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Old Balmain House #3
Devil's Choice
Old Balmain House family story moves to the next generation
A man sits at a table in a prison cell, hands shackled. The door opens.
In comes a slip of a girl, eyes darting around, face drawn and white.
She is small and slender, like a teenager, but seems older.
The man leers with desire - so long since he has seen a pretty girl.
“Well, well, look what the fairy godmother has brought to pleasure me.”
The girl recoils as if struck, then steadies and sits down facing him.
She stares at the man intently, mixed loathing and desperation in her eyes.
She wrings her hand together then holds still, as if to gather courage.
Finally she speaks, “Please, I need to know if you are my father?”
Two decades pass. Lizzie’s daughter, Catherine, has a child, Amelie.
But soon after Amelie’s third birthday, the unthinkable happens.
She gets the unspoken word is ‘CANCER’, childhood leukaemia
Treatment fails, it is all to no avail, a little girl’s life hangs in the balance.
A bone marrow transplant the last chance - but no match, no donor is found.
Could another relative help – perhaps her father, aunt, uncle or cousin
But who is Catherine’s real father, the man who raped her mother.
Three men were there that night; one is murdered, two are in jail.
She must ask for help from these monsters who abused her mother
These men are hardened criminals - she must visit them in prison.
She cannot bear to ask, to beg them and plead for help,
But yet she must try – it is her daughter’s only chance.
It truly is a Devil’s Choice
A parents worst nightmare. A small child with an incurable disease and a father who served in Vietnam and blames himself for her illness. The family is torn apart. Finally only one choice remains to save the daughter's life, a Devil's Choice.
The time is in the 1980s. Catherine, Lizzie's daughter has returned to Sydney to study. She now lives in Balmain, near where her mother grew up. She settles into life there, establishes a successful career and marries. Then she has a daughter who is the joy of both her and her husband's lives.
But when her daughter is two years old the unimaginable happens. Her daughter develops an incurable disease, advanced leukaemia. Other treatments fail. Now the only option to save her daughters life is a bone marrow transplant. They search desperately for a donor to match. But no one is found. Her daughter has an unusual tissue profile that seems to come from her Catherine's own father.
But who is her father? Catherine was conceived when her mother was raped by three men. Two of the three men who raped her mother are now in jail, destined to spend the most of their life there. The third is dead.
Can Catherine bear to make the choice and bring herself to appeal to one of these men in an attempt to save her daughter's life when she knows that even this may be futile.
This is the third novel in "The Old Balmain House" Series. Novel two, Lizzie's Tale,tells the story of Lizzie a girl from Balmain and her struggle to keep her own daughter when pregnant at only 15 and the terrible choices she must make. This book.continues the family's story into a third generation.
A man sits at a table in a prison cell, hands shackled. The door opens.
In comes a slip of a girl, eyes darting around, face drawn and white.
She is small and slender, like a teenager, but seems older.
The man leers with desire - so long since he has seen a pretty girl.
“Well, well, look what the fairy godmother has brought to pleasure me.”
The girl recoils as if struck, then steadies and sits down facing him.
She stares at the man intently, mixed loathing and desperation in her eyes.
She wrings her hand together then holds still, as if to gather courage.
Finally she speaks, “Please, I need to know if you are my father?”
Two decades pass. Lizzie’s daughter, Catherine, has a child, Amelie.
But soon after Amelie’s third birthday, the unthinkable happens.
She gets the unspoken word is ‘CANCER’, childhood leukaemia
Treatment fails, it is all to no avail, a little girl’s life hangs in the balance.
A bone marrow transplant the last chance - but no match, no donor is found.
Could another relative help – perhaps her father, aunt, uncle or cousin
But who is Catherine’s real father, the man who raped her mother.
Three men were there that night; one is murdered, two are in jail.
She must ask for help from these monsters who abused her mother
These men are hardened criminals - she must visit them in prison.
She cannot bear to ask, to beg them and plead for help,
But yet she must try – it is her daughter’s only chance.
It truly is a Devil’s Choice
A parents worst nightmare. A small child with an incurable disease and a father who served in Vietnam and blames himself for her illness. The family is torn apart. Finally only one choice remains to save the daughter's life, a Devil's Choice.
The time is in the 1980s. Catherine, Lizzie's daughter has returned to Sydney to study. She now lives in Balmain, near where her mother grew up. She settles into life there, establishes a successful career and marries. Then she has a daughter who is the joy of both her and her husband's lives.
But when her daughter is two years old the unimaginable happens. Her daughter develops an incurable disease, advanced leukaemia. Other treatments fail. Now the only option to save her daughters life is a bone marrow transplant. They search desperately for a donor to match. But no one is found. Her daughter has an unusual tissue profile that seems to come from her Catherine's own father.
