The first part of the plot dragged when looking for Billy and then suddenly changed to another narrator with a time jump.

While I liked some of the characters, others needed more development or depth. Perhaps I just didn't find the characters relatable but some of the dialog between the characters felt stale.

While most of the story felt quite slow and meandering, some of the twists came out of nowhere and felt a bit rushed While others were slow to develop and could have had more time dedicated to them. It was fairly obvious about Billy, but had to get through the whole book to have it confirmed.

I did like the descriptions of Corfu, they painted the island in a nice light and brought the setting to life.

Overall 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like other books by Dinah Jefferies, the plot in The Greek House twists and turns through multiple generations. Although the story dragged as the family endlessly searched for Billy, their missing son / brother, I found Thirza's story compelling enough to keep reading. Set in lush Corfu beginning in 1923, I enjoyed the introduction to a new location and the politics of pre-WW2 Italy vs Greece. Well researched and seeped with the detailed intense colors and exotic smells of the island, Ms. Jefferies created a story filled with flawed characters and intense emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins and the author for the advance reader copy. I enjoyed reading The Greek House and look forward to more books from Ms. Jefferies.

This was a book that immediately captured my interest, but then, unusually, lost it again. The searching for Billy seemed to go on endlessly, and I became bored and ready to give up. However, I resumed reading and found that the story was developing well. It is a rather unusual novel, with complex characters who have more depth than originally expected. The relationships between mother and daughter, and daughter with her soon to be stepmother, are certainly not stereotypical. After the initial slowish start I found this an absorbing and interesting read, which I ultimately enjoyed. The author conveys very well the depth and potential pain of parental love and loss. The overall effect of the story is emotional and satisfying, portraying an unusual family coping with difficult circumstances.

Ah, Corfu. A place of sun-drenched beauty, and in the pages of this book, a vessel overflowing with a lifetime's worth of whispered secrets. Thirza Caruthers, our protagonist, returns to this idyllic isle, and immediately, the past, thick with the scent of jasmine and the shadow of her brother Billy's disappearance, wraps itself around her like a clinging vine.
The author paints Corfu with a brush dipped in sunlight and sea spray. You can almost feel the warm breeze and hear the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. It's a truly evocative setting, one that perfectly mirrors the story's blend of beauty and hidden darkness.
However, while Corfu shines, Thirza, bless her, often grated on my nerves. There's a certain self-absorption that simmers beneath her artistic temperament, a reluctance to truly see beyond her own experiences. It's a character trait that, while perhaps realistic, made her a difficult companion at times.
The narrative unfolds at a measured pace, a slow burn that allows the tension to build. We are drawn into the intricate web of family relationships, the tangled threads of love, envy, and betrayal. The suspense is palpable, the anticipation of the big reveal growing with each passing chapter.
And then, the dam bursts. Secrets that have lain dormant for years come tumbling out, and perhaps, just perhaps, a little too quickly. The final revelations, while satisfying in their way, felt a tad rushed, a flurry of plot twists that threatened to overwhelm the carefully constructed atmosphere. One particular twist, in my humble opinion, ventured into the realm of the melodramatic.
Furthermore, the book, a generous 400-plus pages, did feel a little stretched towards the end. There were moments where the narrative meandered, where the family drama, though compelling, became a touch overwhelming. It's as though the author, in their eagerness to tie up every loose end, added a few too many knots.
Despite these minor quibbles, the heart of the story remains compelling. The exploration of family secrets, the yearning for truth, and the lingering shadow of loss are all handled with a deft touch. And, of course, the ever-present beauty of Corfu, a character in its own right, provides a stunning backdrop to this tale of hidden truths and long-buried memories.

This atmospheric book is set in two timeframes, beginning in 1923 with Mussolini’s army invading the Greek island where Dulcie and her family live. When her young son Billy disappears, the family are devastated and search frantically hoping to find him.

Seven years later, Thurza returns to the island, with mixed feelings about the past and how it affected them all. She is haunted by feelings about her younger brother, and senses his presence everywhere. She begins painting Marshall’s her old home, and becomes involved in a passionate, tempestuous affair with her neighbour Emilio.

Characters are sensitively described and you become absorbed in their complex stories. The rugged coastline and colourful flowers of Corfu, you can almost smell the exotic fragrances of jasmine and honeysuckle, and feel you are there. The plot is about families, relationships and hopeful reconciliations, with twists and turns which are explored as the story unfolds.

The author is going to write a second book featuring some of the characters, and I can’t wait to read.

