Two lost souls. One fateful meeting. A love story twenty years in the making.

In the harsh desert country of South Australia in 1914, ten-year-old Tom Catchlove's world is torn apart by a family tragedy. At the funeral home, he meets eight-year-old Fleur Appleby, whose kindness during his darkest hour leaves an indelible mark. Twenty years later, their paths unexpectedly cross again at a dance hall in Port Adelaide.

Fleur, now a talented mortician working alongside her widowed father, dreams of opening doors for women in the male-dominated funeral industry. But she must battle with her manipulative stepmother who schemes to marry Fleur off to a coffin-maker's son and seize control of the family business. When Tom emerges from the isolation of the desert to find work at the port woolstores, Tom and Fleur's paths cross again - only to become entangled in a murder investigation where they can trust no one but each other.

From the million-copy bestselling author comes an unforgettable tale of two lives forever changed by a childhood encounter, as they navigate family obligations, buried truths, and the courage to forge their own destinies in a world determined to decide their fate for them. If you love Kristin Hannah, Julianne MacLean or Where the Crawdads Sing, you must read this book.

Readers have fallen in love with The Orphans:

'I absolutely loved this gorgeous book and couldn't put it down... an exceptional historical fiction tale!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A beautifully told story that will stay with me for a long time to come.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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'A truly stunning and magnificent masterpiece. A memorable and unforgettable tale that will stay with you long after you have closed the book.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Grabbed me from the first page.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Breathtaking.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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'This book deserves all the stars... the storytelling is some of the best I have come across!!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Captivating and compelling, meticulously researched and beautifully written with characters that evoke all the emotions required in a story that pulls you in further and further with each page.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