But who is her father? Catherine was conceived when her mother was raped by three men. Two of the three men who raped her mother are now in jail, destined to spend the most of their life there. The third is dead.
Can Catherine bear to make the choice and bring herself to appeal to one of these men in an attempt to save her daughter's life when she knows that even this may be futile.
This is the third novel in "The Old Balmain House" Series. Novel two, Lizzie's Tale,tells the story of Lizzie a girl from Balmain and her struggle to keep her own daughter when pregnant at only 15 and the terrible choices she must make. This book.continues the family's story into a third generation.
- GenresHistoricalFiction
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2014
76 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Graham Wilson
61 books342 followersGraham Wilson lives in Sydney, Australia.
He has completed and published twelve novels and a memoir.
His most recent novel is 'Mysteries', set in early Sydney about an old house and a mother and child missing for 30 years. His other standalone novel is, 'The Glitter''.
Other novels comprise two series,
1. Old Balmain House Series - 3 books of historic fiction set in early Sydney
2. Crocodile Dreaming Series - 7 books. 5 books (The Visitor, The Victim, The Void, The Vanished and The Invisible) are in the main series which follows English backpacker, Susan, as she travels across remote Australia with a charming outback man. It tells how this idyllic trip becomes a nightmare as she discovers terrifying secrets about this man. It also includes a 2-book Prequel, The Vertigo and The Vortex, which give insights into her travelling companion, Mark.
Graham's family memoir, 'Arnhem's Kaleidoscope Children' tells of his family's life in an aboriginal community the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. It chronicles an idyllic childhood, 50 years of change with aboriginal land rights and discovery or uranium. It also tells of his surviving an attack by a large crocodile and of his work over two decades in the outback of the NT.
Graham's career was first as a veterinarian in a mixed practice treating farm animals and people's pets, before following his love for wildlife through working at a range of Australian Zoos. He also spent two decades working on large cattle and buffalo properties in the Northern Territory before moving to Sydney where he now lives in one of Sydney's oldest houses in the Rocks. He has continued to follow his joint passions working with animals, wildlife conservation and writing stories.
Books are published as ebooks by major ebook publishers. Some books are also available in print online and through selected local bookshops.
He has completed and published twelve novels and a memoir.
His most recent novel is 'Mysteries', set in early Sydney about an old house and a mother and child missing for 30 years. His other standalone novel is, 'The Glitter''.
Other novels comprise two series,
1. Old Balmain House Series - 3 books of historic fiction set in early Sydney
2. Crocodile Dreaming Series - 7 books. 5 books (The Visitor, The Victim, The Void, The Vanished and The Invisible) are in the main series which follows English backpacker, Susan, as she travels across remote Australia with a charming outback man. It tells how this idyllic trip becomes a nightmare as she discovers terrifying secrets about this man. It also includes a 2-book Prequel, The Vertigo and The Vortex, which give insights into her travelling companion, Mark.
Graham's family memoir, 'Arnhem's Kaleidoscope Children' tells of his family's life in an aboriginal community the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. It chronicles an idyllic childhood, 50 years of change with aboriginal land rights and discovery or uranium. It also tells of his surviving an attack by a large crocodile and of his work over two decades in the outback of the NT.
Graham's career was first as a veterinarian in a mixed practice treating farm animals and people's pets, before following his love for wildlife through working at a range of Australian Zoos. He also spent two decades working on large cattle and buffalo properties in the Northern Territory before moving to Sydney where he now lives in one of Sydney's oldest houses in the Rocks. He has continued to follow his joint passions working with animals, wildlife conservation and writing stories.
Books are published as ebooks by major ebook publishers. Some books are also available in print online and through selected local bookshops.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 24, 2015
I liked this novel. I thought it was well tied in with the two previous novels in the series and a fitting conclusion to the series. In a similar fashion as the other two novels I enjoyed the author's exploration of some new themes in this novel such as rehabilitation, homosexuality and the realisties of prison life as with the other novels this is done in an open non- judgemental way leaving the reader to form his own conclusion.
The story races on a little and things happen very quickly as the author is trying to make his point - maybe he could have given us about fifty more pages that would have allowed us to catch our breath in the novel - but while I felt that this limited how a few of the characters were developed this is not a real problem as we get to know the central characters - Amelie, William, Sophie - quite well. We arleady know Lizzie so the character who suffers the most is Catherine - she is just a child and does not feature much in the earlier novel and in this novel she is sort of a means to an end to get us to Amelie and William who the story is really about.
