Thames, New Zealand: 1870s and 2020s. Two very different eras, linked by history, personal struggles and the spiritual world. A clash of beliefs, human greed and love. The 1870s was a time when Thames became famous worldwide for the gold rush. Very few who flocked to the fields became rich, but that didn't stop them from dreaming. They came for other reasons, too, to get away from a darker past. The hills around Thames throbbed with the desire to change lives, and the stories of those men and women varied massively. Friendships were formed, sometimes against the norms of the Victorian conventions.

Greed was king, as much as hope drove others. Sometimes, the two went together. The story transitions between two eras. The connection is not apparent at first, but it develops as the characters are linked by a mysterious 'person' who appears regularly, guiding, questioning and supporting them. The COVID era underlies the more recent arrival to Thames. A family relocates, seeking a different future from the big city they have left. On their arrival, there is a new challenge as the son finds friendship and aims to make sense of his feelings about who he is. His parent is supportive.

Love features in ways that challenge and confuse. A theme develops with the main character in 1870's Thames. He has left his family behind and seeks a new life in different circumstances. He, too, is trying to come to terms with his feelings. He meets people along the way; some are threatening, and others are more understanding. He is estranged from his family in England. He struggles with his memories, often having flashbacks, the violence and distrust in his family, and the strained relationship with his father. He is sent to New Zealand with limited resources, even though his family does not lack financial strength.

Post-COVID Thames presents new opportunities for the recent arrivals. The parents quickly settle in, and the two younger members make new friends. The son finds a new friend, a trainee nurse at the local hospital. Their relationship deepens. They are being watched in two eras. There is a connection, something felt but not initially seen or accepted. This feeling is well understood by a Maori friend who works with the earlier arrival in the minefields but appears repeatedly to both groups. At first, neither group understood the significance until tragedy struck.

In 1870, Thames was a pioneering town. Life was rugged, and struggle was strongly present. Not everyone worked in the mines, but most supported or preyed on the workers. The family from Mount Roskill settles onto their new home, observing the relationship growing between their son and his new friend from the hospital. This, however, causes significant issues between the nurse and his family. The two young men become closer. They return to Auckland to attend the Pride festival, creating hilarious and sometimes dangerous situations. Meanwhile, the 'watcher' becomes more apparent, taking human form.

There is an understanding emerging that is difficult to make sense of. The same 'apparition' communicates to the characters in both eras. Some locals whom both groups become close to use the term 'Patupaiarehe' to explain these interactions. The 'old lady' becomes a constant presence through the stories. The young man from the earlier era struggles to make genuine friendships yet is supported by those who come to know him. Voices In The Mist is a journey of discovery for the characters and the reader.