The latest gathering of The Book Circle was held on Wednesday, 8 October and a variety of books were shared.

In a Great Southern Land - Mary-Anne O’Connor

Set in 1851, after the death of her father, Eve Richards is left destitute.

Her struggle to survive sees her deported to the colony of New South Wales, penniless and alone.

But in this strange new world, fortune smiles on spirited, clever Eve, when she obtains a respectable job offer which will lead to a quiet, secure life.

Then she meets fiery, charismatic Irishman, Kiaran Clancy.

Kieran and his brother Liam, from County Clare, were glad to leave the grief and starvation behind and take the offer of a free passage to New South Wales.

While Liam works their new farm, Kieran is drawn to the goldfields of Ballarat.

Tensions are growing on the goldfields, and he is caught up in the events of the Eureka Stockade as he tries to help a mate.

Then Eve, thinking he is lost, is shipwrecked on the way to Adelaide.

Will Eve and Kieran meet again and have a chance at true love?

Death Comes To Pemberley - P D James

A sequel to Pride and prejudice, by the mystery writer P D James.

Elizabeth and Darcy have been happily married for some years, and are preparing for the grand ball of the season, when a murder occurs in the grounds of Pemberley.

The notorious Captain Wickham appears to be guilty of the murder and is taken to prison.

Will he hang, or will the true murderer reveal himself?

Dictator - Robert Harris

This fascinating story is based on fact.

It is a novel written in the style of a biography of Cicero, Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, writer and senator, supposedly written by Tiro (Cicero’s slave and secretary).

Most of Cicero’s speeches in the Senate were recorded verbatim by Tiro, who developed a form of shorthand, some of which is still in use today (&, e.g., i.e., to mention a few).

Cicero tried to uphold the principles of the Republic, but struggled with Julius Caesar and his friends.

Julius Caesar wanted to change things, but went away to fight many wars before coming back and declaring himself the 'dictator' thereby putting an end to the Roman Republic.

Cicero went into exile, but was drawn back as many senators wanted to return to the old ways.

Eventually Julius Caesar was killed.

The book follows Cicero’s life after retirement, until his eventual murder.

Not only was his head cut off, but also his hands, so that he could not write.

Tiro, who had been freed by Cicero and given a farm, lived for some years after Cicero’s death.

The Hidden Storyteller - Mandy Robotham

The war is over, but many secrets remail in the ashes.

Reporter Georgie Young returns to Hamburg, now controlled by the Allies, after fleeing to safety seven years before.

She finds it a very different place, with the city in ruins and hundreds of refugees flocking in, with few means of support.

A killer is roaming the streets, targeting women, and Georgie teams up with Detective Harri Schroder, to help catch him.

The author was inspired by the novels of Philip Kerr and his incorruptible German detective Bernie Gunther.

She bases Harri Schroder on Gunther.

The Immigrants - Moreno Giovanonni

A fictionalised account of the author’s parents, and the life of the family living among the wider Italian community in Myrtleford.

A realistic portrait of migrant life, and the hardships endured in an effort to rebuild their lives and create a bright future for their children.

Violetta - Isabel Allende

The story is told by Violetta of her life spanning from her birth in 1920 to her death in 2020.

It is related in letter form to a person not revealed until later in the book.

Born in South America to wealthy parents she is the only girl of six children.

It is time of uncertainty as the Spanish flu has reached their country.

When family circumstances changed a friend of her governess comes to the rescue and Violetta is taken to the countryside where she lives with the Nahuel native people.

She forms lifelong friendships with these hardworking people learning about their culture and self-subsistence.

This became a place of haven when the country was in turbulence where democracy no longer existed and despots ruled.

All through this turbulence she became a wealthy woman in her own right.

Many people came into her life both as love interests and friends.

Her one hundred years saw a life of change, political upheaval, family misfortune, wealth, loss and happiness.