I am glad that I stumbled onto this series - Smashwords is always a bit of a hit or miss. Being a Caribbean person I enjoyed reading about the Australian climate and terrain and the people that live there as it is all so different from here. I think these novels have a real promise and I hope to se alot more form this author.
The story races on a little and things happen very quickly as the author is trying to make his point - maybe he could have given us about fifty more pages that would have allowed us to catch our breath in the novel - but while I felt that this limited how a few of the characters were developed this is not a real problem as we get to know the central characters - Amelie, William, Sophie - quite well. We arleady know Lizzie so the character who suffers the most is Catherine - she is just a child and does not feature much in the earlier novel and in this novel she is sort of a means to an end to get us to Amelie and William who the story is really about.
I am glad that I stumbled onto this series - Smashwords is always a bit of a hit or miss. Being a Caribbean person I enjoyed reading about the Australian climate and terrain and the people that live there as it is all so different from here. I think these novels have a real promise and I hope to se alot more form this author.
May 15, 2018
This was a beautiful and emotional story. It's set several years after book 2 of the series. It's about Cathy who starts a family and has to make a very hard decision when illness strikes in her family. The pacing is good and I like the writing style. Just like her mother Cathy is very strong. You can't help but admire her strength. I enjoyed this book a lot.
August 16, 2018
This novel is the conclusion to the Balmain House series, but definitely reads well as a stand alone novel.
Catherine, Lizzie's daughter is all grown up and has a child of her own. Little Sophie is diagnosed with leukemia shortly after her second birthday, and Catherine calls upon every ounce of strength she has to try and save her life. The story progresses very quickly, one of the things I really enjoy about Graham Wilson's writing, and a variety of topics are touched upon and dealt with as Catherine works to save both her marriage and her daughter's life.
The happy ending may not have been the most realistic, but I personally really enjoyed it and wanted that because the family had been through so much.
Catherine, Lizzie's daughter is all grown up and has a child of her own. Little Sophie is diagnosed with leukemia shortly after her second birthday, and Catherine calls upon every ounce of strength she has to try and save her life. The story progresses very quickly, one of the things I really enjoy about Graham Wilson's writing, and a variety of topics are touched upon and dealt with as Catherine works to save both her marriage and her daughter's life.
The happy ending may not have been the most realistic, but I personally really enjoyed it and wanted that because the family had been through so much.
August 15, 2018
Great read! Excellent continuation of the Balmain series. Lizzie and Catherine face a mother's worst fear when Catherine's daughter had to fight cancer. A real page turner! Graham Wilson is a talented story teller!
January 8, 2019
The 3rd book in the series wraps everything up nicely. I enjoyed the whole series although I would have liked to have more involvement with Sophie but it is still a good end to the tale. Well done Graham on a good series.
April 19, 2018
Time to come full circle after Lizzy’s Tale - finally found time to put it down - 2am ( when it finished).
July 29, 2024
Amalie,, previously published under the title Devil’s Choice: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare, is an engrossing story about a young woman who was born as a result of her mother’s violent rape by three men, two of whom are in jail and the other is dead. Her name is Catherine and she has met and married a man named Mathew. They have a daughter named Amalie, around whom this story evolves.
Unfortunately, Mathew, a Vietnam War veteran was heavily exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxide component which impacted his DNA. Advised not to have children Amalie soon became sick with life threatening cancer and, after numerous unsuccessful treatment attempts a last ditch effort involving an experimental bone marrow transplant treatment is attempted but who can be found who is the exact match? Is he sitting in jail? Or elsewhere. A dramatic race against the clock pulls at one’s heartstrings.
Any parent who has raised a young child will empathize with the anxiety felt by the parents in this story and, for this reviewer, an added level of emotion centered around the fact that I lost a friend within the community in which I currently live to cancer attributed to the Agent Orange to which he was exposed while serving his country in Vietnam.
A bit of mysticism is also thrown in as a young spirit girl, Sophie, dead for some 50 years, seems to provide comfort for young Amalie at needed time periods. Volume 3 of the Balmain House series it is a different and interesting read.
Unfortunately, Mathew, a Vietnam War veteran was heavily exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxide component which impacted his DNA. Advised not to have children Amalie soon became sick with life threatening cancer and, after numerous unsuccessful treatment attempts a last ditch effort involving an experimental bone marrow transplant treatment is attempted but who can be found who is the exact match? Is he sitting in jail? Or elsewhere. A dramatic race against the clock pulls at one’s heartstrings.
Any parent who has raised a young child will empathize with the anxiety felt by the parents in this story and, for this reviewer, an added level of emotion centered around the fact that I lost a friend within the community in which I currently live to cancer attributed to the Agent Orange to which he was exposed while serving his country in Vietnam.
