Dunedin history brought to life in a novel centred around Larnach's Castle

From Nine To Noon, 11:35 am on 17 April 2024

Dunedin's history is front and centre of a new book by Karen McMillan. It's a novel about a young woman called Greer, raised in an area of the city known in the late 19th century as the Devil's Half Acre. She goes off to work as a maid at Larnach's Castle after the death of her father and for a time, her story is linked to that of the castle's owner - William Larnach -  and his family. Karen spent time researching her book, Turbulent Threads,  as part of her residency at the Robert Lord Writer's Cottage and the story is stocked with real events, places and people from the city's past.

An image of author Karen McMillan and the book cover of Turbulent Threads.

Photo: Supplied: Quentin Wilson Publishing