Orchid Bay

by Patricia Shaw

Murder, intrigue and a reputation at stake...

Set in the 1870s, Patricia Shaw's Orchid Bay is a dramatic saga of innocent Londoner Emilie Tissington caught up in intrigue and murder in Australia's Queensland. The perfect read for fans of Colleen McCullough and Tricia McGill.

'Shaw gets it all right' - Publishers Weekly

When the young governess Emilie Tissington is approached by happy-go-lucky Mal Willoughby in the streets of Brisbane, Australia, her proper English upbringing prevents her from encouraging conversation. But, later, another chance meeting with Mal will involve her in a controversy of murder and intrigue that will ruin her reputation. For just as the friendship blossoms, Mal is threatened with hanging for a crime he didn't commit and, hunted by the police, he turns to Emilie, his only friend.

What readers are saying about Orchid Bay :

'Patricia Shaw gives us a wonderful history lesson , an insight into Queensland's history and illustrates the life and times of its people '

'Another absolutely terrific book from Patricia Shaw'

Genres: Historical Fiction, Australia, Fiction, Historical, Unfinished

517 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 1999

About the author

Patricia Shaw was an Australian novelist and non-fiction writer.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough to finish but a Big on the long side. Two English girls educated as governesses lose their family home because of a spiteful stepmother and have the opportunity to travel to Australia in the late 1800s. They find it initially difficult to find work and both girls are reduced to taking jobs with families who think of a governess as a step up in social circles. Both girls are priggish and unbending of society rules but while Ruth the elder sister struggles, it is emilee the younger who more easily adapts to Australia’s new frontier. Emilee randomly meets mal willoughby who is used to being on his own but he is framed for the robbery and murder of guards on a gold run. Then the story twists And turns into prison, the courts and tenacious police looking in turn for mal, the gold and the true culprit.

[Beata · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dlaczego ja w ogóle czytam takie książki....

[Ieva Ozolniece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ņemot vērā, ka šī ir kaut kāda nejauša grāmata, ko izvilku no vecāku plaukta, jo aizmirsu savu grāmatu mājās, tad bija diezgan ok.
Gana daudz, cik noprotu īstu lietu, lai tas liktos druskucīt reāls. Un beigas man patika. Mani gan neliek mierā viena lieta, par saturu, kas šķiet tāda problemātiska vieta. Mela apcietināšanā - vai tad tas, ka viņš atbrauca uz pilsētu prasīt to policijas konvoju neliecina par nevainību? Priekš kam viņam būtu to darīt?

[Sanne]

DNF

Hoewel het verhaal mij wel interessant leek was het niet echt mijn ding. Ik ben tot blz 117 gekomen. Ik vond het verhaal veel te traag en erg gebeurde in mijn beleving heel weinig. De personages spraken mij niet echt aan en ook de schrijfstijl was niet iets waar ik mij comfortabel bij voelde. Hierom besloten om niet verder te gaan lezen.

[Michele Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by Patricia Shaw but definitely not the last! I loved it! Well researched, interesting descriptions, exciting storyline with great twists. I I whizzed through this book as I couldn’t put it down. I enjoy historical novels especially those set in Australia where I have family and have visited several times. Brilliant novel and I have already got another of her books ready to start.

[J A Holder-Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fascinating read with the usual twists and turns leaving me to wonder how it will end. The ending was not what I had expected. Nevertheless, the characters were beautifully drawn, as I have come to expect from Patricia Shaw, and I now look forward to her next book on my Kindle.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twee zussen gouvernantes reizen naar Australië nadat ze door hun stiefmoeder worden weg gepest.
Emilie gaat naar het noorden, Ruth naar Brisbane.
Emilie ontmoet Mal die onterecht beschuldigd wordt van een overval op een goudtransport...

[Edward Jenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this best of Patricia's books?

Well it is certainly one of the best written, many subplots beautifully brought together towards the end. Wishes never made things happen", is so true.

[Jean Woodham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. I have now read all of Patricia Shaw's books that I can get on my Kindle (I think!). The amazing stories and detail in them are brilliant. I want more of her writings. She has got to be one of the best Authors I have been privileged to read. Thankyou Patricia Shaw.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sisters travel from England to Australia as Governesses. They are sent to different communities and have different experiences of Australia. The book centres around the sister that goes to Maryborough.

I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read and very enjoyable.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een mooi verhaal!

[margaret cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too long

I looked forward to reading this book but there was too much talk and not enough action it was too long.

[veronica clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner

This is the first time I have read this author but it won't be the last. A romance, a thriller and a history story. Smashing.

[Mieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vakantielectuur

[zuzanna podkanska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wciągające i zbędnie długie

[Linnéa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one of my inherited books from my Nana's bookshelf- much better than the last one! Although you could tell that Shaw was influenced by a Harlequin or two, I thought it was a good, classic intrigue novel and it was a nice change of pace from what I usually read. And this novel has a fantastic love-to-hate character- Ruth Tissington! If you want to go on a rant about a you-know-what in your bookclub, she's the girl you want! Thank gosh my sister isn't like that...

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

zum glück wurde australien nicht so schleppend besiedelt wie dieses buch geschrieben ist, sonst würde man noch mit dem pferdewagen den busch-doc holen - -
also, eher fad, die geschichte kommt nicht so richtig in schwung, auch wenn die charaktere ganz sympathisch sind
ich habs zu hälfte weggelegt und mir etwas anderes gesucht

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy to read Aussie story.

[Miranda70 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warrig verhaal, veel personages die me niet konden boeien. Ik kwam er niet in Geen aanrader.

[lyubovtess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why???

Why would you build up a romance just to destroy it in the end?

Don't recommend.