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Gathering Storms
An Unexpected Arrival
Penny Carter's quiet life in Southbend, running a nursery with her ex father-in-law, is turned upside down when Lisa, the young daughter of her late husband, is unexpectedly deposited on her doorstep. The unwelcome houseguest stirs up more than just memories of Penny's husband's betrayal, when a cyclone leads to the discovery of a skeleton buried next to the town cemetery.
Unearthed Secrets
As the mystery around the unsettling discovery grows, Penny, supported by her enigmatic neighbour Flint, begins to question everything she thought she knew about her own childhood and her mother's death. Family secrets long thought buried come bubbling to the surface, as other shocking revelations see Penny and Lisa in an ultimate race for survival.
Rains and Revelations
But what other secrets will the Wet season uncover, while the whole town is cut off from the rest of the world?
____________________
Praise for Kerry McGinnis
"McGinnis is a natural storyteller with a deep understanding of life on the land." - The Weekly Times
"McGinnis has the eye of a painter; she writes as she sees and the land comes alive." - Weekend Australian
"Anything McGinnis writes begs to be read aloud around a campfire." - Country Style
____________________
Additional Books by Kerry McGinnis
Expand your collection with these captivating novels from Kerry
*Bloodwood Creek
*Gathering Storms
*The Missing Girl
*Croc Country
*The Roadhouse
*The Heartwood Hotel
*Secrets of the Springs
*Out of Alice
*Tracking North
*Wildhorse Creek
*Mallee Sky
*The Waddi Tree
Experience the captivating narratives and immersive landscapes of Kerry McGinnis's books. Order now!
Penny Carter's quiet life in Southbend, running a nursery with her ex father-in-law, is turned upside down when Lisa, the young daughter of her late husband, is unexpectedly deposited on her doorstep. The unwelcome houseguest stirs up more than just memories of Penny's husband's betrayal, when a cyclone leads to the discovery of a skeleton buried next to the town cemetery.
Unearthed Secrets
As the mystery around the unsettling discovery grows, Penny, supported by her enigmatic neighbour Flint, begins to question everything she thought she knew about her own childhood and her mother's death. Family secrets long thought buried come bubbling to the surface, as other shocking revelations see Penny and Lisa in an ultimate race for survival.
Rains and Revelations
But what other secrets will the Wet season uncover, while the whole town is cut off from the rest of the world?
____________________
Praise for Kerry McGinnis
"McGinnis is a natural storyteller with a deep understanding of life on the land." - The Weekly Times
"McGinnis has the eye of a painter; she writes as she sees and the land comes alive." - Weekend Australian
"Anything McGinnis writes begs to be read aloud around a campfire." - Country Style
____________________
Additional Books by Kerry McGinnis
Expand your collection with these captivating novels from Kerry
*Bloodwood Creek
*Gathering Storms
*The Missing Girl
*Croc Country
*The Roadhouse
*The Heartwood Hotel
*Secrets of the Springs
*Out of Alice
*Tracking North
*Wildhorse Creek
*Mallee Sky
*The Waddi Tree
Experience the captivating narratives and immersive landscapes of Kerry McGinnis's books. Order now!
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2022
4 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Kerry McGinnis
22 books78 followersKerry McGinnis was born in Adelaide and, at the age of twelve, took up a life of droving with her father and three siblings. The family travelled extensively across the Northern Territory and Queensland before settling on a station in the Gulf Country. Kerry has worked as a shepherd, droving hand, gardener, stock-camp and station cook, eventually running a property at Bowthorn, near Mount Isa. She is the author of two volumes of memoir and now lives in Bundaberg.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 15, 2022
Penny Carter and her ex father-in-law, Angus McCloud, owned and ran the nursery in the small town of Southbend in the Gulf country. She and Angus had a good relationship, getting on well and when a car pulled up in their dusty drive with a woman and child on board, Penny was shocked when the woman dumped the girl, said she was Angus' granddaughter and left. Lisa was eleven years old, thin, aggressive and angry at the world. Both her parents had recently died and the woman was her mother's step-sister who'd had Lisa for a year, and no longer wanted the burden.
As the beginning of the wet season hovered, a cyclone hit the area with flooding and damage throughout the town. When Penny and Lisa were checking the river's edge for damage, as well as the nearby - long abandoned - cemetery, Penny was horrified to discover skeletal remains, but not in a coffin. It wasn't long before police from the nearby town of Hamilton arrived, removing the bones and beginning an investigation. Flint, a neighbour and woodworker, as well as the go-to person when it was tourist season, assisted Penny and Angus; now he was helping in the search for the identity of the skeleton. But there was danger ahead for Penny and Lisa, and all these years later, Penny's childhood was causing nightmares...
