Cirrus@Austlit

His novel explicitly deals with the massacres of Aborigines by settlers. It was less successful than his earlier work, "partly because inferior, but also because he courageously and accurately portrayed horrific mass-murders of Aborigines by police and pastoralists. The public was not ready for such honesty."

Source: G. K. Jenkin, 'Newland, Simpson (1835–1925)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, 1988, pp 10–12.

Set in tropical Queensland, Melbourne and Hong Kong, and filled with malevolence, murder, evil deeds and possession, The Curse of the Snake is one of Boothby's scarcer thrillers.

'Major Sarning (an extremely seedy gentleman who chums in a very seedy London lodging-house with an almost equally seedy writer and actor) is walking home in the fog one night when he stumbles upon a derelict girl. His pity is aroused, then his interest, and, very much against the derelict's wish, he furnishes her with first aid in the shape of much-needed food and shelter, while he passes the night supperless on the landing. Despite his own slender means he decides, in confederation with his two doubting friends, and with the consent (for a consideration) of his even more doubting land-lady, to afford the girl more permanent shelter and succour. Betty's story has been a very sad one, and it is difficult to break down her callous disregard for respectability ; but the generous attitude of her protectors does at last break it down, and the gentle and disinterested consideration of two of them wins her to even higher levels than of merely negative virtue. In her effort to be good Betty meets many obstacles, but the beautiful charity and selflessness of the down-at-heels Major helps her at every turn.'

Source:

'The Bookworm's Corner', Freeman's Journal, 19 May 1910, p.32.