-
Your next favorite book
is waiting.
Can one house hold a lifetime of secrets?
Corfu, 1930
The moment Thirza Caruthers sets foot on Corfu, memories flood back: the scent of jasmine, the green shutters of her family's home ― and her brother Billy's tragic disappearance years before.
Returning to the Greek house, high above clear blue waters, Thirza tries to escape by immersing herself in painting ― and a passionate affair.
But as webs of love, envy, and betrayal tighten around the family, buried secrets surface.
Is it finally time to uncover the truth about Billy's vanishing?
Which of the plot twists did you see coming, and which surprised you the most?
I knew Emilio had a connection with one of her parents but was not positive initially whether it was Dulcie or Piers he was connected to. I knew Billy would return at some point but wasn't sure how. I knew Columbine had secrets related to Billy. Probably most surprising was to learn Billy was liv...
-Heather_J
Overall, what did you think of The Greek House? (No spoilers, please!)
I started out loving it, but it started to lose me the last 100 pages or so. I like the author's writing and the complex family relationships, but the storyline just got too crazy for me.
-Heather_J
What do you think the novel suggests about the themes of family, loyalty, and forgiveness?
I agree with you about the guilt aspect. All blamed themselves to some extent for Billy's disappearance.
-Elizabeth_P3
Thirza speculates that not only does Billy’s spirit still inhabit Merchant’s House, but so do the “ghosts of their former selves” (p. 111). What do you think she meant? Does this concept ring true to you?
It seems that everything in the house reminds Thirza of Billy and the happy lives of their family before Billy disappeared. The "ghosts" or memories in that house kept Dulcie away for many years. It was too painful for her to revisit the place where they were a happy family that included Billy. S...
-Karen_W
To what audience would you recommend The Greek House? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
I'll echo the response of Karen_B1.
-Donna_M
Thirza loved the sound of her mother’s typewriter as a child. “The rituals that hadn’t seemed...important...had turned out to be the things that...held a family together”. Do you agree with her? Are there rituals you can point to within your own family?
I think things like the sound of her mother typing made her feel safe. I do agree with others that I didn't see much in the way of rituals and definitely didn't see the family being held together, except perhaps by hope.
-Donna_M
Which character do you think is most affected by the themes of envy, love and betrayal in the novel? Why?
I agree that Columbine was most affected and harmed. Obviously Thirza was affected. Her father's recovery was enormously helped by Penny.
-Donna_M
As the story unfolds, Thirza uncovers more about her family's past. How do the revelations about her family's history impact her relationships with other characters in the novel?
In my opinion, the revelations allowed Thirza to improve relations with most of her relatives but were also detrimental to others, especially her mother and Emilio.
-Donna_M
What did you think about Dulci’s and Thirza’s relationship? Why do you think the rift between them remained unhealed for so many years?
I'm in agreement with the other members. Dulcie was a very flawed woman and mother. And she always obviously preferred Billy to the detriment of her daughter's development. Thirza felt left out and really wanted a mother who loved her. It was natural that there was a strain even in good times.
-Donna_M
Who did you blame for Billy’s disappearance? Why do you suppose he wasn’t found by the authorities? Did you have any theories about what happened to the boy?
I very specifically blamed Columbine. She obviously not only resented Dulcie, but was also completely unreliable. It seemed believable that she would allow Billy to just slip away. At the same time, Dulcie wasn't particularly respectful of Columbine so was remiss by assigning anything critical—th...
-Donna_M
How did the setting of The Greek House influence your experience of reading the novel?
Greece was a good setting for the novel. It added an atmosphere of fairytale and perfection and intensified the feeling that the family was separate from the rest of the country.
-Donna_M
Did you enjoy the ending of the book? Where were you left in terms of your feelings?
I had long expected Billy's return; the story of his disappearance just didn't satisfy. The other characters moved forward after a period of shock and disbelief, and the end also made clear the family mysteries. In that sense, the book handled the various emotional responses and reconciliations w...
