The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress

When future governor Philip Gidley King sailed with the First Fleet to the new colony, he had his pick of the convict women to look after him.

Two years, and two sons, later, he set out back to England to provide a report on Sydney and its newly tamed Norfolk Island, as his mistress begged him to return to her and their children.

After a year and a half he did - but bringing with him a shocking secret that would cut her to the core, and forevermore change all their lives.

This is the story of tangled love affairs, twisted loyalties, betrayals, hardship, male infidelity, female friendship, and the tragedies and triumphs of life in a new land.

Sue Williams’ first two historical novels, Elizabeth & Elizabeth, about Elizabeth Macquarie and Elizabeth Macarthur, and That Bligh Girl, with Mary Bligh and her father, the notorious mutiny survivor and governor William Bligh, both proved best sellers and this is her third, being their prequel to the last in her series about the early days of colonial Australia.

She believes we have one of the most colorful pasts in the world and is always eager to explore it and give a voice to some of the most fascinating characters, usually women, who have been the most unheard until now.

Sue is also an award-winning journalist, travel writer and bestselling author of non-fiction. Her previous books include Run For Your Life: The remarkable true story of a family forced into hiding after leaking Russian secrets;Under Her Skin: The life and work of Professor Fiona Wood; Mean Streets, Kind Heart: The Father Chris Riley Story; Father Bob: The larrikin priest; The Last Showman: Fred Brophy; No Time For Fear: Paul de Gelder; Peter Ryan: The inside story; Death of a Doctor and The Girl Who Climbed Everest. Other books are about travel, true crime and genetics, while she has also had a children’s book published.

Sue lives in Sydney with her partner Jimmy Thomson, who writes crime thriller novels as James Dunbar, and their cat who remains steadfastly unimpressed by anything they do.