Within the treacherous caves of Undara, a betrayal will test the bonds of friendship and family. A page-turning new eco-adventure for readers who love Di Morrissey. When entomologist Emlyn Rees arrives at Hidden Valley she wants nothing more than to escape her marriage breakdown by burying herself in the research team’s hunt for new species of insects in the depths of the dramatic Undara lava … Undara lava tubes. However, little does she suspect she will be the key to solving a mystery that’s more than one hundred years old.
Travis Carlyle is initially resistant to letting some city folks tramp over his cattle station, but soon the researchers’ findings and a growing friendship with Emlyn bring opportunities to turn around his struggling farm. With a broken marriage behind him and children to care for, Travis needs to plan for the future and this could be his family’s best chance.
But when things start going wrong for the farm and around the dig site, Emlyn and Travis are at a loss to understand why. Are they cursed with bad luck, or is there a more sinister force at play? Are the tall tales of enigmatic stockman Bluey turning true? As the unseen saboteur grows bolder, Emlyn and Travis are caught in a race against time to save the station … and their lives.
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Annie Seaton, what a story my goodness this one is a page turner, so much happening, fabulous characters and the setting is awesome. I loved getting to know Travis and Emlyn and learning about their lives and what bought Emlyn to this part of the world and the history of Hidden Valley which meant so much to Travis. This is a book that I highly recommend.
Emlyn Rees is an entomologist and has been through a terrible tragedy, separated from her husband David she has decided it is time to get on with her life as a single woman and has taken on a position to research the Undara lava tubes, looking for new species of insects. Arriving at what will be their base camp on a private cattle station Hidden Valley the Owner Travis Carlyle is not all happy to have them there.
Travis Carlyle runs the cattle station Hidden Valley that has been in the family for over one hundred years, the history is rich in mystery and hard -working people, but times are hard and his wife Alison has left him and taken his three children, he needs money and with a brother Gavin not pulling his weight letting the university in to research will help in a small way.
Emlyn and Travis don’t start off on the right foot with their first meetings, but as things start to go wrong for both the farm and the research group they form a friendship and plan a future for Hidden Valley that will keep the station going. Bluey the aboriginal stockman who has worked on the land for many years gives warnings of danger and as danger escalates they need to work hard to find the saboteur.
I loved this story, edge of your seat suspense, emotions that had me in tears and the ending is just the best I was cheering and smiling so much, truly Travis and Emlyn and all of the characters in this story came to life on the pages, fabulous story really it is one not to be missed.
A wonderfully clever, dual timeline, mystery by the fabulous Annie Seaton. Undara takes you on a journey to the fascinating lava tubes and caves of Tropical North Queensland. I did not know about these volcanic tubes previously, so not only was it a great story, it was a lesson too, and at numerous times I found myself googling Undara. It’s somewhere I’d now like to visit.
The pace of the story is perfect, with enduring characters you’ll love, and a mystery to keep you entertained throughout. Thank you Annie. I truly loved it !
I really enjoyed this story, it takes us on a slow ride at first, then when it picks up you won’t want to put it down. Just over half way my heart was in my throat, the tension was building and something dire may have been about to happen.
The author took us on a fascinating tour of areas of Australia that I’ve never been to. The landscape was stunning in a harsh way. The characters were on their own paths of pain and I was so happy with they way their journeys ended.
Parts of the book took us back in time, the author slowly unraveled the mystery as past and present came together. Wonderful tale, I highly recommend it.