Crime & Punishment
Australia
- Meet the Author -
When author Helen Cottee moved into the historic Settlers Store, an original old Mudgee building, little did she know she was about to uncover a gruesome yet fascinating history which included a mysterious death, incest, murder, and suicides. Always on the lookout for hidden stories, Helen started by finding out who built the house. This led to the discovery that the builder, Andrew McCauley, was the same man who built the Mudgee Gaol!
Mudgee born and bred, Helen had never heard about the Gaol or its location. It had entirely disappeared in history. As she delved more into the history of the place she started unearthing alluring tales of those who worked and died there. One of the most intriguing characters Helen stumbled upon was the NSW hangman, Robert Rice Howard, who hanged all four men in the Gaol. Known as ‘Nosey Bob’, Robert Howard became the first state hangman for NSW.
'Nosey Bob's life became a focal point for Helen's investigation. His 72 executed prisoners' cases and respective family trees brought to light forgotten yet splendid local history which resulted in the development of a series of books which started with 'Hanged in Mudgee'
The first book, ‘Hanged in Mudgee’, has been very well received and has sold out of the first print. The second book, ’John de Rune Dick, The Mystery of Mudgee's Gaol Governor' is now ready for sale well will be followed by, 'Hanged in Armidale.' The Dark Trade is the biography of Robert Rice Howard. Hanged in Tamworth, is out and selling out fast.
"Impeccable attention to detail and a unique delivery are the hallmarks of Helen Cottee, with a debut book that will have you itching for more."
Check out the full selection of titles published by Justice Publishing.
Cornelia Knight - Researcher & Family Historian
- - - - - - -
Hanged in Mudgee
Thank you Helen, another wonderfully researched and informative
book on Mudgee’s past. I love our towns history and you tell the story so well, cannot wait for the next one.
Lynda Goodman - Mudgee Historian
- - - - - - -
'A well documented story, that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. A tremendous and promising debut for this author!'
Claudia from Birmingham I AMAZON REVIEW
- - - - - - -
Hanged in Armidale
"This excellent, thoroughly researched and well-written book is a welcome addition to Armidale’s local history. I highly recommend this splendid book and many will thank her for adding so substantially to the known history of Armidale."
Ian Johnstone - Armidale Historian
Hanged in Tamworth
'Wow Wow Wow, what more can I say! I have live her all my life and didn't know anything about early Tamworth and the locations mentioned in the book. I have recommended it to all my friends.
Karen Williams - Avid History Reader
Ian Johnstone - Armidale Historian
- E Books -
Helen grew up in Mudgee, New South Wales, a small country town, rich in history.She attended Mudgee High School, leaving at the age of sixteen with a want to travel. Working for a couple of years she saved enough to travel to New Zealand.
Returning to Mudgee and training as a nurse at the local hospital, she became a VSO (Volunteer Services Overseas) and went to Lae in New Guinea for two years till the country's independence. In Brisbane, she married and had two children before deciding to immigrate to the United Kingdom. Living amongst all the history and the opportunity to attend University, so after attending Farnborough College moved to Scotland and gained entry to Glasgow University to study Business Economics. Choosing a path in accounts, she moved to London and worked in the accounts department of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. After twenty-three years in the United Kingdom, she returned to Australia, purchased an antique centre, Settlers Store, and opened a guest house, then taking semi-retirement to concentrate on her lifetime passions: history and writing!
It was then that Helen decided to delve into and base her first book on the Mudgee Gaol and those executed within it's walls.