In a time when Aussie authors are making their mark in historical dramas, Darry has done a fabulous job with wonderful storytelling, putting herself right up there with the best in these Australian colonial sagas. Her latest offering is no different - drama and adventures in the outback, with colourful characters and an engagingly dynamic storyline.

I always gain so much from reading one of Darry’s books. On this occasion, she returns to her true love the Murray-Darling basin and I could not be happier. The factual focus on this occasion is a major flood that occurred in 1894 around the same time that the PS Rodney departed Echuca for its fated last journey. Add into this a dangerous shearers strike and some truly frightening domestic violence and this is a much darker and violent story that Darry has to share. The cast of characters are strong and believable and I appreciated the various POVs.

If you like to escape to a time long gone, a time when women attempted to exert some form of independence, all with a dash of mystery and romance, then this will be the book for you. Life wasn’t easy for women who were often regarded as male property and I admired the many strengths of the lead character, Tess Hawthorn. I highly recommend you sample one of Darry’s true to life historical dramas.

Set against the historical background of the shearers’ strike of the late nineteenth century and the burning of The PS Rodney, this story is at times harrowing, at times appalling and at other times carries a burning light of hope. Tess Hawthorn harboured a teenage crush on Harry Goodwin, but when Harry suddenly disappears and his sisters spread an ugly rumour about Tess, she finds herself in a forced marriage to Albert Slattery. The story opens fifteen years later and we see Tess trying to flee Alby, who is a drunk and a brute. With a mix-up at the wharves, Tess finds herself on a boat full of scabs heading off to shear the sheep that the shearers’ union has refused to touch unless they are paid a fair wage. Unfortunately for Tess, her husband Alby is on the same boat and what he does to her during the burning of the PS Rodney is utterly despicable. That Tess survives is a miracle. I admired her continued spunk and her determination to carry on in the face of a very uncertain future. I loved Tess and was thrilled when Bram Kempster came back into her life. He, too, has suffered hardship but like Tess he’s got spunk and is a thoroughly decent human being. I cheered him on as he wooed Tess and I cheered them both on as they worked to rebuild their lives. This book is fast paced and gripping, tells the story of a largely forgotten historical event in a fascinating and realistic way, and kept me reading way into the night. It’s definitely one for my keeper shelf.

This story is set in the late 1890's, although it references the Darling River in the title, most of the book is centred on Echuca located on the Murray River. The main character is Tess Slattery, who is trying to escape and abusive marriage before her husband actually kills her.
Abby Slattery is working as a 'scab' - a non-union shearer during an extensive shearer's strike that decimated the wool industry. I learned quite a lot of Australian history on this topic through the book which was quite interesting.
Tess, ends up finding out who her true friends are and the strength it takes to escape violence in a time where women have very few rights.
A heart-breaking and inspiring story. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

It was 1894 in Echuca, Victoria, and Tess Slattery was trying to escape her brutal and violent husband. He'd gone away, and she hoped to make her escape in the dead of night, dressed as a male, in the opposite direction to the one he had gone. Boarding the Victor was imperative. But with the shearers' strike in full swing, and both unionists and scabs trying to board, Tess became turned around and in the crush, boarded another paddle steamer, PS Rodney, the one her husband had been going to board. Hiding in a cabin with the one other woman on board, Tess did her best to stay out of sight as they travelled the Darling River.

Trouble began when the Rodney stopped in a lay-by, and suddenly Tess was rushing to get off, along with many others. She'd seen both Bram Kempster - and old childhood friend - and her husband, just as he spotted her. What would happen to Tess? Would she escape the clutches of her husband? The Murray River was rising as the rain continued to fall; those people from Echuca knew their homes and farms would be inundated...

The Night on the Darling River is another entertaining historical novel by Aussie author Darry Fraser. I found Tess to be an outstanding character, strong and determined; Ava, Bram, Merv - great characters. There were some "not so nice" people, perfectly written into their roles. A very satisfying read, and one I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley & Harlequin Enterprises AU for my digital ARC to read and review.