I have read a number of Dinah Jeffries novels over the years and I have always enjoyed her storytelling. It is usually centered around an historical event so you have a mixture of a story with fact and fiction. This is no exception as it deals with events initially in the 1920's and is set in Corfu. I did feel that this story was over long, too repetitive in some ways and although there were a number of 'twists' in the story they were well signposted. Not one of her best I felt.
Thank you to NetGalley and harper Collins for the advance copy of this book.

While this story was very slow to start and quite over descriptive, I'm glad I persevered with it because around halfway through the story really picked up and I couldn't put it down. A beautiful story in the end set amongst beautiful scenery

I always enjoy picking up a new Dinah Jefferies book and finding out which part of the world she’s going to take me to next! India, Sri Lanka, Italy, Morocco and Malaysia are just some of the places I’ve visited through the pages of her novels and now I can add Corfu to the list. More specifically, Corfu in 1923, when the island is occupied by Mussolini’s Italy following a border dispute between Greece and Albania.

Sixteen-year-old Thirza and her nine-year-old brother, Billy, are caught up in the panic on the streets of Corfu Old Town during the Italian naval attack. Dulcie, their mother, has left them with her cousin, Columbine, while she goes to check on a camp of refugee children with whom she volunteers, and when she returns, she finds that Billy has disappeared. Despite weeks of searching, the little boy can’t be found and is eventually presumed dead. Struggling to cope with the trauma, Dulcie blames both Thirza and Columbine for what has happened and goes home to England, leaving behind her husband Piers, director of the British police training school in Corfu.

In 1930, Thirza returns to the island after a long absence, planning to renovate the old family home, Merchant’s House, in the hope that one day her mother will also feel ready to join her there. A lot has changed in the intervening years – the Italians have left and there’s a new woman in her father’s life – but Thirza still feels the shadow of her brother’s disappearance and decides to renew her efforts to find out the truth.

The Greek House is probably not my favourite Dinah Jefferies book, mainly because I found it too easy to predict some of the plot twists and I also thought the number of explicit sex scenes was a bit unnecessary. I loved the Corfu setting, though; everything comes to life in wonderfully vivid detail, whether the intense purple of bougainvillea or the changing colours of the sea in the sunlight. I also knew nothing about the Italian occupation of 1923, so that was interesting, although it only forms a small part of the story.

The disappearance of Billy happens very early in the novel, but it’s the trigger for everything else that happens and I liked the way Jefferies explores the impact of such a tragic incident on the various family members, depending on their different personalities and circumstances. Although I did naturally feel sorry for Dulcie, I also found it slightly annoying that she never really seemed to accept any responsibility for leaving her child in the middle of an invasion in the care of a teenager and a woman who was drunk at the time. Most of my sympathies were with Thirza, who has to live with the guilt as well as the sense of loss, and who feels that her mother will never truly forgive her. The feelings of Dulcie’s husband, Piers, seem to be largely ignored by everybody due to his hard, aloof exterior, but later in the book he mellows thanks to his relationship with his new girlfriend, Penelope – a character I ended up loving.

In her author’s note at the end, Jefferies hints that we’re going to meet some of the same characters again in her next book. That’s something to look forward to!

A good novel, but not my favourite by Dinah Jeffries.

Thirza's brother Billy disappears during the Italian Incident, the family becomes a bit disjointed afterwards, Thirza returns to the UK with her mother, while her father continues to live and work on the island.

Several years later, Thirza returns to Corfu in the hope she can convince her mother to return to the family home.... She finds her father has a young mistress and wants a divorce.... and the house on the island. Thirza gets involved with an Italian who is visiting the island, and becomes pregnant.
Lots of ups and downs and revalations during the story.... I hope the next book which will feature some of the characters will be a little more interesting.

An easy and uplifting read to warm the soul.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins for this ARC.

A great read set in Corfu in the early 1920s when the Italians invaded the island and when Billy disappeared. This event destroys the family - mother, Dulce, flees to England; his father becomes immersed in his business and his older sister, Thirza, who is blamed for his disappearance, cannot move on.

In 1930 Thirza and her cousin return to the island and the Greek House to renovate the property and to heal. She has a passionate affair with a visiting Italian and finds herself investigating her brother’s disappearance and uncovering family secrets.

Her own pregnancy and the identity of the Italian lover cause further family upsets but ultimately lead to questions about the past being answered.

Ultimately a hopeful read. The ending was a little too tidy for me but an interesting atmospheric read.

The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies is a beautifully atmospheric novel that transports readers to the stunning island of Corfu in the 1930s. The story follows Thirza Caruthers, who returns to her family’s home, years after her brother Billy’s mysterious disappearance. As Thirza reconnects with the sights, scents and memories of her childhood, she becomes determined to uncover the truth behind Billy's vanishing, all while struggling to move forward in her own life.

