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Grand Deceptions is a historical novel centred predominantly around Melbourne and Ballarat in Victoria Australia. England, Scotland and San Marino also play a part of this captivating story. The timeline begins in the 1850s and ends in the 1960s. Three well to do young men immigrate to Victoria; their reasons are all different but their ambitions are the same – make their fortune in the antipodes. The circumstances that drove their futures were deception. Two of the three men became victims of fraud and lost their fortunes. They hatched a plan to recover their newly developed wealth by becoming bushrangers. They disguised themselves in women's clothing, calling themselves "The Banshees". Grand Deceptions follows the lives of the three men all of whom experience exciting and sometimes dangerous lives. I found this book a great read, I was impressed by the author's knowledge of early Victorian history and his introduction of characters from English settlers of the day. Given the ending, one would guess there might be a sequel in the wind! – Bill Simpson I think this is Garry's best book so far. I would have no hesitation in recommending this read to anybody who loves history, thrilling storylines and a book you can't put down. – Ian Jones I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. What I got was a page turning great read. I won't spoil the ending for those of you yet to read Grand Deceptions, I will just say be sure to put aside a few hours as you won't want to put it down until you see how it ends. – Kim Krarup Garry has outdone himself with this story. He has blended a great mix of fact and fiction and I found myself enthralled. I read Grand Deceptions in an afternoon which I very rarely manage to do with a book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough – do yourself a favour and get a copy, I guarantee you will not be disappointed – Tony Pittard As with Garry Willmott's Serendipity – A Gallipoli Love Story, which I read a while ago, Grand Deceptions is a fascinating blend of fact and fiction. I enjoyed the deft way the author weaves the men's stories, bringing in other characters and sometimes bringing the reader up to date on what happened to someone I assumed had been forgotten. For example, Anna's friend Jane was mentioned in passing… and then her story is revealed later in the book. Grand Deceptions is a fine historical tapestry giving a picture of a hundred years of turbulent history as a backdrop for the stories of some remarkable people. – Sally Odgers, author/editor

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&quot;Another great 'read-all-in-one-go' book from natural-born storyteller Garry Willmott. Soul Survivor picks up the story of Lara, last remaining survivor of the Doherty family. The last sentence in Survival reads 'The Dohertys had survived the war, the POW camps and the Titanic. Now they were all gone, except for Lara.'<br /> <br />Masterful storyteller Garry Willmott takes the reader on a wild ride through the orphaned Lara's life from her childhood and privileged upbringing in England to her political career. Along the way, she follows the family tradition of becoming a doctor and is involved in the Hippie movement and the music of the 60s, and the Vietnam War protests. A lot of this story will be familiar territory for the baby-boomer readers.<br /> <br />Lara's character is shaped by some cruel blows that life deals out to her but despite all these she retains her positive and loving nature.<br /> <br />Garry Willmott weaves his story through the turbulence of mid-20th century history. The story encompasses post-war England, international investments and shady deals, kidnapping and ransom, flower power and the swinging 60s, popular music, the waning power of the English class system and the political upheaval of the 70s. A brilliant read and a wonderful history lesson.&quot; – Sheelagh Wegman, editor.

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This book is about war, yet it's not a novel about enemies fighting to the death or examining the strategies of battles. This novel is about young boys some as young as eight, fighting, killing and being killed.<br /> <br />The first six chapters follow the lives of two normal happy teenagers attending school, playing sport and learning about girls. This creates a comparative scenario highlighting the difference between a modern teenager and the boys that carry guns and fight in horrendous conditions, their innocence lost forever.<br /> <br />Boy's Own War is a tightly woven, precise narrative that intertwines historical fact with both real and imagined characters. It is a novel that works on many levels, and it is impossible to locate it within any single genre; it is all the more impressive as it blends a considerable amount of informative research with elements of realistic human drama.<br /> <br />It is an important book. Not only does it remind us of the courage and sacrifice of boy warriors who lost their lives in wars but also it reminds us of the significance of those wars and the effect they have had on humankind. By showing the waste and futility of war, and how children become entrenched in horrendous battles losing limbs and lives, Boy's Own War also seeks a more general lasting peace for humankind.<br /> <br />This is an extraordinary story, one that provides insights into the dualities of human nature, especially against a background of war. Generally, parents nurture their children, educate them hoping they will become responsible adults. The parents of the boys in this book lost their children to the ultimate human evil… war.<br /> <br />We are confronted with the potential within all of us for both heroism and cowardice, honesty and deception, altruism and greed; there is, in the intensity of wartime, a heightened awareness of moral dilemmas, choices between good and evil which have eternally confronted humankind.

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This story deserves to be told. Garry Willmott creates graphic and quite horrifying insights into unseen and 'unsung' aspects of World War 1, where so many Australian, Canadian, British, New Zealander, American and French soldiers were slaughtered and still, today, lie uninterred in forgotten furrows of French fields.<br /> <br />The author tells this story in a simple direct style which has an immediate impact. Garry Willmott's ancestors are among those who lost their lives fighting against the Kaiser's Juggernaut. The characters of the soldiers come to life and even in death, their spirits are revived in the telling.<br /> <br />The courage of our soldiers and their betrayal by British Generals moves the reader to sorrow and to anger as we witness not only the terrible personal suffering of the soldiers, but also the long-term effects upon families left behind.

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