Ulf is a small former gold-mining town in the hill country of Victoria, Australia. A young woman disappears one night, so completely that a massive search effort fails to find any trace her. Fifteen years later, Erik Portland, a retired clergyman, is challenged to seek out what happened. His research leads him into danger as someone appears to feel he might discover something he shouldn't. He travels to Melbourne where, as some characters seem inclined to say "the plot thickens". The story features hard-working Victoria Police personnel, typically fascinating small-town Australian country characters, eco-terrorists, union officials, corrupt politics, a country newspaper and its staff, all contributing to the on-going mystery of the girl's disappearance. Over all the intrigue is the loveliness of the Australian bush and its wild inhabitants.
"Ore" is the third novel by Geoff Spedding set in Ulf, a little former gold-mining and timber-milling town in the hill country of Victoria, Australia. The main character of all three books is Erik Portland, a retired church pastor who ministers in an independent congregation in Ulf. In the first book, "Ulf" he becomes involed in, and solves, the mystery of a teenage girl who had been missing for fifteen years. In "Ash", the second novel, he solves the mystery surrounding the violent death of a young fire fighter during a wild fire which roars through teh village. In "Ore", Erik Portland is fishing in his favourite mountain stream when he makes a discovery which leads him on a hunt for gold in the high country above the village of Ulf. A new member of Erik's family is a small dog which becomes his companion as he searches the hills. Burglary, domestic violence, death threats and the re-emergence of a vengeful villain interrupt his seeking the golden treasure and there are times when his life is in jeopardy. Many of the characters from the first two books reappear in "Ore" to assist Erik Portland in his quest for gold and aid him when his life and property are endangered.
Fifty years after the events recounted in the novel 'Fourteen', the Mannering Gang, the main characters in the book, gather in the town of Cardigan for a reunion. Their lives have been spent fulfilling their dreams, suffering illnesses, injuries and grief and, in some cases, unsuccessful marriages. Just like everyone everywhere. 'Reunion' recounts the stories of their lives and these are intertwined with a puzzling mystery which concerns the disappearance of the Principal of the Cardigan High School into which someone is trying to implicate the Gang. The Mannering Gang doesn't want to be involved, but whoever is behind the disappearance obviously dislikes the Gang very much. As the group enjoys the events of their reunion, there is the looming, indefinable threat overshadowing what was supposed to be a time of joyful reunion. What the threat is and who is the perpetrator is a puzzle which perplexes the police and, even though they don't wish to be involved, the Mannering Gang as well.
'The Pentateuch, Some Brief Thoughts' is a collection of the author's thoughts about each of the chapters of the first five books of the Bible. It is not a commentary, but is the personal response with mostly one pertinent thought from each chapter. It was originally compiled as a devotional exercise by the author, a retired Presbyterian minister while he was still active in ministry. The Pentateuch, which means 'Five Books' is the Torah' or Book of the Law of the Jewish Faith and it details the beginning of God's great plan for mankind.
Dark Shadow is the fifth novel in the Erik Portland series written by Geoff Spedding. It is based upon two mythical rumours which have prevailed in the High Country and other parts of Victoria, Australia for many years. The episode of the doctor's locum happened in the author's own experience and he has expanded upon it for this story. A third issue covered in the book may not by a myth or a rumour, but a distinct possibility. The author suggests those who want to know about it should read the story so they may form their own views. Most of the characters in Dark Shadow have appeared in the other books and a few new ones have appeared. At least one of these will continue in further Erik Portland novels. The Australian Defence Force and federal Police are involved in this story and the author hastens to add that none of the more abrasive characters bear any relationship or semblance to anyone of whom he is aware might be in those organisations. The story is centred upon the residents af the small former gold-mining town of Ulf and the big town in the river valley below the village. The main character is the Pastor of a congregation of Reformed Protestants and many of the other characters are members of the congregation. There is a weekly newspaper called 'The News' which plays a role in all the novels and members of the staff are central characters in all the stories. The Victoria Police Force plays an important role in the plot and young people from the area share the adventures with their friend and pastor, Erik Portland. Dark Shadow opens with a violent death and there is a looming threat hovering over the mountains and valleys of the Victorian high Country as answers to mysteries are sought by those involved.
'Necropolis' is mostly about a small medieval town, Monte Caprabianca, perched on a rocky outcrop in the volcanic hills to the north of Rome, Italy.The village has two special features: in the nearby Etruscan Necropolis, archaeologist Maria Pozzi is convinced there is a lost underground tomb. The other is a big white billy.goat which has, for millennia, appeared as a warning when the community has been under threat. Peter Wood, a retired journalist and Professoressa Pozzi's partner investigates the manifestations. As the work in the Necropolis continues, organised groups of tomb robbers become involved and there are threats and shootings which add to the intrigue of the Necropolis. Tomb seekers and tomb raiders come into conflict as the stories of the lost tomb and the mysterious goat become intertwined.
A group of young people from the little High Country town of Ulf in Victoria, Australia ws taking a walk up in the hills to visit a gold mine when one of their number, an eleven-year-old girl named Nita vanished. This book tells the story of the search to find her and is a record of the things that happened to Nita following her disappearance. It is the latest in the series of Erik Portland stories about the pastor of an independent church in the town of Ulf and the mysteries he uncovers while experiencing life in a small former gold-mining community in the rugged and picturesque landscape of the Victorian High Country. The mystery of Nita is more about the little girl than Erik Portland but, as the story unfolds, he is seen to be in great danger.