Growing up in Echuca, Victoria and as children, Tess Hawthorn, Alby Slattery, Bram Kempster and Harry Goodwin were best friends, this changed and as adults the quartet will all be involved in one of the most turbulent times in Australian history.

Tess Hawthorn has had enough of her abusive husband and she decides to leave him, the riverboat Victor is departing Echuca and he’s a passenger on the Rodney and by the time he returns Tess plans on being long gone and she hasn’t told a soul. However, Tess doesn’t know the tension between unionist shearers and the non-union men they bring in to fill their place and are aptly named "scabs" is about to boil over and a fight breaks out between them and Tess finds herself on a boat going down the Darling River and in the same direction as her husband.

Have you heard of the term "riding on a sheep’s back" and the Australian economy in 1894 certainly did, when wool prices dropped, shearers pay rates were cut and rich graziers hired non-union workers and a nationwide strike took place. Other incidents occurred at the same time, the sinking of a riverboat, setting fire to a wool-shed and the flooding of the Murray-Darling river system.

I received a copy of The Night on the Darling River from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. The narrative focuses on the main character Tess’s plight and her trying to flee domestic violence, she’s become a shadow of her former self and feels isolated, at the time women had few rights and were classed as their husband’s property. Tess is looking for a fresh start, along her journey she comes across volatile situations and some sinister characters and others who are kind and these include Bram, Ava, Tad and Merv.

Darry Fraser has firmly cemented her place as one of Australia’s bestselling historical fiction authors and I can honestly say her 10th book is her best and based on real facts and her love and interest in the history of the Murray River, and the towns nestled on it’s banks. Five stars from me and I highly recommend The Night on the Darling River and for lovers of eloquently written and entertaining Australian historical adventure stories and with an emphasis on strong female characters and fighting and overcoming adversity.

The book relates to looking back at your last and realising what May have become of yourself.

Emily comes home to attend her mothers funeral, it a child who knew her mother, is someone of her past and she needs to determine how she feels about this, especially when she couldn’t have that of her own.

The emotional feelings of lost, finding one self and needing to get to a new place in yourself is a focus of this story.

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

I read my first Darry Fraser novel, Where the Murray River Runs, back in 2017. I loved the descriptive way Darry writes and could truly imagine myself in the places and times set out in the story. That has since gone for every novel of hers I have read.

Darry Fraser continues to highlight the issues that women dealt with back in the 1890s, unfortunately, many of these issues are ones women still have to deal with today.

I was transported to 1894, Echuca, Victoria in The Night on the Darling River. I was with Tess when she crept through the night to find the riverboat to take her to safety, I felt her dismay and fear when she realised she was on the wrong boat and when the consequences of that turned to horror changed the trajectory of her future.

I instantly connected with Tess Hawthorn (Slatterly), the main character who is ready to escape her abusive husband, I felt her struggle to take that step, her fear of what would happen when she did and also what would happen if she didn't. Tess' plans don't go to plan and her journey ahead becomes a nightmare.

I was so angry at the way people turned a blind eye to the abuse Tess endured, even after the terrible event that happened there were still people who were saying 'You can't interfere with what a man does to his wife'. This wasn't right back then, and it sure isn't right today and is something everyone still needs to work on.

Also among the main cast of characters I met Bram Kempster, Harry Goodwin, and unfortunately Alby Slatterly, Tess' husband. While Bram is one of the nicest men going, Harry is a manipulative, conniving thief and Alby, well he is a man with no redeeming features who I wished had met his end in the violence and bloodshed aboard the riverboat 'Rodney' that they all end up on; alas he doesn't. These three men, along with Tess have known each other since childhood and while their lives have diverged, the events of the night on the Darling River have them all reconnecting with unexpected outcomes.

At this time Victoria is embroiled in a shearers strike, an uprising that will have far-reaching consequences for thousands. I had little idea about this event in our history that became a violent struggle between thousands of men, the union shearers and nonunionists, the landholders and the law.

This story is told from several characters' POV which I really liked, it gave me a much broader view of the struggles of the time as well as allowed me to get to know the characters who were part of Tess' story.

Bram was one of the nicest men, he'd been in love with Tess since they were kids but she'd never paid him any attention. The flood that inundates Echuca and the surrounding land brings these two together again after the events on the 'Rodney'.

My journey with Tess, Bram, Merv, Ava, Tad & Harry was fraught with danger & violence but also with new connections, friendships and romance, and hope for the future. All the characters endured so much, some rising above the challenges thrown at them while others got what they deserved but not in the way they had hoped.

This was another great historical fiction novel that transported me to a time I'm glad I didn't live in while allowing me to experience what the people of that time went through to get by as well as giving me a small history lesson in a way I enjoyed.

Darry Fraser writes so often about life on the mighty rivers of Australia. "The Night on the Darling River" centres around life in 1894, primarily around the town of Echuca.
This is really Tess's story but we also follow the lives of others that grew up with her; Harry, Bram and Alby. Set against a background of shearer strikes and scab labour, tensions are high and a person's life is cheap. Riverboats are the main means of travel up and down the river networks. And as floods ravage the farmlands, landowners come to rely on each other and the old bonds forged in childhood.
But as always; there are villain's in life, who care only for themselves.
Tess is a victim of circumstance that means she married a violent man. Tess no longer knows herself, hanging onto the last shred of courage. Enough is enough and it's time to leave her lifelong home community. The physical act of making her escape could well cost her, her life. Changed forever in a physical way, but also emotionally.....squashed confidence and frayed nerves. 
Historically true events support the story of Tess's journeys up and down the river and camp life of the time. Culminating in a coming together of all parties in Echuca for what can only be described as a grand showdown....will those who deserve it get their comeuppance? Tensions are as high as the river!
"The Night on the Darling River" was truly eye-opening, gripping and emotional. Sometimes the inner thoughts of characters slowed things down a bit for my liking and I was keen to skip on the inter person dialogue and get to 'what on earth will happen next'.
Tess is a heroine who deserves a love story.
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for my introduction to the magic of Darry Fraser

This book had me riveted all the way through, Darry Fraser has again taken me on a historical journey back in time to the way Australia was in the late 1800’s, Paddle Boat Steamers on the great Darling and Murray Rivers, this one starts in Echuca in 1894 where we meet Tess Hawthorn a woman on the run from her abusive husband, will she make it? Come along for the journey it is sure to keep you turning the pages.

Four young people grew up together on neighbouring farms in Echuca, Tess Hawthorn, Alby Slattery, Harry Goodwin and Bram Kempster now the years have passed and they are adults, Harry has run from town, Tess has married Alby and Bram is widowed and still reading his books, all of the farms these days are run down and in need of repair, times are tough with the shearers strike that has unionist against scabs and it is getting dangerous, but with this trouble it gives Tess the chance to run when Alby decides to take a trip he will be on the PS Rodney and Tess plans to board the PS Victor going in the opposite direction, will she get away? Things turn around quickly for Tess when she boards PS Rodney and is mistaken for a scab and now she is on the same boat as Alby heading up The Darling River.

Bram Kempster is on his way to Renmark to meet up with his uncle, trouble is brewing when he boards the PS Rodney between the unionist and the scabs and the last person he expects to run in to on board is Tess, the one person who has always held a place in his heart no matter what he has been through but he cannot let her distract him on his mission, He offers advice to her and sees her settled for the journey then takes his leave. When the unionist board the boat all hell breaks loose and Alby spots Tess what happens is terrible and no one thinks that she will live when the boat is torched.

Tess finds herself in a camp with the unionists and their woman and children here she is helped and someone from the past arrives, Harry she has not seen him for fifteen years and soon she is heading home to Echuca when she arrives badly scared to Echuca she finds it just about to flood, when the river rises she finds herself arriving at Bram’s place, Bram offers her shelter but memories from the past are rising high and with all that is happening not only the floods but the strike brings danger to them all, will Tess and Bram finally find peace, happiness and maybe love?

Huge congratulations on your 10th book MS Fraser and what an awesome story it is, you pulled this story together with fact and wonderful characters some good some bad been, I loved Tess and Bram, the setting was fabulous another one for the keeper shelf and one that I would highly recommend, make sure you clear some time to read it because you won’t want to put it down once you start.

My thanks to HQ Fiction for my copy to red and review.

Having been born in Echuca, it has always held a part of my heart, so I was so excited to read this story, right from the first chapter.

What I loved: This story is based on events that happened, and mentioned names and places I am familiar with, which I loved. It featured such a variety of characters and painted a vivid scene of what life might have been like in those times. This was a story that kept me turning the page, as I had to know what happened next.

What I didnt love: There was a bit of repetition in places, particulary in how different characters thought of each other, and that slowed down the pace for me a little.

This is the first I have read by this author, and I will be looking up their backlist.

A woman determined to get back her life from her controlling husband and she is on the right path. A entertaining book weaved with historical fact. The author knows how to tell a story.

This was my 3rd Darry Fraser book and I loved it as much as the others. I'm slowly working my way through her back catalogue of books!

I was totally immersed in this story from the start. Poor Tess, trying to flee an abusive husband, finds herself on the wrong boat, which her husband is also aboard. Her childhood friend, Bram, who was secretly in love with her, is also there and helps keep her hidden from her husband until he has to disembark at Renmark to attend to urgent business.

What happens after Bram leaves Tess is just awful, and I won't go into detail and give any spoilers. Suffice to say she meets some wonderful, caring people in Ava and Tad, as well as Bram and Merv.

Darry has created some wonderfully real characters who I came to care about deeply. The events that surround them are well researched and totally believable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book about the early days in Australia and about what it was like to live in Australian frontier. It was a quick enjoyable read
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

She is running away from an abusive marriage, she has no family to turn to. Due to a flood she has no home. Can she escape from her situation, or will she remain?
My heart went out to this heroine. I found this book to be very good. I hope to read more from this author. I received my copy of this book via Netgalley.

First off, I love every book Darry Fraser has written. I am a HUGE fan so always eager to get my hands on a copy as I know I am in for an emotional, thrilling and eye- opening ride into the Australia’s colonial past. The covers of Darry’s books are exceptionally enticing too and represent the story that lies within so beautifully.

This novel is stunning on many levels as it captures the era so realistically and clearly. I felt transported to 1894 Victoria watching the flood waters of the Murray River rising and destroying homes and lands, experienced the shocking social unrest surrounding the shearer’s strike and gasped at the horrors of spousal abuse (graphically portrayed). It was a violent time and so this novel carries a much darker tone (than Darry’s previous) due to the nature of the subjects covered and plot.

Once I picked up The Night On The Darling River I could not stop reading! I say this truthfully, I got very little sleep as I was reading late into the night and only dozed off to awaken again every few hours with this story in my head and needed to keep picking it up to see what was going to happen next. And boy did it offer some exciting and unexpected twists! I will not give away any of the details as that would be unfair to other readers and to Darry, who has put so much effort into her novel. I can say that everything is faultlessly described to support the colourful characters, along with a riveting plot and appropriate dialogue. I could picture everything for it captured the magnitude of the little and big details and events that were happening. Plus, it was easy to visualise the various players of a dramatic cast. In fact, I say this every time, reading one of Darry’s books is like watching a movie with each scene being very visual, vivid and profound.

But I must mention Tess the heroine. A woman with the strength of many but who has been subjected to the horrors of physical and mental abuse from her volatile and violent husband (the worst villain ever!). One day she gets the courage to leave him and goes undercover to board a boat at night that will take her to freedom. But, of course, things do not go as planned and it is far from smooth sailing. She runs into some terrible strife and gets caught up in a war between union and non-union men. Her life is threatened and takes a turn she would never have anticipated. And my heart broke all over again for this woman who deserved so much better than what she got.