Set against the backdrop of Corfu's enchanting landscape, Thirza immerses herself in painting and begins a passionate affair, hoping to escape the pain that has haunted her for years. However, the family’s buried secrets begin to surface, and as love, envy and betrayal swirl around them, Thirza must confront the past to move forward.

This book is a captivating blend of historical intrigue, romance, and family drama, with every character drawing you in. Jefferies has an incredible ability to create rich, complex relationships and set them against a vivid and evocative setting. The Greek House is an emotional, heart-wrenching tale that will have you eagerly turning the pages, making it the perfect companion for a cosy afternoon.

If you enjoy historical fiction full of secrets, love, and loss, The Greek House is one you won’t want to miss. It’s a perfect escape to a beautiful island and a world full of passion and mystery.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

'The Greek House' has a great sense of place; one can almost smell the herbs and flowers in the Corfu gardens. The characters are rounded and the plot is believable. Ideal for a summer holiday, especially in Greece.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC.

This story is about a missing boy during the invasion of Corfu in 1923 boy the Italians. Amid all the confusion of people fleeing for their lives young Billy goes missing from the care of his aunt who is a vindictive alcoholic. His English family have a house there and their lives are shattered into pieces.
Another good read by Dinah Jefferies. I was not aware of the invasion of Corfu in 1923 but I felt as if I was there experiencing the horror felt by the people..
The ending for me was bittersweet as I suppose it was for the family.

Dinah Jefferies always delivers and this book is I think, one of her best. The novels are so colourful and filmic and I can see this one on the big screen. Lots to love. I think she should be even better known than what she is!

Dinah Jefferies always has me lost in the settings of her stories. She makes them so atmospheric, This book was set in Corfu and I can almost smell the jasmine. I really enjoyed the book. It told the story of Thirza, a young woman who was returning to the place she had lived as a child and where her younger brother had disappeared from nine years before. Thirza loves the island, despite all her sadness, she settles back and tries to restore her old family home. The book has such a gentleness to it that explaining the plot would not reflect the beauty.
I hope it wont be long before there is another book written by this author.

August 1923 - Dulcie, her husband Piers, and children = Thirza and young Billly = enjoy a pretty idyllic life in Corfu, with Piers spending a lot of his time at their town house because of his work, and Dulcie and the children spending most of their life at Dulcie’s own property, Merchants House, in the north of the Island from where she conducts her own business as a writer and publisher.

During a family get together in Corfu town their Ives rapidly change when, during a short-lived Italian naval invasion 9 year old Billy goes missing, never to be found. Broken hearted Dulcie returns to England with Thirza, but seven years later, Thirza, now a young adult, decides that Corfu is her real home. Unable to persuade her mother to return with her she sets off with her cousin Ianthe and they both set to restoring Merchants House, having found it trashed by the Invading Italians. It becomes her happy place, particularly when she gets to meets her next door neighbour, Emilio, and finds love. Will it last or are there secrets that need to be revealed?

A great read. Set in Corfu in the 1920s and 30s, as the Italians invade the Island a boy from an English family living there goes missing.

The after effects of losing a child are catastrophic for the family. Dinah Jefferies explores family dynamics and relationships alongside a stunning location and the political instability of the times.

A beautifully written book, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy to review.

There was a lot of sadness for Thirza in this book and I was astounded by her resilience as a character, that she had weathered such distance from her own mother and father after such trauma in her teens. The setting of Corfu was fascinating and I knew very little of the History of the island and what had occurred in between the wars. The house sounded idyllic and was a great base for the story to unfold over the decades. There were a lot of surprises along the way, which I won't spoil, but safe to say that it's an eventful novel and one I definitely enjoyed.

A tragic family saga set around Merchants House the Caruthers family home in Corfu. The story commences in 1923 and continues over a 10 year period.
The invasion of Italy into Corfu in 1923 is the catalyst for an event that tears the Caruthers family apart and their idyllic life on the island. Thirya Caruthers and her mother Dulcie move back to England with her father remaining on Corfu. Thirya returns to the family home 7 years later at the age of 23 and begins to restore Merchants House.
There are family secrets, romance, friendships and a beautiful story of how a family deals with a tragic event.
I always love getting swept away to another time and place and Dinah Jefferies has a gift in allowing the reader to do just this

I love the way Dinah sets her stories against real historical events as it makes me want to find out more. An enjoyable and intriguing read set in Corfu, initially at the time of the Italian invasion of 1923, about which I had previously been unaware, and then 7 years later. Many twists and turns with an unexpected ending. A story of a rather fragmented family amidst devastation when the unimaginable happens with love on many levels. Secrets and disclosures. Wonderful descriptions of this magical island, possibly helped by TV programmes also set there.