Linger and Die
The outback of Australia in the early 1800s is the setting for this tale of forgery, murder, and treachery as Australia comes into its own identity of a country. A forger named Mary Draper escapes a prison ship along with a convict and begins a trek across Australia, leaving counterfeit sovereigns and panning for gold, always one step ahead of the local and national arm of the law. In the end, though, the past catches up with Mary, and in her dying breath she confesses (or does she?) to the location of the bulk of the treasure she has kept hidden.
A book with a lot of promise that would have been well served by better editing. An early attempt to establish both character and setting left the plot far in the background, and it was hard to recover from this loss. A rough, honest look at the brutal landscape that emulates the ethos and aura of Australia surrounds a storyline that requires careful re-reading to follow. There are adult themes and dialogue. With the addition of good editorial guidance then this will certainly be an author to watch in the future.
