifully told' -- Robert McKee, author of STORY: SUBSTANCE, STRUCTUR 'Aimee Liu's "Flash House" races forward into territory that, for most of us,is still almost entirely unknown. The result is an education wrapped in an adventure' Jack Miles, Pulitzer prize-winning author of GOD: A Biography -- Jack Miles, Pulitzer prize-winning author of GOD: 'A sad, beautiful, ultimately tragic ! odyssey through the Himalayas and into the heart of Asia. An evocative novel, part love story, part spy in the tradition of the Great Game, replete with rich imagery of various journeys: a wife for her lost mate, a man in crusading for his beliefs or for redemption; a child's search into the mystery of her birth. As with life, what they find is not always what they seek, and what went wrong was "our mutual ineptitude at love' -- Barbara Peters, PoisonedPen.com

When a plane carrying American journalist Aidan Shaw crashes in Kashmir in 1949, his wife Joanna refuses to accept he is dead. Learning that a mysterious female reporter has vanished from the same area, and convinced her husband's disappearance is no accident, she enlists the help of his friend, Lawrence Malcolm, a member of Australia's secret service. In search of answers, they set off, bringing along as translator Kamla. Joanna saved Kamla from an Indian brothel - or flash house - but Kamla is wise in ways that elude Joanna, and soon it is unclear who is saving whom. Their journey through the northernmost reaches of India and over the treacherous Karakoram mountain passes is harrowing and heartbreaking. Suddenly, nothing is as it appears, and as one cruel revelation follows another, this unlikely band finds courage, strength, and unexpected passion in their midst. But will they be strong enough to endure the ultimate betrayal?