A woman alone and a charismatic private detective are caught up in a dangerous quest to discover her true identity in this thrilling historical adventure romance set in 19th century Victoria, from a bestselling Australian author. 1898, Geelong, Victoria. Stella Truehart is all alone in the world. Her good-for-nothing husband has died violently at the hands of an unknown assailant. Her mother is … assailant. Her mother is dead, her father deserted them before she was born, and now her kindly Truehart grandparents are also in their graves.
Private detective Bendigo Barrett has been tasked with finding Stella. He believes his client’s intentions are good, but it is evident that someone with darker motives is also seeking her. For her own part Stella is fiercely independent, but as danger mounts she agrees to work with Bendigo and before long they travel together to Sydney to meet his mysterious client where they discover more questions than answers.
What role do a stolen precious jewel and a long-ago US Civil War ship play in Stella’s story? Will sudden bloodshed prevent the resolution of the mystery and stand in the way of her feelings for Bendigo? It is time, at last, for the truth to be revealed …
PRAISE FOR DARRY FRASER
‘A fabulous storyteller who underlies this compelling plot with strong female characters who challenge the status quo…Fast paced historical fiction, first-hand experience of the South Australian landscape, and the added bonus of a plot line that has been drawn from Darry Fraser’s very own family history make this an authentic, seamless and riveting tale.’ Better Reading
‘A story of personal integrity, courage, stamina, companionship and responsibility, The Good Woman of Renmark is a powerful ode to life in former times, as our nation was beginning to take shape.’ Mrs B’s Book Reviews
‘Outstanding prose that flows and ripples through every page.’- Starts at 60
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ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
Darry Fraser has done it again! The Last Trueheart is another amazing Australian historical to lose yourself in.
Once again, we are drawn into the world of late 19th Century Australia, a man’s world, but with strong female characters who are bucking the trend.
Stella has had a rough run of it, but that does not keep her down. When a private investigator tracks her down, her world is thrown upside down.
Bendigo Barrett is the kind of man we all need. He is dashing and loyal and wonderful.
Mystery, intrigue an family dramas abound, and I couldn’t wait to turn each page to see what adventure I would be taken on next.
I am looking forward to what Ms Fraser brings us next.
Darry Fraser has taken me back to 1898 in Geelong Victoria to uncover a mystery from years past, there were twist and turns in this story that kept me turning the pages whilst getting to know Stella Truehart-Smith and Bendigo Barrett, their journey to a HEA is fraught with danger and finding out about Stella’s father, her mother Alice had kept a few secrets that need to be revealed.
Stella has just lost her beloved grandmother and now she is alone, her mother and Grandfather had previously past, Stella is now a widow after her husband has been murdered and cruel man he was. Stella still feels that she is being watched but she has no idea why and when a strange man introduces himself to her at her Grandmother’s funeral Stella is worried but for some reason agrees to meet Bendigo Barrett who opens a can of worms for Stella to process she is determined to get to the bottom of this even after she is assaulted. The Mystery of her father and his family and the mysterious jewel needs to be sorted.
Bendigo lives on a farm with his two sisters and works as a private detective, when he is hired by a Mrs Parks from Sydney to locate Stella he does not know why but sets out and locates her but also discovers a lot more than he was sent to do, like someone is looking for something and Stella is in danger but she is so independent and does not like taking help very easily, he is drawn to her in so many ways and maybe finally he will find true love after being hurt before.
There is a lot going on in this story and a lot to uncover and both Bendigo and Stella are on it and arriving in Sydney to meet Mrs Parks and discovering truths about her father and a ship that departed Williamstown many years ago they find the key to a lot that has happened to Stella, but they also find love and happiness that they both deserve. Truly this is a fabulous story that I would highly recommend MS Fraser never disappoints me with her stories they are rich in history and fabulous characters, I never miss one.
Thank you Harper Collins AU for my copy to read and review.