Gathering Storms is another excellent and suspenseful novel by Aussie author Kerry McGinnis which I thoroughly enjoyed. Set in the Gulf country in far north Queensland, and mainly during the Wet season when their town was isolated, it shows that secrets rarely stay buried. The characters are well-drawn and the places of tension are done so well I felt I was there in the grip of unreality. Gathering Storms has a vibrant cover and the contents are the same. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As the beginning of the wet season hovered, a cyclone hit the area with flooding and damage throughout the town. When Penny and Lisa were checking the river's edge for damage, as well as the nearby - long abandoned - cemetery, Penny was horrified to discover skeletal remains, but not in a coffin. It wasn't long before police from the nearby town of Hamilton arrived, removing the bones and beginning an investigation. Flint, a neighbour and woodworker, as well as the go-to person when it was tourist season, assisted Penny and Angus; now he was helping in the search for the identity of the skeleton. But there was danger ahead for Penny and Lisa, and all these years later, Penny's childhood was causing nightmares...
Gathering Storms is another excellent and suspenseful novel by Aussie author Kerry McGinnis which I thoroughly enjoyed. Set in the Gulf country in far north Queensland, and mainly during the Wet season when their town was isolated, it shows that secrets rarely stay buried. The characters are well-drawn and the places of tension are done so well I felt I was there in the grip of unreality. Gathering Storms has a vibrant cover and the contents are the same. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2023
Gathering Storms is about how a family came together over diversity. Penny Carter was happy and contented with her life in a small community in the Australian Gulf Country called Southbend running her nursery with her ex-father-in-law. However, everything changed when her ex-father-in-law's granddaughter turned up after a cyclone and The discovery at the local church cemetery. Penny Carter started to re-evaluate her family history. The readers of Gathering Storms will continue to follow Penny Carter to find out what happens.
Gathering Storms is another fantastic book by Kerry McGinnis. The more books I read by Kerry McGinnis, the more I fall in love with her stories, and Kerry McGinnis knows how to ensure that her readers engage with books. I love Kerry McGinnis's portrayal of her characters and how they interact throughout this book. Gathering Storms is well-written and researched by Kerry McGinnis. I like Kerry McGinnis's description of the settings of Gathering Storms, which allows me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Gathering Storms will learn about the monsoon season in the Australian Gulf Country. Also, the readers of Gathering Storms will understand the consequences of polygamy on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
Gathering Storms is another fantastic book by Kerry McGinnis. The more books I read by Kerry McGinnis, the more I fall in love with her stories, and Kerry McGinnis knows how to ensure that her readers engage with books. I love Kerry McGinnis's portrayal of her characters and how they interact throughout this book. Gathering Storms is well-written and researched by Kerry McGinnis. I like Kerry McGinnis's description of the settings of Gathering Storms, which allows me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Gathering Storms will learn about the monsoon season in the Australian Gulf Country. Also, the readers of Gathering Storms will understand the consequences of polygamy on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
July 10, 2022
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The build up, the anticipation and the ferocity of a storm are well known.
Storms both meteorologically and those on the personal front can lash without too much warning and change the scene totally.
Penny and her ex father in law run a nursery, where they can indulge in the peace and serenity of plants.
Creating a quiet life while dodging weather events.
The unexpected arrival of a grandchild throws the status quo and presents, particularly Penny with a whole new set of challenges.
Petulant behaviour from the child and the fact she is the daughter of her ex husband tosses curb balls left, right and centre.
Triggering memories of her own mother who disappeared when she was a child.
As the atmospheric pressure increases so does a series of events.
A body found, a sobering revelation and a murderous incident all rupture life in the sleepy town.
Who is dead, who dies and who thrives?
I really enjoyed the plain plot of this story, it was descriptive, lyrically written and interesting.
I knew twists and turns were inevitable but I enjoyed the ride till they got their and devoured them with satisfaction.
The characters had me drawn in and I am particularly partial to plants and gardening.
I did find it unusual that the last 40 pages were like the calm after a storm, a bit wishy washy as it closed the loose ends.
Strangely I didn’t mind as I was invested in the story.
The build up, the anticipation and the ferocity of a storm are well known.
Storms both meteorologically and those on the personal front can lash without too much warning and change the scene totally.
Penny and her ex father in law run a nursery, where they can indulge in the peace and serenity of plants.
Creating a quiet life while dodging weather events.
The unexpected arrival of a grandchild throws the status quo and presents, particularly Penny with a whole new set of challenges.
Petulant behaviour from the child and the fact she is the daughter of her ex husband tosses curb balls left, right and centre.
Triggering memories of her own mother who disappeared when she was a child.
As the atmospheric pressure increases so does a series of events.
A body found, a sobering revelation and a murderous incident all rupture life in the sleepy town.
Who is dead, who dies and who thrives?
I really enjoyed the plain plot of this story, it was descriptive, lyrically written and interesting.
I knew twists and turns were inevitable but I enjoyed the ride till they got their and devoured them with satisfaction.
