In 1950s Central Otago, New Zealand, Tom, John, Arthur and Pat are growing up in Lawrence, a small town that was at the centre of the famous 1860s gold rush. Among the remains of the mining industry, and with the consequences of the Second World War still casting a shadow over the people in the town, the boys amuse themselves with traditional outdoor pursuits: swimming, fishing, tree-climbing, cycling and exploring. As they roam around the Lawrence area, they come into contact with people whose lives are very different from their own - people like Bobby, the sole survivor of a mining disaster at the now-abandoned Sentinel mineshaft, and Dan Hinch, a former army sniper driven mad by his wartime experiences. But as a series of accidents and innocent pranks draws the boys closer together, the Sentinel continues to loom large in their imaginations. Preston Bulfin was born in the deep south of the south island of New Zealand early during World War II. He grew up in Lawrence, from whence both sides of his family come. He was educated both locally and later in Christchurh. He has an LLM, is married and has eight children.