A high wind in Jamaica

The narrative opens on the ghost‑riddled ruins of Jamaica’s sugar plantations, where once‑grand estates have been reclaimed by vines, goats and the relentless heat. We meet the frail Miss Parker sisters, barely able to move in the crumbling Derby Hill mansion, and the hardy Bas‑Thornton family, whose English roots clash with the island’s stubborn rhythms. The author paints vivid scenes of broken sugar‑grinding wheels, leaky roofs and the everyday survival of those left behind, creating a palpable sense of place that feels both beautiful and mournful.

Against this backdrop, the story follows the Bas‑Thornton children as they explore the abandoned estate, slipping through hidden wells and uncovering the secrets whispered by the overgrown machinery. Their curiosity draws them into the lives of the remaining servants and the lingering shadows of the plantation’s former glory, setting up a tension between memory and the harsh reality of post‑Emancipation Jamaica.