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The Sandstone Series #4
Bailed Up
To Irishman Gerry Riordan, a pint at the Drawbridge Hotel in Cork makes the ideal end to the working week, and one winter night in 1828 he has good reason to celebrate with his friend, Lawrence Toole—Gerry is now a certified stonemason. Next day he will deliver gold tabernacle doors to St Mary’s Cathedral, and dare to ask the beautiful Anne Donovan to marry him.
But by the next night the gold has been stolen, Lawrence Toole lies dead and Riordan is accused of theft and murder. Anne, his boss’s daughter, is the only person who believes him innocent.
Riordan escapes hanging but is transported to New South Wales. A convict in irons, with a flaming temper, he is forced to labour on the colony’s toughest project, the Great North Road. As he begins working in stone again, a charming young woman, an enigmatic overseer and two convict friends seek to open his eyes to a more promising future. Meanwhile, offenders who framed him for the crimes in Ireland are also in the colony. Is there really any hope for Gerry Riordan to rebuild his shattered dreams?
But by the next night the gold has been stolen, Lawrence Toole lies dead and Riordan is accused of theft and murder. Anne, his boss’s daughter, is the only person who believes him innocent.
Riordan escapes hanging but is transported to New South Wales. A convict in irons, with a flaming temper, he is forced to labour on the colony’s toughest project, the Great North Road. As he begins working in stone again, a charming young woman, an enigmatic overseer and two convict friends seek to open his eyes to a more promising future. Meanwhile, offenders who framed him for the crimes in Ireland are also in the colony. Is there really any hope for Gerry Riordan to rebuild his shattered dreams?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2021
88 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Michael Beashel
16 books16 followersMichael Beashel is an International Best Selling Australian Historical Fiction Writer
Sydney born to Irish forebears who immigrated to New South Wales in the 1860s and settled in Millers Point. He is married and lives in Sydney’s inner west having spent his youth in Bondi. Beashel was head of Asset Development for a global accommodation services company registered on the NY Stock Exchange and has struck a blow at senior levels in some of Australia's iconic construction companies including a ten-year stint at Lend Lease. In Sydney, Government restorations to Customs House and the Town Hall accompany commercial buildings completed in the private sector. In South East Asia, Beashel managed a construction division building apartments and hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
This industry, its characters, clients, trades people, designers and bureaucrats, have provided a rich material for his writing. He has an eye for the emergence of Sydney’s built form, from the early days of the colony to the present, and a love of construction. He says about his writing, “it’s a passion and I revel in using the building industry as a tapestry to weave a great tale seasoned with historic facts and with memorable characters.”
Beashel’s seven published novels and two novellas in The Australian Sandstone Series showcase 19 century Sydney from the ground up and have garnered critical review. Unbound Justice the first novel has won No 1 In Amazon Rankings in three countries. A contributor to The Last Post and Afloat Magazines and he has appeared on ABC National Radio celebrating his novels. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) from Sydney’s UTS and is a member of Writing NSW.
Beashel is currently working on his next projects, more novels in The Australian Sandstone Series set in the 19 century.
...
see more
Sydney born to Irish forebears who immigrated to New South Wales in the 1860s and settled in Millers Point. He is married and lives in Sydney’s inner west having spent his youth in Bondi. Beashel was head of Asset Development for a global accommodation services company registered on the NY Stock Exchange and has struck a blow at senior levels in some of Australia's iconic construction companies including a ten-year stint at Lend Lease. In Sydney, Government restorations to Customs House and the Town Hall accompany commercial buildings completed in the private sector. In South East Asia, Beashel managed a construction division building apartments and hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
This industry, its characters, clients, trades people, designers and bureaucrats, have provided a rich material for his writing. He has an eye for the emergence of Sydney’s built form, from the early days of the colony to the present, and a love of construction. He says about his writing, “it’s a passion and I revel in using the building industry as a tapestry to weave a great tale seasoned with historic facts and with memorable characters.”
Beashel’s seven published novels and two novellas in The Australian Sandstone Series showcase 19 century Sydney from the ground up and have garnered critical review. Unbound Justice the first novel has won No 1 In Amazon Rankings in three countries. A contributor to The Last Post and Afloat Magazines and he has appeared on ABC National Radio celebrating his novels. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) from Sydney’s UTS and is a member of Writing NSW.
Beashel is currently working on his next projects, more novels in The Australian Sandstone Series set in the 19 century.
...
see more
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 17, 2022
‘Gerry smiled. ‘It has been a big day.’’
This is the fourth book in Mr Beashel’s Australian Sandstone Series, and features John Leary’s uncle, Gerry Riordan (Gleeson). We know, from the earlier books, that Gerry Riordan was transported to New South Wales. In this book, we learn why.
Gerry’s story begins in 1828, one winter evening in Cork, Ireland. Gerry, now a certified stonemason, is having a celebratory drink with his friend Lawrence Toole. The next day, after delivering gold tabernacle doors to St Mary’s Cathedral, he plans on asking Anne Donovan (his boss’s daughter) to marry him.
But the next day, the gold doors are stolen, and Lawrence Toole is found murdered. Gerry Riordan is accused of both theft and murder. Gerry is transported to New South Wales and ends up working on the Great North Road. Gerry is angry: he was framed for the crimes he was found guilty of and sees little hope for the future. But he has friends, and Anne has never stopped believing in his innocence.
