I picked this up because I had read a couple of other Bony books a number of years ago and remembered enjoying them. I wanted to read this one because it is the first in the series and would show how things got started. Things I liked about the book: Bony's personality; the way Bony combines logical thinking with aboriginal tracking skills; the depiction of life on a sheep station. Oddly, though, considering that this is the book that introduces Bony, he is not present for large parts of it. There are a number of sub-plots and action scenes that, in my opinion, bloat the story and detract from it's momentum. And then there's the problem of racism, which is central to the plot. It is difficult to tell if the the author subscribes to the racist views he chronicles or is merely reporting them; but then Bony, who is arguably the most moral, the most sophisticated, and the most intelligent character in the book, is of mixed race, which would tend to suggest that the book is not racist. The book was published in 1929, surely a less enlightened time when it comes to attitudes about race; but, nonetheless, racism is racism and, as such, is always detestable. Also, there is a tendency toward melodrama in some of the scenes, as well as some very clunky prose here and there. However, overall, the book sustained my interest and I will definitely pick up another Bony book at some point.