The Lost Voices by Paul Rushworth-Brown Read an Excerpt

Publication Date: April 28, 2026
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 466
Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Description

Some lives pass through history without leaving a trace.

The Lost Voices is a work of historical fiction that brings to light those whose stories were never formally recorded—not because they lacked significance, but because their lives unfolded beyond the reach of power, authorship, and recognition.

This is the story of ordinary people forced into extraordinary circumstances—individuals navigating a rigid social order shaped by obligation, fear, and quiet resistance. Here, survival depends as much on silence as on action, and choices are made not in moments of glory, but in private, under pressure, and with consequences rarely acknowledged.

The novel explores how personal truth is shaped—and sometimes erased—by authority, custom, and the need to endure. What remains are the lives history does not celebrate: the unspoken loyalties, the moral compromises, and the quiet cost of being unheard.

The Lost Voices is an intimate and powerful reflection on what history forgets—and what it leaves behind.

Excerpt

On the Edge of Survival

A man does not always know the moment his life is taken from him. It rarely arrives with warning. More often, it is something he wakes into—already decided.

Robert came to in the darkness. The taste of salt and rot was thick in his throat, and the floor beneath him tilted with the roll of the sea.

A ship.

Rough voices echoed off the wood, muffled by the thick, briny air in the hold.

“Won’t need a horse where he’s goin’…”

Coarse ropes bit into his wrists—tight, the fibres grating skin. No give.

Heavy boots thudded against the timber, the vibrations rattling his bones.

The men stepped back.

A figure moved through the dim light, tricorn hat low, hand resting on the pistol's grip.

“I hear you’ve been looking for me.”

A boot ground against his throat, leather rasping skin and pressing his Adam's apple.

“How do I know you’re tellin’ the truth?”

Robert clawed at the stale air, chest burning for each ragged gasp.

“Smythe… sent me… Leeds… The Nags Head…”

A pause.

Then—

“Slit his throat.”

The knife flashed—cold glint and slicing whoosh—descending toward his neck.

“WAIT! I have jewels!”

Silence.

Everything changed.

Praise

"Another great work by a very talented author who loves his period works and characters from his great plots. He writes with verve and intent to deliver the imagination something unexpected and greatly appreciated... Brilliant..." ~ Gavin, Readalot Magazine reviewer

Where to Purchase

Amazon US Buy Link : Amazon AU Buy Link : Amazon UK Buy Link

Meet the Author

Paul Rushworth-Brown is an Australian historical fiction author whose work explores ordinary people navigating forces far greater than themselves.

His writing focuses on identity, survival, and the lasting impact of historical events, examining how lives are shaped not only by what history records, but by what it leaves behind. His work has reached international audiences across the United States and the United Kingdom, including appearances on PSI TV and U.S. radio, including Moments with Marianne Pestana on ABC-affiliated KMET 1490AM/98.1FM.

Through his fiction, he brings attention to the human cost of history and the individuals often overlooked within it.

Connect with Paul:
Website : Twitter/X : Facebook : Instagram : Bluesky : Pinterest : Book Bub : TikTok : Amazon Author Page : Goodreads

Tour Schedule

Tour Schedule Page HERE