AustLit

A tale of the South Seas, the story begins on a light note and develops through adventure and fantasy into a narrative of heavy tragedy, relieved here and there by humour and romance. The theme centres upon an attempt by members of an enterprising expedition to introduce philanthropy to the Polynesians, and finds strength in the fact that the effort goes astray. Murder and fanaticism obtrude to an exciting degree and there is a rich vein of mystery to intrigue the reader almost to the last line of the final chapter.

The author has the gift of characterisation, and an exceptional flair for making even the most unlikely incidents seem convincing.

– The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 January, 1939, p.4