Dust On The Horizon (Flinders Ranges Series #2) in Aussie Readers

Mar 04, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own-read, 2016-release, historical-fiction, aussie-authors

Joseph Baker, his wife Clara and their four children had a harsh but happy life on their isolated property, Smith’s Ridge in the Flinders Ranges. The drought had been severe but the waterholes on the property were keeping the stock alive, along with the help of Joseph’s best friend, Binda, a local Aboriginal who had saved Joseph’s life when he was a lad. They had been good friends ever since. Joseph was a person who had no care for the colour of a person’s skin; what was inside was what counted Joseph Baker, his wife Clara and their four children had a harsh but happy life on their isolated property, Smith’s Ridge in the Flinders Ranges. The drought had been severe but the waterholes on the property were keeping the stock alive, along with the help of Joseph’s best friend, Binda, a local Aboriginal who had saved Joseph’s life when he was a lad. They had been good friends ever since. Joseph was a person who had no care for the colour of a person’s skin; what was inside was what counted – and Binda was one of the best. Joseph’s parents, Thomas and Lizzie lived on the adjacent property Wildu Creek which was a day away by horse and cart.

The small town of Hawker was starting to come to life with new inhabitants arriving to the area, erecting homes and businesses. The rail line from Adelaide was a handy inclusion with more and more people using it to travel. Henry Wiltshire had big plans – probably bigger than his purse would allow – but he started small with a general store which only stocked the best. His mother Hillary who had her own shop in Glenelg, supplied him with fabrics among other things. Catherine, Henry’s young wife hated the constant dust and heat and dearly wanted Henry to move back to Adelaide as he’d promised both his and her mothers. But the day Henry refused to serve Aboriginal people in his shop; threw them out in fact – was the day Henry’s fortunes began to change. His animosity and bigotry had come up against the wrong people…

As time moved forward and the drought became worse, farmers struggled to survive. And when Jack Aldridge made himself known to Hillary she knew instinctively that trouble would follow. The hatred between Henry and Joseph, and also Thomas simmered close to the surface but when Jack entered the scene emotions escalated. What would be the outcome in a struggle for superiority and survival in a land devastated by drought?

Dust on the Horizon is #2 in the Flinders Ranges series by Aussie author Tricia Stringer and every bit as good as the first. A wonderful, emotional and heart felt historical saga set in the late 1800s among drought and the gold rush of the time. The countryside was a harsh environment; the dust was on the horizon continually. The people of the day were necessarily strong, hard working men and women, in the main. But what a life! We don’t know how lucky we have it until our historical authors take us on a journey back in time – and Tricia Stringer knows how to lay out Australia’s past. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next, Jewel in the North. Highly recommended. ...more

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Sep 25, 2020 Dzintra aka Ingrid rated it it was amazing

Loved the book and the continuing story of the early days at Flinders Ranges and the saga between the Bakers and the Wiltshires! Sometimes I think I would like to step back in time to experience it all! I have started to collect all Tricia’s books now as I am thoroughly enjoying this trilogy! Fantastic Trish!

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