AustLit

An island in the coastal waters of Northern Queensland forms the setting, for the "Herald's" new serial, "Island Interlude," which begins publication on Monday. The author, Stuart McDonald, opens with a vivid description of the locality, with its turquoise-blue sea, laced with foam; its coral gardens; its wheeling gulls, and its lush, brilliant vegetation. Here, on Margarita Island, live Juan Christopher, a former worker in a pearling fleet, and his pretty daughter, Marguerite.

When it is disclosed that Christopher prizes a hoard of extremely valuable pearls in his modest home, experienced readers will be ready for a spectacular robbery scene. Sure enough, it comes. But before that, the author tells some stirring tales in retrospect about pearling luggers at Broome, and murders committed for priceless gems. There are tales of hurricanes which drive stout ships irresistibly on to the devouring teeth of reefs. A handsome stranger is washed up in stormy weather on the shore of Margarita. He and the girl are mutually attracted; and so appears the preamble to a love interest which persists throughout the tale. The weaving together of lively adventure and realistic scenic description makes "Island Interlude" an unusually attractive story.

– The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 May 1937, p5