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Crocodile Spirit Dreaming #2
The Diary
A fisherman finds a unidentified head in a waterhole in Northern Australia. What first appeared to be a crocodile attack turns into murder. Who is this man who no one seems to know.
Susan returns to England, pregnant.after her escape, now engaged to another man . Her past returns to haunt her.in memories and dreams. She must read the diary of her former lover, she must decide the child's fate.
This book It follows the consequences of the actions which conclude the first book, Just Visiting, where Susan an English backpacker comes to Australia, gets caught in a terrifying relationship and barely escapes.
She carries this man's child but another glittering relationship beckons. Her future seems bright.
But slowly and inexorably the truth of what really happened in Australia emerges. The police have her photo. They are closing in on her identity.
It seems to Susan that the malevolent spirit of the crocodile which pursued her in the first book is slowly taking her over. She must make yet more terrible choices in order to save herself and her sanity and avoid another betrayal. She has this mans diary, she hopes it holds the key.
Susan returns to England, pregnant.after her escape, now engaged to another man . Her past returns to haunt her.in memories and dreams. She must read the diary of her former lover, she must decide the child's fate.
This book It follows the consequences of the actions which conclude the first book, Just Visiting, where Susan an English backpacker comes to Australia, gets caught in a terrifying relationship and barely escapes.
She carries this man's child but another glittering relationship beckons. Her future seems bright.
But slowly and inexorably the truth of what really happened in Australia emerges. The police have her photo. They are closing in on her identity.
It seems to Susan that the malevolent spirit of the crocodile which pursued her in the first book is slowly taking her over. She must make yet more terrible choices in order to save herself and her sanity and avoid another betrayal. She has this mans diary, she hopes it holds the key.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2014
54 people are currently reading
2263 people want to read
About the author
Graham Wilson
62 books340 followersGraham Wilson lives in Sydney, Australia.
He has completed and published twelve novels and a memoir.
His most recent novel is 'Mysteries', set in early Sydney about an old house and a mother and child missing for 30 years. His other standalone novel is, 'The Glitter''.
Other novels comprise two series,
1. Old Balmain House Series - 3 books of historic fiction set in early Sydney
2. Crocodile Dreaming Series - 7 books. 5 books (The Visitor, The Victim, The Void, The Vanished and The Invisible) are in the main series which follows English backpacker, Susan, as she travels across remote Australia with a charming outback man. It tells how this idyllic trip becomes a nightmare as she discovers terrifying secrets about this man. It also includes a 2-book Prequel, The Vertigo and The Vortex, which give insights into her travelling companion, Mark.
Graham's family memoir, 'Arnhem's Kaleidoscope Children' tells of his family's life in an aboriginal community the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. It chronicles an idyllic childhood, 50 years of change with aboriginal land rights and discovery or uranium. It also tells of his surviving an attack by a large crocodile and of his work over two decades in the outback of the NT.
Graham's career was first as a veterinarian in a mixed practice treating farm animals and people's pets, before following his love for wildlife through working at a range of Australian Zoos. He also spent two decades working on large cattle and buffalo properties in the Northern Territory before moving to Sydney where he now lives in one of Sydney's oldest houses in the Rocks. He has continued to follow his joint passions working with animals, wildlife conservation and writing stories.
Books are published as ebooks by major ebook publishers. Some books are also available in print online and through selected local bookshops.
He has completed and published twelve novels and a memoir.
His most recent novel is 'Mysteries', set in early Sydney about an old house and a mother and child missing for 30 years. His other standalone novel is, 'The Glitter''.
Other novels comprise two series,
1. Old Balmain House Series - 3 books of historic fiction set in early Sydney
2. Crocodile Dreaming Series - 7 books. 5 books (The Visitor, The Victim, The Void, The Vanished and The Invisible) are in the main series which follows English backpacker, Susan, as she travels across remote Australia with a charming outback man. It tells how this idyllic trip becomes a nightmare as she discovers terrifying secrets about this man. It also includes a 2-book Prequel, The Vertigo and The Vortex, which give insights into her travelling companion, Mark.
Graham's family memoir, 'Arnhem's Kaleidoscope Children' tells of his family's life in an aboriginal community the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. It chronicles an idyllic childhood, 50 years of change with aboriginal land rights and discovery or uranium. It also tells of his surviving an attack by a large crocodile and of his work over two decades in the outback of the NT.
