The Adventuress of Albany
By (Author) Darry Fraser
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
HQ Fiction
25th November 2025
Australia
General
Fiction
Historical fiction
Historical romance
Romance: western, rural or outback
Crime and / or mystery fiction
Paperback
304
She yearns for adventure, but the road to freedom is paved with peril. The thrilling new historical adventure fiction from a bestselling Australian author.
Albany, Western Australia, 1881
Stifled by English society, Molly Bentley has always yearned for adventure. When her father offers to send her to the bustling port town of Albany in Western Australia, Molly readily agrees, even if it means assuming a secret identity. With only her chaperone Mrs Caldicott to answer to, her life of freedom can finally begin.
Until Molly is knocked down in the streets, nearly trampled, and a threatening letter is slipped into her hands.
Suddenly, Molly and Mrs Caldicott must reckon with the darker motives behind their move to these southern shores. The women have no choice but to put their safety into the hands of the enigmatic colonial Leo McRae and his cousin Alistair who seem to know exactly who Molly and Mrs Caldicott are, and why they're in the colonies. But from whom has Mr McRae sourced his information And why has Molly's father stopped replying to her messages
Attempts are made on their lives, and their motley crew must undertake a dangerous journey from Albany to Adelaide and into rural Victoria to evade capture. As secrets are revealed and loyalties tested, will Molly ever be able to find the freedom she so desperately craves
Darry Fraser fell in love with the great Murray River when her family moved to her childhood town of Swan Hill in Victoria. Stories of the river have been with her ever since and it's where a number of her novels are set. Her stories are of ordinary people in nineteenth century Australia who are drawn into difficult circumstances - adventure, mystery and mayhem, love and life, and against the backdrop of historical events. Darry lives on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia, very close to the mighty Murray River. To find out more, visit Darry on her website. You can also follow Darry on Facebook and Instagram.