Little Lost Girl

by Graham Stewart Wilson

Overview

A little girl vanished 100 years ago. Her name was Sophie. Where did she go?

An old house in Balmain. A portrait and perfume bottle hidden in a chimney.
Unknown and untouched, while a century passed, their memory slowly fading.

Glimpses of an eight year old girl and her school friend, missing, never found.
The grief of those left behind, those who searched, those who yearned.

So begins a journey to discover an Australian family, five generations, from 1840 to today. Buried in their past is the story of a long lost girl and the pain her vanishing left behind. Fragments slowly emerge from within the walls, stories of those who built and lived in this place.

Her identity is revealed but her disappearance remains a mystery
A chance discovery gives a vital clue.

Set around beautiful Sydney Harbour, this is the story of people and place, from early colonisation to the present day. This book is the first in the Old Balmain House Series. It is a new and revised edition of the previously titled 'The Old Balmain House'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780995431300
Publisher:	Beyondbeyond Books
Publication date:	12/02/2016
Series:	Old Balmain House , #1
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	202
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

Graham Wilson lives in Sydney Australia. He has completed and published nine separate books, and also a range of combined novel box sets. Books were initially self-published as ebooks for their first editions. Now with input from reader reviews the books are being further edited and republished, including a print edition to meet reader demand Graham is in the early stages of planning a memoir about his family's connections with Ireland called Memories Only Remain and also is compiling information for a book about the early NT cattle industry, its people and its stories. Graham writes for the creative pleasure it brings him. He is particularly gratified each time an unknown person chooses to download and read something he has written and write a review - good or bad, as this gives him an insight into what readers enjoy and helps him make ongoing improvements to his writing. In his non writing life Graham is a veterinarian who work in wildlife conservation and for rural landholders. He lived a large part of his life in the Northern Territory and his books reflect this experience.

Table of Contents

AUTHOR'S NOTE - 11
FAMILY TREE - MAIN CHARACTERS -13
PROLOGUE - 15
CHAPTER 1- A NEW OLD HOUSE AND A DISCOVERY - 17
CHAPTER 2 - INVESTIGATION - 23
CHAPTER 3 - 1841 - ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA - 27
CHAPTER 4 - 1842 - ROISIN, FIRST BALMAIN HOUSE - 37
CHAPTER 5 - HANNAH - 41
CHAPTER 6 - 1849 -TRAGEDY - 49
CHAPTER 7 - RETURN TO BALMAIN - 55
CHAPTER 8 - 1854 - A NEW LIFE IN NEWCASTLE - 68
CHAPTER 9 - 1870 - TRAGEDY AGAIN - 71
CHAPTER 10 - ALISON COMES HOME - 75
CHAPTER 11 - 1872 -ANOTHER HOUSE IN BALMAIN - 83
CHAPTER 12 - SOPHIA - 87
CHAPTER 13 - 1899 - JIMMY WILLIAM'S MATCH - 93
CHAPTER 14 - MARIA - 103
CHAPTER 15 - 1900-1901 - PLAGUE AND CELEBRATIONS - 113
CHAPTER 16 - 1905-1908 - BALMAIN'S CHILDREN - 119
CHAPTER 17 - THE BIG STORM - 129
CHAPTER 18 - 1908 - SOPHIE AND MATTY - 133
CHAPTER 19 - WHERE HAS SOPHIE GONE? - 139
CHAPTER 20 - 1942 - DISCOVERY - 149
CHAPTER 21 - RACHEL REMEMBERS - 153
CHAPTER 22 - SARAH - 161
CHAPTER 23 - CLOSING THE CIRCLE - 165
CHAPTER 24 - ALISON BRINGS THE CHILDREN BACK - 175
EPILOGUE - 183
APPENDIX 1 : THE TRUTH BEHIND THE IMAGININGS - 185
APPENDIX 2 : JESSIE JONES - UNKNOWN GIRL - 191
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - 196

Editorial Reviews

Wonderful I couldn't bear to put them down - wishing there were more in the series. The people were so real it's almost like I've met them.

A truly inspiring story, brought teams to my eyes

Wonderful - A beautiful story that will stay with me. Loved it and wanted it to continue. One of the best I have read lately.

Five Stars - A brilliant read, very interesting

Great Read - This is the story of three houses and the people who built them and lived in them from the mid-1800s to the present day. Told in a rather quaint and old-fashioned manner, it is a wonderful portrayal of a multi-generational family who lived through good times and bad, but always retained a strong family bond. The growth of this area seen through their eyes is fascinating. And, the mystery of Sophie's disappearance is enough to keep one reading.

Absolutely loved this series. I could not put it down, it has held me riveted to each story and looking for more. I could vividly imagine each tale and description of the places even though I haven't been there. I would recommend this collection to anyone who wants to read about the settlers in Australia passing through generations and the fast paced tale that goes with all the books in the collection. Well Done

Really enjoyed this story. Not so much historical Australian fiction out there. Made me go looking up the area online to see where they were talking about. It was sad and moved a bit quick through the characters at times but I thought it recreated the time period really well. Hard to imagine Sydney with that few people.

From the Publisher