Graham's career was first as a veterinarian in a mixed practice treating farm animals and people's pets, before following his love for wildlife through working at a range of Australian Zoos. He also spent two decades working on large cattle and buffalo properties in the Northern Territory before moving to Sydney where he now lives in one of Sydney's oldest houses in the Rocks. He has continued to follow his joint passions working with animals, wildlife conservation and writing stories.
Books are published as ebooks by major ebook publishers. Some books are also available in print online and through selected local bookshops.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 21, 2018
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
This is the second book in a series. Apparently, in the last book, an English woman escaped from a serial killer, and the killer ended up feeding a giant crocodile in Australia.
The killer's head is discovered, and the police start to investigate. Meanwhile, the woman goes on with her life, setting up a rosy future. There's also a romance between an investigator and a female CSI tech.
In all, not bad. Just enough magical realism that it didn't irritate me.
This is the second book in a series. Apparently, in the last book, an English woman escaped from a serial killer, and the killer ended up feeding a giant crocodile in Australia.
The killer's head is discovered, and the police start to investigate. Meanwhile, the woman goes on with her life, setting up a rosy future. There's also a romance between an investigator and a female CSI tech.
In all, not bad. Just enough magical realism that it didn't irritate me.
October 3, 2017
Crocodile Man is the second book in the Crocodile Spirit Dreaming series. Although I don't read the first book, I still able to understand what happened in the first book, thanks to the one-page first book summary the author given in the beginning of the novel.
The setting of Crocodile Man took place mainly in Northern Australia with few chapters in the UK.
By the end of the first chapter, I was having goosebumps and this is a good sign for me to continuing it.
In this book, we follow several people throughout the discovery of unidentified head in a waterhole in Northern Australia. We follow Charlie, the first person who found the "head", Alan and Sandy as part of the police interrogation team, and Susan.
I enjoy reading about Alan's journey and how he went to discover who actually this dead man was.
My issue is at Susan's POV. I didn't really connect with her and sometimes I got confused when I read her part. I want to know her story better and feeling deeper than the author wrote. Or maybe it was just because I don't exactly know what is she afraid of from the first book and about what exactly happened at that night.
The author creates the setting very vivid and because of that, I can feel the atmosphere of Northern Australia clearly when I read Crocodile Man. If you want to feel someplace different, I will recommend this book.
All in all, reading Crocodile Man is like reading a fictional story mix with crocodile spirit folklore. It was a unique experience.
I won this book through Goodreads giveaway. My opinions in this review are entirely my own.
The setting of Crocodile Man took place mainly in Northern Australia with few chapters in the UK.
By the end of the first chapter, I was having goosebumps and this is a good sign for me to continuing it.
In this book, we follow several people throughout the discovery of unidentified head in a waterhole in Northern Australia. We follow Charlie, the first person who found the "head", Alan and Sandy as part of the police interrogation team, and Susan.
I enjoy reading about Alan's journey and how he went to discover who actually this dead man was.
My issue is at Susan's POV. I didn't really connect with her and sometimes I got confused when I read her part. I want to know her story better and feeling deeper than the author wrote. Or maybe it was just because I don't exactly know what is she afraid of from the first book and about what exactly happened at that night.
The author creates the setting very vivid and because of that, I can feel the atmosphere of Northern Australia clearly when I read Crocodile Man. If you want to feel someplace different, I will recommend this book.
All in all, reading Crocodile Man is like reading a fictional story mix with crocodile spirit folklore. It was a unique experience.
I won this book through Goodreads giveaway. My opinions in this review are entirely my own.
March 4, 2021
This is a substantially revised version of the previous second book in this series "The Diary"
Based on reader comments I have corrected errors and clarified parts of the story. In particular I have substantially developed the role of the Dreamtime crocodile creature. As a result this book has been given a new title which better reflects this important part of the story.
I have also put in an introduction which explains the events of the previous book to a level which allows this story to make sense if read by itself.
The characters and fundamental story told in this book are still largely the same. I hope that new readers of this series find the revised book to be both more enjoyable and easier to follow
Graham Wilson
Based on reader comments I have corrected errors and clarified parts of the story. In particular I have substantially developed the role of the Dreamtime crocodile creature. As a result this book has been given a new title which better reflects this important part of the story.
