The Girl in the Orphanage

Katy Yehonala's journey begins in Melbourne with tragedy and transforms into a gripping tale of resilience and stubborn daring. After the violent death of her Australian husband, Simon, in a remote border township in Cambodia, a distraught Katy finds an unfinished manuscript in his desk drawer called Chavy's Story, which reveals glimpses into his dangerous, secretive work. She reads the story of "Chavy"-a haunting account of a child's escape from Cambodia's brutal underworld of human trafficking-and vows to discover the truth about her husband's death and find the mysterious Chavy.

Katy is joined in her mission by her famous daughter, Clara, a "national treasure" of China. The intrepid women embark on a perilous journey in a country fraught with corruption, moral decay, and trials that test their resolve, eventually leading them to a grim orphanage in an outlying district of Phnom Penh.

For Clara, their quest draws her into climactic struggles with her sensual shyness when a charity worker, Elena Accardi, helps them. For Katy, piecing the pages of Chavy's story together confronts her with stark, forgotten events from her childhood in a village gulag during the Cultural Revolution.

In The Girl in the Orphanage, Robert Barclay paints vivid portraits of two women uprooted by the trauma and history of their original homeland yet fiercely bound by the search for justice and belonging. This powerful novel navigates dark realities hidden beyond our gaze and the unbreakable bonds that hold families together against all odds.

The Girl in the Orphanage is an unforgettable story of bravery, love, and the relentless pursuit of truth in the shadowy corners of humanity. Katy and Clara Yehonala's journey is the second book in the acclaimed stories of The Butterfly Dynasty.

"A powerful story of two strong-willed women and their search for justice involving courageous men, women and even children fighting for a better world. This is a gripping, emotional story with great characters. Five out of five stars."
Christine - Beauty & Lace Book Club