'A compelling and intimate account that puts you inside the mind of a man history has largely overlooked. I found it fascinating and essential reading for anyone curious about the Kelly era beyond the legend.'

Lucas Scheffel, author of Ned Kelly & The 5 Revolvers, Angry Fred Comics

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'A welcome addition to the story of the Kelly Outbreak and Australian history is this publication by S.P. Hare a great-great-grandniece of the book’s subject Francis Augustus Hare. Told in a first-person narrative the book’s pace is clear from the first chapter. The encounter at Glenrowan is so well told that one could almost taste the frosty night air. The shift from lying injured in bed to Hare’s early days in South Africa is very effectively done.  Having a mother related to the great slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce is also a notable family connection.  Hare’s recounting of the various attempts to capture the gang and police procedures at the time provides great insight into what life was like then This stands in stark contrast to the Kelly revisionists who blame the police for everything that happened to the Kelly family.  That said the police were not without fault, as such organisations have had flaws since their foundation.  The falling out with Sadleir as well Hare’s friendship with Captain Standish is also examined.  Well done Sue on a superb piece of writing, I am pleased to endorse it as a must read. Overall, a fantastic book that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish'. - Michael O’Connor Irish Garda (RTD.) Author From Sligo to Stringybark.

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'I recently finished reading "UNDER SIEGE" and found it absolutely captivating. It provides an incredible new perspective on Francis Hare’s life and his service within the Victoria Police, particularly amidst the Kelly hunt. My own Great-Grandfather, Joseph Ladd Mayes, served as Hare’s second-in-command during the cave party operations in the Woolshed Valley while tracking the gang. My research reveals that he held the highest regard for Francis Hare.
While history remains unchanged, I truly believe that the descendants of both the law and the Kellys have finally discovered a path toward reconciliation. Thank you, Sue, for this significant work. Wishing you and your family nothing but the best for the years ahead.' — Steve Mayes, Great-Grandson of Joseph Ladd Mayes. 2026

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