National Network for Equitable Library Service

Winner of the 2023 International Book Excellence Award. A 2021 International Book Award finalist. A forbidden love. A suitcase of old diaries. A secret so powerful it could bring a monarchy to its knees. The rules were crystal clear. She broke them all... 1918 ... When Rose Porter arrives on the shores of Sydney with little money, she must take a job as a parlourmaid at the mysterious North Head Quarantine Station. It's a place of turmoil for passengers and strict rules for employees. But Rose discovers some rules were made to be broken. 2019 ... Over a century later, Emma Wilcott is struggling to help her dementia-suffering grandmother from wandering at night. Her long-term memories are leading her somewhere, and Emma realises she is searching for someone from her past. Emma's investigation takes her to the Quarantine Station where she meets Matt, the station carpenter, and together they unravel a mystery so compelling it has the power to change lives, to change everything Emma ever knew about herself.