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Dark Passage
After a devastating fall from high society into dire poverty Nicola Redmond battles to support her mother and herself during the 1890s Depression in Australia. Spurning the "charity" of the man who has claimed her father's estate, Nicola joins the battle for the empowerment of the women slaving in factories under dreadful conditions, or forced by starvation to sell themselves on the streets. When her dearest friend, Rose Basevi, meets a degrading death in a back alley, Nicola vows to avenge her. Denying her growing love for a man she cannot trust, she uses him and his two rivals: a charismatic union organizer, and a cool English detective in charge of the murder investigation. Setting herself up as bait, she plunges deep into the underbelly of the city knowing that one of these three men is stalking her--that one of them is a heartless killer.
224 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 20, 2013
Nicola Redmond has just returned to Sydney from a London Season, where she was presented at court. Within a short time of being back in Sydney she discovers that her father has not fared well in the 1890’s Australian Depression and the family have nothing left but debts. From a sheltered and privileged life in Sydney’s high society she finds herself plunged into dire poverty.
Although Andrew Dene who claimed her father’s estate, offers to help her, Nicola is too angry and proud to accept and so she seeks employment to support herself and her mother. But her privileged life has not equipped her for earning her own living and slowly she has to lower her sights.
Through her friendship with Rose Basevi she sees at first hand, the dreadful conditions that exist for women working in the factories. Nicola joins a women’s group to improve the factory conditions for women. During this time she meets Hugh Owen who is an organiser for the unions.
The murder of her friend Rose, found in a back alley, brings Nicola into contact with the English Detective Robert Carrington who is in charge of the case. But things don’t move fast enough for Nicola who has vowed to avenge the friend’s death, and so she sets out to investigate herself, and devises a bold plan which puts her in grave danger.
The description of working conditions for women in the 1890’s is vividly portrayed, providing a fascinating backdrop to what is in essence a romance, as the three men in Nicola’s life vie for her affections, but Nicola cares passionately for improving women’s working conditions and love and marriage have no place in her life, but can she continue to deny the growing love that she has for one of the men? And could one of them be a murderer?
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
Although Andrew Dene who claimed her father’s estate, offers to help her, Nicola is too angry and proud to accept and so she seeks employment to support herself and her mother. But her privileged life has not equipped her for earning her own living and slowly she has to lower her sights.
Through her friendship with Rose Basevi she sees at first hand, the dreadful conditions that exist for women working in the factories. Nicola joins a women’s group to improve the factory conditions for women. During this time she meets Hugh Owen who is an organiser for the unions.
The murder of her friend Rose, found in a back alley, brings Nicola into contact with the English Detective Robert Carrington who is in charge of the case. But things don’t move fast enough for Nicola who has vowed to avenge the friend’s death, and so she sets out to investigate herself, and devises a bold plan which puts her in grave danger.
The description of working conditions for women in the 1890’s is vividly portrayed, providing a fascinating backdrop to what is in essence a romance, as the three men in Nicola’s life vie for her affections, but Nicola cares passionately for improving women’s working conditions and love and marriage have no place in her life, but can she continue to deny the growing love that she has for one of the men? And could one of them be a murderer?
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
February 15, 2017
It had its twists and turns but wasn't as exciting as it could have been.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews