Alka Joshi books

Alka Joshi writes historical fiction set in India, including the Jaipur Trilogy (The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and The Perfumist of Paris).

Henna Artist Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Henna Artist 2020 Buy
The Royal Jewel Cinema / The Secret Keeper of Jaipur 2021 Buy
The Perfumist of Paris 2023 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Six Days in Bombay 2025 Buy

The Jaipur Trilogy / Henna Artist Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Artista Henna 2020 N/A
The Henna Artist 2020 Buy
The Royal Jewel Cinema / The Secret Keeper of Jaipur 2021 Buy
The Secret Keeper of Jaipur 2021 N/A
The Perfumist of Paris 2023 Buy

Alka Joshi is the author of the Jaipur Trilogy, a series of historical novels set in India during the 1950s and 1960s. The first book, The Henna Artist (2020), became a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection and introduced readers to Lakshmi, a resourceful henna artist navigating life in post-independence Jaipur.

The trilogy continues with The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (2021) and The Perfumist of Paris (2023), following different characters connected to Lakshmi’s story. Joshi was born in India and raised in the United States, and her fiction draws on her knowledge of Indian culture, history, and the social changes that followed independence. Her next book, Six Days in Bombay, is scheduled for 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Alka Joshi written?

Alka Joshi has written nine books across three series.

What was Alka Joshi's first book?

Alka Joshi’s first book is Artista Henna, published in 2020.

What is The Henna Artist about?

The Henna Artist (2020) follows Lakshmi, a henna artist in 1950s Jaipur, India, who has escaped an abusive marriage and built an independent life serving the city’s wealthy women. When her past catches up with her, she must protect both her livelihood and the sister she never knew she had. The book was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.

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