Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

Can a peaceful sanctuary for the elderly truly erase the blood-stained tracks of a war-torn past? In her Miles Franklin Award-winning masterpiece Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens (Arabic Edition: Waqt Al-Chai Fi Hada'eq Al-Qerfa), Shankari Chandran delivers a powerful, suspenseful, and unforgettable narrative.

Set in a suburb of Sydney, Cinnamon Gardens is a nursing home run by Maya and her family—a quiet haven where residents share memories over warm cups of chai. Yet, beneath this tranquil surface lie haunting ghosts from the Sri Lankan civil war. When racial tensions escalate and a mysterious historical tragedy resurfaces, the residents and caretakers are forced to confront the violence they left behind. Expertly translated into Arabic by Abdelrahim Youssef, the novel balances gripping narrative tension with profound emotional truth, examining identity, trauma, and the ultimate cost of keeping secrets.

Because it is a masterclass in storytelling that seamlessly combines social thrillers with profound historical fiction. It forces readers to question the nature of memory, belonging, and the hidden prejudices that shape modern societies.

For readers of award-winning international fiction, fans of multi-generational sagas, and anyone interested in stories exploring the diaspora, political trauma, and complex human relationships.