I have also put in an introduction which explains the events of the previous book to a level which allows this story to make sense if read by itself.
The characters and fundamental story told in this book are still largely the same. I hope that new readers of this series find the revised book to be both more enjoyable and easier to follow
Graham Wilson
January 23, 2021
I received this ebook from the Author Graham Wilson for a honest review this is book 2 in the series.Susan told Mark what she found in his car and bags and about the diary she found. Mark gets very angry at her he wasn't prepared to tell her anything about himself just yet. They fight and Susan ends up being tied up. I'm still loving this story it gets better and better and I recommend adults read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2015
This is the second installment of the Crocodile Dreaming trilogy. It is a a good read but would be very difficult as a standalone novel as it has many references to the first novel. As a companion to the first novel though it is weirdly fascinating. i cant wait to see what the author does in the finale.
November 6, 2018
This book is the police investigation that follows after a man fishes out a head from the billabong. I like that you see part of the story through the eyes of Susan and the investigating police officer. This way you get the whole story of what's happening. I liked this book more than the first book in the series. There is a lot of magic realism in this book, which makes it strange at time. Overall I did enjoy the story despite some strangeness with crocodile spirits. Just as in the first book I like the writing, the pacing and the characters. I'm looking forward to see what happens in the next book.
July 19, 2020
I think I need to read book 1 now but I also really want to read the others in the series. Susan has really captured me and I need to know where things go from here. The story itself had me captivated from the start, it is just so well written. I loved it.
September 13, 2019
Elsie, & Charlie loved fishing for catfish on the Mary River, & Wildman River.
Sergeant Alan McKinnon (Darwin PD) was watching Sandy Bowen (25+, Glebe Coroner, pathologist), & Ron (tech) examine the murder victim.
England-Australia Susan McDonald (24, backpacker) was really thrilled about the test she just took. But she was still going to enjoy her holiday.
London, England. Heathrow. Mark “Crocodile Man” Bennet (33, Susan’s ex-lover, psychopath, Aussie, Outback) had given Susan his blessing to be with someone else.
She was still up in the air if she was going to break up with David.
Alice Springs. Mark had disappeared. DI Michael Brent Scotland Yard & DS Rebecca Lacey came to interview Susan.
Sr. DI Davidson (Scotland Yard head) finished interviewing her.
Susan & Dylan Madden (solicitor) at the HQ. She was starting to get morning sickness.
Detective Sergeant Alan Richards (Northern Territory PD) & DI Margaret Ryan (55+, Australian Federal PD) began the interrogation.
Darwin (capital), Australia N. Territory. The trial had begun.
There were photos from Yulara, & testimonies from: Barkly Roadhouse, Heartbreak Hotel, Daly Waters, & Timber Creek.
Mark’s belongings were placed on a table.
How will the verdict turn out?
Warning: This book contains adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, & proper great font & writing style. A very well written down under crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great down under crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Beyond Books Edition; Smashwords; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
Sergeant Alan McKinnon (Darwin PD) was watching Sandy Bowen (25+, Glebe Coroner, pathologist), & Ron (tech) examine the murder victim.
England-Australia Susan McDonald (24, backpacker) was really thrilled about the test she just took. But she was still going to enjoy her holiday.
London, England. Heathrow. Mark “Crocodile Man” Bennet (33, Susan’s ex-lover, psychopath, Aussie, Outback) had given Susan his blessing to be with someone else.
She was still up in the air if she was going to break up with David.
Alice Springs. Mark had disappeared. DI Michael Brent Scotland Yard & DS Rebecca Lacey came to interview Susan.
Sr. DI Davidson (Scotland Yard head) finished interviewing her.
Susan & Dylan Madden (solicitor) at the HQ. She was starting to get morning sickness.
Detective Sergeant Alan Richards (Northern Territory PD) & DI Margaret Ryan (55+, Australian Federal PD) began the interrogation.
Darwin (capital), Australia N. Territory. The trial had begun.
There were photos from Yulara, & testimonies from: Barkly Roadhouse, Heartbreak Hotel, Daly Waters, & Timber Creek.
Mark’s belongings were placed on a table.
