Redemption

by Tracie Griffith

'There were no waves; just a gentle lapping at the shoreline. He stared at the inert body of water curiously. The stillness and silence were eerie, as though this was somehow the calm before the storm - a warning, rather than a respite.'

After nearly two decades in prison, Mark Wilson is given a second chance when his estranged aunt offers him a home in the coastal township of Port Fairy and a job on a dairy farm. While the close-knit rural community struggles to accept the presence of a convicted killer, Mark discovers friendship, warmth and an unexpected feeling of belonging. When love strikes from out of nowhere, he can't believe his good fortune. Has he escaped both his reputation and his crimes? Or is he really a man that no one should love?

As Mark finally allows himself to believe in his capacity for renewal, he discovers the awful truth...

In a small town there's nowhere to hide.

Paperback

Published July 9, 2017

About the author

Debut author with a paperback and ebook to sell. Etc, etc, etc.

Paperback available from my website within Australia (price includes GST and postage).
Ebook currently available from Amazon/Kindle.

Reviews

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redemption is the debut novel of Australian author Tracie Griffith.

Redemption centres on the life of Mark Wilson recently released from prison after 18 years. With the help of his elderly aunt, Margaret, he starts a new life in the quiet Victorian coastal town of Port Fairy.
Mark tries to build a new life as he fights against distractions and prejudice, occasionally going off the rails but always in the back of his mind is the hope that he will find love.

I love books with a distinct Australian feel and the setting of the small town of Port Fairy was perfectly painted by Griffith’s descriptions. The day to day life on a dairy farm and it’s demanding lifestyle was interesting reading and well depicted.

The pace of the story is slow and none of the characters are particularly endearing, besides Aunt Margaret, however Griffith does an excellent job of conveying her character’s introspection through much soul searching and angst which gives the reader real empathy for Mark.

As mark comes to grips with his freedom he is befriended by his new boss and his wife although nothing comes easily to an ex con as friendships are abused and the local police try every trick to run him out of town.

Mark finds he cannot escape his past and the road to redemption is never easy.

Some readers may not like the ending but I felt it was very realistic.

I received a copy from the author through Goodreads giveaways.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Redemption' had me on the edge of my seat. A real nail-biter. A compelling story, with a whole range of characters you can't help but either love or hate - this is a novel where passions run deep. Would make a great film too.

[Tundra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Tracie and Goodreads for my copy of this book. I think this story is probably 2 1/2 stars. The premise and plot of the story are good but at times the characters became a bit black and white and two dimensional, in particular the character of Bridget. She needed a few more flaws and to show more development. I was also a little disbelieving of how rapidly Mark’s domestic skills improved and although his character said he was out of touch with the world it didn’t really feel like it.
The location for this story was great and there was certainly a build up in tension as the plot evolved and thankfully I didn’t find the ending entirely predictable. I really liked the presentation and cover art on this novel. Overall I think a bit more editing, reworking and polishing could really improve this novel.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this read immensely. Initial first couple of chapters felt a little bit awkward, but in hindsight, I think that was exactly what was intended as the protagonist was discovering a world outside of jail and trying to find their feet in an unfamiliar and unforgiving world. From that point on, there was great tension and build up which kept me turning the pages. It’s not everyday you find yourself rooting for a convicted hit man, but Tracie has somehow developed a likeable, albeit flawed leading character.
I particularly enjoyed mentions of all the beautiful features and locations around Port Fairy (which I grew up close by to). Port Fairy is the real star of the story.

[Renee Doxey]

Stunning! Read the whole thing in one day as I couldn't put it down!

[Lisa Bacon-hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started really well and I was loving it. However towards the end it became predictable and just didn’t jell. I found the ending unsatisfying. I did enjoy the references to Port Fairy.