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The Kincaid Saga #1
GOLD!
EVERY FAMILY HAS SECRETS—SOME SECRETS ARE MORE DEADLY THAN OTHERS.
— "Gold mining is a dangerous enterprise. Malcolm Kincaid makes it more treacherous."..." If you enjoy tales of family history, high drama, and pathos, I recommend GOLD!" — Steven Ramirez, best-selling USA author.
Malcolm Kincaid is an honorable man. Ambitious; even ruthless by some standards, but honorable nonetheless. He tells himself so regularly. But then, Malcolm Kincaid is a liar.
Over three decades, Malcolm uses, abuses, and dominates associates and family alike, crushing all opposition in his pursuit of wealth and power. When he allows the pollution of an Aboriginal settlement’s water supply, however, he faces justice of a kind he could never imagine.
GOLD! is a saga of greed, betrayal, family conflict, and murder. It is also, however, a story of love and loyalty—and of how one man’s pride and prejudice can lead to terrible retribution.
This is a tale as big as the country in which it is set. A sprawling saga with unexpected twists and turns and a villain you'll love to hate.
— "Gold mining is a dangerous enterprise. Malcolm Kincaid makes it more treacherous."..." If you enjoy tales of family history, high drama, and pathos, I recommend GOLD!" — Steven Ramirez, best-selling USA author.
Malcolm Kincaid is an honorable man. Ambitious; even ruthless by some standards, but honorable nonetheless. He tells himself so regularly. But then, Malcolm Kincaid is a liar.
Over three decades, Malcolm uses, abuses, and dominates associates and family alike, crushing all opposition in his pursuit of wealth and power. When he allows the pollution of an Aboriginal settlement’s water supply, however, he faces justice of a kind he could never imagine.
GOLD! is a saga of greed, betrayal, family conflict, and murder. It is also, however, a story of love and loyalty—and of how one man’s pride and prejudice can lead to terrible retribution.
This is a tale as big as the country in which it is set. A sprawling saga with unexpected twists and turns and a villain you'll love to hate.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
358 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2020
4 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Greenbank
7 books96 followersThomas Greenbank is a writer of gritty Australian fiction. GOLD, his debut novel, was a finalist in the respected 2020 Page Turner Awards. (https://pageturnerawards.com/writing-...) Greenbank’s writing draws deeply on his diverse background and professional experience. From years as a professional musician, factory worker, business owner, driver, ceramic artist and more—to 25 years as a full-time carer, there’s not much he hasn’t experienced. This diversity shows in his writing, as does his penchant for accuracy in research. Now semi-retired, Thomas lives south of Adelaide, South Australia, with his wife — #1 fan and biggest critic — Linda. When he’s not writing you’ll probably find them walking on a nearby beach.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 18, 2023
Not bad, Mr Greenbank. Not bad at all.
Was a bit of everything, as per the book blurb.
Was a bit of everything, as per the book blurb.
September 17, 2021
When Rachel first met Jamie Kincaid, she was involved with his brother Malcolm. But Malcolm was a bully, abusive and nasty and Rachel was done with him. When Jamie and Rachel married, she and Malcolm had an uneasy truce – but they had secrets between them as well. The birth of Lachlan was a joy to his parents, but Lachie wasn’t very old when his father died in a terrible accident. Rachel was devastated but she and Malcolm became partners in the gold mine that he and Jamie had run, working in the office while Malcom worked the business.
Malcolm was ruthless, always determined to get what he wanted without any thought for those around him. When Lachie was old enough, Malcolm took him under his wing to teach him the business. But Rachel was uneasy with this agreement, and Lachie wasn’t fond of his uncle either. When Lachie married Bronte and their son Ian was born, Lachie had recently been put in charge of a mine far north of Perth. The nearby Aboriginal settlement’s dam had become polluted by pillage from the mine and Lachie sought to improve things. But would Malcolm agree to the improvement? Would he admit to failings?
GOLD! is the 1st in The Kincaid Saga by Aussie author Thomas Greenbank and his debut novel. Set in Western Australia in Kalgoorlie, Perth and the far north of the state, the story spans some thirty or so years. Well written characters, but I did find there was little about the children growing up. Barely a mention of Lachie as a baby, of Rachel’s struggles on her own and of his schooling years. From around eighteen years of age, Lachie was forefront in the story. Then came little Ian and once again, barely any mention of babyhood until he was an integral part of the story. I feel the inclusion of a small part of the children’s lives would have set the emotional scenes more convincingly. GOLD! is a solid debut which I recommend.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Malcolm was ruthless, always determined to get what he wanted without any thought for those around him. When Lachie was old enough, Malcolm took him under his wing to teach him the business. But Rachel was uneasy with this agreement, and Lachie wasn’t fond of his uncle either. When Lachie married Bronte and their son Ian was born, Lachie had recently been put in charge of a mine far north of Perth. The nearby Aboriginal settlement’s dam had become polluted by pillage from the mine and Lachie sought to improve things. But would Malcolm agree to the improvement? Would he admit to failings?
GOLD! is the 1st in The Kincaid Saga by Aussie author Thomas Greenbank and his debut novel. Set in Western Australia in Kalgoorlie, Perth and the far north of the state, the story spans some thirty or so years. Well written characters, but I did find there was little about the children growing up. Barely a mention of Lachie as a baby, of Rachel’s struggles on her own and of his schooling years. From around eighteen years of age, Lachie was forefront in the story. Then came little Ian and once again, barely any mention of babyhood until he was an integral part of the story. I feel the inclusion of a small part of the children’s lives would have set the emotional scenes more convincingly. GOLD! is a solid debut which I recommend.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2022
This book was almost four years in the making. The story deals mainly with the deeds and misdeeds of a Misogynist businessman called Malcolm Kincaid and his family and coworkers.