How will the verdict turn out?
Warning: This book contains adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, & proper great font & writing style. A very well written down under crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great down under crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Beyond Books Edition; Smashwords; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
March 23, 2019
“Crocodile Man,” continues (2nd in “Dream Series) the story of English tourist/backpacker, Susan, who meets man of mystery, Mark, while on vacation to his native Australia. He takes her on a rugged, yet romantic sightseeing tour of the Outback. Their chemistry is electric, but Susan soon discovers dangerous secrets about Mark’s past that turns passion into fear as she sees his “ancient crocodile 🐊 spirit” emerge.
Graham Wilson is a dynamic, descriptive writer with a great turn for powerful colloquial Aussie conversational dialogue. His writing flows with clean, colorful descriptive text and punchy action verbs. He fills his interwoven plots with local and native facts, anecdotes and mythology. These lush, intriguing snippets and tales are woven integrally throughout his books. Wilson’s personal experiences, travels, as well as erudition in Australian history, its fora, fauna, geology, geography, and culture speak loudly through his writings. Each story, (even an adventurous thrilling murder mystery) is warm and relatable because it has plenty of heart and soul. Readers identify with characters and grow to care about them, to like or dislike them. Wilson’s character development abilities are superb.
Through just a few conversational lines, even of minor characters, it’s as if we know that person’s inner most being, Wilson’s gift is GENIUS! In just a few words, he has the ability to evoke and provide psychological emotion, empathy and insight into character. That’s MASTERFUL! Graham Wilson is a darn good writer—and Man can he SPIN A FANTASTIC TALE
Graham Wilson is a dynamic, descriptive writer with a great turn for powerful colloquial Aussie conversational dialogue. His writing flows with clean, colorful descriptive text and punchy action verbs. He fills his interwoven plots with local and native facts, anecdotes and mythology. These lush, intriguing snippets and tales are woven integrally throughout his books. Wilson’s personal experiences, travels, as well as erudition in Australian history, its fora, fauna, geology, geography, and culture speak loudly through his writings. Each story, (even an adventurous thrilling murder mystery) is warm and relatable because it has plenty of heart and soul. Readers identify with characters and grow to care about them, to like or dislike them. Wilson’s character development abilities are superb.
Through just a few conversational lines, even of minor characters, it’s as if we know that person’s inner most being, Wilson’s gift is GENIUS! In just a few words, he has the ability to evoke and provide psychological emotion, empathy and insight into character. That’s MASTERFUL! Graham Wilson is a darn good writer—and Man can he SPIN A FANTASTIC TALE
September 11, 2019
I find that I did myself a disservice by not having read the first book of the series first although it claims to be a stand alone read. I never really found that I got into the story. This is why I only rated it three stars. I have read several of Graham’s other books and did not have this affect. It may be that the frequent typos and the Australian dialect made it difficult for me to read.
The story was not believable to me and I am certain that this is because it was a book with a magical or mystical theme. I much more enjoy a story that is suspenseful without having these mystical moments.
I will not reiterate what is described on the back cover other than to say this is a story that follows the first book in a series that I feel would be best to read first to help set this up subsequent books. Basically it is a story about an English woman who travels to Australia on vacation and meets a man that she later believes is a serial killer and because of her fear that he is about to kill her, kills him first. The story is written in the perspective of Susan, the English woman, and Alan, the detective who is on the task of finding out who killed Mark, the questionable serial killer. I would only recommend this book to anyone who likes stories that have a magical element.
The story was not believable to me and I am certain that this is because it was a book with a magical or mystical theme. I much more enjoy a story that is suspenseful without having these mystical moments.
I will not reiterate what is described on the back cover other than to say this is a story that follows the first book in a series that I feel would be best to read first to help set this up subsequent books. Basically it is a story about an English woman who travels to Australia on vacation and meets a man that she later believes is a serial killer and because of her fear that he is about to kill her, kills him first. The story is written in the perspective of Susan, the English woman, and Alan, the detective who is on the task of finding out who killed Mark, the questionable serial killer. I would only recommend this book to anyone who likes stories that have a magical element.
April 5, 2018
The first book perked my interest, how was this crime going to be uncovered, the evidence was deliberately destroyed, with forensic methodology well known to the killer. So, with this interested outlook, I followed the progress of the evidence discovery, understanding each clue, and also understanding what a jigsaw puzzle such evidence engendered.
I have voluntarily submitted this review after reading an advanced copy of the series.
I have voluntarily submitted this review after reading an advanced copy of the series.
July 15, 2018
I very much appreciated the author giving a small introduction of the first book in the series may for a smoother transition into the story of how susan struggles while alan uncovers the identity of the man whos head was found in a water hole in australia .I enjoyed the the Crocodile Man lore and found the case to be intriguing.The dynamic of discovery plays up the guilt she feels and makes for an interesting puzzle to be solved.I recieved a copy of this book free for an honest review namaste
November 23, 2019
I really enjoy this author’s descriptive way of writing. In this book of the Crocodile Dreaming series some new characters are introduced. There is a new love story added,as well as the Australian and Scotland Yard detective putting the pieces of Mark B.’s death together. Susan mental and physical state are walled off from everything and everybody. I can’t wait to read the “Lost Girls” to find out the conclusion of what happens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2021
Thank you to author Graham Wilson for the FREE kindle copy of The Diary (Crocodile Spirit Dreaming #2). And thank to Goodreads for hosting the opportunity.
I liked the story and characters. I liked the visuals and flow. I had trouble with the amount of editing issues, and the amount of repeating information, such as when a character is describing a situation or thought, and the same bit of information is repeated a couple times in slightly different ways. Nice, simple cover design.
I liked the story and characters. I liked the visuals and flow. I had trouble with the amount of editing issues, and the amount of repeating information, such as when a character is describing a situation or thought, and the same bit of information is repeated a couple times in slightly different ways. Nice, simple cover design.
August 16, 2019
Wonderful book !
Great read,won this on goodreads,and want to thank the author for reaching out to me and letting me have the first in this series.I'm not good with words so i will just say this is a wonderful book and very well done look forward to the rest of his books.Would give a 10+if possible.
Great read,won this on goodreads,and want to thank the author for reaching out to me and letting me have the first in this series.I'm not good with words so i will just say this is a wonderful book and very well done look forward to the rest of his books.Would give a 10+if possible.
June 5, 2021
I know there is a audience for this book, but I am not a fan of magical or spirit books. The Dreamtime crocodile creature was a little over the top, but the book was interesting and I did manage to finish it. I would have liked to know what was in Mark's diary. Another book coming????
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
May 15, 2018
This book is now one of my top favorite books. It was great!Crocodile Man
July 27, 2018
This engrossing story of crime and possession allows the reader a glimpse into the beliefs and rituals of the Australian aboriginal people. Once started, it is difficult to leave it until the conclusion. I received this novel as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.
August 9, 2018
Read the second book first, not necessarily a good thing! as I was more interested in the crocodile spirt than the girl, I don't relate to her as well yet.
Am now reading the first and third book to fill in the gaps. :)
Am now reading the first and third book to fill in the gaps. :)
November 20, 2025
A gripping and atmospheric Outback noir. The blend of murder mystery, folklore, and psychological tension kept me hooked from the first chapter. Graham Wilson brings Northern Australia to life with vivid detail and haunting suspense.
November 20, 2025
A chilling and deeply immersive continuation of the Crocodile Spirit Dreaming series. The investigation, the secrets, and the eerie presence of the crocodile spirit create a story that lingers long after finishing. Clever, unsettling, and unforgettable.
October 4, 2018
I enjoyed this more than the first book. I found the investigation unfolding was really good to follow. Looking forward to seeing what happens from here.
October 30, 2018
The mystery slowly unfolds...enjoying the series!
December 29, 2018
I am enthralled with these crocodile books and what happened to Susan. I will continue to read these delightful books.
August 17, 2019
Unique read.
August 28, 2019
A little hard to read but an ok book.
September 21, 2019
Won this book on Goodreads. This is second so I got first book and read both. They are very good. I highly recommend you read these.
July 27, 2020
Excellent story of Australia and a love relationship between an Australian man and an English girl that eventually turned into a murder.
September 23, 2024
A good follow up to book 1
July 16, 2019
This second book in the series was gifted to me by the author, Graham Wilson, and is as good as the first in the series. I am finding this series to be addictive and hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews