Peter Watt Book order

"It is1857. Colonial India is a simmering volcano of nationalism about to erupt. Army surgeon Peter Campbell and his wife Alice, in India on their honeymoon, have no idea that they are about to be swept up in the chaos. Ian Steele, known to all as Captain Samuel Forbes, is fighting for Queen and country in Persia. A world away, the real Samuel Forbes is planning to return to London - with potentially disastrous consequences for Samuel and Ian both. Then Ian is posted to India, but not before a brief return to England and a reunion with the woman he loves. In India he renews his friendship with Peter Campbell, and discovers that Alice has taken on a most unlikely role. Together they face the enemy and the terrible deprivations and savagery of war - and then Ian receives news from London that crushes all his hopes... " -- Back cover

The story follows Josiah Steele, son of a legendary captain, as he navigates the challenges of living up to his father's legacy. From the goldfields of Queensland to the prestigious Sandhurst military academy in England, he encounters a mix of new and old acquaintances that shape his journey. The narrative spans diverse settings, including the Australian bush, the opulence of London, and the battlefields of Afghanistan, as Josiah grapples with his identity and strives to carve out his own destiny amidst the backdrop of 19th-century militarism.

Set against the backdrop of 1863, the story intertwines the lives of Ian Steele, who assumes the identity of Captain Samuel Forbes while battling the Pashtun in India, and the real Forbes, engaged in the Civil War in Tennessee. Meanwhile, Ella, Ian's love, struggles in her marriage to Count Nikolai Kasatkin and seeks to reclaim their son. As Ian faces challenges in New Zealand and the agreement between him and Forbes nears its end, their hopes for the future are threatened by a relentless adversary.

Sometimes the fate for which you are destined is not your own...1845, a village outside Sydney Town. Humble blacksmith Ian Steele struggles to support his widowed mother. All the while he dreams of a life in uniform, serving in Queen Victoria's army. 1845, Puketutu, New Zealand. Second Lieutenant Samuel Forbes, a young poet from an aristocratic English family, wants nothing more than to discard the officer's uniform he never sought. When the two men cross paths in the colony of New South Wales, they are struck by their brotherly resemblance and quickly hatch a plan for Ian to take Samuel's place in the British army. Ian must travel to England, fool the treacherous Forbes family and accept a commission into their regiment as a company commander in the bloody Crimean war...but he will soon learn that there are even deadlier enemies close to home.

Set in 1857 colonial India, the story follows army surgeon Peter Campbell and his wife Alice during their honeymoon, unaware of the impending chaos of nationalism. Ian Steele, also known as Captain Samuel Forbes, is fighting in Persia while grappling with his own personal challenges. Upon being posted to India, Ian reconnects with Peter and discovers Alice's unexpected role in the conflict. Together, they confront the brutal realities of war, while Ian faces devastating news from London that threatens his future.

Set against the backdrop of post-World War I, the narrative follows two Australian soldiers as they enlist in the British army to combat Bolshevik forces in Russia. The story intertwines with a modern mystery when two bodies are discovered in the quaint Australian town of Valley View, linking the past with the present and uncovering secrets long buried.

Set in the early 20th century, the story follows Tung Chi, a former Shaolin priest, as he embarks on a journey to the Australian colony of Queensland. Amidst a backdrop of significant societal changes, his motivations for leaving imperial China and the challenges he faces in a new land unfold, exploring themes of identity, cultural clash, and personal transformation.

Lachlan, John and Phoebe MacDonald, three young children tragically separated after the massacre at the Ballarat goldfields, try to make their way in a world filled with poverty and war.John is determined to find his lost siblings and meanwhile works hard to make a name for himself. A business partnership leads to riches and rewards that he never dreamed of.Lachlan has always known what it is to struggle for survival. But even a life of bare knuckle fighting and destitution cannot prepare him for the war he finds himself in against the Maori of New Zealand, nor the feelings he has for his Commanding Officer's sister.Phoebe barely remembers what it is to have a family and yearns for a love that will make her feel complete, and a home to call her own.Three tales of courage, hope and forbidden love set against the backdrop of the New Zealand Maori wars and an emerging Australian nation.