Shepherd made me feel deeply uncomfortable. I'm not sure how to process what feels like racism and cultural appropriation under the guise of creativity.

Think Wild Wild West but set in Australia. I was yelling as I was reading, “Shoot. Shoot!” Then I’d be cringing with fear again, when something went wrong. This book is aptly named Outback Horror, and horrific it is. Brutal, cruel, nasty and compelling!

Reading 'Shepherd' reminded me of watching the really good Westerns of old age Hollywood.

Atmospheric, gritty, raw, violent, a story of a battle for surviving not only the harsh, unforgiving land but pure evil in people.

Shepherd is a slasher film in written form. It follows Tom, who is living on a sheep farm in Australia back in the days when folks were shipped to Australia as a prison sentence. He is a young boy convicted as a poacher. He enjoys life outdoors and shares a bond with his animals on the farm. But his life is anything but peaceful. We join him as he is being hunted by a former coworker who is out to kill him and everyone else on the farm. We get glimpses of his past and how he came to live on this farm and why he thinks as he thinks.

I expect this was intended to give us a glimpse of life in Australia and perhaps be introspective about the life of this young boy but it was insanely violent - enough to distract from that message. It was very much a stalk and kill story, with very few glimpses of "regular" life. There is a lot of violence which usually wouldn't bother me but lots of it is against animals. My favorite aspect of Tom's personality was how much he cared for his animals. He had a very hard life but his heart was still quite kind and strangely ethical. There are a lot of negative sentiment towards the natives, although this is probably very true to the time and we do see a turn in the end, it didn't make it any easier to read. I'm not sure this book will be for everyone but if you like a nice horror novel or revenge story based in a unique time and place then give this one a look.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this novel and apologies it took me so long to get to it! All opinions above are my own.

The cover made me think this read was going to be akin to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but was surprised to find it held little horror and more historical fiction thriller

Set in colonial New South Wales, the story takes place on a harsh landscape that is both dangerous and vividly portrayed. Tom, previously a poacher, is assigned to work as a shepherd on this land with his trusty dog, Gyp. Thirteen-year-old Tom navigates the troubles of the land as well as the simmering violence among his companions, two men also assigned as shepherds.

The writing is fast-faced, tension-filled, and driven by courageous and tenacious characters. When it felt frantic and frenzied, the suspense built to unbearable highs, but ultimately good triumphs over evil.

Fantastic book and really kept you wondering what would happen next.

Hope to read more from this author because if they are as well written as this will need to add the books to my library.
Excellent!!

Tom Clay is caught poaching in Suffolk and the twelve year old is sentenced to seven years and transported to Australia. He ends up working on Mr Barratt’s large farm, assigned to a shepherd’s hut located in the outback far west of the main farm buildings. He keeps his head down, spending the majority of his time with the sheep and his dog Gyp whilst trying to keep out of the way of the other convicts but one of them is harder to avoid than most.

Dan Carver is a sadist through and through who loves nothing more than toying with his prey. The problem is that he’s turned his attention to Tom and he’s determined that he won’t live to tell the tale. A deadly game of hide and seek ensues as Carver goes to extremes to find Tom and kill him.

This is a fast paced story with great characters and a brilliantly descriptive writing style which kept my attention throughout. I give it a solid four stars.

Huge thank you to Text Publishing and NetGalley for providing the book in exchange for my honest review.

1.5 stars. Well, this was a BUST. Review to come.

Due to being a high school teacher, I have been falling behind on reviews. Here are my initial thoughts.

Even though this story is quite short it really packs a punch! In Shepherd we meet thirteen year old, Tom. A convict living in the Australian outback in 1840. Life is bleak and tough for Tom but when a murderous former camp mate returns a dangerous cat and mouse game ensues.

Shepherd moves at quite a fast pace as Tom tries to survive in the bush while being hunted by a ruthless and deadly foe. The setting definitely helps to increase the tension with Tom seemingly in an impossible to survive situation. Even though there was danger and some intense moments. You also get to experience an emotional edge to the story. Especially as I got to know Tom and get a feel for his companionship with the sheep dogs who are his only friends. Even though he is only thirteen you can see that he has had to grow up quickly in order to survive in this environment. He has had to adapt to this life and now has to rely on his knowledge in order to live.

The story plays out much like a film. In no time at all we are straight into an action packed, gritty story. Given the main characters age you might be forgiven for thinking this is more of a YA story. Which to be fair I guess in some respects there is that kind of feel to the story. However there is a much more darker and violent tone to the book which would definitely suit the more older reader. Shepherd kept me invested as I was willing Tom to stay one step ahead in this dark and tension filled story.

What a great read, even better as the story was so unexpected.

This story of Tom Clay is set in the Australian outback in the mid 19th century - everything is rough, ready and dangerous, especially for a convict transported from England.

Set over a few days, and leaning on his poaching skills from England, this is a great story of survival for Tom against all the odds, with an unexpected, but perfect ending.

