Review - The Road to Ironbark by Kaye Dobbie

A huge congrats to Kaye Dobbie. The Road to Ironbark is filled with mystery, history and drama with a dash of romance—but romance that serves an important purpose in the plot. This novel shines in the telling of its dual timeline periods (1855-1874/5, 1984-2017+) and in the unravelling of family history and secrets. My kind of story! Told through three intriguing women: Aurora, Melody and Rain-- with Rain having the least pages but offering some of the most critical revelations of the mystery and at the right points in the story.

The 1874 Victorian Goldfields storyline delivers a complex revenge scheme filled with bushrangers, hostages, a hotel facing ruin, a new railway line and a mine’s missing payroll. At the centre of this drama is a woman named Aurora who has risen above her shadowy past, built a respectable reputation but eventually goes missing.

The 2017 timeline takes us back to the same Goldfield setting, Ironbark. This time with journalist Melody at the helm. And there’s more: an added twist of an unexpected inheritance, a heartbreaking accident, two men seeking the same woman’s attention— plus, the ongoing mystery of the missing payroll. 

It is a real page turner—hard to put down and all the threads of the story (past and present) are masterfully executed and finalised in a very satisfying climax.

I believe Kaye deserves 5 stars for her creative delivery and extra hugs for this novel’s completion. In her Acknowledgement she states that during its writing she was caring for her ill mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in 2019. I am fortunate that my mom is a breast cancer survivor but I know the trauma and trials of such news and not everyone’s experience ends well. Not only are Kaye’s leading characters strong women in The Road to Ironbark'but Kaye is herself to complete this novel under such difficult circumstances. For me, Rain, the older mother of this story, takes on an even greater presence and meaning.

I highly recommend The Road to Ironbark. A five star exceptional story by Kaye Dobbie. Perfect for those who love Australian historical fiction (relating to the Goldfields era).

Kaye’s book is published by Mira, a subsidiary of Harper Collins Australia. To read more about Kaye and her books visit her website.

Note: this review is also on Goodreads