The governor's house by J. H. Fletcher

At nearly 500p., this book will stop you doing the ironing for a fair while as you follow the rises and falls in love and fortune of Cat Haggard who was wrongly convicted of a crime and transported to Australia. Over time, and with great risks, she builds a business empire in Van Diemen's Land.

Her current day descendant, Joanne, is tasked with unravelling a mystery Cat left behind but will she be able to decipher a coded notebook? This book reminded me of Judy Nunn's The tiger men' with characters braving adversity to achieve their goals.

Citation: Fletcher, J H The governor's house North Sydney: Harlequin Mira, 2015.

9781743692691

LINC Tasmania record for "The governor's house"
LINC Tasmania items by J. H. Fletcher

Bloodlust by Nick Bleszynski

This novelisation of true events depicts a chilling tale of convict life in early Tasmania. Bleszynski creates a strong sense of Pearce's amazing exploits through the 'discovery' of his written memoirs at the remains of Sarah Island penal colony by a rich young American, Daniel Ruth, thirty years after Pearce's death.

 

With a mixture of action, and Pearce's reflections before he heads to the gallows, readers are drawn into an engrossing portrayal of a brutal penal colony and harsh landscape, and the lengths to which people go to survive.

Citation: Bleszynski, Nick  Bloodlust : the unsavoury tale of Alexander Pearce, the convict cannibal  North Sydney : William Heinemann, 2008.

ISBN: 978 1 74166 700 4  387p.

LINC Tasmania catalogue record for "Bloodlust"
LINC Tasmania items by Nick Bleszynski

The roving party by Rohan Wilson

It is hard for us to imagine the roving parties that went out looking for aborigines to kill for bounty payments. It is even more difficult to understand the motivation of an aboriginal tracker, Black Bill, participating in these under John Batman's leadership.

But Rohan Wilson draws his readers in with his stark portrayal of free men, convicts and trackers who each have private motivations for undertaking this brutal task: money, freedom, and personal revenge. 

 

Citaton: Wilson, Rohan The roving party Sydney : Allen & Unwin, 2011.

ISBN: 978 1 74237 653 0  282p.

 

Winner of the Australian/Vogel Literary Award in 2011

 

LINC Tasmania catalogue record for "The roving party"

Tiger Men by Judy Nunn

Tiger Men is a sweeping family saga which brings to life several generations of the Stanfords, O'Callaghans and Powells who settle in Van Diemen's Land.

With a mix of former convicts and wealthier free men and women, Judy Nunn entwines their destinies from early convict days in Tasmania through to the battlefields of Gallipoli and France in World War 1.

The strong men and women fight for survival and to flourish in tough business and natural environments. Don't sit down with this compelling story if you are supposed to be doing the ironing!

Citation:  Nunn, Judy   Tiger men North Sydney : Random House Australia, 2011.

ISBN: 978 1 86471 218 6  620p.

LINC Tasmania catalogue record for "Tiger men"
LINC Tasmania items by Judy Nunn

Judy Nunn's website