If you have read the first three books in this series, you will already know some of Gerry’s story. Through Gerry’s story, we see more of the development of the colony of New South Wales. I enjoyed learning more about Gerry: he is an important and likeable character in the first three books.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This is the fourth book in Mr Beashel’s Australian Sandstone Series, and features John Leary’s uncle, Gerry Riordan (Gleeson). We know, from the earlier books, that Gerry Riordan was transported to New South Wales. In this book, we learn why.
Gerry’s story begins in 1828, one winter evening in Cork, Ireland. Gerry, now a certified stonemason, is having a celebratory drink with his friend Lawrence Toole. The next day, after delivering gold tabernacle doors to St Mary’s Cathedral, he plans on asking Anne Donovan (his boss’s daughter) to marry him.
But the next day, the gold doors are stolen, and Lawrence Toole is found murdered. Gerry Riordan is accused of both theft and murder. Gerry is transported to New South Wales and ends up working on the Great North Road. Gerry is angry: he was framed for the crimes he was found guilty of and sees little hope for the future. But he has friends, and Anne has never stopped believing in his innocence.
If you have read the first three books in this series, you will already know some of Gerry’s story. Through Gerry’s story, we see more of the development of the colony of New South Wales. I enjoyed learning more about Gerry: he is an important and likeable character in the first three books.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 12, 2025
Another winner.
Superb tale! Gotta keep reading Beashel. Indeed, One feels oneself becoming addicted to his writing, authenticity, plot development and characters.
Superb tale! Gotta keep reading Beashel. Indeed, One feels oneself becoming addicted to his writing, authenticity, plot development and characters.
December 28, 2022
After reading 'Death on the Rocks', the Michael Beashel novella, it whetted my appetite for more stories set down under.
The author has a real knack of creating relatable characters in well-researched historical situations.
What begins with a theft in Ireland leads to murder, heartbreak and an upheaval to multiple lives that grips the reader with its easy flowing style and excellent descriptions of the people and circumstances in which they live.
Intrigue, betrayal and a love that spans the decades made this one of my favourite books of 2022.
Grab a hankie and clear your schedule as once you start you'll find it difficult to stop.
The author has a real knack of creating relatable characters in well-researched historical situations.
What begins with a theft in Ireland leads to murder, heartbreak and an upheaval to multiple lives that grips the reader with its easy flowing style and excellent descriptions of the people and circumstances in which they live.
Intrigue, betrayal and a love that spans the decades made this one of my favourite books of 2022.
Grab a hankie and clear your schedule as once you start you'll find it difficult to stop.
November 16, 2021
This is the first novel I have read by Gerry Riodan. I read it voluntarily after receiving a copy from the author. This story centers on Gerry an Irishman in 1828. Gerry finds nothing better to end a working week then stopping at the local pub for a pint. Bit this Friday is special as he has completed his apprenticeship and now is a certified stonemason. Now he plans to ask his girl to marry him. Tomorrow he is to deliver the gold tabernacle doors to St Mary’s Cathedral. But through the night the doors have been stolen and Gerry is set up as the thief and is sent away to prison in New South Wales.
While in prison he finds support to lead his life in a positive manner. But he discovers that the men who framed him have also came to the Island. Will Gerry accept the help from his support to lead a more promising wife or will he allow anger and hate to take over his life and seek revenge against these men.
While in prison he finds support to lead his life in a positive manner. But he discovers that the men who framed him have also came to the Island. Will Gerry accept the help from his support to lead a more promising wife or will he allow anger and hate to take over his life and seek revenge against these men.
November 29, 2021
Once again, Michael Beashel has created a can't-put-down novel. The historical research and construction details that go into his books are amazing. This book is one of my favorites, not only of this series, but of all time. The story of Gerry and his life in Ireland to New South Wales captivated me completely. This one was so engaging that I came upon the final pages not realizing I was at the end (read on a Kindle so I couldn't tell physical pages). I highly recommend . If you'd like even more exceptional historical fiction like this one, and you haven't already, read the entire The Australian Sandstone Series. It will be well worth your time.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 28, 2022
After reading 'Death on the Rocks', the Michael Beashel novella, it whetted my appetite for more stories set down under.
The author has a real knack of creating relatable characters in well-researched historical situations.
What begins with a theft in Ireland leads to murder, heartbreak and an upheaval to multiple lives that grips the reader with its easy flowing style and excellent descriptions of the people and circumstances in which they live.
Intrigue, betrayal and a love that spans the decades made this one of my favourite books of 2022.
Grab a hankie and clear your schedule as once you start you'll find it difficult to stop.
The author has a real knack of creating relatable characters in well-researched historical situations.
What begins with a theft in Ireland leads to murder, heartbreak and an upheaval to multiple lives that grips the reader with its easy flowing style and excellent descriptions of the people and circumstances in which they live.
Intrigue, betrayal and a love that spans the decades made this one of my favourite books of 2022.
Grab a hankie and clear your schedule as once you start you'll find it difficult to stop.
November 15, 2021
I loved this historical fiction. The characters are relatable and believable. The setting made me feel like I was right there. This story was well researched and well written with enough historical accuracy to make the fiction real. It made me want to visit Australia with the author as my guide. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. If you like your fiction based on actual events in history, don't miss Bailed Up. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
November 19, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book and once I got started it was difficult to put it down. It moves along at a great pace which is well suited for the pace of the story. It has characters that you want to know more about and a story that will not disappoint. This book is a must read that needs to be on your list of books TBR.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews