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'Enigmatic intrigue, a grand Australian estate in the limelight, and Love’s reawakening as a 19th-century woman defies conventions.
'In the heart of the rugged landscape of Sydney harbour, John Leary’s mansion, known as Golden Hall, stand as a bastion of colonial grandeur. The recent loss of his clever and beautiful wife Clarissa casts a poignant shadow over the estate. However, the grandeur is not lost, for their young son Richard fills the halls with life. John, a tall and striking widower finds himself drawn to Richard dedicating more time to his upbringing than to his thriving business, Leary Contracting. Partners and kin fret over John’s apparent detachment given the fierce competitiveness of Sydney’s burgeoning 1850s building industry. A change starts to stir within him. Unseen eyes watch Golden Hall with its sweeping views from Point Piper and John becomes suspicious of their intentions. While the widow Mary Harrigan who once called this estate home, has every right to feel a connection, John believes she along with another mysterious figure, are driven by a singular golden lust. They are convinced that the house conceals a hidden treasure. When Mary Harrigan enlists the enchanting Catherine Ryan to aid in her quest, John sheds his listlessness and springs into action. He embarks on a journey that promises to unearth secrets buried within the very fabric of Golden Hall, affecting not just the mansion but the possibility of future happiness in the changing Australian landscape. This tale set amidst unique backdrop of 19th-century Sydney is a captivating blend of mystery ambition and rekindling of love’s flame all deeply rooted in the enchanting sunburnt Australian soil.'(Publication summary)
