Folly

by D.J. Blackmore

In 1822, Newcastle's colony bells chime for a wedding, but Emma Colchester's cousin is nowhere to be found. The family face their worst fears, and fingers of blame are pointed too close to home. Emma and Tobias's future threatens to unravel. The walls of a homestead by the Hunter River hold the clue, and Emma risks everything in search of the truth.

230 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2017

About the author

I've milked cows. I've kept bees and made cheese. I bartered my Gouda for wine at a boutique vineyard near our home in The Hunter Valley, New South Wales.
A short stint with horses saw me falling off and breaking my best arm. It gave me second thoughts on animals of the equine persuasion.
Being mother to five is perhaps my greatest achievement, but writing comes a close second. After all, we two have been friends for such a long time.

Reviews

[Paula Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Charter to Redemption, returning us to the drama of colonial Newcastle with a varied cast of characters, including convicts, free men, red-coated constabulary and the handful of ladies brave enough to live among them all. There's even a brief glimpse of the natives of the land. It's always refreshing to see an Australian historical novel written by an actual Aussie. The authenticity can't be faked.

The setting reminds me of visits to tourist colonial villages, but for real with all the sensual details. It would be great to journey back in time to sample the food, including damper, treacle tart, mutton broth and saddle of beef, not to mention experiments of kangaroo meat, which the settlers decide tastes like 'a mouthful of rat.'

Tobias and Emma expected to live happily ever after, but it's never that straightforward in the colonies. Tobias is in a lot of hot water through no fault of his own, but just a lot of circumstantial evidence. Readers of the first book will remember that being a convict wasn't his fault either. Is he the unluckiest man in New South Wales? This time Tobias is heading straight for the noose unless something miraculous happens. An interesting question underlying the story is the extent to which a man's good behaviour and sound values may vouch for him when he needs them to.

The story doesn't turn a blind eye to the gruesome, seamy side of life. The town is reeling with the murder of two women, one young and one old, both strangled with their own hair. And corruption and negligence within the constabulary itself doesn't make things easy. Commander Morriset has his hands full being in charge of the rabble. Adding a bit of comic relief is Tam and his mate Jim, who has a knack of walking into scenes he wasn't supposed to see.

If I have one gripe, it's that the presentation detracts from the story at times, with several typos (such as tying the not instead of tying the knot), dialogue not always easy enough to determine who's speaking, and sentences that could use a bit of tightening. When this occurs enough that I start to notice it, I feel obliged to mention it in a review. A more thorough proofread could have made a world of difference to the overall quality. However, on the whole it flows like a very enjoyable campfire yarn with all the colourful jargon of the times. And the descriptive writing so often puts us right in the picture.

Readers of romance may be assured it's alive and well in the new colony, despite harsh living conditions. Emma's sweet cousin Phoebe and her new husband Rory are expecting a baby, and Emma never gives up hope of a future with Tobias. 'As long as there was love to keep one another warm, a pail could always be found to catch the drips from a leaky roof.'

I wonder if there will be a third to make this a trilogy.

Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy.
For more reviews and book chat, please visit my blog, https://vincereview.blogspot.com.au/

[Mary Hawkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly a disclaimer: I am a sucker for an historical novel. This one is set in the early colony of Newcastle, and the surrounding area, in NSW in 1822.

It is a love story in the classic style beset with difficulty from the girls family, a lover who is a freed convict, a truly gruesome baddy, army officers and men with their red coats and a few dead bodies. All the trappings of a good historical romance with a bit of mystery thrown in.

At first I found the story a bit confusing; a lot of characters were introduced very quickly. Once I sorted them out in my head the story moved along at a reasonable pace. Blackmore paints her characters well and her description of the places in the story is good. The historical details are always fascinating.

The love interest is believable and beset with all the difficulties one can imagine from her family as he is suspected of some or all of the murders. It is also lovely to see the Minister and his wife portrayed so sympathetically. As a minister’s wife myself I am tired of them often being seen as the bad guys.