Another character important to the story is Bram. He ends up on the same boat (Rodney) as Tess. He is on a mission to Renmark for important business and they bump into each other. He is not sure how to help her and her behaviour toward him is less than kind. Her experiences with men have not been very positive. But he has loved her since they were young, though she never seemed interested. Their encounter will not only remind them of past regrets but also bring about some important changes. Yet not until disaster strikes on more than one occasion.

This is a moving, gut wrenching tale. The awakening of quiet love is part of this historical drama, too, but it comes during the trials that occur. Tess, learns what kind of man she really wants and has some eye-opening revelations during her traumatic adventures. There are many on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments as danger and treachery abound. The plot moves along at a rapid, yet well-paced speed. I fell under the spell of Darry’s breath-taking story-telling skill once again! The Night On The Darling River is an unforgettable and exhilarating journey. I could not take my eyes off the page for a second as there was so much happening! But it is all skilfully and powerfully delivered and crowned with a brilliant finale. This is a definite 2024 must-read for Australian historical fiction lovers! I was truly captivated, educated and amazed. I highly recommend The Night On The Darling River. 5 Exhilarating Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for a review copy.

Me: Just existing in life as a romance reader and historian of Australian maritime disasters who is desperate to move to Echuca and also has a bizarre fascination with floods
Darry: Writes this
Me: SLAMMING THE REQUEST BUTTON ON NETGALLEY

Yeah needless to say this is tied for my favourite book of the year 😍

I fell in love with the story of the PS Rodney when I finally got to visit Echuca for the first time back in June. It became my hyperfixation for a little while there, so when I found out literally only a few weeks after my trip that there was to be a new historical fiction novel by one of the queens of Australian historical fiction all about it I was desperate to get my hands on it and it did not disappoint! It took me a while to get into it sadly but that isn’t a reflection on the book itself, it was me trying to drag myself out of a months long reading slump because I knew how much I would love this one.

Darry Fraser has done it again. What an amazing story. A Night on the Darling River is the story of a woman, her life prior to, but mainly after, one terrible night on the Darling River which changed her life forever. The historical research of the 1890s Shearers Strike is very interesting and woven beautifully into the novel. The lives of wives in this era was pretty harsh but there are glimpses of a better future, also based on historical research. The characters are wonderful and so well described at times I imagined I could smell them! I can happily recommend this novel. Thank you Darry Fraser.

Another amazing story of one woman's challenges, dealing with domestic violence. Also a lot of historical facts regarding the shearer's strike, and how it unfolded in Qld and Victoria. In 1891. The bravery of women in those days, and how they had to tolerate men's attitudes, towards them. Not all men treated their women badly, some come to the aide of our heroine. Another woman's conniving gets herself a husband and he is under her rule. Loved the story surrounding the mighty Murray and how she helped and hindered, early settlers. A must read

In 1894 South Australia, the ebb and flow of the mighty Murray and the Darling Rivers are the powerful pulse of this compelling novel set during a turbulent strike of the sheep shearers union, the conflict with scab labor who took their place, and the police.

Fraser's characters are salt of the earth laborers caught up in the violence and strife of going up against the rich and powerful for a better living wage; - her feisty heroine, Tess Hawthorne, faces unsurmountable obstacles as well as a powerless woman in an abusive marriage. She is the soul of the story and readers will be swept up in her struggles and rooting for her during her amazing journey.

There is a darker and more serious tone to this story then Fraser's previous novel, The Milliner of Bendigo. The conflicts and violence in The Night on the Darling River are at times difficult to be a part of, but the uplifting message of the enduring strength of the human spirit and the redeeming qualities of hope and love make this story one that you will cherish, and read again.

I highly recommend The Night on the Darling River to those who enjoy American western fiction from authors Sandra Dallas, Paulette Jiles, and Charles Portis.