The Unmourned, by Meg & Tom Keneally

In this second instalment of the Monsarrat series the ticket-of-leave convict is back in Parramatta, with Hannah Mulrooney installed as his housekeeper. The colony is awaiting arrival of a new governor and Monsarrat has secured a position as clerk to the governor’s secretary. He finds this provides only limited protection from old enemies and not quite enough income for his needs, despite the extra duties assigned that make use of his special skills. These are called on to investigate the murder of Robert Church, superintendent of the Parramatta Female Factory. In this interesting examination of another aspect of early colonial life, history takes precedence over the murder mystery as the Keneallys expose the corruption of the system. Can the two unusual investigators clear the name and save the life of activist convict Grace O’Leary? And can they avoid making more trouble for themselves while they do it? At the end of the tale a third book is flagged, with Monsarrat and Mrs Mulrooney dispatched to investigate a crime in Van Diemen’s Land, as a ‘reward’ for their success.