The Hand Of Glory: Library Edition

by Sophie Masson

Australia's Goldrush as it might have been... Melbourne, September 1854: people from all over the world are arriving in the Victorian capital. Sylvia Hoveden, an independent and feisty English girl, has travelled to Melbourne to find her missing twin brother, feared to be in grave danger, perhaps even dead. Anje Otsoa, an undercover agent for the Governor of Esperance, has come to Melbourne to find the kidnapped French Count of Tremille. Are the two disappearances somehow related? Both Sylvia and Anne are about to be plunged into a nest of intrigue, conspiracy and danger far greater than any they could have imagined. Because someone is waiting, watching...and when that person is revealed, there is no telling what might happen...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Australia

266 pages, Audio Cassette

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Born in Indonesia of French parents, Sophie Masson was sent to live with her paternal grandmother in Toulouse, France, when she was just a baby and lived there till she was nearly five, when her parents came back from Indonesia and took her to Australia. All the rest of her childhood, the family stayed in Australia, with frequent trips back to France, and this dual heritage underpins a good deal of Sophie's work.
Sophie's first book appeared in 1990 and since then she has published more than seventy books, for children, young adults and adults. Her books have been published in Australia, the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries. She has also had many short stories and articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online journals.
Sophie holds a BA and M.Litt in French and English literature, and a PhD in Creative Practice. A former Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, she is the current Chair (2021) of the New England Writers' Centre and of the Small Press Network. She is also the President committee of the New England and North West sub-branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia, NSW branch.
Sophie has received several awards for her creative work, including the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and the YA category of the Aurealis Awards. In 2019 she received an AM in the Order of Australia for her significant service to literature as an author, a publisher, and through service to literary organisations.
Sophie's website is at www.sophiemassonauthor.com
She has a writing blog at www.firebirdfeathers.com
Her You Tube channel, with trailers to many of her books, is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWLa...
She is also a regular contributor to the popular authorship blog Writer Unboxed, www.writerunboxed.com

Reviews

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow getting into this story, but ended up loving it, particularly the character of Anje. The setting and supporting characters, as well as the main characters, were well written and interesting, as was the mystery. There were enough clues along the way that you could make guesses about where the mystery was going, without revealing too much until the end. I would have liked the story to have a bit of a longer wrap up, to see more of the changes in the characters after the events, but it was still well done.
Also a marvellous job by the reader on the audiobook, Richard Aspel. He did a wonderful job with the different voices and accents.

[Muphyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set during the Gold Rush in Australia, this started off quite strong and interesting (despite me having to listen to the first 10 tracks about six times because I just couldn't concentrate) but then it sank into this voodoo rubbish that was just not my cup of tea.

I did find the whole idea of an alternate white settlement history in Australia really fascinating though: settled by France AND Britain, with a French colony, Esperance, established in Western Australia, and Victoria, the English colony, in the East. So 3 stars for that!

Overall 2.5 stars.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a YA title set in Melbourne, Australia. A young woman travels there to search for her missing twin brother. I enjoyed this mystery that had good intrigue and conspiracy. The girl has an almost telepathic relationship with her brother.

[bec]

I didnt really read it !!!!!!!!!