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Pohan Setan

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Chelsea Brown dreamt of being a journalist her whole life. Now, that dream was about to come true. She and her two friends, graduated university together, and were about to embark on their first assignment.
Under the guidance of veteran reporter, and alcoholic, Bill Redcliff, the group head to Java to investigate tales of disturbing animal cruelty. However, what they find is far more horrific, and Chelsea’s dream quickly turns into a nightmare.

Bradley Munroe, ex S.A.S, had made a lucrative living rescuing hostages from dangerous situations. The biggest challenge of his career now lay in Indonesia.
Munroe would need to face something he’d never encountered before. It would push him to the limits of his formidable skills.

Pohon Setan is a fast-paced super-natural horror book from sci-fi author, Ben Brown. The story moves quickly, leaving you gasping for breath, right to the last page.



Included free with this purchase, is Ben Brown’s award winning story, Rescue Unit 867a.
This story, set in the near future, revolves around one man, whose life is thrown into turmoil when his family is killed in a devastating tsunami.
The prestigious Science Fiction Novelists’ website awarded Rescue Unit 867a third place in the 2011 short story contest.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2011

5 people are currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

Ben Brown

120 books12 followers
Ben Brown was born in Reading, England. He struggled through school academically. Diagnosed with dyslexia meant being removed from class to attend ‘remedial” lessons. Ben did not enjoy reading and writing, and left school early to work with his father as a builder. It wasn’t until his mid-twenties that Ben persisted in teaching himself to read — and finally read his first novel.

Ben emigrated to Perth, Western Australia in 1990 where he now lives with his wife Michelle and two teenage children, Chelsea and Zac.

He planned his first novel each day while working as a bricklayer, to pass the hours. His love of scientific facts, futuristic possibilities, and fast-paced action infects his plots and writing style.

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Richard Winder.
Author 12 books4 followers
September 2, 2012
A Rumble in the Jungle, with a stinger at the end

Once upon a time, you could turn on your TV any given Sunday afternoon, and flip the channels until you found a jungle adventure. You know the type. It would be full of sweaty people forging their way deep into the unknown, and there was almost always something incredibly deadly and frightening awaiting the unsuspecting expedition. Usually more than one thing. In e-book form, Pohon Setan by Ben Brown is just such a story. You have a pack of inexperienced Aussie reporters led by the experienced alcoholic veteran Bill Redcliff. You have Chelsea, the newby that must find the courage to survive. There's Baga, the friendly villager, Bradley Munroe, the kick-ass mercenary for hire, and the vile Qiang, human smuggler and general all-around villain. Then, of course, there's the Indonesian jungle, a rumor of strange goings-on involving animal sacrifice, and the mysterious Pohon Setan. I've been near the area mentioned in the story, in the jungles of north Australia. Looking like something from a previous epoch, the crocs strike faster than a human can move, and the cassowaries flashing through the shadows are fully capable of kicking a human to death. They have nothing on the Pohon Setan, though. I'll not spoil things by revealing why. It's clear to me that Brown had way too much fun writing this story; it was entertaining and engaging, the dialog a hoot. There are some grammar glitches that I have to mention because they do stick out a bit, but I nevertheless enjoyed the read. There's no deep analysis of society or human nature here, but who says every story has to be about that? This should entertain just about anyone, with the possible exception of anyone out there who actually had the misfortune to encounter a Pohon Setan... The sci-fi short story offered at the end of the work, Rescue Unit 867a, actually elevates this offering by a half star. The premise of automatic rescue machinery is intriguing, the tsunami disaster setting relevant, and the message concerning humanity insightful; not a story you'll easily forget. Altogether, lets call it four-and-a-half stars, then.
Profile Image for Melanie Adkins.
802 reviews24 followers
April 6, 2012
Bill Redcliff hasn't had a big story in years, now he must watch over three new reporters as they investigate a rumor. The rumor is about the import and export of live cattle. It was banned and then it was reopened. No one knew why. Their boss sends the newbies out because he isn't sure there is even a story here. He figures it will keep them busy and out of his way. Problem is there's a bigger story to tell. The four of them happen on an abandon temple during their investigation. It's filled with skeletons, blood and parts of cows. They decide to watch the temple to see what's going on. They learn what's happening but it will cost them. Four went into this investigation but will all four make it back out?


This book is exciting, a little scary and gives you another reason to be unsure in the jungle. I especially enjoyed the rough, weathered reporter who must take on the new reporters. He's such a gruff, in your face person at first. This story builds slowly and it's well worth the wait. You can't go wrong with this book. Just don't read it and then head to the jungle. *smile*


I didn't find any issues.




I gave this one 5 out of 5 cause it was fun to explore new possibilities.
Profile Image for Al "Tank".
370 reviews58 followers
April 1, 2015
The story gets off to a rocky start. Not because of the excellent plot, but because one of the main characters needs just a bit more development. She's both tough and then suddenly emotionally vulnerable and the first transition is rather sudden. It would have been believable with just a few hints before hand. It's a novella, but there is still enough room for what was needed.

Once past that very small problem, the story moves right along and doesn't let up until the climax.

The story is a tour de force of hopes, lust, love, and terror.

The anti-climax is a bit long, but bear with it because it's a setup for one last bit.

The "bonus" short story at the end, "Rescue Unit 867A, is an entertaining bit about the interactions between a rescued man and his mechanical rescuer.
Profile Image for Angela Mortimer.
Author 20 books128 followers
January 24, 2013
An exciting, fast-paced book that you can't put down with believable characters that just won't lie down. One of most thrilling books you'll ever read.
Profile Image for Kathy Floyd.
581 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2014
GREAT BOOK

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast action, never boring, with great characters. It was hard to put down at the end.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews

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