A Tattooed Heart by Deborah Challinor

A Tattooed Heart is the fourth and final book by Deborah Challinor in her series about four convicts deported from Newgate Gaol to Sydney in the early 1830s.  I had been hanging out for the release of this book in late 2015 since I polished off The Silk Thief in December 2014.  So I pounced on it when I first saw it in store in November, and I tried eking this book out over a number weeks, but once a weekend came I just devoured it.

So check out the cover and blurb here below.

Each book has covered the story of all the girls, but a little more focus is placed on one girl in each book.  The initial book, Behind the Sun, focuses on all four girls, introducing the characters and exploring their growing bond.  In Girl of Shadows the focus was more on Sarah; in The Silk Thief it was Harriet that was the focus.  So if you have read the previous three books, it stands to reason that Friday is more of the focus in A Tattooed Heart.

This book picks up where the previous, The Silk Thief, leaves off.  Harriet seems to be over the demons that afflicted her in the previous book.  Although still fragile, she has realised the love and support she has from her husband and friends and endeavours to live her life.  Her husband, James, plots to ensure Harriet has even more to live for, surprising her with a reunion that bolsters Harriet and brings fresh characters into the series that impact on the story lines.

Friday mopes about until a surprise return by Aria and a new direction in her career proposed by Mrs Hislop give her a much needed boost.  Despite these events, the blackmail still weighs heavily upon her and her weakness for the booze threatens to lose both Aria and the dedication of Mrs Hislop from her life.  Friday also finds that Bella Jackson throws a curve ball into her life as well as a possible solution for a problem Mrs Hislop has long kept secret.

Aria also has revenge against Bella Jackson on her mind, after the theft of her uncle's tattooed head.  But her mother and father and fiancée also come looking for her in an effort to drag her away from Friday.

Sarah continues to use her unique talents to help the group figure out Bella Jackson's secrets and hold over them.  While she tries to keep the blackmail secret from her husband, Adam, he actually knows more than she realises and in the end gets the story more or less out of Sarah. 

Meanwhile, Jonah O'Leary lurks ominously around, convinced Harriet is the key to finding his brother and thinks baby Charlotte is the leverage he needs.  Leo makes a deal with Bella to protect young Walter who has returned despite the danger to his life.  Matthew is heartbroken by one young lady, but James' surprise for Harriet opens up new opportunities for Matthew.  And when the worst comes to the worst, Mrs Hislop's assistance is required and it brings back Captain Rian Farrell and his crew (from The Smuggler's Wife series and Girl of Shadows) back into the story to help Harriet, Sarah and Friday to save baby Charlotte.

Once again the book submerges you into the life of 1830s Sydney with apt description, a story line that sucks you in and then some twists and turns and a conclusion that rounds up the stories of these characters.  While you are sad to leave these characters, as it is the end of the series, the storylines are completed and it is the end.

The Silk Thief by Deborah Challinor

I've already reviewed the first to books in this series by Deborah Challinor, Behind the Sun and Girl of Shadows.  The Silk Thief is the third book, with a fourth and final book released before the end of 2015.

Deborah Challinor has written another gripping story, with the action starting right from the first page.  Here is the front cover and back blurb:

 

This story continues where Girl of Shadows left off in the tale of Friday, Sarah and Harriet and their many friends and enemies.  Bella Jackson is still trying to extort the girls as she holds knowledge of their past deeds over them, and to add to that is the death of Bella's most hideous partner in crime by the young cabin boy on the journey from England to Sydney after Friday handed over the bribe money.

 

Add to the mix Harriet's frail mind, Friday discovering her soul mate, Sarah's determination to keep the blackmail by Bella under wraps from her husband and the discovery of some secrets and talents of several other characters, and this rich tale envelops you into the routine and the rhythm of their lives.

 

I read this book during the summer of 2014/2015 and I was left hanging for the final book to finish the story and tie up all the loose ends - particularly why Bella Jackson wanted to have such control over Friday, Sarah and Harriet.

Girl of Shadows by Deborah Challinor

Deborah Challinor is a well known New Zealand author and historian.  She has written both fiction and non-fiction books, notably historical fiction and history books about Vietnam soldiers and the consequences of their service in the Vietnam conflict on the health of them and their subsequent children. 

 

I've read a number of her books and enjoyed them, and as soon as I can get my boxes out of storage and unpack my books and get them back on my shelves I will review those books too.

 

Currently Deborah Challinor is living in New South Wales Australia, writing a series of books based on four girls transported to Sydney Australia as convicts from London.  Girl of Shadows is the second book of that series, and I have previously reviewed the first book, Behind the Sun.  You can read more about Deborah Challinor and her books on her website.

 

The first book Behind the Sun was released in 2012, and this book was released in 2013.  So I am anticipating that the third book of the series will be released in 2014.... and I can barely wait as I have enjoyed the first two immensely.

As the characters were firmly established in the first book, Behind the Sun, this book quickly gets stuck into the action.  Only Friday, Sarah and Harriet are in this book, after the tragic loss of Rachel, and they are haunted by the revenge they took on behalf of poor Rachel.

Many other main and secondary characters return in this book, and some new ones are introduced.  One reoccurring character is Bella Jackson, who knows of their secret revenge and is blackmailing them.

The doctor from the Isla pines for Harriet, who will not make anything of his advances because of his actions after Rachel died.  Harriet has fallen on her feet though, being placed with a family who are also tailors and dressmakers.  Her artistic talents are soon discovered and put to use.

Sarah has fallen on her feet working for Adam Green, the jeweller, but his wife Esther is a thorn in her side.  Sarah decides to take matters into her own hands where Esther is concerned, and this has results that surprise even her.

Friday is working in a brothel that has rather high standards and she is popular.  But she fights the demons of her actions with booze and bears the burden of the blackmailing.  She knows someone is out to get her and her friends, but she can't quite put her finger on it.

This book engrossed me and took me on a journey to Sydney 1830.  It certainly is not the Sydney I'd like to visit, but to read about what this town was like so early on in its existence and to compare it to the Sydney today is quite fascinating.

The story is still full of Challinor's descriptions of the times and places and people, but the plot moves a long at a pace to keep you engaged.

And then it is the end of the book, and you realise that the next book in the series is not yet in the shops and probably won't be for another nine or ten months, and you grieve that you are leaving these characters prematurely, before you know their fates.....