Darry Fraser

This is another historical romance by Australian author Darry Fraser set in 1890s Victoria along the banks of the mighty Murray River.

Linley Seymour lives with her feisty, independent Aunt CeCe who runs a women’s refuge with the support of her long term lover James. She has loved Ard O’Rourke for as long as she can remember and is both heart-broken and furious when she finds herself the guardian of a baby Ard has fathered with local woman Mary. After Mary dies she leaves her baby Toby for Linley to raise and her violent husband Gareth is soon pursuing Linley for an inheritance he believes should come to him from Mary.

Although this is obviously a fraught situation, I did not feel any real chemistry between Ard and Linley, and I could not really connect with either of them. I found my empathy soon evaporated and I found Linley petulant and irritating and Ard seemed to fluctuate between feeling sorry about his actions and making excuses for himself.

I found this a disappointing story as it had the potential to be really good. I love this era, and I liked the physical setting. There were important themes including domestic violence and women’s rights, strong female characters and supportive males. Somehow it just did not all gel. There was a very detailed sex scene early on when we hadn’t even met the male character at that point, which seemed out of place. One of the “goodies” had a history of going around bumping off the men who had been violent towards their partners, which seemed to be almost brushed off and I found difficult to swallow. I didn’t really even like Linley as she seemed to range from naïve and judgemental in some areas to well-informed in others and passionately involved in helping women who had experienced domestic violence. Overall the story was a great idea but the execution was flawed and awkward.… (plus d'informations)

Australian author Darry Fraser brings us a historical mystery, romantic suspense set in Melbourne in 1900. Prudence North has returned from studying an arts degree in Scotland and has developed an interest in the new science of forensics. After the tragic death of her mother from Huntington’s Disease, Prudence is pushed into collecting information about wealthy landowner Jasper Darke by police officer Everard Bankston. He threatens to press charges against her beloved father, Dr Gregory North. This, combined with Prudence’s need to earn money to help support her sister who also has the terrible inherited illness, leaves Prudence little option.

Her investigations unveil a man who appears as good as he is handsome. Which leaves Prudence with many questions. When she finds a man murdered in her father’s surgery, things suddenly become complicated.

Prudence is a likeable, strong character and I enjoyed the story which highlights the frustrations for women in this era trying to engage in a career. It also highlights the fear felt by people waiting to find out if they have inherited Huntington’s: the Damocles sword hanging above them. My two complaints are that firstly the villain’s actions and motivations seemed highly illogical and improbable. Secondly the double standard in romances always gets to me: it is fine for men to avail themselves of a handy little dalliance or a prostitute because of course they have unquenchable needs, but the heroine must be pure and virginal. While I understand real life can be like this, authors almost promote this idea in their fictional worlds. Let’s have some equality. Either they both roam while they’re single and then settle down, or alternatively they are both able to manage to keep it in their pants. I’m tired of the virgin-tames-a-playboy trope. Rant over. It was actually an enjoyable read.… (plus d'informations)

The milliner of Bendigo by Darry Fraser is a fantastic Historical fiction based in Victoria along the banks of the River Murray nearing the time of the end of the Paddle Steamer age. A story of the resilience of women in that era and the men who would both love and be a champion to them and those that would strive to trick them into losing everything. A time where women were fast moving out from behind the shadows of men to stand proudly in the sun themselves. A good mix of history, hardship, mystery, friendship and endurance. Very well written and well researched.
An excellent book for those chilly evenings, or those sunny afternoons. Has me rushing to the library to search the shelves for more.… (plus d'informations)

I've had a number of recommendations by friends that I should pick up a book by this Australian author. The opening pages of this novel tell me this is the author's eighth Australian fiction novel, and it is set in the Flinders Ranges and the Barossa Valley. It is also set in at least two time frames (both historical) with many links between the two. In the Author notes at the end, I learnt of the author's own connections to the general outline of the story.

Although crimes have been committed, this novel is historical "romance" rather than crime fiction, and will have obvious appeal to Australian readers. And while this is the first novel I have read by this author, I'm pretty sure it won't be my last.… (plus d'informations)