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Frederick Wordsworth Ward, better known as ‘Captain Thunderbolt’, had one of the longest bushranging ‘careers’ in history. Plaguing New South Wales for almost seven years, Thunderbolt enjoyed much public support as he was intelligent, charming and courageous. He has become something of a romantic figure of Australia’s past.
There were few bushrangers whose influence extended as far as that of Frank Gardiner. Handsome, clever, charismatic and dangerous, he inspired many young men to abandon the drudgery of their honest work and turn to highway robbery. So strong was his influence that it set in motion a craze known as “Gardinerism”. Gardiner was the leader of the infamous Gold Escort robbery at Eugowra Rocks; he was the one who almost “got away” with the crime. Escaping to Queensland and running a successful public house until his eventual, controversial arrest. Such was the man’s charm and influence that respectable citizens petitioned successfully on his behalf and Gardiner was released early from gaol amid a storm of controversy. This book outlines the life of Frank Gardiner, his descent into crime and the mystery of his final years in exile.
"As well as touching on themes of human nature and the pursuit of wealth, the book contains a range of historically accurate information."
- J.Wishart, 'Buzzwords'
Who was ‘Captain Starlight’?
When a respectable public servant dies suddenly under suspicious circumstances, the authorities are baffled. Who really was the dead man? Was he an Irish nobleman fallen on hard times – or a conman, a forger, a serial impostor, a killer?
As an investigation peels back the layers of deception, aliases and lies, a bizarre chain of events is revealed, exposing the deceased as a man guilty of a string of audacious crimes spanning decades – crimes including identity theft and murder.
In The Killer's Game, Jane Smith has pieced together the scattered clues to the dead man's background, uncovering the true story of the life and crimes of the 19th-century enigma once known as Frank Pearson – or Captain Starlight. This is a reprint of the 2015 publication 'Captain Starlight: the Strange but True Story of a Bushranger, Impostor and Murderer'.
Tommy Bell, Bushranger Boy series #1: Tommy Bell has been sent to work on his grandparents' farm for the school holidays. He doesn't want to go, but when he discovers an old bushranger's hat hidden in a cave, everything changes. Suddenly he is sent back to the gold rush days and finds himself face-to-face with the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt! At first, the life of a bushranger seems full of thrills and adventure. But Tommy soon learns that it is full of danger as well...
"I’m not six, but I had to read it in one sitting. It’s a good book!" - Katy Gerner, "Reading Time"
"This novel is great for readers who are venturing into the world of novels and who also enjoy a little adventure." - Kylie Kempster, "Readplus"
"This is an enjoyable story about the history of Australian bushrangers that will spark the interest of children aged 7 years and up." - Anita Howard, "Buzzwords"
Tommy Bell, Bushranger Boy series #2: Tommy Bell is happy when the popular new kid at school wants him to join his gang. His new friend is trouble but he's not half as much trouble as the bushranger that Tommy meets when his magic hat takes him back to the gold rush days where Tommy finds himself in the middle of a horse robbery, a police chase and a prison escape.
"‘The plots are gripping, the characters interesting and the history woven into it is based on fact.’ – Katy Gerner "Reading Time"
"The book is quick moving and at 79 pages, an easy read for a time conscious teacher." - Kylie Kempster, "Readplus"
"Each adventure brings history to life for young Tommy" – Claire Saxby, "Aussie Reviews"
Tommy Bell, Bushranger Boy series #3:When Tommy Bell finds himself caught in a struggle between two friends, he decides to take a break from it all and escape... back to 1862. Tommy's magic cabbage-tree hat sends him back once again to the gold rush days, when he stumbles into more trouble than he left behind. Face-to-face with the dangerous Frank Gardiner and his mates 'Flash Jack' and Ben Hall, Tommy learns about the value of true friendship and about how it feels to be part of one of most infamous robberies in Australia's history.
"With this book she brings the Colonial era to life" – Rachel le Rossignol, "Reading Time"
Tommy Bell, Bushranger Boy series #4: Tommy Bell's safe outback holiday on a farm with Martin and Combo is turned upside down when Martin finds a pair of magic old bushranger's boots. This time, when Tommy's cabbage-tree hat sends him back to the past, his friend Martin is right there beside him. The boys join their new friend, Harry, and his gang on a long cattle-droving expedition across Outback Australia. For once it seems as if a journey to the past might be pure, fun adventure, without any risk of running into bushrangers. But why did Harry lie about his past? And who are the 'thievin" McKenzies? It looks like Tommy and Martin's 'Outback Adventure' might be more dangerous than they expected ...
"Australian history has never been more interesting." - Julieanne Wallace, "Book reviews and writer's ink"
"... a wonderful way of introducing Australia’s colourful history to children (and their parents)." - Katy Gerner, "Reading Time"
"These junior novels are an excellent resource; they support the Year 5 History Curriculum and provide understanding of the historical era, making them an easy to use research tool - comparing and contrasting daily life, transport and the motives behind the bushrangers' actions." - Rhyllis Bignell, "Readplus".
Tommy Bell, Bushranger Boy series #5: School camp can be fun, but not when it's run by a nasty bully who picks on Tommy Bell and his friends. But when Tommy's magic cabbage tree hat takes him back in time to meet up with Ben Hall and his gang, Tommy discovers that even in the gold rush days there were bullies... and they were on both sides of the law! They also really knew how to make trouble...
'It’s a remarkable Australian series where fictional characters watch Australian history unfold before their eyes. I highly recommend it for schools, independent readers, and for kids who love Australian history.' - Julieanne Wallace, "Book reviews and writer's ink"
In 1869 Mt Egerton was shocked and outraged by the armed hold-up of the local bank by a masked villain calling himself “Captain Moonlite”, who turned out to be the new lay preacher. On his release from prison, Moonlite led a siege that would end in the death of a policeman. His death cell protestations of innocence raise doubts and sympathy in the hearts of some historians even today.
In this absorbing set of five paperback information books, author Jane Smith has provided an engaging, at times riveting, study of six of Australia’s more infamous bushrangers, effectively debunking the myths and exposing the raw criminality of these outlaws. --Russ Merrin, Magpies Magazine
When 276 poor British emigrants sail away from Plymouth on the ship Emigrant in April 1850, seeking a better life in Australia, they know nothing of the ordeal that lies ahead. For four terrible months at sea they endure cramped and squalid conditions, insufferable heat, bitter cold ... and a mounting death toll from the dreaded disease that rages through the ship: typhus.
'Jane Smith, excellent historian that she is ... has added a rich vein to our understanding of the personal, individual legends of early white settlement in Queensland.' - Kerry O'Brien
As flies the shadow, so does life.
In Scotland, 1826, Meggy McKessar comes to live and work at John Lovie’s Aberdeenshire farm. John’s widowed mother is warned Meggy will bring trouble, but she refuses to listen; all she wants is to for the rumours about John’s sordid past to be forgotten forever. But when a sudden death casts suspicion on the widow’s favourite son, the life she has so desperately tried to preserve threatens to fall apart.
Based on a sensational true crime, Three Times Buried is a sinister tale of torn loyalties, secrets, superstition and murder.