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Red Rebel: Justice is What You Make it
Justice is what you make it.
In the tumultuous world of colonial Western Australia where societal norms bind women to the shadows, seventeen-year-old Georgia O'Grady refuses to be tamed. Within a day she is transformed from innocent girl to wanton murderess.
As she navigates the brutal landscape of ambition, violence and desire, Georgia becomes entangled with the McKinley twins and into a family steeped in tragedy and secrets. Can Georgia harness her rebellious spirit and seize her destiny, or will the malevolent spirit of the man she killed crush her?
Red Rebel is a gripping historical thriller that blends gothic suspense and forbidden love with gritty reality, inviting readers into a world where courage defies convention fate is anything but just.
In the tumultuous world of colonial Western Australia where societal norms bind women to the shadows, seventeen-year-old Georgia O'Grady refuses to be tamed. Within a day she is transformed from innocent girl to wanton murderess.
As she navigates the brutal landscape of ambition, violence and desire, Georgia becomes entangled with the McKinley twins and into a family steeped in tragedy and secrets. Can Georgia harness her rebellious spirit and seize her destiny, or will the malevolent spirit of the man she killed crush her?
Red Rebel is a gripping historical thriller that blends gothic suspense and forbidden love with gritty reality, inviting readers into a world where courage defies convention fate is anything but just.
248 pages, Paperback
Published May 30, 2025
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2 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Clemen
1 book1 followerRobyn E. Clemen is an Australian author with a deep-seated passion for the hidden histories and rugged landscapes of Western Australia.
Born and bred in the Murray District, Robyn holds a degree in History and English, which she uses to weave authentic period detail with the haunting legends of the bush. Her debut novel, Red Rebel: Justice is What You Make It, explores the grit and defiance of 19th-century colonial life.
When she isn't researching local lore or writing the next chapter of the Red Rebel series, Robyn can be found exploring the Jarrah forests or connecting with her local writers' group. She lives in Mandurah, where the salt air and local history continue to inspire her stories of justice, survival, and the supernatural. (less)
Born and bred in the Murray District, Robyn holds a degree in History and English, which she uses to weave authentic period detail with the haunting legends of the bush. Her debut novel, Red Rebel: Justice is What You Make It, explores the grit and defiance of 19th-century colonial life.
When she isn't researching local lore or writing the next chapter of the Red Rebel series, Robyn can be found exploring the Jarrah forests or connecting with her local writers' group. She lives in Mandurah, where the salt air and local history continue to inspire her stories of justice, survival, and the supernatural. (less)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 23, 2025
Red Rebel is a bold and atmospheric debut set in colonial Pinjarra, Western Australia—an immersive and at times gritty portrait of life in the late 19th century. Robyn E Clemen does a beautiful job capturing both the harshness and beauty of the outback, with vivid writing that pulls you straight into the dust, sweat, and emotional intensity of the time.
At the centre is Georgia O’Grady—unapologetically headstrong, deeply loyal, and wonderfully flawed. Her story unfolds through a tangle of family ties, secrets, and forbidden love, and the result is both moving and thought-provoking. I was particularly drawn to her relationship with the McKinley twins, which adds a rich emotional layer without ever tipping into melodrama.
The novel isn’t afraid to dig into darker territory, touching on corruption, gender inequality, and the impact of colonialism on Indigenous communities. It handles those themes with sensitivity, giving the book a strong historical conscience without losing the momentum of the narrative.
If you love Australian historical fiction, especially stories grounded in the land and culture of the colonial era, this one’s for you. It’s a quintessential outback tale—horse breeding, red earth, hard choices, and a woman who refuses to be boxed in.
It’s not a light read (nor is it trying to be), but there’s so much to admire here. A confident, thoughtful debut—and I’ll be keen to see where the sequel takes us next.
At the centre is Georgia O’Grady—unapologetically headstrong, deeply loyal, and wonderfully flawed. Her story unfolds through a tangle of family ties, secrets, and forbidden love, and the result is both moving and thought-provoking. I was particularly drawn to her relationship with the McKinley twins, which adds a rich emotional layer without ever tipping into melodrama.
The novel isn’t afraid to dig into darker territory, touching on corruption, gender inequality, and the impact of colonialism on Indigenous communities. It handles those themes with sensitivity, giving the book a strong historical conscience without losing the momentum of the narrative.