A bit of mysticism is also thrown in as a young spirit girl, Sophie, dead for some 50 years, seems to provide comfort for young Amalie at needed time periods. Volume 3 of the Balmain House series it is a different and interesting read.
July 18, 2019
This is book 3 in the series and the conclusion. The story continues with the two other books in the series. A little girl name Sophie, when she was 2 years she was diagnosed with a disease called Leukemia, her mother Catherine was raped when she was younger and kept the baby she name the baby Sophie The doctor tells Catherine a bone marrow transplant is the only option, and she was not a match, Sophie father would be a perfect match if only she could figure out who rape her and where he is. I enjoyed reading Graham Wilson's books and hope he keeps writing more of them. I won this e-book through Goodreads giveaway for a honest review for the author Graham Wilson. I would recommend this series or it can be read alone to anyone who loves a mystery.
July 18, 2019
Great read
August 15, 2019
Very interesting read, couldn't put down once I started reading.
January 2, 2020
Ozzie
A book about real people and their real life problems. A question about sophie, but an answer isn't required to enjoy this book.
A book about real people and their real life problems. A question about sophie, but an answer isn't required to enjoy this book.
January 21, 2020
Such a wonderful, heartfelt series
I love this series. It is very emotional sometimes. I would recommend it to anyone that liked to read books
I love this series. It is very emotional sometimes. I would recommend it to anyone that liked to read books
April 8, 2023
The final book in the Old Balmain House trilogy, Lizzie's daughter Catherine grows up, falls in love, marries, and has a child of her own. Catherine's life seems happy - co-owner of a hotel/bar with her husband, she has friends, and is close to her family, and her marriage is happy. But Graham Wilson likes to put his characters through the ringer, so Catherine's happy life is shattered when her daughter Amelie is diagnosed with aggressive cancer. Treatments are extremely brutal for the toddler (the story takes place in the 1980s, when radiation and chemo were the only options. Everything else we have today was experimental at the time). The treatments are also not working. To save her daughter's life, Catherine must seek out her birth father, one of three men who gang-raped her mother some twenty years ago. She must ask him to donate bone marrow to save her child's life. A few problems get in her way - All three men eventually went to jail for their crimes, but one is dead, the other is in the prison psych ward, and all three are despicable, unrepentant, evil men. And there is no guarantee that her birth father (when/if she finds him) will be willing to help.
Full of vivid desccriptions, it's hard to read of Amelie's struggles against the cancer growing inside her. She's only three years old and fading fast (she is almost literally fading away before her parents' eyes). I didn't want to stop reading, despite the harrowing descriptions, because Graham Wilson is not a cynical writer who torments his characters, and thereby his readers. There is always a kernal of hope, and the characters are so strongly written, you really want to rally around them.
The Old Balmain House Trilogy is really a sweeping generational saga about the power of family and memory, told in a simple, home-spun style, slowly drawing you into the history of Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, and the history of one house in particular. There is also a slight tinge of the supernatural, in the form of a ghostly Aboriginal girl who befriends the characters and helps them through their agony, something which I found quite beautiful.
Graham Wilson is a storyteller, who happens to tell his stories with written words, but they feel like stories being told to you at the kitchen table by your neighbor. I recommend making yourself a cup of tea or lemonade and having a slice of pie or cake, or some traditional Australian treat while you read this.
Full of vivid desccriptions, it's hard to read of Amelie's struggles against the cancer growing inside her. She's only three years old and fading fast (she is almost literally fading away before her parents' eyes). I didn't want to stop reading, despite the harrowing descriptions, because Graham Wilson is not a cynical writer who torments his characters, and thereby his readers. There is always a kernal of hope, and the characters are so strongly written, you really want to rally around them.
The Old Balmain House Trilogy is really a sweeping generational saga about the power of family and memory, told in a simple, home-spun style, slowly drawing you into the history of Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, and the history of one house in particular. There is also a slight tinge of the supernatural, in the form of a ghostly Aboriginal girl who befriends the characters and helps them through their agony, something which I found quite beautiful.
Graham Wilson is a storyteller, who happens to tell his stories with written words, but they feel like stories being told to you at the kitchen table by your neighbor. I recommend making yourself a cup of tea or lemonade and having a slice of pie or cake, or some traditional Australian treat while you read this.
July 12, 2025
I should have made this a total DNF, instead I just skimmed through as I was invested, but I should not have wasted my time and effort.
February 17, 2024
Amelia
Interesting novel, quirky & novelty items. Well written, author experiences great subject matter. Recommend highly.
.please reason & review.zu won't regret doing so
Interesting novel, quirky & novelty items. Well written, author experiences great subject matter. Recommend highly.
.please reason & review.zu won't regret doing so
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews