Friday Woolfe is in London's notorious Newgate gaol, awaiting transportation for prostitution and theft. There, she meets three other girls: intelligent and opportunistic thief, Sarah Morgan, naive young Rachel Winter, and reliable Harriet Clarke. On the voyage to New South Wales their friendship becomes an unbreakable bond - but there are others on board who will change their lives forever. And in the land behind the sun, the only thing they have is each other...