What do you think?
Rate this book
Flinders Ranges Series #2
Dust On The Horizon
From bestselling author Tricia Stringer, comes this compelling stand-alone historical saga, which can also be read as a sequel to Heart of the Country, the first book in the Flinders Ranges series.
1881
Joseph Baker works hard on his pastoral lease at Smith's Ridge, in the beautiful but harsh land of the Flinders Ranges. For Joseph this lease, lost to his family in the early days of settlement, offers a future for his young family and that of his Aboriginal friend, the loyal and courageous Binda. Joseph is a clever man, but it is a hard land to work and drought is once more upon the country.
New arrivals to the small rural town of Hawker, Henry Wiltshire and young wife Catherine, open a general store and commission business. Unscrupulous but clever, Henry has plans to prosper from the locals' fortunes, and quickly makes powerful friends, but when he throws Binda's family out of his shop, his bigotry makes an immediate enemy of Joseph and a die is cast...
Then the dark force of Jack Aldridge, a man torn between two worlds, crosses their path. Outcast and resentful, he wants what Henry and Joseph have and will stop at nothing to take it.
As the drought widens and the burning heat exhausts the land, Joseph, Henry and Jack's lives become intertwined in a way that none could have predicted. In their final confrontation not all will survive.
This sweeping historical saga takes us into the beautiful and brutal landscape of the Flinders Ranges and through the gold rush, following the fate of three men and the women they love. Men and women whose lives become intertwined by love and deceit until nature itself takes control and changes their destinies forever.
1881
Joseph Baker works hard on his pastoral lease at Smith's Ridge, in the beautiful but harsh land of the Flinders Ranges. For Joseph this lease, lost to his family in the early days of settlement, offers a future for his young family and that of his Aboriginal friend, the loyal and courageous Binda. Joseph is a clever man, but it is a hard land to work and drought is once more upon the country.
New arrivals to the small rural town of Hawker, Henry Wiltshire and young wife Catherine, open a general store and commission business. Unscrupulous but clever, Henry has plans to prosper from the locals' fortunes, and quickly makes powerful friends, but when he throws Binda's family out of his shop, his bigotry makes an immediate enemy of Joseph and a die is cast...
Then the dark force of Jack Aldridge, a man torn between two worlds, crosses their path. Outcast and resentful, he wants what Henry and Joseph have and will stop at nothing to take it.
As the drought widens and the burning heat exhausts the land, Joseph, Henry and Jack's lives become intertwined in a way that none could have predicted. In their final confrontation not all will survive.
This sweeping historical saga takes us into the beautiful and brutal landscape of the Flinders Ranges and through the gold rush, following the fate of three men and the women they love. Men and women whose lives become intertwined by love and deceit until nature itself takes control and changes their destinies forever.
456 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2016
44 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Stringer
27 books425 followersTricia Stringer is a bestselling and award-winning author. Among others, her books include commercial fiction titles Table For Eight, The Model Wife and The Family Inheritance, the rural romances A Chance of Stormy Weather and Come Rain or Shine and historical sagas Heart of the Country, Dust on the Horizon and Jewel in the North, set in the 19th Century Flinders Ranges. Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.
For behind the scenes info and special giveaways, sign up to Tricia's newsletter at http://www.triciastringer.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/triciastring...
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/triciastrin...
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/trici...
Tricia loves to hear from readers and you can contact her at her website
For behind the scenes info and special giveaways, sign up to Tricia's newsletter at http://www.triciastringer.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/triciastring...
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/triciastrin...
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/trici...
Tricia loves to hear from readers and you can contact her at her website
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 22, 2017
Joseph Baker, his wife Clara and their four children had a harsh but happy life on their isolated property, Smith’s Ridge in the Flinders Ranges. The drought had been severe but the waterholes on the property were keeping the stock alive, along with the help of Joseph’s best friend, Binda, a local Aboriginal who had saved Joseph’s life when he was a lad. They had been good friends ever since. Joseph was a person who had no care for the colour of a person’s skin; what was inside was what counted – and Binda was one of the best. Joseph’s parents, Thomas and Lizzie lived on the adjacent property Wildu Creek which was a day away by horse and cart.
The small town of Hawker was starting to come to life with new inhabitants arriving to the area, erecting homes and businesses. The rail line from Adelaide was a handy inclusion with more and more people using it to travel. Henry Wiltshire had big plans – probably bigger than his purse would allow – but he started small with a general store which only stocked the best. His mother Hillary who had her own shop in Glenelg, supplied him with fabrics among other things. Catherine, Henry’s young wife hated the constant dust and heat and dearly wanted Henry to move back to Adelaide as he’d promised both his and her mothers. But the day Henry refused to serve Aboriginal people in his shop; threw them out in fact – was the day Henry’s fortunes began to change. His animosity and bigotry had come up against the wrong people…
As time moved forward and the drought became worse, farmers struggled to survive. And when Jack Aldridge made himself known to Hillary she knew instinctively that trouble would follow. The hatred between Henry and Joseph, and also Thomas simmered close to the surface but when Jack entered the scene emotions escalated. What would be the outcome in a struggle for superiority and survival in a land devastated by drought?