Despite the violence and gore, I loved this story.

this was a really great read, I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end. The characters were great and I really enjoyed the journey that this book took me on.

Wow, this book just did not let up. I can only describe it as an experience. The author creates such a sense of time and place in the 1840s Australian outback and despite never having been there myself, I felt I could picture and feel it all. Despite its breakneck pace, the author does not skimp on fleshing out their characters, forming real people often with very few lines. I am so pleasantly surprised by this novel and will absolutely look to read more by this author.

This is a book that was written with care. The way the characters and story develops was done masterfully.

It's hard to describe this book without giving away it's plot, but if you're a fan of isolated thrillers... this one is for you!

This book was not at all what I was expecting. The description of the setting made the story feel very realistic. This was a very violent book which is the part I was not expecting. This is the type of book that I have to be in a particular frame of mind to read. Because of that there were a few times where while I wanted to know where the story was going I was a little hesitant to pick it up because I didn't know what I would encounter. Overall I would recommend this book as long as you don't mind a lot of violence.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wowzer this book was a rollercoaster following life in the Australian outback back when Australia had been newly discovered. Some of the language is contemporary and sounds harsh to modern ears but it was typical of the time (even though it made me wince regularly). I was caught up in the whole story and the adrenaline was pumping. It's hard to describe the plot without ruining the story but the sense of isolation, basic living, threats from all angles and the almost impossible task of keeping yourself, your sheep, your dogs alive day after day. Just amazing. Read it.

I received this book from Text Publishing through NetGalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Setting: Australian outback, 1840. Australia is a country used by Britain for convict rehabitation. Tom, a thirteen year old boy, was sent here for poaching. Here, in this land of snakes and indigenous peoples, he lives a hard scrabble existence as a sheep herder. His beloved dogs and a small crew of men protect the sheep for the land owners. One man lives outside the rules and his murderous rage sets off a wildfire of torture, violence, animal abuse and now he's coming for Tom. It's a fight for existence in a harsh land, where men are grown out of a need to take what they can to survive.
Violent tale of a land and history rarely told, this book is not your usual thriller. It reads like a wild western novel, with strong characters, ingenuity and adventure.

"I don’t think it foolish to defend those whom God has seen fit to place in my care. What is a shepherd if not the protector of his sheep? And I’m still a shepherd, though my flock is much reduced."

This tells us precisely who our protagonist, Tom Clay, is. A shepherd with strong values, the greatest respect for animals and the drive to overcome adversity. What it doesn't reveal though, is that Tom is a slight, 13yo, convict orphan. In the 1840s, Tom was transported to NSW for poaching. A skilled hunter and tracker, he was assigned to Mr Barrett where he became shepherd to Barrett's flock. Working in seclusion, although not entirely alone, for weeks at a time, Tom had to protect the sheep from wild dogs, the local Aboriginal people, and anyone else who might come along and try to steal them.

One day, after an unsuccessful attempt to take care of a troublesome wild dog, Tom returns to the shepherds' hut to be greeted by a stranger. Irishman Rowdy Cavanagh is a new employee of Mr Barrett and he has been sent to replace the absconder, Dan Carver. Tom thought Carver was a nasty piece of work - delighting in telling him all about the violence and mayhem that had landed him on a ship to the colony. One thing Tom remembered very clearly was being told by Carver that his guiding principle was to leave no witness alive. So later that night, when Carver ambushes them, Tom knows they will have to have their wits about them to escape Carver's clutches and make their way to Barrett's homestead, 10 miles away.

This is quite a short book, and with the action and adrenaline ramped up to eleven all the way through, a faster reader than me could probably finish it in one sitting. But only if you have the stomach for it! I loved it, but I did have one reservation, and that was that I didn't really know who the audience was. The book seems like YA, but it's actually quite dark and the violence is graphic - showing not just the actions but the outcomes as well. It didn't bother me, but I would caution squeamish younger readers. Tom was a great character; skilled but fallible and with an amusing internal monologue. I'd like to meet him again some day for another adventure.

A mixture of Australian outback history and pursuit thriller,

As we follow the story of how Tom Clay a young lad who was deported for poaching can evade the evil Carver who is out for revenge.

This is a fast paced thriller which also manages tell the story on the side of a deported criminal in the Australian outback in 1840.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for a honest review.

This story about Tom Clay, a twelve years old poacher. After he was caught, he was assigned to a shepherds’ hut out west at New South Wales. Because of what he experienced in his short life he prefers to be with animals rather than a man. He is a very clever and brave child. We read the story about his struggle for survival in 1840.

This story has a very simple plot but it is a very fast-paced thriller. If you want to forget about your daily troubles and to read without thinking, I would recommend reading this story.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the Text Publishing providing me a copy of #Shepherd in exchange for an unbiased review.

Ps. I will post this review in my Goodreads account at its publish date (12 May 2020).