The story does not come to a full conclusion so I hope this means a sequel is on its way.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an accomplished and addictive Australian read.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folly is set in 1820 in the colony of Newcastle New South Wales, Australia, which is the convict era. The book opens with a sister missing her sister, Phoebe’s, wedding day, which leads one to believe this is a tale about Phoebe or even perhaps the missing sister, yet it is not. The story is a mystery intertwined with the love story of Emma, Phoebe’s cousin and a pardoned convict, Tobias, at the heart of it. Murder and thievery and self-serving accusations were aplenty while good truly moral people held each other up through the mayhem with love. I enjoyed putting the pieces of the mystery together as the tale unfolded. The story does not spell out exactly how everything is connected so the reader has to connect the dots when the “aha” moments happen. Emma was engaged to the late Gideon Quinn, who was a member of the King’s men, but had questionable morals. While she was in her mourning period, she could not be openly courted, but that did not stop the love from blossoming between her and Tobias, nor did it stop Officer Octavius Gray from showing interest in her as well. Tobias shows strength and fortitude throughout the story by continuing to choose the path of truth regardless of being fairly judged or not. While he was a convict, there are some who believe he is a good man, while others do terrible things to stop him from being a free man and pursuing a life with Emma simply because he was a convict and in another’s way. Emma was a surprisingly strong and bright character. Given the era, she found the courage to question situations and circumstances that women often do not as it was not their place to question. Emma used the strength of her love and bravely forged ahead to gain a life that she wanted with the man she loved instead of bending to the will of her family and society as a whole.

[Carol Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Folly’ by D.J. Blackmore is the first book in quite a while that I haven’t been able to put down. Set in the 1820s, in Newcastle, NSW, this story is positioned at a perfect time and place to explore some of Australia’s early history, especially that related to the struggle of those who, having once been convicts, are trying to find their place as free Australians.
I was delighted to follow once more the story of Emma and Tobias, whose romance began in Deirdre’s earlier book, Charter to Redemption. While it is not necessary to have read the earlier novel to enjoy this new one, it certainly gives a great background for this story and these were two characters I felt I already knew and loved.
Their continuing journey is absorbing and touching, their romance threatened and thwarted and yet steadfast, the challenges they face frightening and very real. The story has a great diversity of characters; from the innocent, endearing child to the vilest of offenders, authority figures with the greatest of integrity to the most self-serving and corrupt, neighbours we would all hope to have through to those whose bitterness and prejudice is galling, characters who were so steeped in their past they were never going to change and others who were moved to growth and maturity. All of these I found believable and well developed, consistently portrayed.
While the story is in no way ‘preachy’, Parson Brown and his wife are wonderful representatives of God in their faithful friendship, love and acceptance and a powerful witness to the benefits of honouring God in one’s life.
The story moves at a good pace, keeping me turning the pages without revealing so much that the mystery and suspense were too soon revealed or solved. For readers who love romance, history, mystery and crime, it’s all here in this great story which I highly recommend. I’ll certainly be on the lookout for Deirdre’s next novel.

[Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folly is set in the Newcastle Colonies in 1822. The Book opens with on the day of Phoebe’s wedding. But what should be the happiest day of her life is quickly unraveling. First, her dress doesn’t fit, then her sister is missing. Her cousin Emma has an awful feeling about all of it. The story is about Emma Colchester as her family faces their worst fears. Emma’s past and future collide as mystery, unexpected guests, and death plague her life.
I enjoyed the way in which the mysteries in this book were built up. Early on in the story, the reader is given a few directions that beg questions. Emma is at the center of these as she deals with her missing cousin on the one hand and the return of her ex-fiancé’s mother who must be told that her son has died. What I liked about how these mysteries were brought up is that rather than merely telling the reader about them, Blackmore gives us the perspective of those living in the town. We get pieces that must be put together by tow gossip and opinion of the people around them. I really enjoyed reading this book and felt that the balance between mystery and romance worked well for me. I thought Emma was a strong and complex character that I could both relate to and enjoyed finding out more about, especially her past with her ex-fiancé. I would definitely recommend reading this book!

[Rose Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.
Normally I like a novel with a lot more romance than this one offers, but the thrilling pace of this story kept me turning the pages. A ‘who done it’ with many twists, turns, and in-depth character analysis’s that kept me enthralled with the storyline and eager to see what came next. I also loved the way the setting was portrayed. Many stories I have read that are set in Australia’s convict era tend to romanticise the relationship between the free settlers and their convict captives, but Folly brings the constraints and prejudices of this era out in an honest and enlightened way. My only disappointment was not being told more of the Aboriginal story. Maybe D.J Blackmore will touch upon this native perspective again in novels to come! I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to the author for a copy to review.

[Louise Crossley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folly is a beautifully written story of love, jealousy, loyalty and judgment. It follows the lives of the unlikely couple, Tobias and Emma. D.J. Blackmore masterfully unfolds the individual struggles of these seemingly star-crossed lovers and combines their challenges in a 17th century courtroom.

I particularly enjoyed looking inside the minds of the characters as each chapter began with s different point-of-view.

