Thunderbolt

by Mark Morey

Thunderbolt covers many years of Fred Ward or Captain Thunderbolt's life, and much of his outlaw life, making for a sweeping and exhilarating story the likes of which I've never come across before. You must read this story - five stars. Alice Pickard – author.

Read Thunderbolt for action, adventure, excitement, love and romance, it has it all. Chloe Newman – author.

Once I started reading Thunderbolt, I couldn't put it down. Cody White - author

Australia's Wild West, wilder than anywhere in the world. Amidst thousands of outlaws over many decades, one stands Fred Ward or Captain Thunderbolt, the gentleman bushranger. Forced into a life of crime by circumstances, Thunderbolt had a code of be courteous, use minimal violence, only steal from the rich and never steal from ladies. For seven years Thunderbolt evaded the authorities, helped by the ordinary people of western New South Wales who saw him as one of their own. Just as remarkable is Thunderbolt's girlfriend Mary. Raising his children, scouting hold-up locations and even riding with Fred as his lookout. The police, unable to apprehend Thunderbolt, targeted Mary instead, but always she went back to her man. The story of Fred and Mary Ward even though outlaws, is a story of love, honour and decency.

538 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2021

About the author

Writing a novel didn’t cross my mind until after a visit to the local library where I couldn’t find a book that interested me. That led me consider a new pastime - write a book. That book may never be published, but I felt my follow-up cross-cultural romance-crime hybrid set in Russia had more potential. So much so that I wrote a sequel that took those characters on a journey to a very dark place.

The opening of the Red Sun Will Come came to me in a dream, and to this day I have no idea why Moscow. I had never been there before, but during the course of developing this novel we did visit Russia, and my wife and I both fell in love with Moscow. It is a world city: exciting, dynamic, visually beautiful and more What better setting for a romance with many difficulties?

Beyond part-time work and part-time writing I particularly enjoy travel.

But writing is my favourite pastime and I have many more tales that I would like to tell. Keep in touch to see where my next journey will take you.

Reviews

[Johanna Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impeccably researched, Thunderbolt recounts the true story of Fred Ward and Mary Ann Bugg in a way that really draws the reader into the story. The setting is detailed and real, and provided a very strong sense of place and time. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey into the lives of these really interesting historical figures.

[Alice Pickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thunderbolt is the story of Australian bushranger Fred Ward or Captain Thunderbolt, and his girlfriend Mary Ward or Mrs Thunderbolt. It's the characters which bring this story alive, Fred the talented stockman with an imposing presence, yet sometimes naive and easily led. Mary, educated and well-spoken, yet at times earthy with her language, and an excellent horsewoman with a temper. Mary sometimes guides Fred and there's one thing never in doubt, her love for him. Remarkably, Thunderbolt covers many years of Fred Ward or Captain Thunderbolt's life, and much of his outlaw life, making for a sweeping and exhilarating story the likes of which I've never come across before. Danger, excitement, spectacular chases through the Australian bush; Thunderbolt has it all. You must read this story - five stars.

[Chloe Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The life's story of Australian Bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, a near legendary character in parts of Australia, is masterfully fictionalised in this novel Thunderbolt, covering a large part of Thunderbolt's life as well as his relationship with the remarkable Mary. Sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction, and in the case of Thunderbolt, truth is almost incredible but real enough. The key characters of Fred Ward, Captain Thunderbolt, and Mary carry this story, as do supporting characters in Fred's two gangs and especially his young associate Tom, extremely well-drawn. A particular highlight was the changing point of view, especially later in the story, between Thunderbolt and Mary, where they live the same experiences but from quite different perspectives.

Read Thunderbolt for action, adventure, excitement, love, romance and nuance, it has it all.

[Adam Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel Thunderbolt doesn't just tell a story, it takes you to a distant time where you live the tragedies and triumphs, love and losses of Fred Ward or bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, a charismatic but flawed man in a relationship with Mary for many years, which is the main highlight of many highlights in this novel. Neither long or short, you will find Thunderbolt hard to put down. Five out of five, an excellent read.