I enjoyed it very much. Loved the characters and story. Also enjoyed the historical content and references especially about the cricket! It was great to imagine Melbourne in that time and I have been to Edinburgh so loved those descriptions. The friendship and contrast between Erroll and Findo was entertaining. It was suspenseful and engaging and I look forward to reading more of your books."

Well written / my friend a descendant. A most engrossing tale .... My friend is a descendant but I found I couldn't put it down .. Well researched and written

The author’s irrefutable ability to bring characters and crucial occurrences to life with his wonderfully descriptive narrative makes for a most engaging reading experience … I found myself transported back in time.

I could not put the book down once I started reading. Fascinating and very well researched, it really enlightened me on an awful practice used by the British Justice system, the transporting of people accused of relatively petty crimes to years of exile on the other side of the world and the incredible hardships they experienced getting there.

I enjoyed it very much. Loved the characters and story. Also enjoyed the historical content and references especially about the cricket ! It was great to imagine Melbourne in that time and I have been to Edinburgh so loved those descriptions. The friendship and contrast between Erroll and Findo was entertaining. It was suspenseful and engaging and I look forward to reading more of your books.

Historical adventure brought to life; an immersive and absorbing experience. The Helot’s Tale begins in 1814, in the smog laden streets of London, against a backdrop of a harsh unjust Dickensian society, lorded over by the elite of London. Robert Bright and Mary-Anne Goulding struggle to survive. They are destined to meet, but their paths yet to cross. Separately they are convicted of the most menial of crimes and transported to Van Diemen’s Land, to serve their sentences. Their stories, which twist and turn intriguingly, deserve to be told and cherished and the author has skilfully woven actual events and drama with historical adventure. The research invested in this book is evident. This coupled with the author’s irrefutable ability to bring characters and crucial occurrences to life with his wonderfully descriptive narrative, makes for a most immersive and engaging reading experience.

A most interesting and entertaining read I could not put the book down once I started reading. Fascinating and very well researched, it really enlightened me on an awful practice used by the British Justice system, the transporting of people accused of relatively petty crimes to years of exile on the other side of the world and the incredible hardships they experienced getting there.