Review of ‘The Homecoming’ by Alison Stuart
Review of The Homecoming by Alison Stuart
Release Date: January 4th, 2023
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REVIEW
What another excellent Australian Historical Romance by Alison Stuart! I really enjoyed The Homecoming which is the third instalment of the Maiden’s Creek series. There is a lot packed into this novel set in 1892: floods, the missing mace, romance, mystery, murder, class and family/relationship issues. It is also a story about sacrifice and the difficulties women faced in an era when wanting to have a career and possibly a marriage, too, was highly unacceptable. The plot demonstrates the damage that can result from revenge, jealousy, deception and keeping secrets, too. But the rewards that can be reaped through honesty are still very real. There are some unexpected twists in the story that you might not see coming: good and bad outcomes that are appropriate to the crimes, actions and times.
The Homecoming is told through two individuals. Their viewpoints: a woman name Charlie and a man named Danny give us a well-rounded take on attitudes and events. We also get to hear their thoughts on each other and others which prove quite useful in drawing empathy out of the reader. It is easy to care about Danny and Charlie as they possess qualities of goodness that we can admire. They truly care about others and want the best for them and their kind acts prove the contents of their hearts.
Danny Hunt is a wealthy criminal lawyer who lives in Melbourne but is troubled by memories of his childhood years in Maiden's Creek. He wants to know more about his father but his mother has tried to protect him from the truth. When a court case infringes on his safety, he decides to flee Melbourne for a while in hopes things might die down in his absence. But will the threat follow him? An opportunity arises to attend to a matter in Maiden’s Creek with his friend, Robert. He jumps at the chance to go. But his visit to his old hometown carries more than one purpose. Including an opportunity to see a woman who once turned down his only marriage proposal years ago. She is sister to his friend, Robert, and also a nurse at the local hospital. But what does he hope to achieve by seeing her again? His life takes on quite a few surprises, twists and turns at Maiden’s Creek, including bumping into another woman he met and connected with when he was younger.
Charlie O’Reilly becomes acting nurse matron of Maiden’s Creek hospital. She is from this town as well and returned recently after living away for a number of years. This place holds some negative memories, too, but the painful experience she is fleeing is far worse. She has been deceived and treated badly in a relationship and it has left her in an uncomfortable position. Yet she is an exceptional midwife and nurse who has wanted to become a doctor but without the financial means or cultural support. Thanks to the Florence Nightingale’s influence, professional training and accreditation for nurses was on the rise. But the first pioneer of Australian women doctors to enrol in university for medicine was Dr. Dagmar Berne. She trained at the University of Sydney in 1895. So, Charlie probably would not have been accepted before this time, even though she is bright and energetic and receives recognition for her abilities. She has also made waves for working sometimes outside the accepted system. Even though she always achieves positive results, this straying from protocol has created strikes against her. So, does the ends justify the means? This thinking will be heavily tested when she comes together with Danny to solve a crime.
I loved the ending with all the current threads of chaos tied up and issues resolved – or enough to make you satisfied to wait and see if any of these characters might be telling future stories. Although it may be the final book of what is currently a trilogy, I felt the door was left open a wee crack for a potential offshoot but we will have to see if the muse agrees. Regardless, I have loved this series and The Homecoming is a worthy addition. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Mira (HarperCollins Au) for a review copy.
