The Flame Trees of Thika

Robin Grant, his wife Tilley and 10 year-old daughter Elspeth arrive in East Africa in the early years of the 20th century with the intention of establishing a coffee plantation. When they arrive, they find that the land, access and the availability of farm labor aren't anywhere near what was promised in the prospectus. Living in tents, they set about building themselves a home and befriending some of the local natives, who offer to help the build the house. They soon start working the land but life is hard and they begin to doubt the wisdom of their decision.

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. On New Year's eve, Mrs. Nimmo has a party and invites Alec Wilson and another couple. A good time is had by all - even when one of the guests begins to shoot up the place. A friend of the Palmers, Ian Crawford, arrives after acquiring horses in Abyssinia and Elspeth receives a very special gift. Crawford is very much attracted to Lettice but she resists his advances.

With Robin and Elspeth staying behind at the farm, Tilly joins the Palmers and Ian Crawford 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, severely wounding Palmer. At the farm meanwhile, Elspeth takes Njomo's advice and gets the local medicine man to give her a charm to protect Twinkle. She's hurt however when Twinkle goes off on her own and doesn't return home. Everyone hears that World War I has started in Europe and Robin and the Major decide to go to Nairobi see what is happening.