The Cloud Leopard's Daughter

Written by Deborah Challinor

Narrated by Louise Crawford

On the gold fields of the colonies, enemies are easily made. In the confines of a ship, they can turn deadly. For readers of Bryce Courtenay's POTATO FACTORY, Philippa Gregory and Tracy Chevalier.

When Kitty and Rian Farrell sail their schooner Katipo III into Dunedin Harbour in 1863, they are on tenterhooks. The new Otago goldfields have attracted all-comers, including their friend Wong Fu from Ballarat, who has sent a message for their help.

To their surprise, Wong Fu reveals he is more than a mere fortune seeker - he is in fact a Cloud Leopard tong master and his daughter, Bao, has been kidnapped and taken to opium-ridden China.

Kitty and Rian agree to retrieve the missing Bao, but as they sail closer to their quarry the stakes jump dramatically. And little do they know that the deadliest threat lies in their midst.

The Cloud's Leopard's Daughter takes us through dangerous and unpredictable shoals of love, lust, greed and opium, in search of not one, but two, fiery yet vulnerable women - puppets in other people's calculated games.

PRAISE FOR DEB CHALLINOR'S A TATTOOED HEART
'Brilliant finale to this series based on Australia's convict past' -- Jan GoodReads
'... one of those books that you want to read slowly so it doesn't end but can't help rushing through to find out what happens!' -- Sarah Courtney, GoodReads
'Fantastic end to the convict girls series! Couldn't put it down!!!' -- Catherine Maisey, GoodReads
'Challinor is a good storyteller; her characters have depth and her historical backdrops are well researched, seamless joining fact and fiction and creating a convincing, atmospheric yarn' -- Bookseller + Publisher
'Seamlessly fuses historical fact and engrossing fiction' -- Queensland Times

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Aug 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781460792643

Deborah Challinor

Deborah Challinor has a PhD in history and is the author of numerous bestselling novels, including the Children of War series, the Convict Girls series, the Smuggler's Wife series and the Restless Years series. She has also written one young adult novel and two non-fiction books. In 2018, Deborah was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature and historical research. She lives in New Zealand with her husband.

Reviews for The Cloud Leopard's Daughter

[jocelynam · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A rather fanciful story based in the 1860's gold rush times in Ballarat Aust and Lawrence NZ. Abduction of a Chinese girl the soon to be cloud leopard, and then her European adopted families daughter. Moved to quickly over too many events, with very limited depth. No depth to any of the characters, in my opinion

[debbiemccauley-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's August 1863 and Kitty, Rian and the crew of the Katipo III are just arriving in Dunedin harbour in response to a plea for help from their friend Wong Fu. When they arrive at the Otago goldfields they learn that Wong Fu is tong master Cloud Leopard and that his daughter, Bao, has been abducted and taken to opium-ridden China in order to have her birthright as next tong leader stolen. Wong Fu is terribly ill and cannot make the journey himself to save her from a forced marriage. Bao is a friend of Kitty and Rian's daughter Amber, but when the crew set off to try and rescue Bao little do they know that Amber's life will be put in danger also, made worse by the seething jealousy of one of their crew. A wonderful blend of well-researched history and strong female protagonists serves to immerse the reader in both the day to day trials of 19th Century women and in an adventure story in which strong heroines command respect.