Dust on the Horizon is #2 in the Flinders Ranges series by Aussie author Tricia Stringer and every bit as good as the first. A wonderful, emotional and heart felt historical saga set in the late 1800s among drought and the gold rush of the time. The countryside was a harsh environment; the dust was on the horizon continually. The people of the day were necessarily strong, hard working men and women, in the main. But what a life! We don’t know how lucky we have it until our historical authors take us on a journey back in time – and Tricia Stringer knows how to lay out Australia’s past. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next, Jewel in the North. Highly recommended.
The small town of Hawker was starting to come to life with new inhabitants arriving to the area, erecting homes and businesses. The rail line from Adelaide was a handy inclusion with more and more people using it to travel. Henry Wiltshire had big plans – probably bigger than his purse would allow – but he started small with a general store which only stocked the best. His mother Hillary who had her own shop in Glenelg, supplied him with fabrics among other things. Catherine, Henry’s young wife hated the constant dust and heat and dearly wanted Henry to move back to Adelaide as he’d promised both his and her mothers. But the day Henry refused to serve Aboriginal people in his shop; threw them out in fact – was the day Henry’s fortunes began to change. His animosity and bigotry had come up against the wrong people…
As time moved forward and the drought became worse, farmers struggled to survive. And when Jack Aldridge made himself known to Hillary she knew instinctively that trouble would follow. The hatred between Henry and Joseph, and also Thomas simmered close to the surface but when Jack entered the scene emotions escalated. What would be the outcome in a struggle for superiority and survival in a land devastated by drought?
Dust on the Horizon is #2 in the Flinders Ranges series by Aussie author Tricia Stringer and every bit as good as the first. A wonderful, emotional and heart felt historical saga set in the late 1800s among drought and the gold rush of the time. The countryside was a harsh environment; the dust was on the horizon continually. The people of the day were necessarily strong, hard working men and women, in the main. But what a life! We don’t know how lucky we have it until our historical authors take us on a journey back in time – and Tricia Stringer knows how to lay out Australia’s past. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next, Jewel in the North. Highly recommended.
April 9, 2022
This is the second book in the Flinders Ranges series and picks up a decade or two after the first book.
It is the 1880's and Joseph Baker, son of Thomas and Lizzie is running the farm referred to as Smith's Ridge. He lives with his wife Clara and their four young children. Joseph is assisted on the farm by his best friend Binda, a native, and this friendship is frowned upon by many of the other locals.
The story follows the hardships of drought and death. It also tells the tale of the small growing local town of Hawker and the pull of the goldfields on farmers down on their luck.
The book is lengthy, but unfolds the true family dramas that would have been experience at the time. I am looking forward to book three in this series.
It is the 1880's and Joseph Baker, son of Thomas and Lizzie is running the farm referred to as Smith's Ridge. He lives with his wife Clara and their four young children. Joseph is assisted on the farm by his best friend Binda, a native, and this friendship is frowned upon by many of the other locals.
The story follows the hardships of drought and death. It also tells the tale of the small growing local town of Hawker and the pull of the goldfields on farmers down on their luck.
The book is lengthy, but unfolds the true family dramas that would have been experience at the time. I am looking forward to book three in this series.
February 21, 2017
Dust On The Horizon is a historical saga that follows two families Wiltshire and the Baker's and intertwines with the friendly con man Jack Aldridge and set in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. I loved Tricia Stringer portrayal of her characters and life in the Flinders Ranges during the eighteen century. Dust On The Horizon is a great book for readers who which to learn about the earlier life in Australia and how beautiful and harsh it could be. Also, I like the way the effects of finding gold in Australia influences communities and compacted families when love ones run away to the gold fields. Readers of Dust On The Horizon will learn about life in the Flinders Ranges during the eighteen century and the difficulties that produced. Dust On The Horizon also allows readers to learn about the aboriginals way of life and how they intertwine with early settlers of the Flinders Ranges. I recommend this book
July 11, 2017
Following on from Heart of the Country, Dust On The Horizon is an historical saga that follows the Baker’s and the Wiltshire’s next generation. Set in the Flinders Rangers in South Australia in the late 1800’s again, like the first, I absolutely loved it and devoured it. Fantastic characters that you cannot help but feel you know, as well as the setting where you can feel the dust and flies, the heartbreaks, sorrows and triumphs. I highly recommend this wonderful series. Now onto No 3 to finish it off….I am going to miss it when I’m finished….
