The Flame Trees of Thika

Young Elspeth arrives in Thika, Kenya, with her optimistic parents who have purchased an unpromising plot of land in hopes of establishing a coffee farm.

The Grants get new neighbors when Hereward and Lettice Palmer arrive, but neither seem prepared for the hardship they must face.

At the end of 1913, Tilly and Robin travel to Nairobi with the Palmers to ring in the new year. They leave Eslpeth in the care of Mrs. Nimmo, whose husband is still away.

Elspeth and Sammy are in put in danger when they face a herd of rampaging elephants. Mrs. Nimmo attends to Sammy's wife after a miscarriage. When Nimmo recommends that the woman be transported to the hospital in Nairobi, the family brings in the local medicine man instead.

Hereward is worried about Lettice and whether she has the stamina to bear living in Africa. As their marriage begins to disintegrate, it is apparent to almost everyone that Ian and Lettice are in love.

With Robin and Elspeth staying behind at the farm, Tilly joins the Palmers and Ian on safari. Lettice finally admits to Ian that she loves him. Things come to a boil between Ian and Hereward but Crawford's bearer Ahmed intervenes.

With Robin away, Tilly decides to go to Nairobi to help with the war effort. Elspeth must go live with the Robinsons, a wealthy merchant family who need a resident governess for their children.