The Lieutenant

From isolated outsider to man of purpose—Daniel Rooke's journey unfolds against the vast Australian frontier of 1788. As the First Fleet's astronomer, he arrives expecting to lose himself in the stars, only to discover something far more profound waiting on the unfamiliar shores of New South Wales. When Rooke ventures beyond his observatory, he encounters the Aboriginal people of the land and forms an unexpected bond with a local child that awakens him to a deeper truth about belonging and human connection. This compelling novel reveals how the most transformative discoveries often come not from the heavens above, but from the relationships we forge with those around us. A powerful meditation on finding your place in the world through genuine human connection.