Definitely recommended if you love tales with complex, individual characters and plot twists written in a fast-paced style and with realistic dialogue. Not recommended for those who want to read a maudlin love story (although you will find a touch of romance in there) or stories about unicorns, vampires, shape-shifters etc.
This is a gritty Family Saga with true-to-life action set to the backdrop of the Western Australian gold-mining industry Circa 1975-2005.
Recently re-edited to align more closely with the upcoming Book 2, a prequel going back one generation.
I think it's one of the best books recently published, but then again, I may be biased.
Definitely recommended if you love tales with complex, individual characters and plot twists written in a fast-paced style and with realistic dialogue. Not recommended for those who want to read a maudlin love story (although you will find a touch of romance in there) or stories about unicorns, vampires, shape-shifters etc.
This is a gritty Family Saga with true-to-life action set to the backdrop of the Western Australian gold-mining industry Circa 1975-2005.
Recently re-edited to align more closely with the upcoming Book 2, a prequel going back one generation.
I think it's one of the best books recently published, but then again, I may be biased.
May 15, 2022
When an author promotes a book as a debut novel I'm usually reluctant to invest the time in reading it. Unless it's been recommended to me, that is.
This book was recommended by a friend and I'm grateful to her for doing so.
Gold tells the story of a greedy and manipulative businessman who ‘uses and abuses friends and family alike’ (to quote the author) for his own ends.
It's a complex tale with heaps of subplots and unexpected twists. There is an element of romance and a couple of sex scenes and drug references. Not recommended for the squeamish or for cozy mystery fans.
The story spans thirty years and some of the main characters at the end aren't even born at the start. This as something I've rarely seen in a novel. The author introduces these new characters very professionally as the story progresses, without interfering with the flow.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers but rest assured the villain pays in the end in one final twist.
Hard to believe this is a self-published debut novel. I can't wait for Book Two.
This book was recommended by a friend and I'm grateful to her for doing so.
Gold tells the story of a greedy and manipulative businessman who ‘uses and abuses friends and family alike’ (to quote the author) for his own ends.
It's a complex tale with heaps of subplots and unexpected twists. There is an element of romance and a couple of sex scenes and drug references. Not recommended for the squeamish or for cozy mystery fans.
The story spans thirty years and some of the main characters at the end aren't even born at the start. This as something I've rarely seen in a novel. The author introduces these new characters very professionally as the story progresses, without interfering with the flow.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers but rest assured the villain pays in the end in one final twist.
Hard to believe this is a self-published debut novel. I can't wait for Book Two.
May 1, 2021
Finished reading THE GOLD by THOMAS GREENBANK. This is the author’s debut novel.
The story starts with Kincaid brothers Jamie and Malcolm buying a mine to start mining gold in Australia. Twist in the story happens when brothers develop the same love interest. Then story proceeds with what’s happening in their individual lives until something big happens both personally and professionally everything changes for the Kincaid clan which effects the oncoming generations as well.
If you like books that span across generations full of family drama, dark secrets, family conflicts and unexpected twists, then this is the book for you. What I liked about this story was it was so fast paced. Mostly dialogues between the characters, no long pages and pages of unnecessary descriptions, which was so refreshing.
I really enjoyed reading this one. Not a book I would have picked for myself but thanks BlackThorn Tours for providing me a copy for reading this amazing family saga. I definitely enjoyed reading it.
- @booksbysony
April 25, 2025
GOLD is book one in the Kincaid Saga by Thomas Greenbank. Malcolm Kincaid wanted money and power and did not care who he hurt on the way to achieve it. However, when his greed took over, he did not care that his mining practices poisoned the local community's water. Will this be the downfall of Malcolm Kincaid? The readers of GOLD will continue to follow Malcolm Kincaid to discover what happened.
I read Feargus, the second book in this series, and because I enjoyed it, I decided to read Gold, the first book in this series. I was pleased that I did because I engaged with the story and the characters from the first page. Gold taught me about Feargus 's children and how they continued their father's legacy. I enjoy how Thomas Greenbank highlighted the social issues in Australia during the period of this book. GOLD is an excellent family saga about jealousy, greed and murder. I love Thomas Greenbank's portrayal of his characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. GOLD is well-written and researched by Thomas Greenbank. I like Thomas Greenbank's description of the settings of GOLD, which complements the book's plot.
I recommend this book.
I read Feargus, the second book in this series, and because I enjoyed it, I decided to read Gold, the first book in this series. I was pleased that I did because I engaged with the story and the characters from the first page. Gold taught me about Feargus 's children and how they continued their father's legacy. I enjoy how Thomas Greenbank highlighted the social issues in Australia during the period of this book. GOLD is an excellent family saga about jealousy, greed and murder. I love Thomas Greenbank's portrayal of his characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. GOLD is well-written and researched by Thomas Greenbank. I like Thomas Greenbank's description of the settings of GOLD, which complements the book's plot.
I recommend this book.
August 18, 2021
I wasn't sure if i would enjoy this to start with. This is written in a very populist style and reminded me of populist authors such as Judy Nunn, Di Morrissey and even Wilbur Smith. There's nothing wrong with that, "populist" is not a dirty word or anything, it's just not my particular favourite genre.
As i get older i find i'm becoming a classics snob and a grumpy old reactionary.
So this isn't the sort of book i would normally read.
But i enjoyed it as i persisted with it. The story flows well and although i could sort of see where it was roughly heading there was enough twists and turns to make it an enjoyable and engaging read.
This is the sort of book that would be ideal for a long plane/train/bus trip.
I'd be interested to read the next volume in the story as and when it comes out.
All in all a good read. I don't regret spending time with this book.
As i get older i find i'm becoming a classics snob and a grumpy old reactionary.
So this isn't the sort of book i would normally read.
But i enjoyed it as i persisted with it. The story flows well and although i could sort of see where it was roughly heading there was enough twists and turns to make it an enjoyable and engaging read.
This is the sort of book that would be ideal for a long plane/train/bus trip.
I'd be interested to read the next volume in the story as and when it comes out.
All in all a good read. I don't regret spending time with this book.
April 26, 2025
5 ⭐️s
What a great story! Right up my alley. Every page kept me hooked. Loved it!
The story flows well and the tale was filled with a few surprising twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Jamie and Malcom start a mining company, they operate a gold mine in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The two brothers are as different as chalk and cheese. Jamie is gentle and kind, whereas Malcolm is greedy, narcissistic and abusive.
A compelling, fast paced historical saga filled with family drama, secrets, greed, racism, family conflict, violence and murder making it a fetching read.
I hope there is a future book about Lachie finding out who his biological father is, now that would make for fascinating reading.
I look forward to reading Feargus, the second book in the series.
What a great story! Right up my alley. Every page kept me hooked. Loved it!
The story flows well and the tale was filled with a few surprising twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Jamie and Malcom start a mining company, they operate a gold mine in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The two brothers are as different as chalk and cheese. Jamie is gentle and kind, whereas Malcolm is greedy, narcissistic and abusive.
A compelling, fast paced historical saga filled with family drama, secrets, greed, racism, family conflict, violence and murder making it a fetching read.
I hope there is a future book about Lachie finding out who his biological father is, now that would make for fascinating reading.
I look forward to reading Feargus, the second book in the series.
May 21, 2021
GOLD! (The Kincaid Saga, #1) is a brilliantly written family saga filled with doses of greed, betrayal, family conflict and murder. Slow in pace, it captures the journey of one man who goes to any lengths to fulfill his lust for wealth and power.
Set in the lucrative world of gold mining, the book covers several generations and is difficult to put down. The story contains a lot of twists making it utterly gripping from start to finish.
The character of the patriarch Malcolm Kincaid is well defined and believable as men like him do exists in this highly competitive world of business. Also, the hidden agendas of the characters revolving around him are brought forward in a crisp and concise manner.
Almost 400 pages in length, the book has all the right ingredients in place, to keep the readers hooked. I will be keenly awaiting for saga #2.
Set in the lucrative world of gold mining, the book covers several generations and is difficult to put down. The story contains a lot of twists making it utterly gripping from start to finish.
The character of the patriarch Malcolm Kincaid is well defined and believable as men like him do exists in this highly competitive world of business. Also, the hidden agendas of the characters revolving around him are brought forward in a crisp and concise manner.
Almost 400 pages in length, the book has all the right ingredients in place, to keep the readers hooked. I will be keenly awaiting for saga #2.
April 3, 2022
[I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review through Voracious Readers Only]
This was a highly entertaining and dramatic tale of greed, violence, secrecy, and racism. The story's drama starts immediately from the first few chapters and has seemingly endless plot twists and shocking swerves. I couldn't stop reading to find out what would happen next and see if all the secrets that the characters were keeping from each other would be revealed. Greenbank's characters all feel real and sympathetic- even the loathsome Malcom- and the novel's Western Australian setting feels authentic as well. The ending was also satisfying, though maybe a little rushed. I came across the odd typo and math error with a character's age while I was reading but otherwise I really enjoyed this book!
This was a highly entertaining and dramatic tale of greed, violence, secrecy, and racism. The story's drama starts immediately from the first few chapters and has seemingly endless plot twists and shocking swerves. I couldn't stop reading to find out what would happen next and see if all the secrets that the characters were keeping from each other would be revealed. Greenbank's characters all feel real and sympathetic- even the loathsome Malcom- and the novel's Western Australian setting feels authentic as well. The ending was also satisfying, though maybe a little rushed. I came across the odd typo and math error with a character's age while I was reading but otherwise I really enjoyed this book!
April 30, 2021
OK so this isn't normally a book I would pick up on my own. It's pretty different and outside my usual type of reads. That being said, I am glad I took the chance and read this one. Sometimes it is good to step outside those comfort zones.
Families are an anomaly at times. They can be close-knit or they can be tumultuous. Sometimes they can even be both. This is a story of a family steeped in betryal, even while loving one another. There are secrets. There is a love triangle and murder. What else do you need? 🤣🤣🤣
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Black Thorn Book Tours for inviting me along this journey. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
Families are an anomaly at times. They can be close-knit or they can be tumultuous. Sometimes they can even be both. This is a story of a family steeped in betryal, even while loving one another. There are secrets. There is a love triangle and murder. What else do you need? 🤣🤣🤣
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Black Thorn Book Tours for inviting me along this journey. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
July 11, 2023
I received this book in return for an honest review. I enjoyed this book, although it got a little slow in the middle where I started to struggle a little with it but once Lachlan was involved with the mine the story picked up again. The last quarter of the book was excellent and I couldn’t put it down. Thank you.
Read
June 13, 2021The book had many twists and turns, as well as good guys and bad guys. Lots of secrets kept from one person or another. Well written. Kept me interested right to the end.
April 23, 2021
This is a great read for those who love a family saga. The story covers several generations centred around Malcolm Kincaid - a self-centred bigot with no empathy for others. As his misdeeds mount up, I was eager to find out how (and if) he was going to get his comeuppance. The author has obviously done his research into gold mining - a subject which I knew little about before reading the book.
May 4, 2021
This was a novel I chose from my good friends at Blackthorn Book Tours. And there is one important lesson I think I took from this novel, one that a lot of people would probably miss. Never go into business with family. Nothing good comes from family sharing a love for money and greed. Someone is always going to get hurt.
GOLD! is about a couple members of the Kincaid family go into business owning a gold mining company. Of course, one of the brothers is gung-ho believing that they will immediately be rich. The other brother is skeptical but willing to take the risk on the idea that eventually money will be coming their way. A lot of money.
The sibling rivalry couple with the stresses of running an entire mining company compiled with the personal issues each one faces creates a lot of nervous tension, anger and emotional turmoil. Misunderstandings turn into disagreements which turn into arguments which then turn into full on conflict peppered with strife and hostility affecting everyone and everything in their path.
The plot is original and unusual, grabbing you from the beginning. Each chapter is actually titled letting you get a glimpse of what is coming in the next part of the story. The titled chapters also make it a whole lot easier to read and organize the story in your head and if you have to step away from the book the titles help keep you on track so you don’t feel the need to keep going back and rereading the ends of the previous chapters over and over again, wasting precious reading time that all of us fight to have.
Well written and easily organized this novel is an incredibly fast read. The structure, as I mentioned before, is perfectly set. Mr. Greenbank is fantastic at each of the different conveying character personalities. This makes it very easy to like or loathe each particular character.
There is a large inclusion of all of the cultural aspects that are different, the language differences from the United States and Australia and all the societal differences gives an entirely new cultural view to the reader, taking you to a new continent, a new country and parking you in the middle of a town that you are not familiar with and letting you learn the ins and outs from the first page all the way to the last.
Every chapter has a twist in a new direction or a crazy turn you didn’t expect, the things you thought were coming are quickly whisked away into a whole new realm that you didn’t even think could exist, let alone consider. These twists and turns are combined with the normal everyday average situations that each one of us can relate to and identify with. That is another aspect that really makes the story feel more personal but the largest way the author pulls you in like that is the way he shows the full persona of each character. There are some characters you love; some you feel for and some you just absolutely hate. Each of these emotions are fully real and experienced because the author presents them so perfectly the characters actually take on real life personalities in your reading experience.
Although this wasn’t an actual horror novel it was still very much a suspense thriller. There are definitely moments where the one-tenth of a second it takes you to turn the page seems like an eternity but once you get to the text on the next page it is always well worth it. I would recommend this to suspense and thriller lovers. If you are looking for the hardcore horror plotline kind of story, this isn’t going to give you that. But the suspense and thriller aspects are completely satisfying and totally enjoyable.
RATINGS
5/5 Stars
GOLD! is about a couple members of the Kincaid family go into business owning a gold mining company. Of course, one of the brothers is gung-ho believing that they will immediately be rich. The other brother is skeptical but willing to take the risk on the idea that eventually money will be coming their way. A lot of money.
The sibling rivalry couple with the stresses of running an entire mining company compiled with the personal issues each one faces creates a lot of nervous tension, anger and emotional turmoil. Misunderstandings turn into disagreements which turn into arguments which then turn into full on conflict peppered with strife and hostility affecting everyone and everything in their path.
The plot is original and unusual, grabbing you from the beginning. Each chapter is actually titled letting you get a glimpse of what is coming in the next part of the story. The titled chapters also make it a whole lot easier to read and organize the story in your head and if you have to step away from the book the titles help keep you on track so you don’t feel the need to keep going back and rereading the ends of the previous chapters over and over again, wasting precious reading time that all of us fight to have.
Well written and easily organized this novel is an incredibly fast read. The structure, as I mentioned before, is perfectly set. Mr. Greenbank is fantastic at each of the different conveying character personalities. This makes it very easy to like or loathe each particular character.
There is a large inclusion of all of the cultural aspects that are different, the language differences from the United States and Australia and all the societal differences gives an entirely new cultural view to the reader, taking you to a new continent, a new country and parking you in the middle of a town that you are not familiar with and letting you learn the ins and outs from the first page all the way to the last.
Every chapter has a twist in a new direction or a crazy turn you didn’t expect, the things you thought were coming are quickly whisked away into a whole new realm that you didn’t even think could exist, let alone consider. These twists and turns are combined with the normal everyday average situations that each one of us can relate to and identify with. That is another aspect that really makes the story feel more personal but the largest way the author pulls you in like that is the way he shows the full persona of each character. There are some characters you love; some you feel for and some you just absolutely hate. Each of these emotions are fully real and experienced because the author presents them so perfectly the characters actually take on real life personalities in your reading experience.
Although this wasn’t an actual horror novel it was still very much a suspense thriller. There are definitely moments where the one-tenth of a second it takes you to turn the page seems like an eternity but once you get to the text on the next page it is always well worth it. I would recommend this to suspense and thriller lovers. If you are looking for the hardcore horror plotline kind of story, this isn’t going to give you that. But the suspense and thriller aspects are completely satisfying and totally enjoyable.
RATINGS
5/5 Stars
August 13, 2021
At the time of this story, gold mining had influenced the history and economy of Western Australia.
In the golden fields, some people became rich, and others lost everything, including their own lives.
The mirage of gold has always attracted adventurers, and the inevitable arrival of new settlers has generated violent clashes with the indigenous inhabitants of the earth.
The first serious confrontation between the two brothers Malcolm and Jamie takes place because of a woman, Rachel.
Jamie and Rachel love each other, move in together, and Malcolm seems to accept the new situation. Not long after, a strange physical encounter takes place between Rachel and Malcolm. I agree that this should remain their secret. Rachel knows Jamie can kill if he finds out the truth.
Things get complicated. Following the rape, a child is born. The secret becomes even more pressing, it can become an obsession that changes destinies.
The story progresses, generating new and new intrigues. They solve some events, others become even more complicated. Everything in an alert rhythm sprinkled with dialogues between precisely outlined characters.
The author of the book has researched the specific world of gold mining. I realize Mr. Thomas Peter Greenbank has had long discussions with specialists in this field.
This family saga has an unpredictable and disturbing ending. It is inappropriate to say the end because we understood it to us that this story will continue.
We are waiting.
#AustralianOceanian #DramaPlays
About the Author
Thomas Greenbank is an Australian author. His debut novel, GOLD! The Kincaid Saga--Book 1, is available on Amazon as an eBook or Paperback.
GOLD! was a finalist in the prestigious Page Turner Awards, 2020.
Thomas lives south of Adelaide, SA, with his wife--#1 fan and biggest critic--Linda. When he's not buried in his laptop you'll likely find them fishing, or walking on a nearby beach.
In the golden fields, some people became rich, and others lost everything, including their own lives.
The mirage of gold has always attracted adventurers, and the inevitable arrival of new settlers has generated violent clashes with the indigenous inhabitants of the earth.
The first serious confrontation between the two brothers Malcolm and Jamie takes place because of a woman, Rachel.
Jamie and Rachel love each other, move in together, and Malcolm seems to accept the new situation. Not long after, a strange physical encounter takes place between Rachel and Malcolm. I agree that this should remain their secret. Rachel knows Jamie can kill if he finds out the truth.
Things get complicated. Following the rape, a child is born. The secret becomes even more pressing, it can become an obsession that changes destinies.
The story progresses, generating new and new intrigues. They solve some events, others become even more complicated. Everything in an alert rhythm sprinkled with dialogues between precisely outlined characters.
The author of the book has researched the specific world of gold mining. I realize Mr. Thomas Peter Greenbank has had long discussions with specialists in this field.
This family saga has an unpredictable and disturbing ending. It is inappropriate to say the end because we understood it to us that this story will continue.
We are waiting.
#AustralianOceanian #DramaPlays
About the Author
Thomas Greenbank is an Australian author. His debut novel, GOLD! The Kincaid Saga--Book 1, is available on Amazon as an eBook or Paperback.
GOLD! was a finalist in the prestigious Page Turner Awards, 2020.
Thomas lives south of Adelaide, SA, with his wife--#1 fan and biggest critic--Linda. When he's not buried in his laptop you'll likely find them fishing, or walking on a nearby beach.
August 23, 2023
I initially chose to read Gold!, by Thomas Greenbank, because of my unfamiliarity with the dialects of the characters and the geography and history of the gold mining region of Western Australia. The book description promises deadly family secrets, greed, betrayal, twists, and turns. Although family saga isn’t a genre I’m drawn to, I have to admit Greenbank delivers all that and more.
To begin with, it’s hard not to like an openly despicable, ruthless character like the headstrong Malcolm Kincaid. Every turn of events is a chance for the opportunist to lure another trusting victim into his web of greed and deceit on his quest to become a mining mogul.
But Greenbank doesn’t just focus on Uncle Mal as if he were a cardboard cutout villain just waiting for his comeuppance. As the story unfolds, he introduces other major players, including younger generations of Kincaids and their friends and coworkers who are confronted and confounded by the layers of the old man’s lies.
Gold! also contains a subtle thread that examines the pain and suffering experienced by women and marginalized groups in Australia throughout the three decades this story covers (1975-2005). Malcolm Kincaid serves as a toxic example of an unapologetic misogynist and racist willing to sacrifice anyone else’s self-worth and well being to gain more power and wealth for himself under the illusion that real men are supposed to do just that.
His attitudes and those of other characters might seem outdated when viewed through a contemporary lens, but given the scope of the decades and the painfully slow rate of change in social mores as witnessed by today’s headlines, they offer a glimpse of how one bad actor can impact generations to come.
Fortunately, some of these characters do manage to nudge their own and society’s attitudes enough to offer a glimmer of hope.
I look forward to the next installment of the Kincaid Saga.
To begin with, it’s hard not to like an openly despicable, ruthless character like the headstrong Malcolm Kincaid. Every turn of events is a chance for the opportunist to lure another trusting victim into his web of greed and deceit on his quest to become a mining mogul.
But Greenbank doesn’t just focus on Uncle Mal as if he were a cardboard cutout villain just waiting for his comeuppance. As the story unfolds, he introduces other major players, including younger generations of Kincaids and their friends and coworkers who are confronted and confounded by the layers of the old man’s lies.
Gold! also contains a subtle thread that examines the pain and suffering experienced by women and marginalized groups in Australia throughout the three decades this story covers (1975-2005). Malcolm Kincaid serves as a toxic example of an unapologetic misogynist and racist willing to sacrifice anyone else’s self-worth and well being to gain more power and wealth for himself under the illusion that real men are supposed to do just that.
His attitudes and those of other characters might seem outdated when viewed through a contemporary lens, but given the scope of the decades and the painfully slow rate of change in social mores as witnessed by today’s headlines, they offer a glimpse of how one bad actor can impact generations to come.
Fortunately, some of these characters do manage to nudge their own and society’s attitudes enough to offer a glimmer of hope.
I look forward to the next installment of the Kincaid Saga.
May 2, 2021
Gold is a tantalising book with dramatic twists, murders, love and a bit of tragic-comedy. I received this book with a request for an honest review.
This story is medium- fast paced with both character and plot driven characteristics. It highlights little but important and exquisite details of its characters and setting. It absolutely left no dull moment for me; slowly raising its tension bar in each chapter.
One of the important features I love in family saga is the mixture of characters. I was introduced to a variety of characters that I fell in love with immediately. All had their own distinct characters that you don't need to who is talking to know who it is. We have an abusive boyfriend, a loving husband, a loving wife, a gullible son at sometime, the son's cruel wife and so many more which had exquisite taste to the driving of the plot of the story.
There should be lessons that should impact me when i read a story and this definitely have that. It is the lifestyle of an exploiting and greedy man. The story showcased exploitation from two views; "exploiter" and "exploitee". It shows the uncaring attitude and greedy and fraudulent methods used by the exploiter which is quite common in the world we live in. Then it showcases the people suffering due to the harsh decisions of the exploiters.
I absolutely love this book and I really commend the author for this book.
This story is medium- fast paced with both character and plot driven characteristics. It highlights little but important and exquisite details of its characters and setting. It absolutely left no dull moment for me; slowly raising its tension bar in each chapter.
One of the important features I love in family saga is the mixture of characters. I was introduced to a variety of characters that I fell in love with immediately. All had their own distinct characters that you don't need to who is talking to know who it is. We have an abusive boyfriend, a loving husband, a loving wife, a gullible son at sometime, the son's cruel wife and so many more which had exquisite taste to the driving of the plot of the story.
There should be lessons that should impact me when i read a story and this definitely have that. It is the lifestyle of an exploiting and greedy man. The story showcased exploitation from two views; "exploiter" and "exploitee". It shows the uncaring attitude and greedy and fraudulent methods used by the exploiter which is quite common in the world we live in. Then it showcases the people suffering due to the harsh decisions of the exploiters.
I absolutely love this book and I really commend the author for this book.
April 30, 2021
Covering several decades – and multiple generations of the Kincaid family – Mr. Greenbank regales the reader with a sprawling saga as expansive as the desolate Western Australia landscape in which it is set. Though, at its heart, ‘Gold’ is an oft-told story of love, greed, secrets, and betrayal.
From humble beginnings – and with a mining lease attained by way of a gambling debt – the Kincaid family grows to become mining royalty. Yet, petty jealousies, acrimonious relationships, and a penchant for making untimely and poor decisions are forever bubbling to the surface. Slip in a healthy dose of corporate shenanigans that trample upon the rights of the indigenous people and you have an Australian melodrama rivalling ‘Dallas’ and the tumultuous Ewing family dynasty.
There is much to enjoy in this novel. And Mr. Greenbank’s prose flows easily across the page. However, so much familial history is covered in such a short period of time, this novel could’ve been a three-part series in itself. It often felt Mr. Greenbank barely scratched the surface of the lives and events depicted and passed over much of the hidden gold beneath; just as the family patriarch, Fergus Kincaid, had once done. Nonetheless, ‘Gold’ is still a worthy investment.
I received a copy of this book from Blackthorn Book Tours for a fair and honest review.
From humble beginnings – and with a mining lease attained by way of a gambling debt – the Kincaid family grows to become mining royalty. Yet, petty jealousies, acrimonious relationships, and a penchant for making untimely and poor decisions are forever bubbling to the surface. Slip in a healthy dose of corporate shenanigans that trample upon the rights of the indigenous people and you have an Australian melodrama rivalling ‘Dallas’ and the tumultuous Ewing family dynasty.
There is much to enjoy in this novel. And Mr. Greenbank’s prose flows easily across the page. However, so much familial history is covered in such a short period of time, this novel could’ve been a three-part series in itself. It often felt Mr. Greenbank barely scratched the surface of the lives and events depicted and passed over much of the hidden gold beneath; just as the family patriarch, Fergus Kincaid, had once done. Nonetheless, ‘Gold’ is still a worthy investment.
I received a copy of this book from Blackthorn Book Tours for a fair and honest review.
May 5, 2021
I loved this book. I read it in one night! I had fun following the story of Jamie and Malcolm but found soon I didn't care for Jamie too much. He had a penchant to take his brother's women dating back to high school. Jamie and Rachel were wrong for crossing that line. Later, when Malcolm stands on the sidelines while Jamie marries Rachel, I was not all that mad when Malcolm got Rachel pregnant, as he reclaimed what was already his. To me, I thought Jamie and Malcolm's plan to sell fake gold was a slap in the face to all the work the father Fergus had done to build the business, but Malcolm was left always having to one up his brother. Later, when Jamie dies in a car accident, Rachel is terrified of having anything to do with Malcolm, who is the real father of her son, Lach. That conversation Rachel had with her mother proved that getting rape ran in the family. This is a great book with good writing and I can tell the author studied Australia gold mines, mines and the poisons that were all relative to this great book. I never expected for Malcolm's son to fall in love with Aretha and only knew she was Black when Bronte, Lach's ex mentioned it. Can't wait for part II.
May 2, 2021
Like the California Gold Rush, gold mining in Western Australia began in the late nineteenth century. Unlike California, that first discovery in the Kimberley region evolved into a massive industry. But with it came the inevitable greed, corruption, and abuse of indigenous people.
GOLD! by Thomas Greenbank doesn’t start in the 1800s, though. It begins in the late twentieth century and focuses on the Kincaid family—specifically, Malcolm Kincaid. When a person is described as a “self-made man,” it usually means he’s ruthless. And Malcolm doesn’t disappoint. In his quest for success, he destroys everything around him—especially his family. Gold mining is a dangerous enterprise. Malcolm Kincaid makes it more treacherous.
The author’s treatment of this sprawling story is impressive. Each character is unique, and no one gets lost in the vast landscape of perilous mines and toxic water. If you enjoy tales of family history, high drama, and pathos, I recommend GOLD!
July 8, 2022
This is the story of the Kincaid family and their gold mining business. Malcolm Kincaid is a successful but also and incredible narcissistic character that crushes family and associates in his pursuit of greed and power. Set in Australia this story is a deep dive into family drama and the inner workings of gold mining as a traditional family business.
I thoroughly enjoyed Malcom Kincaid's narcissistic character that was reminiscent of J.R. Ewing. The overall theme of family and the conflicts within drew me in and kept me engaged as secrets were revealed and the story unfolds. This is the first book in the series and I am looking forward to the following stories that continue to tell the outcome in the end.
I would recommend this book for people who enjoy those mining shows on tv or family dramas spanning generations. I suggest Americans check this one out for a fun trip to the Outbavk you won’t soon forget.
I thoroughly enjoyed Malcom Kincaid's narcissistic character that was reminiscent of J.R. Ewing. The overall theme of family and the conflicts within drew me in and kept me engaged as secrets were revealed and the story unfolds. This is the first book in the series and I am looking forward to the following stories that continue to tell the outcome in the end.
I would recommend this book for people who enjoy those mining shows on tv or family dramas spanning generations. I suggest Americans check this one out for a fun trip to the Outbavk you won’t soon forget.
October 11, 2023
I received this book courtesy of Mr. Greenbank for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: The Kincaid Mining Corporation is a family run business. Officially, Rachel and, her son, Lachlan have a massive say in how the business works. Unofficially, it's run by a ruthless business man, Malcolm Kincaid. How did this saga start? And how will it end?
Story Telling: This is a family saga; you could also call it a drama.
Dislikes: As far as I'm concerned, Malcolm Kincaid has a rather hot and sulfuric reservation to be going to. This man missed quite a few valuable lessons in common courtesy
And now I think Wally Bright deserved to be eaten.
Likes: Lachlan somehow turned into a decent man. With the role models given him, somehow he beat the odds.
Conclusion: If you like a rather fun and vigorous story, this will not be for you. These sagas are slow stories that span a long time. This one in particular covers a good thirty-plus year span. Enjoy the read.
Overview: The Kincaid Mining Corporation is a family run business. Officially, Rachel and, her son, Lachlan have a massive say in how the business works. Unofficially, it's run by a ruthless business man, Malcolm Kincaid. How did this saga start? And how will it end?
Story Telling: This is a family saga; you could also call it a drama.
Dislikes: As far as I'm concerned, Malcolm Kincaid has a rather hot and sulfuric reservation to be going to. This man missed quite a few valuable lessons in common courtesy
And now I think Wally Bright deserved to be eaten.
Likes: Lachlan somehow turned into a decent man. With the role models given him, somehow he beat the odds.
Conclusion: If you like a rather fun and vigorous story, this will not be for you. These sagas are slow stories that span a long time. This one in particular covers a good thirty-plus year span. Enjoy the read.
December 10, 2020
As a keen gold prospector I was looking forward to a novel that would keep my passion for roaming about the Australian goldfields searching for that retirement nugget alive.
OK, so it wasn't about individuals like me roaming about in the bush ........ BUT it turned out to be a very entertaining read about theKincaid family (and their friends/foes) and their small scale mining operation in Western Australia.
This novel will appeal to a wide range of people with an interest in Australian stories .... note that you DON'T need to have an interest in gold or mining it's simply an entertaining story, a great holiday reading option.
Look forward to a follow-up to see how the Kincaid empire progresses.
OK, so it wasn't about individuals like me roaming about in the bush ........ BUT it turned out to be a very entertaining read about theKincaid family (and their friends/foes) and their small scale mining operation in Western Australia.
This novel will appeal to a wide range of people with an interest in Australian stories .... note that you DON'T need to have an interest in gold or mining it's simply an entertaining story, a great holiday reading option.
Look forward to a follow-up to see how the Kincaid empire progresses.
May 3, 2021
GOLD is an intriguing family business saga with lots of interplay between members, across generations. Love, hatred, abuse, manipulation, plot intertwine in a vivid story line with a lot of attention to character emotion development. The story starts with Malcolm the evil minded mining operation owner, he is single minded in his ways to achieve his ulterior motives, with little regard to morale or even laws. The second half of the book gradually shifts focus from Malcolm to his son (to whom he has to act as uncle as he is conceived during rape) who proves to be a much better person, ethic wise, though not without mishap in his personal life. Everything will come back to Malcolm again as karma serves its cold dish. In all, it’s a fantastic page turner not to be missed.
May 29, 2021
I received an ARC copy of this book by the author through Voracious readers only and this is my review. I found this book to be very interesting as it was set in and around Perth in Western Australia where I grew up in the late 1960"s. There were many places mentioned in the story that I have visited myself and therefore this story was of interest to me personally. The story surrounds the Kinkaid family who own gold mines which are located north of Perth in the Kalgoorlie district. The author has woven some interesting facts into the storyline along with factual information about the native aboriginal people which makes an interesting read. The story was enjoyable and the author is also adding spin off books from this story.
December 6, 2020
I'm a member of the Prospecting Australia forum, and Thomas approached the group a while back for advice and info on gold mining. As thanks for the help he got he sent copies of the finished book out to some members.
I got to say I couldn't put this book down, once I started. The characters sucked me in from the start, especially Malcom, the villain.
I read a lot, and honestly didn't expect this book to be anything special. Boy, was I surprised.
I asked him where I could leave a review and he gave me this link. I recommend GOLD to anyone who likes a good read full of story twists and believable characters. Well done mate.
I got to say I couldn't put this book down, once I started. The characters sucked me in from the start, especially Malcom, the villain.
I read a lot, and honestly didn't expect this book to be anything special. Boy, was I surprised.
I asked him where I could leave a review and he gave me this link. I recommend GOLD to anyone who likes a good read full of story twists and believable characters. Well done mate.
June 4, 2021
This book spanned so much time and yet I didn't feel rushed reading it. The characters are believable and some make you hate them (good writing). Love, murder, betrayal, money, and family dynamics are just some of the topics touched in this story. It is a page-turner! There are adult themes so not recommended for those under 18 yo or the faint of heart.
I received a free ebook from Voracious Readers Only for my honest review.
I received a free ebook from Voracious Readers Only for my honest review.
September 25, 2023
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/48x6PR1.
Two brothers inherited a gold mine from their father-literally. Intent on following in his footsteps they graduate with a mining degree and begin their dream. Although there are some female problems the brothers eventually work through them and go into business as planned. While there are profits to be had it is slow going and they are unable to buy the newer machines they would like. The younger brother, Malcolm, crafts a plan to create a "hand of God" nugget to be insured and stolen or sold to a private collector to give them the kickstart they need.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I genuinely hated Malcolm in this book. He was abusive, greedy, self-serving and so much more which you will find out within these pages. He deserved much more than the fate he met, I will say that much at least.
This book switches perspectives between multiple people within the Kincaid family as the story unfolds. Each offers more insight into the events going on at that time. Although the start of the book is about a chunk of gold that is not the main point of the story. Everything about this book is about the Kincaid family gold mining operations and how that plays out through two generations. Technically three if you count the bit of backstory we got of the boys father.
It took me forever to get into this book because of how much I hated one of the characters. Hating someone you love to hate is one thing, but when they're hated so much you no longer care about what happens in the story around them it makes things difficult. This book excels in characters you will hate.
That being said, the book was well written and I enjoyed those characters getting their just desserts. Side note. This book says it is book one in the Kincaid saga, although personally I don't see where the book could go from where it ended. I feel like things were completely resolved and I don't have any standing questions.
Two brothers inherited a gold mine from their father-literally. Intent on following in his footsteps they graduate with a mining degree and begin their dream. Although there are some female problems the brothers eventually work through them and go into business as planned. While there are profits to be had it is slow going and they are unable to buy the newer machines they would like. The younger brother, Malcolm, crafts a plan to create a "hand of God" nugget to be insured and stolen or sold to a private collector to give them the kickstart they need.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I genuinely hated Malcolm in this book. He was abusive, greedy, self-serving and so much more which you will find out within these pages. He deserved much more than the fate he met, I will say that much at least.
This book switches perspectives between multiple people within the Kincaid family as the story unfolds. Each offers more insight into the events going on at that time. Although the start of the book is about a chunk of gold that is not the main point of the story. Everything about this book is about the Kincaid family gold mining operations and how that plays out through two generations. Technically three if you count the bit of backstory we got of the boys father.
It took me forever to get into this book because of how much I hated one of the characters. Hating someone you love to hate is one thing, but when they're hated so much you no longer care about what happens in the story around them it makes things difficult. This book excels in characters you will hate.
That being said, the book was well written and I enjoyed those characters getting their just desserts. Side note. This book says it is book one in the Kincaid saga, although personally I don't see where the book could go from where it ended. I feel like things were completely resolved and I don't have any standing questions.
May 2, 2021
I was given this book with a request for an honest review.
Anyone who knows me, knows I (as a general rule) stick to either horror or romance novels. That’s always been my thing. Honestly though, despite my hesitancy, I have absolutely no regrets in accepting the opportunity to read this one.
Gold! is a story of love, lust, greed, murder, intrigue… the list goes on and on. Greenbank takes us on a journey into the lives of the Kincaid family and their rise to “stardom” via gold mining.
(I mean, who wouldn’t want to own their own gold mine?? I certainly wouldn’t mind.)
Having this much power and wealth unfortunately comes at a price for the Kincaids and Thomas Greenbank takes us through their story flawlessly.
From the horrific doings of the lead character, Malcolm Kincaid all the way to the classically beautiful love stories of both Rachel and Jamie and Lachlan and Aretha, this book satisfied everything I could possibly want out of a novel.
The only draw back that I would have to say is that I would have loved the opportunity to learn more about specific characters. For instance, Rachel deserves a longer story of her own, as do Lachlan and Aretha. Maybe Greenbank could do a short novella for each??
Anyone who knows me, knows I (as a general rule) stick to either horror or romance novels. That’s always been my thing. Honestly though, despite my hesitancy, I have absolutely no regrets in accepting the opportunity to read this one.
Gold! is a story of love, lust, greed, murder, intrigue… the list goes on and on. Greenbank takes us on a journey into the lives of the Kincaid family and their rise to “stardom” via gold mining.
(I mean, who wouldn’t want to own their own gold mine?? I certainly wouldn’t mind.)
Having this much power and wealth unfortunately comes at a price for the Kincaids and Thomas Greenbank takes us through their story flawlessly.
From the horrific doings of the lead character, Malcolm Kincaid all the way to the classically beautiful love stories of both Rachel and Jamie and Lachlan and Aretha, this book satisfied everything I could possibly want out of a novel.
The only draw back that I would have to say is that I would have loved the opportunity to learn more about specific characters. For instance, Rachel deserves a longer story of her own, as do Lachlan and Aretha. Maybe Greenbank could do a short novella for each??
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