Recommended by Dunsborough Book Chat Club
Lucy Stewart lives in the Hunter Valley in 1842. Lucy is strong and cares for her man-boy brother-in-law. With his help, and in the absence of her husband, she keeps the family solvent by managing a bullock team.
In Australian history, a woman bullock driver is not unheard of, but the life of a “bullocky” is very difficult and not to be undertaken lightly. With few resources and little money Lucy is forced to undertake the role. However, Lucy’s life becomes even more difficult when her brother-in-law is arrested for murder.
This is essentially a murder mystery in a historical setting. Paula Beavan’s descriptions of life in the Hunter Valley in 1842 is well researched and interesting. The characters are well drawn, and the tale holds together very well. The lack of competent proof-reading is apparent with several grammatical errors and inappropriate word usage to suit the 1842 time period. However, that is so often the failing of modern literature.
3.5/5 Stars