The characters had me drawn in and I am particularly partial to plants and gardening.
I did find it unusual that the last 40 pages were like the calm after a storm, a bit wishy washy as it closed the loose ends.
Strangely I didn’t mind as I was invested in the story.
December 3, 2022
Aussie author Kerry McGinnis is fast becoming another favourite author of mine. This book had me hooked right from the beginning. And I must make mention about the cover as it is beautiful and very eye catching. I have read quite a few books by this author now and have enjoyed and loved all of them including this one. Highly recommended.
May 26, 2023
3.5⭐️
September 1, 2022
This book was not for me. It didn’t have a good plot. The characters were not that strong and I was bored.
September 4, 2025
A very good read, however I was left scratching my head wondering, was part of this storyline not solved purposely, surely it couldn’t have been overlooked. Stop reading this if you don’t want a spoiler.
So, Flint’s daughter Sam that went missing fourteen years ago. Surely it would turn out that ‘Meadow’ was actually her. Supposedly the daughter of Fodo and Zim, the drifters arriving into town… I was hanging onto this belief right to the end of the book, waiting for the mystery to unravel. Nothing.
So, Flint’s daughter Sam that went missing fourteen years ago. Surely it would turn out that ‘Meadow’ was actually her. Supposedly the daughter of Fodo and Zim, the drifters arriving into town… I was hanging onto this belief right to the end of the book, waiting for the mystery to unravel. Nothing.
May 5, 2023
Gathering Storms (Penguin Random House 2022) by Kerry McGinnis is set in the Gulf country’s monsoon season, and while the drama and mystery of the story gradually unfold, it is this harsh, unforgiving, brutal climate and environment that dominates this novel of secrets and banished memories.
Penny Carter lives a quiet life in the rural area of Southbend, running a nursery with her father-in-law, Angus. Their lives are rudely interrupted by the arrival of pre-teen Lisa, the daughter of Penny’s ex (dead) husband, whose aunt drops Lisa off at Angus and Penny’s door with a bag of clothes and no forwarding address. It’s a complicated family situation, and has been for several generations, with parents abandoning their children and spouses leaving their partners. No-one is prepared for the complex domestic situation in which they find themselves.
The wet season creeps inexorably closer, culminating in a massive cyclone that unearths a skeleton buried next to – but not actual IN – the local cemetery. As Penny gets caught up in unravelling the mystery, she and her friend Flint begin to question other local disappearances and discoveries, leading to doubt about everything Penny thought she knew about her own childhood and her mother’s death years earlier.
McGinnis writes with evocative experience of rural Australia: the rugged landscape, the shifting seasons, the isolated environment and the enigmatic characters who often end up escaping to (or staying their whole lives in) outback communities.
Penny Carter lives a quiet life in the rural area of Southbend, running a nursery with her father-in-law, Angus. Their lives are rudely interrupted by the arrival of pre-teen Lisa, the daughter of Penny’s ex (dead) husband, whose aunt drops Lisa off at Angus and Penny’s door with a bag of clothes and no forwarding address. It’s a complicated family situation, and has been for several generations, with parents abandoning their children and spouses leaving their partners. No-one is prepared for the complex domestic situation in which they find themselves.
The wet season creeps inexorably closer, culminating in a massive cyclone that unearths a skeleton buried next to – but not actual IN – the local cemetery. As Penny gets caught up in unravelling the mystery, she and her friend Flint begin to question other local disappearances and discoveries, leading to doubt about everything Penny thought she knew about her own childhood and her mother’s death years earlier.
McGinnis writes with evocative experience of rural Australia: the rugged landscape, the shifting seasons, the isolated environment and the enigmatic characters who often end up escaping to (or staying their whole lives in) outback communities.
November 7, 2022
Having read a review I thought I'd read this book...the first by this most prolific Australian author.
It was okay without being a must read book.
Whilst the writing was competent the plot was so so and a predictable ending.
As a fan of the genre I have ordered another from my library.
It was okay without being a must read book.
Whilst the writing was competent the plot was so so and a predictable ending.
As a fan of the genre I have ordered another from my library.
July 23, 2024
A great evocation of life in the outback where the extremes of weather control life. Although the romantic story line was somewhat predictable I enjoyed the mystery and how the townspeople worked together to build a community.
September 7, 2022
loved it
September 8, 2022
Absolutely loved the journey of Flint and Penny. So many turns and unexpected twists in this enjoyable book. Will read more of Kerry's books for sure. Loved ❤️
September 15, 2022
A bit slow with the mystery part only happening half way through. Interesting setting.
November 3, 2022
Kerry is a great story teller and this was a wonderful read.
December 1, 2022
I like the background of the seasonal Wet and the workings of the nursery. This made the story a little different.
December 15, 2023
I found this book disappointing and unfinished with lots of unanswered questions.
February 12, 2024
A very enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews