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Eden
From the bestselling author of Wimmera comes a binge-worthy literary thriller that shows we all have secrets, but some are deadlier than others.
Big City. Deadly Secrets.
Cities are tough when you've grown up as a country kid. They're even tougher after nine years inside. Tom Blackburn is fresh out of jail and not sure where his future lies. He knows what he wants. But he's pretty sure she doesn't want him.
Tom's left his old life and his old name behind. But his options aren't great. He knows sleeping on the streets is the quickest way back to a cell. And then, his luck turns around. A chance encounter leads to a job and somewhere to stay. A place in the dead centre of Melbourne. Eden, his new boss calls it.
Honest, physical work. Bit of gardening, bit of gravedigging, bit of whatever he's told to do. Fresh air, currawongs, a bed and some peace and quiet. It's the perfect place to save some money and make some plans. A place to keep his head down and stay out of trouble.
But trouble finds him. Serious trouble. He's missed the signs, again. Going back to jail might be the safest option. Unless he can figure some way out of the danger he's in . . .
From much-loved Australian crime author Mark Brandi comes a new book that answers old questions. A gripping story of a big city with deadly secrets.
Big City. Deadly Secrets.
Cities are tough when you've grown up as a country kid. They're even tougher after nine years inside. Tom Blackburn is fresh out of jail and not sure where his future lies. He knows what he wants. But he's pretty sure she doesn't want him.
Tom's left his old life and his old name behind. But his options aren't great. He knows sleeping on the streets is the quickest way back to a cell. And then, his luck turns around. A chance encounter leads to a job and somewhere to stay. A place in the dead centre of Melbourne. Eden, his new boss calls it.
Honest, physical work. Bit of gardening, bit of gravedigging, bit of whatever he's told to do. Fresh air, currawongs, a bed and some peace and quiet. It's the perfect place to save some money and make some plans. A place to keep his head down and stay out of trouble.
But trouble finds him. Serious trouble. He's missed the signs, again. Going back to jail might be the safest option. Unless he can figure some way out of the danger he's in . . .
From much-loved Australian crime author Mark Brandi comes a new book that answers old questions. A gripping story of a big city with deadly secrets.
Audible Audio
Published June 25, 2025
23 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
About the author
Mark Brandi
5 books305 followersMark Brandi's bestselling novel, Wimmera, won the coveted British Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger, and was named Best Debut at the 2018 Australian Indie Book Awards. It was also shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards Literary Fiction Book of the Year, the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year, and the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime.
Mark's second novel, The Rip, was published to critical acclaim in 2019, and his third novel, The Others, was shortlisted for the Best Fiction prize in the 2022 Ned Kelly Awards. His fourth novel, Southern Aurora, was Highly Commended in the 2024 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. His fifth novel, Eden, was published in July 2025.
Mark's shorter work has appeared in The Guardian, The Age, The Big Issue, and is sometimes broadcast on ABC Radio National. Mark graduated with a criminal justice degree and worked in the justice system before changing direction and deciding to write. Originally from Italy, he grew up in rural Victoria. He now lives in Melbourne and is working on his next novel.
Mark's second novel, The Rip, was published to critical acclaim in 2019, and his third novel, The Others, was shortlisted for the Best Fiction prize in the 2022 Ned Kelly Awards. His fourth novel, Southern Aurora, was Highly Commended in the 2024 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. His fifth novel, Eden, was published in July 2025.
Mark's shorter work has appeared in The Guardian, The Age, The Big Issue, and is sometimes broadcast on ABC Radio National. Mark graduated with a criminal justice degree and worked in the justice system before changing direction and deciding to write. Originally from Italy, he grew up in rural Victoria. He now lives in Melbourne and is working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 28, 2025
This is a book about a guy Tom Blackburn who has been in jail for 9 years. He has just got out and is not sure where his future lies. He gets a job and things are looking up. Just when Tom thinks it's all going well, it goes to show nothing, or no one is quite as it seems. Danger is lurking
I felt sorry for Tom. He was still in love with his ex-girlfriend from before he went to prison. Hoping they would get back together. He was very naive and trusting and this was what got him into trouble in the first place.
This is a book about new beginnings, leaving your past behind, choices we make in life and consequences.
This is a very short book my only wish it was longer as I love reading Mark's books.
I felt sorry for Tom. He was still in love with his ex-girlfriend from before he went to prison. Hoping they would get back together. He was very naive and trusting and this was what got him into trouble in the first place.
This is a book about new beginnings, leaving your past behind, choices we make in life and consequences.
This is a very short book my only wish it was longer as I love reading Mark's books.
June 12, 2025
Eden is the fifth novel by award-winning, bestselling Australian author, Mark Brandi. Tom Blackburn is fresh out of prison after serving nine years for helping out his best mate. When most of his cash is stolen at the city hostel, he follows another resident’s tip to rough it at the cemetery in Carlton. The next morning, he is woken by Cyril and his blue staffy, Lina. Expecting to be turfed out, he’s surprised to be offered casual work.
Digging graves, gardening, odd jobs, and Cyril allows him to stay in the onsite shed, providing basic food needs, op shop clothing and personal hygiene items: this will do to earn enough cash to get him to Queensland. He’ll stick around a while, as long as Ali the Turk isn’t the man asking after him at the hostel: that’s one confrontation he definitely wants to avoid.
The other grave-digger, Seamus, and the woman in the office, Krystal are both inquisitive, but Tom remains closed-mouthed about his past, although he has admitted some of it to Cyril. Quite concerning is the Argus journalist hanging around wanting a story. He offers to present Tom’s side of the case that polarised not just the small Victorian country town but the whole state, but says he can’t promise it won’t turn into tabloid schlock if Tom declines to talk.
