Review: By the Currawong’s Call by Welton B. Marsland

Title: By the Currawong’s Call

Author: Welton B. Marsland

Length: 352 Pages

Category: Historical Romance

At a Glance: Definitely check this one out, guys. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m such a huge fan of this book, and can’t wait to see what this author brings us next.

Reviewed By: Jules

Blurb: A small town, a new arrival, and a love that is as undeniable as it is unlawful…

Victoria, Australia, 1891

Anglican priest Matthew Ottenshaw receives his first posting in tiny Dinbratten, two days’ ride from his Melbourne home. Determined to honour his calling as best he can, he throws himself into the footy mad, two-pub town, navigating the dusty streets, learning the gossip, and striking up a friendship with Jonah Parks, the resident police sergeant and local bona fide hero.

A police officer and a priest often find themselves needed at the same place, and Jonah and Matthew’s friendship deepens quickly, as they set about their business of protecting the bodies and souls of Dinbratten’s residents. When a bushfire threatens the town, and Matthew’s inexperience with fire endangers the church buildings, Jonah comes to the rescue, and a reckless kiss in the midst of the chaos takes their friendship to forbidden.

Neither Matthew nor Jonah can go back to the way things were before, but continuing their relationship puts everything at risk: their jobs, their friends, even their lives. In the outback town of Dinbratten where everyone knows everything about everyone else, how can they ever expect to keep a secret this explosive?

Review: I knew this book was going to be special when I first saw the cover and read the blurb a few months ago. Welton B. Marsland was a new-to-me author, and I believe By the Currawong’s Call is their debut novel, but I just had a really good feeling about it. And I was right. By the Currawong’s Call, set in 1891 rural Australia, is a gorgeous story of forbidden love, and the goodness of these two men, Sergeant Jonah Parks and Father Matthew Ottenshaw. It’s a lovely, smart historical, with a total Thorn Birds vibe, and it was fantastic.

I absolutely adored both main characters. Jonah is truly the salt of the earth. A true, small-town hero, he is loved and respected by almost all who know him, and it’s obvious that he cares for the people of Dinbratten. Originally from Astoria, Oregon, Jonah ended up in Australia after his father went there in the gold rush. He didn’t have success as a prospector, but, fortunately, was good at cards and was able to send for nine-year-old Jonah and his mom. I chuckled when Jonah told Matthew that his family established itself in Australia on the proceeds of gambling. Jonah is an excellent policeman, extremely bright and astute, and a people person; all good qualities to have in his vocation. And, he is also very forward thinking, which was rare for the time, and someone in his position, but, of course, helped open him up for his relationship with the town’s new minister.

Matthew came from nearby Melbourne, obviously much larger than Dinbratten, but loved his new posting and his small church in the little town. As an Anglican priest, he was more open-minded than his Catholic peers, but aside from the occasional drink—perhaps a bit more than occasional once he became friends with Jonah—he was a fairly pious man. He cherished his relationship with God, and loved performing his duties and helping the people of Dinbratten. So, it came as a shock to him when his relationship with Jonah became more than simply friendship, but he felt no guilt at what the two of them were doing together. He never felt any shame, or felt that it was wrong. He, of course, felt fear—they both did—as the things they were doing were illegal, after all. But, they both decided early on that they were willing to risk everything to be together.

“Fuckin’ hell,” Jonah murmured, giving a slow shake of his head. “What we’ve got ourselves into, eh? Pillars of the bloody community and look at us! A right pair.”

Matthew did have a moment, after a particularly heated night with Jonah, where he freaked out and thought he felt a hole in himself where God had been; but, after some heavy reflection, realized that’s not what he had experienced at all. I loved this:

The absence within him that scared him so the night before was no longer devastating. He had merely experienced change. He was a good man, and the God he knew and loved would recognize that. He hadn’t lost anything but his fear.

The pacing of the story is perfect. Marsland expertly takes us through the stages of the relationship, and I love where they end up. The setting is also so wonderful. I keenly felt both the place and the era. And, there were two key subplots in the story that were very well-executed and intriguing. My only point of criticism would be regarding the epilogue. It was a cool idea, and I appreciate what the author was trying to do with it, but for whatever reason it didn’t entirely work for me. And, I thought it ended rather abruptly. But, honestly, that’s a minor complaint compared to what was overall an amazing and wonderful story.

Definitely check this one out, guys. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m such a huge fan of this book, and can’t wait to see what this author brings us next.

You can buy By the Currawong’s Call here:
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