September 29, 2020
Loved the book and the continuing story of the early days at Flinders Ranges and the saga between the Bakers and the Wiltshires! Sometimes I think I would like to step back in time to experience it all! I have started to collect all Tricia’s books now as I am thoroughly enjoying this trilogy! Fantastic Trish!
November 22, 2017
I enjoyed this book, the second of the series. As I now live in South Australia, I know that the author has researched the subject matter very well. You can feel the heat and dust as you read. I have much admiration for the pioneering families that settled in the north of our state, where there was absolutely nothing.
It tells the tale of the Baker and Wiltshire families with their rivalries. It was a hard life, but they made the best of it with whatever resources they could obtain.
The major downside was that the author said one of the characters (young Robert) had died, when he is fact was very much alive, but suffering severe injuries. This totally threw me!
It tells the tale of the Baker and Wiltshire families with their rivalries. It was a hard life, but they made the best of it with whatever resources they could obtain.
The major downside was that the author said one of the characters (young Robert) had died, when he is fact was very much alive, but suffering severe injuries. This totally threw me!
January 19, 2020
A historical fiction book set in the 1880s in the Flinders Ranges in Australia. This is part two of three books.
Parts of this was enjoyable. The farming, the landscape and the relationship/inequality of the indigenous Australians with white Australians. It was in my opinion a good 100 pages to long and the story took a while to evolve. So 3.5 stars. That being said I will read the third book to conclude the series.
Parts of this was enjoyable. The farming, the landscape and the relationship/inequality of the indigenous Australians with white Australians. It was in my opinion a good 100 pages to long and the story took a while to evolve. So 3.5 stars. That being said I will read the third book to conclude the series.
January 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this probably more than The Heart of the Country. Before reading I read the reviews and a few said it repeated itself a bit from the first one but I felt it needed that just to remind us of the goings on from the first book. Looking forward to reading the 3rd and last book of this series
February 16, 2021
This was a bit long for my liking but I did enjoy the setting as it was somewhere I have been recently.
February 29, 2024
Enjoyed this story. We have spent quite a lot of time around Hawker and loved every minute of it.
June 21, 2016
Excellent read and a wonderful 2nd book in the Flinders Ranges series. Can't wait to read the 3rd book in this series. Only disappointment is that whoever proof read this book did not do a very good job of it. I picked up 2 serious errors (tell me if I'm wrong or if I missed something).
Page 478 - "Father told me Jack Aldridge was here the night Robert died."
Robert did not die, Robert was injured.
Page 487 - "Another clap of thunder and crash of lightening broke their stupor. Thomas was the first to inspect Jack."
Besides Jack (who was struck by lightning and dead), only Henry, Joseph and William were at Smith's Ridge.
Unfortunately, I have had many books I have read by various Australian authors with the problem of many, sometimes small errors, but others not so small.
Page 478 - "Father told me Jack Aldridge was here the night Robert died."
Robert did not die, Robert was injured.
Page 487 - "Another clap of thunder and crash of lightening broke their stupor. Thomas was the first to inspect Jack."
Besides Jack (who was struck by lightning and dead), only Henry, Joseph and William were at Smith's Ridge.
Unfortunately, I have had many books I have read by various Australian authors with the problem of many, sometimes small errors, but others not so small.
May 31, 2022
1881
Joseph Baker works hard on his pastoral lease at Smith's Ridge, in the beautiful but harsh land of the Flinders Ranges. For Joseph this lease, lost to his family in the early days of settlement, offers a future for his young family and that of his Aboriginal friend, the loyal and courageous Binda. Joseph is a clever man, but it is a hard land to work and drought is once more upon the country.
New arrivals to the small rural town of Hawker, Henry Wiltshire and young wife Catherine, open a general store and commission business. Unscrupulous but clever, Henry has plans to prosper from the locals' fortunes, and quickly makes powerful friends, but when he throws Binda's family out of his shop, his bigotry makes an immediate enemy of Joseph and a die is cast...
Then the dark force of Jack Aldridge, a man torn between two worlds, crosses their path. Outcast and resentful, he wants what Henry and Joseph have and will stop at nothing to take it.
Joseph Baker works hard on his pastoral lease at Smith's Ridge, in the beautiful but harsh land of the Flinders Ranges. For Joseph this lease, lost to his family in the early days of settlement, offers a future for his young family and that of his Aboriginal friend, the loyal and courageous Binda. Joseph is a clever man, but it is a hard land to work and drought is once more upon the country.
New arrivals to the small rural town of Hawker, Henry Wiltshire and young wife Catherine, open a general store and commission business. Unscrupulous but clever, Henry has plans to prosper from the locals' fortunes, and quickly makes powerful friends, but when he throws Binda's family out of his shop, his bigotry makes an immediate enemy of Joseph and a die is cast...
