Trouble with the law, a missing sister, and a growing attachment to the wrong man – Evie Emerson has a dangerous path ahead of her…
The Milliner of Bendigo is the latest exciting and twisty historical mystery and adventure from bestselling Australian author Darry Fraser.
1898, Bendigo, Victoria: Evie Emerson has worked hard to build a fashionable clientele for her hats. But when an ex-paramour employs underhanded tactics after his attempt to coerce an engagement fails, Evie’s reputation is in tatters. On the heels of having to put a case together to defend herself in court, Evie’s life is thrown into further turmoil when the disappearance of her sister takes her to Cobram.
Roving reporter Fitzmorgan O’Shea has troubles of his own: his involvement in uncovering police corruption has placed a target on his back. And while Fitz is hunting a new story in Cobram his problems collide with Evie’s when his research exposes malicious intimidation and threats designed to make local landholders give up their properties.
For Raffety Dolan, he accepted long ago it’s Fitz Evie loves – and his feelings will remain unrequited. But when a disgraced ex-policeman comes searching for revenge, Raff is ready to go save his friends.
There, on the banks of the mighty Murray, with so much misunderstood history and secrets between the three friends – plus the legitimate threat of being shot at – will they survive long enough to discover the truth?
Fraser has well and truly established herself as one of Australia’s leading historical fiction writers, and she’s long been an absolute darling of the BR community. BR readers love Fraser’s strong feminist leads, fast-paced plotlines and depth of historical insight. Fraser also writes the Australian landscape, particularly the banks of the Murray, like no other – it’s where she grew up, and it shows. You can hear Fraser talking about her writing process, and the inspiration she draws from the landscape, in her podcast episode with Cheryl.
In The Milliner of Bendigo, Fraser delivers another enthralling adventure, sweeping us along on the remarkable journey of a woman determined to forge her own path, despite the constraints of her circumstances. Fraser’s latest novel is equal parts mystery, romance, and riveting historical insight into late 19th-century rural Australia. Combined, these elements create a gripping page-turner that keeps you fully immersed in Evie’s world until the very last sentence.
One of the things that makes Fraser’s writing so incredibly appealing is how she manages to go far beyond simply presenting a convincing snapshot of a historical era. Of course, she does this impeccably – her historical research is meticulous, with everything from the fashion to the paddle steamers conveyed in vivid detail. But what sets Fraser apart is the way she so fully immerses her reader within these detailed milieus. Just like all her books, The Milliner of Bendigo feels like a complete world that readers can escape into for the duration of the story. We’re right there with her characters, railing against their injustices and celebrating their triumphs.
With such complete immersion comes the inevitable book hangover when you reach the conclusion and have to say goodbye to these characters who have come to feel like friends – but with a writer as prolific as Fraser, it hopefully won’t be too long before we can explore another wonderful world of her creation. In the meantime, there’s always her backlist to return to!
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