Colonial Books in Order

Peter Watt has a knack for digging into the gritty corners of the past, and with the Colonial series, he focuses his lens on a different kind of Australian legacy. While his other works often roam the vast outback stations, this saga takes the reader on a tour of the British Empire at the height of its power. It all begins in the colony of New South Wales back in 1845, a time when your last name often determined your entire future.

For Ian Steele, that future looked bleak. As the son of a convict and a humble blacksmith, he was never meant to be anything more than a laborer. But fate—and a desperate aristocrat—intervened. The story hinges on a moment of high-stakes opportunity that feels incredibly reckless. Steele crosses paths with Samuel Forbes, a wealthy British officer who is terrified of the military life awaiting him. They strike a bargain that would be treasonous if discovered: they swap lives.

It is the ultimate gamble.

The real Forbes vanishes to America to reinvent himself, leaving the rough-edged blacksmith to step into the polished boots of a gentleman officer. Ian Steele ceases to exist, and "Captain Samuel Forbes" is born. This isn't just a simple case of mistaken identity; it is a life-or-death performance. Ian is thrust immediately into the Queen’s wars, forcing him to learn the art of command while looking over his shoulder every single day.

Watt doesn't spare the details when describing where this deception leads. The narrative sweeps from the sweltering heat of India during the Sepoy Mutiny to the dense, fern-choked forests of the New Zealand Wars. Through it all, Ian has to act the part of the upper-crust leader while relying on his street-smart resilience to keep his men alive.

As the series pushes forward, the focus widens. The burden of Ian’s secret identity doesn’t die with him; it trickles down to his children and grandchildren. The Steele family—still masquerading under the Forbes name—finds themselves entangled in the shifting sands of global history. They are present for the colonial clashes in the Sudan and eventually face the industrial horror of World War I.

The tension comes from the constant threat of exposure. Even as they win medals and gain respect, the foundation of their family success remains a lie.

This series offers a raw look at the price of honor and the definition of nobility. It captures the bloody reality of the Victorian era without the romantic gloss, grounding the grand movements of history in the struggles of one family trying to outrun the truth.