Review: The Saga that surveys Australia's history, the Aborigines, Crime and Love Begins
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 2, 2014
Author Ryn Shell (who is also Kathy Shell the cover artist) is a woman of many talents and monikers. Having read and enjoyed many of her books including BILLABONG PEBBLES, the fifth book in this Dreaming Billabong Series it only feels natural to jump back to the beginning if the sage and read Book 1 - BILLABONG GHOST. The author does provide some overview background of the series that for the new reader is very helpful in jumping into this (to date) 8-volume epic. Shell provides some background for the title: `The lagoon, known as Dreaming Billabong, formed when Massacre Creek changed course, reflects every color of the Rainbow Serpent that rests in its depth. When the serpent sleeps, silver ghostly plumes of mist rise from the still waters and even life-hardened swagmen swear they hear the ghost.' `Dreaming Billabong is a rural saga that seamlessly weaves historical facts with fiction, to provide a fascinating and sometimes disturbing window into Australia's past. The niece and nephew of cattleman, Iain Fife, inherit Aboriginal Australian and Scottish ancestry plus a payback legacy that began when their grandfathers were boys. Cattleman and heir to the Fife Downs Cattle station, Iain Fife, son of Alan Fife, is of Scottish and Aboriginal Australian decent. Fife Springs is an inland country town with characters striving to survive in dangerous situations.'Cattle King, Alan Fife, is unable to step out of his past or his love for Charlotte. There's a mystery surrounding the death of Charlotte who died in the creek during what's called the Fife Springs Massacre. Harry is an apt pupil for teenage Charlotte as she reveals the dark history behind the small, inland country town of Fife Springs and his family. The question arises, is Charlotte simply an imaginary friend of Harry or is she the Billabong Ghost giving guidance to those that seek her out? Apparently, there was an illicit relationship between Charlotte and the Alan Fife that ended with her death. Now she haunts the Billabong lagoon.Shell weaves this mysterious tapestry well, hooking the reader into following the entire series. It is a fine Australian `Western' with all the ingredients of history and mythology and the paranormal that make Ryn Shell a fascinating author. Grady Harp, April 14