The pace is fast and the tone is warm and honest. Also, the pearls of wisdom remembered by characters from a headstone or a bible inscription is a nice touch.

Whether you love Australian history novels or not, this book will capture you with its well developed characters and intriguing storyline.

[Myrtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The absence of a young woman on her sister’s wedding day might raise a few eyebrows. But when Adelaide Colchester’s favorite daughter is missing, something is tragically wrong. What begins a day of potential marital bliss in the preparations for Phoebe Colchester’s wedding, very soon turns a foreboding corner with the omens of an ill-fitting bridal dress, the disappearance of Euphemie Colchester, and the arrival of Cecily Quinn (coined "Trouble") to Newcastle.
Author D.J. Blackmore's Folly opens a “Pandora’s box” to murder and guile in a novel that shows like an Agatha Christie mystery meets The Thorn Birds saga. Blackmore introduces a cast of town folk who are all potential suspects in a complex unraveling of secrets from the newly arrived Cecily, who harbors ill-will toward the intimidating Adelaide, to the untrustworthy Officer Octavius Gray. Someone is a killer. When ex-convict Tobias Freeman finds himself inextricably linked to every potential crime that presents itself to the discriminatory citizens of a small New South Wales town, it is luck, chance witnesses, and the truth that he needs to rectify his character.
Perhaps the most alluring character is the one whose presence lurks in the shadows of life and death—Gideon Quinn. His sudden demise is questioned, but embraced with relief by many who found him to be detestable and cruel while alive. Even his fiancée, Emma Colchester, is grateful although his spectral hold seems to continually loom heavily over her every move. She attempts to move on with her life in her unwavering devotion to Tobias as he faces charge after charge and a criminal past.
Amidst the murder and the uncertainty of an ill-doer who eludes the authorities, Blackmore creates outliers in the characters of likeable Tam and Jim who provide the comic relief and critical pieces to unravel unexplainable events. Rounding out the cast is the moral backbone of the community, Commandant Morisset, who commences his investigations and plays the cards of diplomacy in a town overrun with discrimination and pride in its accusations and suspicions of Tobias.
“What’s past is past” does not apply here. Secrets abound in this thriller that will keep you doubting and teetering on uncertainty until the very end. Blackmore creates wave after wave of murder and suspense with fingers continually pointing in the direction of Quinn’s Folly. But will its truth ever be revealed?

[Sarahanne Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Love the setting and love the characters. Thanks!

[Meredith Resce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this may have been a sequel to Charter for Redemption, which I read a number of years ago, so when I began to read I felt as if the characters were familiar. It’s been many years and I’d forgotten. But I soon reengaged. DJ Blackmore has a good writing style and lots of tension and drama. Her representation of early life in the NSW colonies is well painted.

[Amanda Deed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since reading D.J. Blackmore's debut novel, Charter to Redemption, three years ago, I have been looking forward to this second instalment, which continues the story of Tobias and Emma and their search for the truth. Who is really buried out at The Folly? Is it truly Gideon Quinn? Tobias and Emma can't rest until these questions and more are answered.

As a lover of Australian historical novels, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It kept me turning the pages until I also had the answers the characters were looking for. Blackmore draws characters that range from good and kind, to selfish and downright evil, but also shows why they behave the way they do. She depicts life in colonial times very well and I could imagine being there in Wallis Plains and Newcastle in the early 1800s.

If you enjoy a good Aussie colonial novel, then I can recommend Folly.

Thanks to the author for a free copy for review.

[D.J. Blackmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

EMMA’s cousin Phoebe is due to walk down the aisle. As the bridegroom stands outside the cottage, worrying at the lateness of his bride, the seams of Phoebe’s gown must be let out if she is to be in time to make her vows.
Her sister Euphemie doesn't even bother to turn up. The family questions whether the young woman would be so bold as to stowaway on the Commandant’s brig bound for Sydney. But to find the answers, they must wait until the ship comes in.
Newcomer Cecily Quinn doesn’t make herself agreeable. Yet Emma wonders at her aunt’s strange reception of her. What history do the the two women share?
It's TOBIAS who finds charity for the woman. He takes Cecily down the Hunter River to the home she intends to spend her remaining days. But bad news arrives and the constabulary are keen to find a scapegoat. Fingers point at Tobias. A single witness stands in his defence.
Newcastle’s colony stands out like a beacon on Prospect hill, and Emma can no longer dismiss her growing alarm regarding the safety of the inhabitants of the town. But more than that, her future with Tobias is at stake. Emma risks everything in finding out the truth.

[Cordelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing