To Chase The Storm

Frontier #4

by Peter Watt

The fourth novel in the compelling Duffy and Macintosh series.

"The home grown version of Wilbur Smith" The Sunday Age

When Major Patrick Duffy's beautiful wife Catherine leaves him for another, he is propelled out of the Sydney Macintosh home and into yet another bloody war. However the battlefields of Africa, fighting the Boers, bring him in contact with one he thought long dead and lost to him.

Back in Australia, the mysterious Michael O'Flynn mentors Patrick's youngest son, Alex, and takes him on a journey to the Queensland property, Glen View. But will the terrible curse that has inextricably linked the Duffys and Macintoshes for generations ensure that no true happiness can ever come to them?

Through the dawn of a new century in a now federated nation, To Chase the Storm charts an explosive tale of love and loss, from South Africa to Palestine, from Townsville to the green hills of Ireland.

PRAISE FOR THE SERIES

"A rousing and revealing yarn" Weekend Australian

"the historical detail brings the ... 19th century to rip-roaring life" The Australian

"Watt's fans love his work for its history, adventure and storytelling" Brisbane News

Genres: Historical Fiction

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Peter Watt's life experiences have included time as a soldier, articled clerk to a solicitor, prawn trawler deckhand, builder's labourer, pipe layer, real estate salesman, private investigator, police sergeant and adviser to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. He has lived and worked with Aborigines, Islanders, Vietnamese and Papua New Guineans.


He speaks, reads and writes Vietnamese and Pidgin - and has a reasonable grasp of the English language. He currently lives in Maclean, on the Clarence River in Northern NSW.

Good friends, fine food, fishing and the vast open spaces of outback Queensland are his main interests in life. He also enjoys SCUBA diving, military history, crosswords (but not the cryptic kind) and teaching.

He is a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Training and Development and the Australian Society of Authors.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (University of Tasmania), Post Graduate Diploma of Training & Development (University of New England) and an Associate Diploma of Justice Administration (Sturt University).

Reviews

[Deb Bodinnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been many years since I read the 3rd novel in this series, so the family tree Peter supplied at the start of the book was very helpful. The storyline continues on in 3 different countries and the family differences still continuing. I have had the pleasure of meeting Peter Watt last year, he is a very interesting man and he no doubt puts an immense amount of time in his research for his novels. This is clear when you read the series, it is just having a history lesson. Love it!!

[Warwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuation of saga of Duffies & Mackintosh families in settlement and colonisation of Australian NSW and QLD cities and outback stations. Their relationship with the outback and aboriginal people and beliefs, the curse, and exploits in England, Ireland and Africa.
The families' acceptance of native beliefs is perhaps romanticised or atypical in its importance to their actions.
Somewhat enjoyable family saga but the large interval between me starting and finishing this book is indicative of waning enthusiasm for the trilogy.

[Neville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is centered around Patrick and Catherine Duffy, but when Catherine leaves him and her children to find her roots back in Ireland with another man, Patrick rejoins the military. Catherine soon finds that she has made a mistake, but on top of that she becomes pregnant to this man she does not really love.

The story also looks at a young Matthew Duffy who goes off to fight in Africa.

There are many stories within the main story which are easy to follow.

[Joy Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book continuing saga of two families that have entertaining lives.the ongoing relationship the families have with the aboriginals and also whatever is occurring in England. The person they thought was dead wasn't (Alex grandfather) and came and instructed Alex on what it is to be a man how to be strong and have integrity. Loved the book got the next one ready to go

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Duffy and Macintosh clans are back in another sweeping epic by Peter Watt - the fourth in the saga - that takes in Ireland, England, the Boer War in South Africa and, of course, Australia. There is a little of everything you would expect from a Watt novel: bravery, treachery, passion, violence and, of course, Aboriginal spirituality. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Nigel Copeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will the curse live on

Another great story by this author hence the 5 stars. The years roll by who will reach old age or who will die young. You will have to read the book to find out

[Lorraine Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only one I have read in the series so maybe found placing all the characters difficult at times. Certainly a history lesson on the Irish struggles, the Boer War and the Jews in Israel along with some Australian history. Maybe a bit wide spread and disjointed.

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the saga continues....hoping that book 5 regains some of it’s powerful story telling which I feel has been waning since the first book.

[Peter Jochinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical type of adventure story based on the boar war in the 1900's. Easy to read and the story flows. Very enjoyable.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook.
Book 4 in the series.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the continuing saga of the Duffy and McIntosh families and the aboriginal cures that plagues them.

I was delighted when an older, wiser and worldly Michael Duffy reappeared after what seemed to have been his certain demise in an ambush. Any woman with at heartbeat cannot help but fall in love with the lovable rouge. His son Patrick raised a McIntosh, having served in the British army, is now drawn into the next war as a solder with the newly-formed Federation Australian army after he concedes his marriage is in trouble. The curse thrives and takes his beloved wife Catherine to the point of madness. Lady Enid McIntosh, the matriarch of the McIntosh family and business empire, steps in for Catherine as the paternal woman in the lives of Patrick’s three children.

Michael is injured in battle in South Africa and is sent back to Australia to recover. Here he is blessed with the opportunity to meet his grandchildren. He takes the youngest, Alexander, to Glen View, the property where the curse originated, and on a search for Wallerie, the old and last remaining member of the tribe massacred there. They form a close bond and Michael teaches his grandson the art of self defence and self reliance. These are things he needs to learn to take on his bullying older brother, George.

Once again Peter Watt has the reader turning the pages in quick succession to find out how events unfold. As with the first three books in this series you are left longing for the next edition. If you have never read any of Peter’s books and want to be treated to Australia’s answer to Wilbur Smith, please read any or all of the series comprising (in order) Cry of the Curlew, Shadow of the Osprey, Flight of the Eagle and this book To Chase the Storm.


Merged review:

looking for this review, I know I have it somewhere, I'll update shortly

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 of 12 of the Frontier Series

Anyone who’s read the earlier books will appreciate Wallerie and the blackfella curse working it’s way or magic if you will through the characters and the story. The Duffy and MacIntosh clans do not disappoint either.

[Radoslav Vician · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fabulous book in the Frontier series. Hard to put down and big thank you to the author.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

a
A good read.