Troubles On The Frontier - Peter ES King;Sam G Everingham

Set against the rugged and lawless landscape of colonial New South Wales in the 1850s, Troubles on the Frontier follows the adventures of two young mounted policemen, Gareth ’Gary’ Rutland and Edgar ’Eddy’ Miller, as they begin their careers on the Australian frontier. Gary, a former stockman, and Eddy, a fisherman’s son, quickly develop a close friendship built on loyalty, courage and mutual respect. Their first assignment takes a sinister turn when they discover the remains of a settlement whose inhabitants have been brutally murdered. Ordered to investigate a remote goldfield at Gander Creek, they unwittingly become targets of a deadly conspiracy involving corrupt police, ruthless criminals and a mysterious Scottish informant, Alister Munro. Only their resourcefulness and the intervention of fellow officers prevent their deaths.

As the two men settle into frontier life, they become embroiled in a succession of dangerous investigations stretching across isolated settlements, goldfields and vast pastoral properties. The mounted police must contend with violent bushrangers, organised thieves, murderous outlaws and longstanding personal vendettas, often operating with limited resources and little prospect of assistance. Among their adversaries are the notorious Dunford brothers and members of the Munro family, whose criminal activities threaten both settlers and police. Alongside these encounters, the novel portrays the everyday hardships of frontier existence: primitive accommodation, difficult journeys, unpredictable weather and the struggle to establish communities in remote country. Friendships, romance, humour and acts of extraordinary generosity provide moments of warmth amid the violence.

Eddy emerges as a particularly remarkable figure, combining immense physical strength, exceptional skill with knives and an instinctive willingness to protect others. His unconventional methods sometimes unsettle his superiors, but his bravery repeatedly saves lives and earns him the affection of his fellow policemen and frontier families. The story also follows the personal fortunes of other officers, including Ian Percy and his wife Janet, and Ken Taylor, whose relationship with Joy Sanders offers hope of a more settled future. Running through the narrative is the mysterious presence of an elderly Aboriginal spiritual figure whose warnings and apparent powers suggest forces beyond the understanding of the European settlers. Meanwhile, the threat posed by the Munro family intensifies, culminating in a bitter blood feud that places Eddy and his companions in mortal danger.

The novel reaches its dramatic climax when Douglas Munro and his followers capture Inspector Nathan Harris and several policemen, using them as hostages in a carefully orchestrated act of revenge. Knowing the danger, Eddy rides alone to confront the outlaws and secure his friends’ release. In the ensuing confrontation, he kills Douglas Munro but is himself fatally shot, sacrificing his life to save his companions. His death devastates Gary and the close-knit community of policemen and settlers who have come to admire him. Yet the story ends with a final, mysterious twist when a catastrophic landslide destroys the Munro stronghold at Gander Creek, apparently extinguishing the blood feud. Blending frontier adventure, crime, friendship and tragedy, Troubles on the Frontier is ultimately a story of courage, loyalty and sacrifice, celebrating the bonds forged between men and women struggling to bring order and humanity to a dangerous and unforgiving land.