If you love Australian historical fiction, especially stories grounded in the land and culture of the colonial era, this one’s for you. It’s a quintessential outback tale—horse breeding, red earth, hard choices, and a woman who refuses to be boxed in.
It’s not a light read (nor is it trying to be), but there’s so much to admire here. A confident, thoughtful debut—and I’ll be keen to see where the sequel takes us next.
January 4, 2026
This story is a love letter to horses and the people who care for them. The world Clemen portrays is most vibrant and alive when it connects to training, riding or taking care of it's equestrian inhabitants.
The same can not be said for the human relationships. Unfortunately, they lack heart. There are many declarations of love that seemingly comes from out of the blue, going from "who are you?" to "you are everything to me" within a couple of pages. It's all surface level when a story like this, a story about revenge, justice and what happens when you just look away when evil is done to those around you, it NEEDS to set emotional hooks into you. You need to care.
I also think that the structure of the story doesn't let the conflict and tension build to a satisfying climax. You don't hate the villain early on because you haven't gotten to know them or the terrible things they've done. Telling a story through flashbacks is a tricky thing to pull off.
If this story had been told as confessions to the overwhelmed, confused and increasingly frustrated detective by all the different characters, all giving similar but different testimony of what happened and who is to blame, I think this book could've been great. As it stands, it's unfortunately a little lackluster for me. Not bad, there is great potential here, but it didn't impact me the way I hoped it would.
The same can not be said for the human relationships. Unfortunately, they lack heart. There are many declarations of love that seemingly comes from out of the blue, going from "who are you?" to "you are everything to me" within a couple of pages. It's all surface level when a story like this, a story about revenge, justice and what happens when you just look away when evil is done to those around you, it NEEDS to set emotional hooks into you. You need to care.
I also think that the structure of the story doesn't let the conflict and tension build to a satisfying climax. You don't hate the villain early on because you haven't gotten to know them or the terrible things they've done. Telling a story through flashbacks is a tricky thing to pull off.
If this story had been told as confessions to the overwhelmed, confused and increasingly frustrated detective by all the different characters, all giving similar but different testimony of what happened and who is to blame, I think this book could've been great. As it stands, it's unfortunately a little lackluster for me. Not bad, there is great potential here, but it didn't impact me the way I hoped it would.
November 12, 2025
Should have tried to get my money back immediately on this one, but I was too slow in opening it. The text of the ebook is garbled. I suspect the author used a fancy font instead of something simple and tried and true (like Arial, Verdana or Times New Roman) and the font isn't supported in Japan where I live. Too bad. I was trying to support another indie author with a purchase and review. This is the first time I've ever had this trouble. If the ebook is updated with a font that makes it legible, I will give it another chance.
June 16, 2025
Robyn Clemen’s debut novel offers a vivid portrayal of colonial Western Australia, capturing both the harshness and beauty of the outback. Her writing immerses readers in the dust, sweat, and emotional intensity of the era. 
Strengths:
• Atmospheric Setting: The novel’s setting is richly detailed, providing a strong sense of time and place.
• Character Development: Georgia’s journey is compelling, and her interactions with other characters add depth to the narrative.
Areas for Improvement:
• Pacing: Some readers may find the story’s pace uneven, with certain events feeling rushed.
• Timeline Clarity: The nonlinear timeline might be challenging for some readers to follow.
⸻
🔍 Final Thoughts
Red Rebel is a gripping historical thriller that blends gothic suspense with gritty reality. While the pacing and timeline may pose challenges, the strong character development and atmospheric setting make it a worthwhile read for those interested in historical fiction with complex characters and moral dilemmas. 
Strengths:
• Atmospheric Setting: The novel’s setting is richly detailed, providing a strong sense of time and place.
• Character Development: Georgia’s journey is compelling, and her interactions with other characters add depth to the narrative.
Areas for Improvement:
• Pacing: Some readers may find the story’s pace uneven, with certain events feeling rushed.
• Timeline Clarity: The nonlinear timeline might be challenging for some readers to follow.
⸻
🔍 Final Thoughts
Red Rebel is a gripping historical thriller that blends gothic suspense with gritty reality. While the pacing and timeline may pose challenges, the strong character development and atmospheric setting make it a worthwhile read for those interested in historical fiction with complex characters and moral dilemmas. 
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews