Sutherland Downs

by Peter McKelvie

The outback in the late 60's is a tough place for anyone, but most of all, a beautiful new Australian.

Thrust into a foreign environment as the cook's hand with a shearing team, after her father passes away, Maysa must fight for survival. She finds herself both loving and being terrified by all the Australian outback has to offer, the country, the wildlife, but mostly the people. She meets the love of her life, but she must fight against an undercurrent of evil just to survive, let alone live happily ever after.

Tom's a young jackeroo and heir to a large station. His first love was mysteriously murdered, and he's spent two years rebuilding his life and relationships, after spiralling into depression, drinking, fighting and risking being locked up for good. Could Maysa be his saviour?

Tom and Maysa's romance is haunted by their recent past. When old demons re-emerge for Tom after a violent assault at the shearers camp, can he keep it together long enough to stay out of jail, to protect the woman he loves, and be the man he knows he can be.

This is a dramatic outback romance in a real setting with colourful characters.

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2020

About the author

In the 1970s, when I was around eleven years old, my parents moved us from Melbourne onto a farm on the edge of the Snowy Mountains in NSW. It was one of the most exciting times of my life as the new sheep, cattle and farm machinery arrived and I learnt to ride a horse. I learnt to shear, and after returning from Agricultural college, travelled as a wool presser with a shearing team to Northern New South Wales for a contract. As a jackeroo, I spent a few years in NSW working cattle and goats, and six months on a cattle stud in Western Australia. There are hints of some of the many colourful characters I have met along the way in Sutherland Downs.
Over the last 30 years, I’ve worked in the Construction Materials and Engineering sectors, mostly in management roles. I’ve also met many colourful and fascinating people in this time.
I’ve always loved to write stories and speeches, trying to make them fun and funny, even in what can be a dull corporate environment.
I started writing my first book, Sutherland Downs, about 10 years ago, often on the train after work during an hour-long commute. I am currently working on my second book, which I hope will be finished in early 2021.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sutherland Downs is about love, family and revenge. Maysa and her brother Rick became homeless after the death of their father. Rick's friend's father organised Maysa job as a cook's hand for a shearing team. At first, the Australian Outback was foreign to Maysa, who was born in India. Maysa met and fell in love with a young jackeroo call Tom who help her to learn about the Australian Outback. However, evil was lurking that could unravel her new life. The readers of Sutherland Downs will continue to follow Maysa and Tom to find out what happens.

Sutherland Downs was the first book I read of Peter McKelvie. Wow, what a fantastic book to read. I enjoyed the way Peter McKelvie put the twist and turns in the plot of this book. I engaged from the first page of this book, and I had trouble putting the book down. I love Peter McKelvie portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Sutherland Downs is well written and researched by Peter McKelvie. I like the Peter McKelvie description of the settings of Sutherland Downs that allow me to imagine being part of the plot's book.

The readers of Sutherland Downs will learn about living in the Australian Outback during the late 60s. Also, the readers of Sutherland Downs will learn about the role of Cook's hand in a shearer's team.

I recommend this book.

[BookLover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sutherland Downs

This is a sweet, gentle, slow burn romance in the Australian outback. Being an Aussie myself I loved the Aussie slang and reading about life on a busy sheep station.

Ah the long drop, that brings back memories. We still have these dotted along our highways and around our country although the outhouses around them are more modern the deep hole in the ground with a seat over the hole is still the same. It’s still a family joke as our daughter refused to use them for fear of falling in.
And hanging the washing outside in the fresh air is still one of my favourite things to do.

I enjoyed this sweet, gentle read and well done on your debut novel.

[Chun Guo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have cried and laughed many times when I was reading the book. I can see myself from Maysa, both living in another country by themselves and away from their family.
Sexual violence or rape are being discussed more and more recently, which was used to be an 'unspoken' topic. When I read what happened to Maysa and Tom's sister, I could totally relate it to me and other friends.
I also love the country lifestyle written in the book. It reminds me of my grandparents farm. It would be very interesting to listen to the audio book with aussie accent.
Will there be a Sutherland Downs 2? I would like to know what happened to Maysa and Tom.

[Lydia Hao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining

Set in the 1960s rural New South Wales Australia, a young and beautiful but poor migrant girl met her Aussie beau at the male-only shearing station while working as a kitchen hand. Would the tender young love survive the harsh environment, especially that something evil lingering from the past?
The story draws readers in by vivid and colourful descriptions of all major characters. The Aussie rural colloquialism is at its fullest display throughout the book not short of subtle humour. Simultaneously, the author's thorough knowledge of the rural landscapes, farm animals, and how things operate in a shearing station has provided city readers with factual information. The storyline is reasonably predictable but fits into the perception of the period when good and evil are uncomplicated.
Overall, it is a feel-good read.

[Victoria Pring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was mostly really sweet. The romance was great, the story was amazing and the setting was a really nice suprise. The only slight complaint I may put forward is the fact that the constant "he could barely help himself" in regards to our male protagonist felt so uncomfortable co and a little inappropriate given what had happened to this girl previously, I fully understand that Tom has no malicious intent towards Maysa but the idea he would just carry on if she wasnt brave enough to tell him to stop after he knows what happened to her felt off, like a single "is this okay" would have gone a long way. He was however really sweet throughout the whole book, the writing choices in those few scenes aside, and I would still recommend this book, do just check those trigger warnings first.

[Julia Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sutherland downs

A well written story revolving around a sheep stations son, his family and his cousin, the cousin is filled with jealous rage, the story unfolds as to how evil he is. One young girl working in an all male domain, on a sheep station, as a cooks assistance, domestic violence, rape, murder all happening within the sheep station. Station owners and their families dealing with tragedy, jealousy, rape and murder. All in the end receive justice and peace. As well as a beautiful love story amongst, the drama. A great story, enjoyed it. Gave the good the bad and the ugly of men working in the bush.

[Tess Brooks]

Peter McKelvie’s first novel “Sutherland Downs”is certainly worth a read!
A heart-warming story of new beginnings following tragedy, serendipity, and how family history can send ripples into the future.
Clearly Peter’s own experiences working for a pastoral company bring life to this well written tale with a balance of strong male and female characters.

[Tammy Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a great read!

A good strong storyline that will keep you reading. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.
The daily life on a sheep station in the outback in the 60’s is perfectly and accurately described and the talents of the author immerses you into the era. You can almost taste the Billy tea and feel the red bull dust on your skin.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Could not put it down even after the last page!
A great storyline that has you on the edge of your seat, pulls on your heartstrings and leaves you wanting more!
Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good Aussie novel.

[Robin Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spot on

A really good read and spot on as far as outback living goes. Hopefully a sequel in the works. Very well done

[JohnGardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and captivating read

Clearly the author has lived this life and relates it well. Hope there will be a sequel or even a series.

[John Wijsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about the Australian outback, the main characters are very likeable and the storyline was great.

[Louise Stapleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this first novel by Peter McKelvie.

[Maree Croxon Mapperson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life

Life is a journey and if we are lucky have people to love us it can be a happy one

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic

Thoroughly enjoyed and included mystery. Light reading which I enjoyed while camping. I could even imagine being in the outback as very descriptive

[David Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Very well written, good story line with suspense. Read all his other books A really Aussie Author. Here’s hoping more to come soon

[Clare Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading, loved the descriptive writing on what life could be like on an outback sheep station.

[Judith Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sutherland Downs

Very much enjoyed this book evolving around Australian Outback and it’s wonders, great characters,wonderful families, true love finds a way.

[Stewart Whiffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in a day

A rollicking good yarn reminding me of my jackaroo times in outback NSW; no sheilas when I was there. 🤠🤠🤠

[May Young]

Just an amazing story that you can't put down.

I have loved every page of this book. At times scarred to keep reading because of the evil Paddy, but then wanting justice to happen.

[Ariane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the protagonists.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Really enjoyed this story! Had a bit of everything from romance, suspense, drama and humor. Was sad when l finished the book.