The Rat Catcher

"The Rat Catcher: A Love Story" by Kim Kelly is a lively and fast-paced fable set in Sydney’s hot summer of 1900, following Patrick O’Reilly, a young wharf laborer facing hard times during a plague outbreak. As he takes on a job with the city’s Plague Department, he encounters unexpected challenges and insights, including a legendary rat named Old Scratch that profoundly influences his perspective. Through its spirited narrative, the story explores themes of life, love, and self-discovery in a richly textured historical setting.