1898: Bendigo, Victoria

​

Evie Emerson has worked hard to build a fashionable clientele for her hats in the booming city of Bendigo. 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 step in and 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?