I was first introduced to this book whilst assisting with Bernice Barry’s video interview during my time as an intern at Writing WA. The premise had me hooked, and the reading Bernice delivered was engaging and intriguing.
The story begins with a punch and transports the reader to the muddy, chilly banks of the river and the discovery of a young child’s body. Blame is almost instantly turned to Sarah Evans and thus becomes a catalyst for the continuing mistreatment of the main character. We are then transported back to her teen years, with Barry expertly retelling the events of how Sarah came to be with child and the ongoing atrocities she faced as a convicted felon. At the heart of this story are the themes of power imbalance (both class and gender), criminal justice and of course life as a convict in Australia.
Whilst touted as a historical fiction novel, it would be a disservice to dismiss the sheer amount of research and detail that has been included in this book. The talent it takes to combine historical records with narrative conventions and weave them together in a compelling story is one of the true highlights of this book. I felt as though I were plunged into the time period, the way Barry uses descriptive language to develop setting and character both immersive and atmospheric. The elements were reminiscent of Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper – which if you enjoy Sarah Evans is a good one to read next.
One problem I had with the book, and perhaps it was just my understanding of the premise, was the shift from mystery to recounting the life events of Sarah. The opening chapter lends itself to a plot that could veer into the territory of a murder investigation. That being said, the story blossoms into one with more expansive themes and gives a voice to the life of Sarah Evans and those around her. A wonderfully vivid and well-researched combination of biography and historical fiction – I look forward to reading more of Bernice Barry’s work.