-Donna_M
Who did you suspect of leaving the cryptic note for Dulci, and what did you believe might be behind it?
I also had no idea who sent the note or why. It's sort of like a red herring, to keep us wondering and confused about something that was merely coincidental to the story.
-Donna_M
Have you read any of Dinah Jeffries’ other books? If so, how does this one compare?
This one is the first
-Donna_M
Why do you suppose Ianthe so wanted to marry Walter? What did you think of the couple’s interactions? What future do you see for them?
ianthe wanted a fresh start in America and the security of a wealthy husband. I give her a great chance as she is going into her marriage knowing what she wants.
-Catherine_O_Callagha
How did you feel about Thirza's relationship with Emilio? How does it impact her time in Corfu?
The relationship with Emilio was my least favorite part of this novel. I couldn't beleive he didn't break it off after realizing who Triza was. I thought he was sleezy.
-Catherine_O_Callagha
The novel blends personal drama with the wider political and social tensions of its historical setting. How do these external pressures heighten the stakes of the relationships and decisions made within the novel?
I actually thought there would be more historical references since the opening was about the Italian invasion, which I knew nothing about. But this book was little more than a soap opera. The opening event jsut set the cause for the disappearance and then it was pretty much dropped.
-Lin_Z
What did you initially think of Penelope, and of her relationship with Piers? How did your opinion of her change over the course of the novel? How about your opinion of Piers?
I agree with the general assessment. I was glad she didn't turn into the story's villain and found that refreshing
-Stephanie_G
Dinah Jefferies uses vivid sensory detail throughout the novel. How did her descriptions of food, color, and landscape influence your engagement with the story? Which depictions did you find most impactful?
I agree with the readers who found the "vivid" descriptions annoying and repetitive. I, too, began to skim–which I never do. Actually I thought of the whole book as a slog through meaningless words.
-Leslie_R
Thirza attempts to cope with her grief and confusion by immersing herself in painting. How does this artistic outlet serve as both a means of escape and a path to self-discovery?
I agree that it was a way to pay the bills and an excuse to return to Merchant House. She was far more fulfilled by her efforts to restore the house.
-Bonnie_R1
What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (3/26/2026)
This past week I read two of the books that will be discussed this coming week. The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies. The book was an amazing adventure pre WWII on the Greek Island of Corfu. It is a romantic novel full of family secrets and grief. It was an entertai...
-Lynne_G
About the The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies category
Please join BookBrowse for a discussion of https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/23725/the-greek-house The Greek House by Dinah Jeffries.
-system
"A sweeping, epic novel about love and loss." —Woman's Weekly
"Immersive, gripping and entertaining, this is Dinah Jefferies at her very best in a story filled with intrigue, secrets, and passion." —The People's Friend
This information about The Greek House was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Dinah Jefferies began her career with The Separation, followed by the No.1 Sunday Times and Richard and Judy bestseller, The Tea-Planter's Wife. Born in Malaysia, she moved to England at the age of nine. In 1985, a family tragedy changed everything, and she now draws on the experience of loss in her writing, infusing love, loss and danger with the beauty of her locations. She is published in 29 languages in over 30 countries and lives close to her family in Gloucestershire.
Author Interview
Link to Dinah Jefferies's Website
Name Pronunciation
Dinah Jefferies: DIE-nuh JEFF-reez
If you liked The Greek House, try these:
by Edan Lepucki
Published 2024
From New York Times bestselling author Edan Lepucki comes an enthralling saga about family secrets that grow more powerful with time, set against the magical, dangerous landscape of California
by Emily Critchley
Published 2023
A mystery she can't remember. A friend she can't forget.
by Colleen Hubbard
Published 2022
Following a long-standing feud and looking to settle the score, a woman decides to dismantle her home—alone and by hand—and move it across a frozen pond during a harsh New England winter in this mesmerizing debut.
I am what the librarians have made me with a little assistance from a professor of Greek and a few poets
Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!
Can you name the title?
Test your book knowledge with our daily trivia challenge!
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