Then the dark force of Jack Aldridge, a man torn between two worlds, crosses their path. Outcast and resentful, he wants what Henry and Joseph have and will stop at nothing to take it.
April 4, 2018
Set in the Flinders Ranges where an aborigine Binda was out hunting when he was frightened by a huge four-legged animal crashed through the trees like a wild monster. This was Joseph's horse that had been frightened by a kangaroo and took off, leaving Joseph on his own in the wilderness. Binda saves him and they become firm friends.
Henry is a man who plans to prosper and doesn't care who he hurts along the way. He brings his young wife Catherine from beautiful Adelaide to the town of Hawker to make his fortune. It's a hot, dry, hard land and Catherine finds the life intolerable.
Jack Aldridge is a half-caste aborigine who would prefer to be a white man and be accepted into the community.
This is the story of Joseph, Henry and Jack and their families and friends. An enjoyable story.
Henry is a man who plans to prosper and doesn't care who he hurts along the way. He brings his young wife Catherine from beautiful Adelaide to the town of Hawker to make his fortune. It's a hot, dry, hard land and Catherine finds the life intolerable.
Jack Aldridge is a half-caste aborigine who would prefer to be a white man and be accepted into the community.
This is the story of Joseph, Henry and Jack and their families and friends. An enjoyable story.
July 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this historical novel set in the 1880s in the Flinders Ranges in northern South Australia. The author successfully portrays the hardships of a small rural community struggling to be established and life with all its hardships. The story weaves an intriguing tale of several pioneering families and their relationships and catastrophic weather conditions endured through a mountain of hope against all odds.
My appreciation of this novel was enhanced by my knowledge of the area, having lived in the area some years ago.
My appreciation of this novel was enhanced by my knowledge of the area, having lived in the area some years ago.
July 8, 2017
I did read "Jewel of the North" first so the characters in this book were the same but younger. Some characters you liked some you didn't. A story that could be real life of families living in Hawker. I cried, laughed, glad having not to worry about dust storms, having no rain which is the conversation of those who live on the land. ( a couple of errors but got past that). Have to see if I can get hold of the first book?
March 23, 2019
It took me a couple of chapters to get into this book but really enjoyed it once I did. I didn’t realise it was book 2 in a series which is a pity but I’ll just have to read them out of order.
One criticism is a couple of errors towards the end of the book......page 480 and a few pages later (can’t remember the page number). A reference to Robert in a discussion between Joseph and Milly, then an error in name at Smiths Ridge during a lightning strike
One criticism is a couple of errors towards the end of the book......page 480 and a few pages later (can’t remember the page number). A reference to Robert in a discussion between Joseph and Milly, then an error in name at Smiths Ridge during a lightning strike
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2024
I have to admit that this book took some getting into but am I so pleased I persisted in reading it. What a great story line about the different cultures in the rural areas. From the rich to the poor they really showed their true colours. The story of Jack Aldridge added excitment. I really enjoyed this book. Well done Tricia ❤️❤️
September 25, 2021
An enjoyable saga.
Having purchased the series I am really enjoying it. I am now about to begin book 3 and look forward to meeting the next generation of Hawker in South Australia.
Having purchased the series I am really enjoying it. I am now about to begin book 3 and look forward to meeting the next generation of Hawker in South Australia.
March 12, 2023
I’m glad I’m reading this series in order. This is book two. I enjoy the fact that the core characters are good people that are easy to warm to and support. The reality of less honest and likeable characters gives the book a tension and draws you in to wonder how on earth it will end.
November 10, 2018
I love this book
Just as good as the first in the series as it follows the next generation
Fantastic story line and wonderful characters
Highly recommended
Just as good as the first in the series as it follows the next generation
Fantastic story line and wonderful characters
Highly recommended
October 23, 2019
Just finished books 1 and 2 of Flinders Ranges series while on holidays. About to start the third and final one. Love this series.
May 14, 2020
I just love her books so full of intrigue
March 3, 2021
Just finished this superbly written book. 5 Star reading.
July 17, 2021
Cass
Loved this book even more than the first one ! Will look forward to reading book no 3 in the series By Tricia Stringer.
Loved this book even more than the first one ! Will look forward to reading book no 3 in the series By Tricia Stringer.
March 5, 2022
Another great read! All the characters feel so real. Now to get into book 3, Jewel of the North!
November 5, 2022
Another fascinating story in this very interesting story.
April 7, 2023
Not as interesting as the first one in the series. I found it repetitive and long winded.
December 22, 2023
Good ending otherwise pretty ordinary
April 26, 2025
A beautiful written historical story set in the gold rush in SA flinders ranges
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews