The Lost Diamonds of Killiecrankie

by Gary Crew, Peter Gouldthorpe

In March 1969 Geoffrey Middleton, a young artist from Tasmania, stumbled upon one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 19th century-the fate of the lost diamonds of Killiecrankie. Middleton kept his knowledge of the lost diamonds secret until, driven by guilt, he told his dark and dreadful story to novelist Gary Crew and illustrator Peter Gouldthorpe, both award-winning storytellers.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

Dr Gary Crew, author of novels, short stories and picture books for older children and young adults, began his writing career in 1985, when he was a high school teacher. His books are challenging and intriguing, often based on non-fiction. As well as writing fiction, Gary is a Associate Professor in Creative Writing, Children's and Adult Literature, at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and editor of the After Dark series.

He lives with his wife Christine on several acres in the cool, high mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland, Australia in a house called 'Green Mansions' which is shaded by over 200 Australian rainforest palms he has cultivated. He enjoys gardening, reading, and playing with his dogs Ferris, Beulah, and Miss Wendy. In his spare time he has created an Australian Rainforest Garden around his home, filled with Australian palms. Gary loves to visit antique shops looking for curios and beautiful objects.

Gary Crew has been awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the year four times: twice for Book of the Year for Young Adult Older Readers (Strange Objects in 1991 and Angel’s Gate in 1993) and twice for Picture Book of the Year with First Light in 1993 (illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe) and The Watertower (illustrated by Steven Woolman) in 1994. Gary’s illustrated book, Memorial (with Shaun Tan) was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book in 2000 and short listed for the Queensland Premier’s Awards. He has also won the Wilderness Society Award, the Whitley Award and the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction.

In the USA he has been twice short listed for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Fiction Award for Youth and the Hungry Minds Review American Children’s Book of distinction. In Europe he has twice been and twice the prestigious White Raven Award for his illustrated books. Among his many Australian awards is the Ned Kelly Prize for Crime Fiction, the New South Wales Premier’s Award and the Victorian Premier’s Award. He has been short listed for both the Queensland Premier’s and the Western Australian Premier’s awards for Fiction.

Reviews

[Gemma Wiseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lost Diamonds of Killiecrankie is a beautifully illustrated narrative of elusive treasure. It is a story that suggests it connects with an historical mystery surrounding green diamonds on Flinders Island, in the path of the Roaring Forties, off the east coast of Tasmania. Even the legendary Queen Victoria has a connection. I'll admit, however, that I was initially drawn to the book simply because I loved my brief life in Tasmania and longed to visit Flinders Island, a dream that was not fulfilled. So, in short, curiosity of place first drew me to this book. The opening combination of narrative and illustration I found most appealing, refreshing. However, as the narrative progressed, I felt it struggled to a rather melodramatic and abrupt tragedy. I could not but help wonder if that tragedy was really needed and, in fact, did it seem to slow and smudge the effect of the final scenes. I almost rated the book 2 stars, but felt that the beauty of the illustrations moved the rating to an actual 2.5 (but I could only rate 3).

MY POETIC REVIEW: Songlines on the Winds

[Lock Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this and then read it straight away again. It only takes half an hour but the adventure is so real (based on a true story) that it is real magic.

[Ibrahim]

ilike it

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taught this as a middle school text in Perth in the 90s. Quite fun to teach but not his best in my opinion. Beautifully illustrated but!