But even more disturbing is that something covert is going on in the cemetery after hours, something possibly illegal, and Tom worries that if he gets caught up in it, he’ll end up back inside…
Brandi gives the reader a gripping tale with a nail-biting climax and plenty of scope for more of this protagonist. He evokes his setting with consummate ease, and his protagonist shows depth and integrity, making it easy for the reader to empathise with his predicament.
Readers of Brandi’s first novel will catch on fairly early, from vague mentions in the story, that this is a sequel to Wimmera, and perhaps those mentions are spoilers, but this one can easily be read as a stand-alone. Superb Australian crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand.
Digging graves, gardening, odd jobs, and Cyril allows him to stay in the onsite shed, providing basic food needs, op shop clothing and personal hygiene items: this will do to earn enough cash to get him to Queensland. He’ll stick around a while, as long as Ali the Turk isn’t the man asking after him at the hostel: that’s one confrontation he definitely wants to avoid.
The other grave-digger, Seamus, and the woman in the office, Krystal are both inquisitive, but Tom remains closed-mouthed about his past, although he has admitted some of it to Cyril. Quite concerning is the Argus journalist hanging around wanting a story. He offers to present Tom’s side of the case that polarised not just the small Victorian country town but the whole state, but says he can’t promise it won’t turn into tabloid schlock if Tom declines to talk.
But even more disturbing is that something covert is going on in the cemetery after hours, something possibly illegal, and Tom worries that if he gets caught up in it, he’ll end up back inside…
Brandi gives the reader a gripping tale with a nail-biting climax and plenty of scope for more of this protagonist. He evokes his setting with consummate ease, and his protagonist shows depth and integrity, making it easy for the reader to empathise with his predicament.
Readers of Brandi’s first novel will catch on fairly early, from vague mentions in the story, that this is a sequel to Wimmera, and perhaps those mentions are spoilers, but this one can easily be read as a stand-alone. Superb Australian crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand.
September 17, 2025
I powered through this book, and it was only half way through that I realised that this was the sequel to Wimmera.
Tom has just left jail after serving his sentence, and finds himself in increasingly difficult situations on the streets of Melbourne. He ends up living and working as a grave digger at the Melbourne General Cemetery. It’s a wonderful setting for a novel, and allows readers to ponder ideas about death and grief. It turns out that Tom is embroiled in a criminal enterprise and his life is in great danger.
Another cracking read by Mark Brandi.
Tom has just left jail after serving his sentence, and finds himself in increasingly difficult situations on the streets of Melbourne. He ends up living and working as a grave digger at the Melbourne General Cemetery. It’s a wonderful setting for a novel, and allows readers to ponder ideas about death and grief. It turns out that Tom is embroiled in a criminal enterprise and his life is in great danger.
Another cracking read by Mark Brandi.
July 23, 2025
2 stars
This book could have had 3 stars if it wasn't for the uncertain ending.
There were quite a few things that didn't really make sense to me. Someone that has been in the jail for years to behave so naïvely, doesn't sum up. Like flashing a stack of money and then leaving them unattended in a trashy motel. Or not picking up on the many red flags concerning his new job in the graveyard.
Also, for a very short read, there are a lot of philosophical themes discussed which I could have done without.
This book could have had 3 stars if it wasn't for the uncertain ending.
There were quite a few things that didn't really make sense to me. Someone that has been in the jail for years to behave so naïvely, doesn't sum up. Like flashing a stack of money and then leaving them unattended in a trashy motel. Or not picking up on the many red flags concerning his new job in the graveyard.
Also, for a very short read, there are a lot of philosophical themes discussed which I could have done without.
January 18, 2026
As always the following comments are my own, with genuine notes from a book purchase or library loan. My first book by Mark Brandi was ‘The Others’ and I loved its uniqueness. ‘Eden’ is also unusual but has a different feel, a deliberately clipped and uncomfortable tone while being deceptive and fascinating. Tom Blackburn is grounded in the present and trying to forget the past. The reader gets to see the harsh lumps and bumps from his past which leak into his current life but he is lucky enough to secure employment after leaving behind many years of imprisonment. He meets two good blokes, grave diggers Cyril and Seamus, and they give him a job. Although quote from Cyril “Just keep a low profile when the families arrive. No offence, but you don’t look too flash.” During the course of learning the cemetery gravedigging trade, many fascinating facts and dubious deeds are unearthed but Tom himself is tight-lipped about his own background. He’s trying to stay on the straight and narrow. But who is the woman he phones on a landline?
As the story progresses there are snippets of Tom’s past life, part of which he regrets, memories made worse by the arrival of Neville, a tabloid journalist. The Wimmera gets a mention and Tom’s stomach churning is effortlessly achieved. Initially the basics of this graveyard story could be confronting from a deceased loved ones point of view but these jobs do exist. I have a family member who worked for a pet cremation service (pats to book dog Lina) and dealt with a similar amount of grief on a regular basis. In this grim tale there are jobs to do, cash to spend on groceries, the usual after-work beer drinking. Ironically Brandi’s story brought to mind a movie ‘Death in Brunswick’ starring a young Sam Neill with a gruesome grave scene and I feel this book is written with filmscript dialogue. I had family members who grew up in Carlton/Brunswick and played in Trinity College grounds and Melbourne Cemetery and while Brandi’s story is set in a different era the atmosphere is universal. A straight-forward punchy read, true to the genre.
As the story progresses there are snippets of Tom’s past life, part of which he regrets, memories made worse by the arrival of Neville, a tabloid journalist. The Wimmera gets a mention and Tom’s stomach churning is effortlessly achieved. Initially the basics of this graveyard story could be confronting from a deceased loved ones point of view but these jobs do exist. I have a family member who worked for a pet cremation service (pats to book dog Lina) and dealt with a similar amount of grief on a regular basis. In this grim tale there are jobs to do, cash to spend on groceries, the usual after-work beer drinking. Ironically Brandi’s story brought to mind a movie ‘Death in Brunswick’ starring a young Sam Neill with a gruesome grave scene and I feel this book is written with filmscript dialogue. I had family members who grew up in Carlton/Brunswick and played in Trinity College grounds and Melbourne Cemetery and while Brandi’s story is set in a different era the atmosphere is universal. A straight-forward punchy read, true to the genre.
September 4, 2025
Eden is the fifth novel by award-winning, bestselling Australian author, Mark Brandi. The audio version is narrated by Nick Farnell. Tom Blackburn is fresh out of prison after serving nine years for helping out his best mate. When most of his cash is stolen at the city hostel, he follows another resident’s tip to rough it at the cemetery in Carlton. The next morning, he is woken by Cyril and his blue staffy, Lina. Expecting to be turfed out, he’s surprised to be offered casual work.
Digging graves, gardening, odd jobs, and Cyril allows him to stay in the onsite shed, providing basic food needs, op shop clothing and personal hygiene items: this will do to earn enough cash to get him to Queensland. He’ll stick around a while, as long as Ali the Turk isn’t the man asking after him at the hostel: that’s one confrontation he definitely wants to avoid.
The other grave-digger, Seamus, and the woman in the office, Krystal are both inquisitive, but Tom remains closed-mouthed about his past, although he has admitted some of it to Cyril. Quite concerning is the Argus journalist hanging around wanting a story. He offers to present Tom’s side of the case that polarised not just the small Victorian country town but the whole state, but says he can’t promise it won’t turn into tabloid schlock if Tom declines to talk.
But even more disturbing is that something covert is going on in the cemetery after hours, something possibly illegal, and Tom worries that if he gets caught up in it, he’ll end up back inside…
Brandi gives the reader a gripping tale with a nail-biting climax and plenty of scope for more of this protagonist. He evokes his setting with consummate ease, and his protagonist shows depth and integrity, making it easy for the reader to empathise with his predicament.
Readers of Brandi’s first novel will catch on fairly early, from vague mentions in the story, that this is a sequel to Wimmera, and perhaps those mentions are spoilers, but this one can easily be read as a stand-alone. Superb Australian crime fiction.
Digging graves, gardening, odd jobs, and Cyril allows him to stay in the onsite shed, providing basic food needs, op shop clothing and personal hygiene items: this will do to earn enough cash to get him to Queensland. He’ll stick around a while, as long as Ali the Turk isn’t the man asking after him at the hostel: that’s one confrontation he definitely wants to avoid.
The other grave-digger, Seamus, and the woman in the office, Krystal are both inquisitive, but Tom remains closed-mouthed about his past, although he has admitted some of it to Cyril. Quite concerning is the Argus journalist hanging around wanting a story. He offers to present Tom’s side of the case that polarised not just the small Victorian country town but the whole state, but says he can’t promise it won’t turn into tabloid schlock if Tom declines to talk.
But even more disturbing is that something covert is going on in the cemetery after hours, something possibly illegal, and Tom worries that if he gets caught up in it, he’ll end up back inside…
Brandi gives the reader a gripping tale with a nail-biting climax and plenty of scope for more of this protagonist. He evokes his setting with consummate ease, and his protagonist shows depth and integrity, making it easy for the reader to empathise with his predicament.
Readers of Brandi’s first novel will catch on fairly early, from vague mentions in the story, that this is a sequel to Wimmera, and perhaps those mentions are spoilers, but this one can easily be read as a stand-alone. Superb Australian crime fiction.
June 23, 2025
Big thanks to Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
The life of hard knocks and its manifestations can be abundant in a big city when you’ve just been released from prison.
With good intentions and the right attitude a successful transition can be thwarted by circumstance and devious actions.
After nine years inside Tom has to navigate life as a free man and survive in Melbourne until he follows his heart.
A dodgy boarding house and a theft leaves him no choice but to live rough.
A local cemetery a safe option.
Good fortune sees Tom finding friendly faces and opportunity in the cemetery.
Digging graves, gardening and accommodation in the shed an antidote to recent bad luck.
A future looks possible.
Unscrupulous dealings and a murky past overshadow the stroke of luck. Trouble has found him and danger looms.
A read that packs some punch, that is atmospherically and well written.
Tom comes alive in a multi dimensional way and is placed in a well described environment that evokes the senses.
I devoured this in one session as the tense climax wouldn’t allow me to put it down.
The life of hard knocks and its manifestations can be abundant in a big city when you’ve just been released from prison.
With good intentions and the right attitude a successful transition can be thwarted by circumstance and devious actions.
After nine years inside Tom has to navigate life as a free man and survive in Melbourne until he follows his heart.
A dodgy boarding house and a theft leaves him no choice but to live rough.
A local cemetery a safe option.
Good fortune sees Tom finding friendly faces and opportunity in the cemetery.
Digging graves, gardening and accommodation in the shed an antidote to recent bad luck.
A future looks possible.
Unscrupulous dealings and a murky past overshadow the stroke of luck. Trouble has found him and danger looms.
A read that packs some punch, that is atmospherically and well written.
Tom comes alive in a multi dimensional way and is placed in a well described environment that evokes the senses.
I devoured this in one session as the tense climax wouldn’t allow me to put it down.
April 29, 2025
This story was heartbreaking. It was so raw and I felt like I was always bracing for more pain.
Tom has been released from prison after serving his sentence for being an accessory to murder. He is determined to start a new life. He has a new name and is not the person he was before.
You can feel Tom's desperation to stay out of trouble and start afresh. He is so used to life shitting on him, he barely reacts when he is robbed of thousands of dollars. He just moves on to start again.
Luck looks to be on his side at last when he is offered a short term job and somewhere safe to sleep, even if it is in a cemetery. Feeling like he has a bit of breathing space, Tom starts to plan for the future.
Then a journo starts digging around and wants him to relive the past, but it's just too painful and then he gets dragged into a situation that is destined to end badly. Tom knows he needs to get away.
With a heart pounding ending that will give you chills, this is one book that will stay with me for a long long time.
This unflinchingly raw and gritty read has cemented Mark Brandi as not only one of my absolute favourite authors, but must put him up there as one of Australia's best writers.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hachette for an ARC for an honest review.
Tom has been released from prison after serving his sentence for being an accessory to murder. He is determined to start a new life. He has a new name and is not the person he was before.
You can feel Tom's desperation to stay out of trouble and start afresh. He is so used to life shitting on him, he barely reacts when he is robbed of thousands of dollars. He just moves on to start again.
Luck looks to be on his side at last when he is offered a short term job and somewhere safe to sleep, even if it is in a cemetery. Feeling like he has a bit of breathing space, Tom starts to plan for the future.
Then a journo starts digging around and wants him to relive the past, but it's just too painful and then he gets dragged into a situation that is destined to end badly. Tom knows he needs to get away.
With a heart pounding ending that will give you chills, this is one book that will stay with me for a long long time.
This unflinchingly raw and gritty read has cemented Mark Brandi as not only one of my absolute favourite authors, but must put him up there as one of Australia's best writers.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hachette for an ARC for an honest review.
July 6, 2025
Tom Blackburn was caught up in a horrific crime when he was a teenager, horrific for both what he did and for the underlying reasons he did it. Upon his release he wants to put it all behind him. But is it that easy?
Eden is a honest look at the struggles someone who has just been released from prison deals with, especially if they have no family and they are trying to better their lives. The homelessness, danger, judgement from others and just how easy it is to fall back into the world of crime is front and centre.
I have some questions about the ending, an open ending to me leaves me unsatisfied, but I hope Tom gets to live his next chapter. I can see a sequel to this novel could work.
AD-PR Product: Thanks Tandem Collective for including me in your Australian readalong.
Eden is a honest look at the struggles someone who has just been released from prison deals with, especially if they have no family and they are trying to better their lives. The homelessness, danger, judgement from others and just how easy it is to fall back into the world of crime is front and centre.
I have some questions about the ending, an open ending to me leaves me unsatisfied, but I hope Tom gets to live his next chapter. I can see a sequel to this novel could work.
AD-PR Product: Thanks Tandem Collective for including me in your Australian readalong.
October 7, 2025
Definitely a good premise for a story. Great setting and interesting characters. But it just felt a little thin. The last third of the book almost appeared rushed as I was expecting a twist or two more.
Interestingly this is the second Mark Brandi book I’ve read in a hospital bed.
Interestingly this is the second Mark Brandi book I’ve read in a hospital bed.
May 5, 2025
Beautifully crafted, EDEN evokes a gritty Melbourne setting, which provides the perfect backdrop to this compact literary novel. EDEN follows Tom, who has just left prison after a lengthy sentence and falls into a casual job digging graves at the Melbourne Cemetery. As Tom negotiates life on the outside and comes to terms with his past, he must decide who he wants to be going forward.
I loved the setting - a cemetery is such an evocative place - and the supporting characters offset Tom’s quiet, distrusting demeanor beautifully.
Thanks to @netgalley and @hachetteaus for the advance readers copy!
I loved the setting - a cemetery is such an evocative place - and the supporting characters offset Tom’s quiet, distrusting demeanor beautifully.
Thanks to @netgalley and @hachetteaus for the advance readers copy!
July 8, 2025
4.25 STARS 🌟
This book had me hooked from the first page. Marks writing style was raw & blunt & I loved it! I love the Aussie-ness throughout and I could picture the story so clearly (I personally think it would make a GREAT movie)
Each character was so interesting, in particular Cyril & his wise words of wisdom had me intrigued. The story highlights the struggle of trying to rebuild your life after prison in a reality that's not set up to see you succeed.
I was rooting for Tom from the get go, Mark had a great way of creating emotional buy in on his character. Which was no easy feat because Tom is not a chatty guy 🤭
The ending!!! I'm still thinking about it a week later...I was flicking the pages going surely that cannot be it!? 🤯
A great engaging crime read that you can devour in one sitting!!
This book had me hooked from the first page. Marks writing style was raw & blunt & I loved it! I love the Aussie-ness throughout and I could picture the story so clearly (I personally think it would make a GREAT movie)
Each character was so interesting, in particular Cyril & his wise words of wisdom had me intrigued. The story highlights the struggle of trying to rebuild your life after prison in a reality that's not set up to see you succeed.
I was rooting for Tom from the get go, Mark had a great way of creating emotional buy in on his character. Which was no easy feat because Tom is not a chatty guy 🤭
The ending!!! I'm still thinking about it a week later...I was flicking the pages going surely that cannot be it!? 🤯
A great engaging crime read that you can devour in one sitting!!
June 30, 2025
I must confess I had no idea that Eden by Mark Brandi was a follow-on from his 2017 award-winning novel
Wimmera
. I recognised the name when it was mentioned in the novel but hadn't remembered the plot of the book so 'Tom' (and the crime for which he was imprisoned) wasn't familiar at all when I launched into this and thankfully it didn't matter.
Brandi's character development is great, so much so that I almost felt like I was there watching this play out. You cannot help but feel for Tom, trying to navigate life outside of prison, keen to do the right thing when he's robbed and screwed over big-time soon after release. There's a sense he falls on his feet however when he's found sleeping rough at the cemetery by gravediggers Cyril and offsider Seamus who take him under their wing.
Once I realised this was ostensibly the second book in the series I went back to my review on Wimmera and noted that I'd made some comments about the book's conclusion and I probably felt a little the same here. I was quite deeply buried in this story but we rushed to a climax and—though it wasn't as nebulous (from my point-of-view) as Wimmera—it certainly didn't necessarily offer readers complete closure. Although maybe that means there'll be more from Tom / Fab.
Brandi's character development is great, so much so that I almost felt like I was there watching this play out. You cannot help but feel for Tom, trying to navigate life outside of prison, keen to do the right thing when he's robbed and screwed over big-time soon after release. There's a sense he falls on his feet however when he's found sleeping rough at the cemetery by gravediggers Cyril and offsider Seamus who take him under their wing.
Once I realised this was ostensibly the second book in the series I went back to my review on Wimmera and noted that I'd made some comments about the book's conclusion and I probably felt a little the same here. I was quite deeply buried in this story but we rushed to a climax and—though it wasn't as nebulous (from my point-of-view) as Wimmera—it certainly didn't necessarily offer readers complete closure. Although maybe that means there'll be more from Tom / Fab.
October 10, 2025
Though it can be read as a stand alone, Eden is also a powerful sequel of sorts to Mark Brandi’s award winning novel Wimmera, the story of two young boys and a shocking crime.
After serving a nine year sentence having been convicted of accessory to murder, Tom is released into the city of Melbourne. He has a tentative plan but it’s quickly scuppered when his meagre prison earnings are stolen and his ex-girlfriend, Lucy, discourages his request to visit. With no where else to go and determined to stay out of trouble, Tom seeks temporary refuge in the city cemetery. When he’s woken by the head groundskeeper and his dog Lina, Tom is prepared to move on but Cyril unexpectedly offers him a job.
In exchange for some cash and a cot in the on-site maintenance shed, Tom learns to dig graves and pull weeds. Cyril is generous, even if his offsider Seamus is taciturn, and with his confidence in the possibility of new start restored, Tom is ready to believe change is possible. But all too quickly his dreams start to turn to ash when he realises the cemetery is not the idyll Cyril suggests.
Eden is only a short novel but it still packs a punch. Brandi’s prose is tight yet evocative and effortlessly establishes atmosphere. There’s a thrum of tension from the opening page that the author slowly layers with anxiety and menace.
Tom is a well-realised character, somewhat ingenuous perhaps given his age and past, but his desire for redemption feels genuine. Cyril is colourful, but with an edge of darkness he can’t quite hide, while the handful of other supporting characters play their part in adding richness to the story.
A riveting, gritty thriller, Eden cements my opinion of Mark Brandi as a compelling Australian author.
After serving a nine year sentence having been convicted of accessory to murder, Tom is released into the city of Melbourne. He has a tentative plan but it’s quickly scuppered when his meagre prison earnings are stolen and his ex-girlfriend, Lucy, discourages his request to visit. With no where else to go and determined to stay out of trouble, Tom seeks temporary refuge in the city cemetery. When he’s woken by the head groundskeeper and his dog Lina, Tom is prepared to move on but Cyril unexpectedly offers him a job.
In exchange for some cash and a cot in the on-site maintenance shed, Tom learns to dig graves and pull weeds. Cyril is generous, even if his offsider Seamus is taciturn, and with his confidence in the possibility of new start restored, Tom is ready to believe change is possible. But all too quickly his dreams start to turn to ash when he realises the cemetery is not the idyll Cyril suggests.
Eden is only a short novel but it still packs a punch. Brandi’s prose is tight yet evocative and effortlessly establishes atmosphere. There’s a thrum of tension from the opening page that the author slowly layers with anxiety and menace.
Tom is a well-realised character, somewhat ingenuous perhaps given his age and past, but his desire for redemption feels genuine. Cyril is colourful, but with an edge of darkness he can’t quite hide, while the handful of other supporting characters play their part in adding richness to the story.
A riveting, gritty thriller, Eden cements my opinion of Mark Brandi as a compelling Australian author.
July 5, 2025
Firstly thank you @tandemcollectiveglobal and @hachetteaus for including me in the #edenreadalong
This my first read of Mark Brandi’s and I absolutely loved it. I haven’t read crime etc in a while, truthfully i find the world so depressing right now i usually read for a sugar hit.
But Eden was a gripping quick read. The main character Tom is recently released from prison and is trying to re adapt to main stream society. Society however, we are assholes. Poor guy gets robbed, and ends up sleeping it rough.
This book is so Aussie- in a good way, the characters are rough around the edges, everyone appears to be hiding something and I honestly didn’t know where this book was heading.
Mark- i do have a bone to pick with you! That ending!i have questions 😂
If you’re a fan of Aussie crime, you’ll enjoy this one!
This my first read of Mark Brandi’s and I absolutely loved it. I haven’t read crime etc in a while, truthfully i find the world so depressing right now i usually read for a sugar hit.
But Eden was a gripping quick read. The main character Tom is recently released from prison and is trying to re adapt to main stream society. Society however, we are assholes. Poor guy gets robbed, and ends up sleeping it rough.
This book is so Aussie- in a good way, the characters are rough around the edges, everyone appears to be hiding something and I honestly didn’t know where this book was heading.
Mark- i do have a bone to pick with you! That ending!i have questions 😂
If you’re a fan of Aussie crime, you’ll enjoy this one!
June 20, 2025
Eden follows protagonist Tom Blackburn as he reenters society after serving 9 years inside for a crime he committed as a teenager. With no cash, no housing, and no job, Tom is sleeping rough in a cemetery when he’s offered work by gravedigger Cyril.
What follows is a juiccyyy literary thriller about crime, regret, dreams, and the weight of the past. Tom is completely haunted by what’s behind him, but he’s forced to make choices about who he wants to be next.
I’m a big lover of Brandi’s work and I tore through this. I don’t know if it’s a spoily, but the reveal/twist here was sooo good. Quiet tension, solid pacing, a haunting sense of place. It’s a bit of a slowburn, but a short book that did exactly what I expected from Brandi.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
What follows is a juiccyyy literary thriller about crime, regret, dreams, and the weight of the past. Tom is completely haunted by what’s behind him, but he’s forced to make choices about who he wants to be next.
I’m a big lover of Brandi’s work and I tore through this. I don’t know if it’s a spoily, but the reveal/twist here was sooo good. Quiet tension, solid pacing, a haunting sense of place. It’s a bit of a slowburn, but a short book that did exactly what I expected from Brandi.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
October 18, 2025
I have loved Mark Brandi’s other books so I’m not sure why I struggled with Eden so much. I can’t put my finger on it but it could be unfortunate timing given I am distracted from reading lately.
After being released from prison and then being robbed, Tom lands a job as a gravedigger in a Melbourne cemetery where he meets Cyril and Seamus and soon discovers there’s more going on than he’d originally thought.
This is a bit of a sequel to Wimmera which may be why I’m struggling with it? I love the stories in which Mark Brandi writes children as he does that so well, whereas this felt a little flat.
Middle of the road for me.
2.5 stars.
After being released from prison and then being robbed, Tom lands a job as a gravedigger in a Melbourne cemetery where he meets Cyril and Seamus and soon discovers there’s more going on than he’d originally thought.
This is a bit of a sequel to Wimmera which may be why I’m struggling with it? I love the stories in which Mark Brandi writes children as he does that so well, whereas this felt a little flat.
Middle of the road for me.
2.5 stars.
August 23, 2025
Not the usual book club pick, a page turner that even the reluctant reader of the house knocked over in two days while on holiday. Connected with the setting - ‘the dead centre of Melbourne’ - Melbourne General Cemetery having lived across the road for several years on Lygon St and walked around and through with our dog many times. The first Mark Brandi novel I’ve read, and would read more adventures of Tom Blackburn (Fabrizio Morressi).
August 16, 2025
This novel by Mark Brandi is set for discussion by the author at a joint author presentation next week. I am somewhat ambivalent in regard to how I feel about it - quite a different reaction to some of his previous writing such as Wimmera or The Others. More like a novella than a novel in both length and format, I will need to reflect further before additional comments.
September 5, 2025
I loved that this book was set in Melbourne!
June 30, 2025
I need more tho
July 17, 2025
All the stars for this short and powerful book.
Eden follows the story of Tom, just out of prison he is navigating being back in the real world. When his wallet was stolen from a hostel he had no other option than to sleep rough at the cemetery. Thanks to a tip from another hostel resident. This brings him to meet Cyril, a worker at the cemetery. Expecting to be kicked out he was greatly surprised when he was offered a job doing odd jobs around the place.
He meets a journalist along the way that wants to do a story on him, something very fishy is happening during the night at the cemetery. Will everything end okay for Tom?
I absolutely flew through this one. I loved his previous book Southern Aurora so I knew this one would be a winner too. That ending gave me all the chills and I really enjoyed how it ended.
I recommend this one if you love a great Australian crime novel. I wish I had read Wimmera first but that didn't stop me and you could read this one as a standalone like I did.
Thank you Tandem global collective and Hachette Australia for sending me a gifted copy for the Readalong and honest book review.
Eden follows the story of Tom, just out of prison he is navigating being back in the real world. When his wallet was stolen from a hostel he had no other option than to sleep rough at the cemetery. Thanks to a tip from another hostel resident. This brings him to meet Cyril, a worker at the cemetery. Expecting to be kicked out he was greatly surprised when he was offered a job doing odd jobs around the place.
He meets a journalist along the way that wants to do a story on him, something very fishy is happening during the night at the cemetery. Will everything end okay for Tom?
I absolutely flew through this one. I loved his previous book Southern Aurora so I knew this one would be a winner too. That ending gave me all the chills and I really enjoyed how it ended.
I recommend this one if you love a great Australian crime novel. I wish I had read Wimmera first but that didn't stop me and you could read this one as a standalone like I did.
Thank you Tandem global collective and Hachette Australia for sending me a gifted copy for the Readalong and honest book review.
August 28, 2025
This was an easy read crime novel.
June 25, 2025
The main character, Tom is just out of prison in this intense novel. He finds work in a cemetery and tries to get on with his life but his memories, an intimidating coworker and a journalist make that hard. Well written and hard to put down.
October 21, 2025
Tom has just been released from prison, after serving his time for a murder he committed in his youth. Determined to start again, he takes a new name, but falls into something he can't control. Interesting characters, great sense of place in inner city Melbourne, but in the end a little too slight.
June 29, 2025
Eden is the first book I have read from Mark Brandi and after reading this, I will be looking for other books from this Australian author.
Tom Blackburn is about to enter a world he knows nothing about but one which will change his life. He has just left prison after nine years after helping a mate which then backfired on him leading to his stint behind bars. He has hardly anything to his name and finds a hostel but the only cash he has is soon stolen with everything he owns gone. He needs to get away and find somewhere else to settle. Before he leaves the hostel, he is told about a cemetery at Carlton that may be a safer prospect for him to sleep in, one hopefully with less trouble than on the streets.
After a couple of nights at the cemetery he meets Cyril, chief grave digger offers Tom labouring work digging graves with another man Seamus. He decides this may not be a bad way to earn some money and keep himself safe at least until he figures out what he is going to do. There is a girl he still loves very much, and he is hoping to rekindle this relationship but feels he needs to have some money to do before he approaches her.
After a short time, Cyril offers him a shed to sleep and clothes and a permanent job, Tom having proven himself with hard work. He keeps to himself and doesn’t say much about his life to Cyril and Seamus as well as Krystal who works in the office. He is also being challenged by an author who wants a story from Tom regarding what lead up to his incarceration. Soon he has some permanent money coming in and his dreams of meeting up with his ex-girlfriend he thinks may be able to become a reality. But as many know in life things an come at a cost. He starts to see that there may be some shady activities going on at the cemetery and soon he finds himself in the thick of it.
This story had me from the first page, completely engaging. You are immediately taken into Tom’s world, and the author has the innate ability of being able to bring forth a very attention-grabbing narrative set in an all-encompassing atmospheric environment that will take the reader on a journey that will both entertain and have you rooting for this character we become so utterly involved with.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
Tom Blackburn is about to enter a world he knows nothing about but one which will change his life. He has just left prison after nine years after helping a mate which then backfired on him leading to his stint behind bars. He has hardly anything to his name and finds a hostel but the only cash he has is soon stolen with everything he owns gone. He needs to get away and find somewhere else to settle. Before he leaves the hostel, he is told about a cemetery at Carlton that may be a safer prospect for him to sleep in, one hopefully with less trouble than on the streets.
After a couple of nights at the cemetery he meets Cyril, chief grave digger offers Tom labouring work digging graves with another man Seamus. He decides this may not be a bad way to earn some money and keep himself safe at least until he figures out what he is going to do. There is a girl he still loves very much, and he is hoping to rekindle this relationship but feels he needs to have some money to do before he approaches her.
After a short time, Cyril offers him a shed to sleep and clothes and a permanent job, Tom having proven himself with hard work. He keeps to himself and doesn’t say much about his life to Cyril and Seamus as well as Krystal who works in the office. He is also being challenged by an author who wants a story from Tom regarding what lead up to his incarceration. Soon he has some permanent money coming in and his dreams of meeting up with his ex-girlfriend he thinks may be able to become a reality. But as many know in life things an come at a cost. He starts to see that there may be some shady activities going on at the cemetery and soon he finds himself in the thick of it.
This story had me from the first page, completely engaging. You are immediately taken into Tom’s world, and the author has the innate ability of being able to bring forth a very attention-grabbing narrative set in an all-encompassing atmospheric environment that will take the reader on a journey that will both entertain and have you rooting for this character we become so utterly involved with.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
June 22, 2025
Mark Brandi came to the notice of Australian crime readers with his debut Wimmera. That book won not only the Victorian Premier;’s Unpublished Manuscript Award but also a debut dagger from the British Crime Writers’ Association and shortlisted for a Ned Kelly Award in the same year. Wimmera was a dark tale of childhood friendship, loyalty and the consequences of sexual abuse. His fifth novel, Eden, returns to the world of Wimmers, although circuitously and while no knowledge of that original book is needed, it will deepen the experience and is well worth catching up with if it remains unread.
Tom Blackburn is fresh out of prison. Unwise to the ways of the modern world he quickly finds himself robbed and potentially on the cold streets of Melbourne. A fellow resident at the hostel he managed to spend a night in suggests that if he needs a place to sleep he can doss down in the a cemetery in the middle of Melbourne. Tom is quickly discovered but finds a little bit of compassion and lands an unofficial job helping dig graves and do some weeding. Tom has secrets of his own that he is trying to keep from a nosey investigative journalist who had also covered his initial trial. But he quickly finds that his new workmates are also keeping secrets that might be dangerous for him to uncover.
Eden is another spare but riveting book from Brandi. The writing is descriptive but spare, clipped back to its basics. And reflected in the dialogue of people with secrets to keep. But it is also compassionate. Much like his second novel, The Rip, it understands the plight of the poor and the homeless, of those seeking to make it from one day to the next and how that makes them resilient but also vulnerable to exploitation. After his last two novels (The Others and Southern Aurora) come from a child’s perspective it is also refreshing to find Brandi back in a very adult register.
Eden is a great companion piece to Wimmera. Brandi takes some aspects of that original book as background but uses that scaffold to tell a very different, but riveting dark tale that almost begs be consumed in a single sitting.
Tom Blackburn is fresh out of prison. Unwise to the ways of the modern world he quickly finds himself robbed and potentially on the cold streets of Melbourne. A fellow resident at the hostel he managed to spend a night in suggests that if he needs a place to sleep he can doss down in the a cemetery in the middle of Melbourne. Tom is quickly discovered but finds a little bit of compassion and lands an unofficial job helping dig graves and do some weeding. Tom has secrets of his own that he is trying to keep from a nosey investigative journalist who had also covered his initial trial. But he quickly finds that his new workmates are also keeping secrets that might be dangerous for him to uncover.
Eden is another spare but riveting book from Brandi. The writing is descriptive but spare, clipped back to its basics. And reflected in the dialogue of people with secrets to keep. But it is also compassionate. Much like his second novel, The Rip, it understands the plight of the poor and the homeless, of those seeking to make it from one day to the next and how that makes them resilient but also vulnerable to exploitation. After his last two novels (The Others and Southern Aurora) come from a child’s perspective it is also refreshing to find Brandi back in a very adult register.
Eden is a great companion piece to Wimmera. Brandi takes some aspects of that original book as background but uses that scaffold to tell a very different, but riveting dark tale that almost begs be consumed in a single sitting.
June 20, 2025
This was my first time reading Mark Brandi. I have had Wimmera on my list for ages so I was really keen to dive into his new one. What I found was a gritty, raw story grounded in a version of Melbourne you can absolutely picture (especially when you’re from Melbs!).
Eden follows Tom Blackburn, just out of jail after nine years inside, trying to make a fresh start. New name, new life. The city is tough though, and options are thin. When a chance encounter lands him a job and a bed working in the heart of Melbourne, at a place his boss calls Eden, Tom thinks maybe he has finally caught a break. The work is hard and honest (gardening, gravedigging, whatever he is told), and for a while it looks like he might be on a path to something better.
But trouble finds Tom. Serious trouble. And suddenly staying free becomes a lot harder than he expected.
I found this such a gripping and unsettling read. It is the kind of story that reminds you how close some people are to the edge, and how quickly life can slide the wrong way. When the setting is so familiar, it lands even harder. I really felt for Tom, for his story, his "luck", and for the constant weight of decisions he has to make.
The pace really picks up toward the end and I could not stop reading. It leaves you with questions, but I didn’t feel like I needed them answered. I liked having the space to form my own assumptions, which is not something I usually enjoy in a read.
If you enjoy crime that is gritty and real, firmly set in our streets, this is one worth picking up.
Eden follows Tom Blackburn, just out of jail after nine years inside, trying to make a fresh start. New name, new life. The city is tough though, and options are thin. When a chance encounter lands him a job and a bed working in the heart of Melbourne, at a place his boss calls Eden, Tom thinks maybe he has finally caught a break. The work is hard and honest (gardening, gravedigging, whatever he is told), and for a while it looks like he might be on a path to something better.
But trouble finds Tom. Serious trouble. And suddenly staying free becomes a lot harder than he expected.
I found this such a gripping and unsettling read. It is the kind of story that reminds you how close some people are to the edge, and how quickly life can slide the wrong way. When the setting is so familiar, it lands even harder. I really felt for Tom, for his story, his "luck", and for the constant weight of decisions he has to make.
The pace really picks up toward the end and I could not stop reading. It leaves you with questions, but I didn’t feel like I needed them answered. I liked having the space to form my own assumptions, which is not something I usually enjoy in a read.
If you enjoy crime that is gritty and real, firmly set in our streets, this is one worth picking up.
July 9, 2025
this book is powerful and moving.
Eden is a stark look at one person's life after prison. And the pitfalls one can fall into.
Tom Blackburn, is newly released from prison and wants to make a fresh start.
He soon realises this is extremely difficult to do with a past that follows you.
Luckily for him, he gets work at a local cemetery. It's not glamorous. It's hard work, but it does offer Tom a place to stay, to plan his future and stay out of trouble.
He soon realises that this job has a downside, a downside that could see him return to jail... or worse.
This short but mighty story delivers a book that truly hits the mark.
It's ability to draw the reader in and make you feel those raw moments, the loneliness and the fear.
The side characters of Cyril and Seamus are richly layered, with Cyril being an extremely colourful character. His words of "wisdom" and his character are such an integral part of this book.
Tom's reason for being in jail will have you questioning yourself, what would you have done in this situation, was it right or wrong, and how does one move forward.
I found myself entirely on Tom's team and his unwillingness to give any information to the media was an act of true friendship, one that wasn't meant to be click bait.
The ending was sudden, and yet a beauty exists in this. It gives the reader a moment to rethink the story and the emotions that go with it.
This was my first read by this author, but I am definitely getting his other books as his writing is something else.
Eden is a stark look at one person's life after prison. And the pitfalls one can fall into.
Tom Blackburn, is newly released from prison and wants to make a fresh start.
He soon realises this is extremely difficult to do with a past that follows you.
Luckily for him, he gets work at a local cemetery. It's not glamorous. It's hard work, but it does offer Tom a place to stay, to plan his future and stay out of trouble.
He soon realises that this job has a downside, a downside that could see him return to jail... or worse.
This short but mighty story delivers a book that truly hits the mark.
It's ability to draw the reader in and make you feel those raw moments, the loneliness and the fear.
The side characters of Cyril and Seamus are richly layered, with Cyril being an extremely colourful character. His words of "wisdom" and his character are such an integral part of this book.
Tom's reason for being in jail will have you questioning yourself, what would you have done in this situation, was it right or wrong, and how does one move forward.
I found myself entirely on Tom's team and his unwillingness to give any information to the media was an act of true friendship, one that wasn't meant to be click bait.
The ending was sudden, and yet a beauty exists in this. It gives the reader a moment to rethink the story and the emotions that go with it.
This was my first read by this author, but I am definitely getting his other books as his writing is something else.
June 28, 2025
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Gritty Grave Digging, Slow Burn Suspense
- - -
This might be Mark’s fifth novel but it was my first read by him and he’s definitely an author on my radar now.
From the very first page, I appreciated his gritty, no frills writing style. It’s short, sharp and to the point. There’s no drawn out descriptions or filler fluff here, just clean storytelling with a raw edge.
The cemetery setting gave this novel a beautifully eerie vibe and the cast of characters helped bring it all to life (pun intended? 😅)
The backstory of the main character was a little mysterious and throwbacks to another of Mark’s books helped to flesh out his history and add depth that didn’t leave me feeling lost.
This is a slow burn crime story where the suspense builds gradually. While I had a hunch about what was going on early on, I still stayed engaged thanks to the simmering tension and the late arrival of a journalist character who stirred things up nicely.
The ending came and went in a flash. I found myself wanting a bit more closure and a little more time with the characters before it all wrapped. But the abruptness matched the book’s overall tone and made sense in the context of Mark’s punchy writing style.
If you’re in the mood for a snappy atmospheric Aussie crime read that will have you powering through the pages, Eden is for you!
A big thank you to Hachette for providing me with this great read!
Vibes: Gritty Grave Digging, Slow Burn Suspense
- - -
This might be Mark’s fifth novel but it was my first read by him and he’s definitely an author on my radar now.
From the very first page, I appreciated his gritty, no frills writing style. It’s short, sharp and to the point. There’s no drawn out descriptions or filler fluff here, just clean storytelling with a raw edge.
The cemetery setting gave this novel a beautifully eerie vibe and the cast of characters helped bring it all to life (pun intended? 😅)
The backstory of the main character was a little mysterious and throwbacks to another of Mark’s books helped to flesh out his history and add depth that didn’t leave me feeling lost.
This is a slow burn crime story where the suspense builds gradually. While I had a hunch about what was going on early on, I still stayed engaged thanks to the simmering tension and the late arrival of a journalist character who stirred things up nicely.
The ending came and went in a flash. I found myself wanting a bit more closure and a little more time with the characters before it all wrapped. But the abruptness matched the book’s overall tone and made sense in the context of Mark’s punchy writing style.
If you’re in the mood for a snappy atmospheric Aussie crime read that will have you powering through the pages, Eden is for you!
A big thank you to Hachette for providing me with this great read!
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