This is the third book in the continuing saga of the Duffy and McIntosh families shared curse. The blurb describes this as a stunning conclusion to the trilogy although I’m certain that this tale will continue for many more tomes.Peter models his work on the mass-market success format of Wilbur Smith. His canvass is the Queensland outback as a new frontier colony emerges from savage beginnings to become a settled civilized land. The characters are rich and diverse and the readers longing to know what becomes of each of the already well known occupants of Peters’ imagination drives the rapid devouring of the solid volume. Michael Duffy has lived a rugged life in exile in America after partaking in grizzly wars. He returns a mercenary to Australia to discover his son Patrick has been groomed by the McIntosh matriarch Enid McIntosh to take over the family business and disinherit himself from his Duffy clan. Patrick is a born leader and fights bravely for the British in the Sudan. He finds love in the wild Irish hillsides so different from his life in the desert wilderness. Would this Irish Catholic descendant really turn his back on his origins and become the head of an upright Protestant family? The two men meet in a brief bittersweet twist of fate culminating in hopeless battle.The next generation in the family line is well developed in this book. Gordon James and Peter Duffy have left behind their boyhood friendship to become members of the Mounted Police. Eventually they go their separate ways as colour and bigotry continued to get in the way and causes the ever-widening rift between white commander James and dark Trooper Peter Duffy. Sarah, Peter’s very beautiful half-caste sister has captured Gordon’s heart, yet circumstances ensure they never marry.Many other characters weave their magic throughout the book from the seductive Penelope and loyal loving Fiona. Then the remarkable businesswoman Kate Duffy having raised Peter and Sarah alone after the death of Luke and continues to make a future for her family, and onto the more unsavoury Hugh Darlington, and loathsome Granville White.Wallarie the aging skillful native bushman continues to play cat and mouse with the mounted police to evade capture and help take Peter Duffy to his Nerambura tribal land for initiation. The land where it all began is fittingly the place the tale ends, or does it?There is no doubting Peter Watt is a masterful story teller and his work is entertaining, intriguing and much of it is based on historical fact. I can hardly wait for the next edition of the Duffy and McIntosh families entwined lives. I am equally certain anyone who picks up these books and delves into them will feel the same.
