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Crocodile Spirit Dreaming #1
Just Visiting
Her hands and feet are tied and her mouth is gagged.She is a captive. She is being taken to a river full of crocodiles and she is terrified. How could it have come to this.
Susan goes on an idyllic holiday in Australia, The Barrier Reef is beautiful, Sydney and Melbourne wonderful. She wants to see the Outback. An Australian man offers to take her. She likes him and goes with him.When a fresh faced young English girl visits Australia she goes first to the Barrier Reef. He she meets a charming man from the outback of Australia.
Almost before she can think they are engaged in a passionate affair. She finds him and his life fascinating. She agrees to meet him in Alice Springs and travel with him through some of the remotest parts of the Northern Territory.
But a series of chance events leads her to believe that he is not who he says he is.
Yet she is incredibly drawn to him. Their relationship deepens and becomes ever more intense.
She must choose, whether to leave or stay. Can she take a chance and risk being drawn into his murky world.
Finally it is just her and him at a remote river, infested by crocodiles. With the crocodiles lie both their destinies.
Susan goes on an idyllic holiday in Australia, The Barrier Reef is beautiful, Sydney and Melbourne wonderful. She wants to see the Outback. An Australian man offers to take her. She likes him and goes with him.When a fresh faced young English girl visits Australia she goes first to the Barrier Reef. He she meets a charming man from the outback of Australia.
Almost before she can think they are engaged in a passionate affair. She finds him and his life fascinating. She agrees to meet him in Alice Springs and travel with him through some of the remotest parts of the Northern Territory.
But a series of chance events leads her to believe that he is not who he says he is.
Yet she is incredibly drawn to him. Their relationship deepens and becomes ever more intense.
She must choose, whether to leave or stay. Can she take a chance and risk being drawn into his murky world.
Finally it is just her and him at a remote river, infested by crocodiles. With the crocodiles lie both their destinies.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2007
92 people are currently reading
2022 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 47 reviews
February 26, 2019
This is the first in a series of five novels I have written called the Crocodile Spirit Dreaming Series.
The idea came to me after I finished the first novel in my other series, The Old Balmain House, which had surprised me as to how much I had enjoyed the creative writing process. It had seemed so easy after the long labor of love and lots of effort required to write the memoir of my life growing up in an NT aboriginal community. My memoir was a story I felt needed to be told whereas I wrote my first novel just for pleasure, mostly over an intense week of writing 14 hours a day.
So having, finished that imaginary story, I wanted to repeat the writing pleasure, but this time my first love, the land and people's of the NT cried out to have more of their stories told.
As I sat thinking about how to craft this book I remembered some of the NT's tragedies, Joanna Lees epic survival tale was one. It brought to mind the many backpackers I had given lifts to in my years of work, driving across the NT.
They were mostly young girls from other countries who were out for an adventure, with very little understanding of the risks they ran. They were very trusting of people they barely knew. So the story of a backpacker going traveling and meeting and trusting a charming but dangerous Australian man was conceived and from there it grew.
I also knew that crocodiles and the aboriginal peoples of this place would have central roles along with a cast of other outback characters, whose inspiration came from the many people I had met in living there for a large part of my life.
One English backpacker was a particular inspiration. I met her at a backpacker hostel in Cairns, we went diving on the reef, then she flew on to Darwin and met me there. I brought her out to Kakadu and Arnhem Land for a couple days, then she caught a flight on home. She was a delightful companion in a totally innocent and trusting way. I have never seen her again though she sent a couple post cards and letters over the next year after her visit before I lost touch. Her hair was blonde, not Susan's dark, but she had the "joie de vie" I try and capture in Susan.
However my memory of her is fading whereas the Susan I have written lives on in the written page, as does Vic, a man of mixed ancestry like many I have known, or Charlie, the wise aboriginal elder, with the wisdom of his land. Each adds their own richness to my tale.
Interestingly since first writing this review I have discovered a true aboriginal champion footballer of mixed Afghan and aboriginal ancestry. His name is Ben Barba, he grew up in Darwin before moving to the Queensland coast and now to Sydney where he plays for the Sharks in NRL. He won the best player in competition medal a few years ago and again this year is at his brilliant best.
When I describe Vic in the book, Sunlit Shadow Dance, as seen through the eyes of his uncle, with that amazing turn of elusive speed that great players bring, I am describing one of many part aboriginal kids of outstanding ability that I have seen. If you want see something like the brilliance I try and capture -look up Ben Barba and you will get some sense of what I was trying to write. Of course my character is a work of fiction.
Ben Barba is real and even better. But there is no doubt his mixed aboriginal and Afghan ancestry, along with outstanding natural ability, brings that something special I tried to describe.
Notwithstanding these many things which inspired me this story is fully a work of fiction, something I imagined and created in my mind, not something I ever experienced. Any resemblance to real people or events is accidental. However it is set in a real place that I do know and love and which forms an authentic backdrop.
For those who do not yet know this place I hope my stories bring it alive in your mind. For those who know it and love it like I do, I hope my telling makes you feel at home.
Graham Wilson
The idea came to me after I finished the first novel in my other series, The Old Balmain House, which had surprised me as to how much I had enjoyed the creative writing process. It had seemed so easy after the long labor of love and lots of effort required to write the memoir of my life growing up in an NT aboriginal community. My memoir was a story I felt needed to be told whereas I wrote my first novel just for pleasure, mostly over an intense week of writing 14 hours a day.
So having, finished that imaginary story, I wanted to repeat the writing pleasure, but this time my first love, the land and people's of the NT cried out to have more of their stories told.
As I sat thinking about how to craft this book I remembered some of the NT's tragedies, Joanna Lees epic survival tale was one. It brought to mind the many backpackers I had given lifts to in my years of work, driving across the NT.
They were mostly young girls from other countries who were out for an adventure, with very little understanding of the risks they ran. They were very trusting of people they barely knew. So the story of a backpacker going traveling and meeting and trusting a charming but dangerous Australian man was conceived and from there it grew.
I also knew that crocodiles and the aboriginal peoples of this place would have central roles along with a cast of other outback characters, whose inspiration came from the many people I had met in living there for a large part of my life.
One English backpacker was a particular inspiration. I met her at a backpacker hostel in Cairns, we went diving on the reef, then she flew on to Darwin and met me there. I brought her out to Kakadu and Arnhem Land for a couple days, then she caught a flight on home. She was a delightful companion in a totally innocent and trusting way. I have never seen her again though she sent a couple post cards and letters over the next year after her visit before I lost touch. Her hair was blonde, not Susan's dark, but she had the "joie de vie" I try and capture in Susan.
However my memory of her is fading whereas the Susan I have written lives on in the written page, as does Vic, a man of mixed ancestry like many I have known, or Charlie, the wise aboriginal elder, with the wisdom of his land. Each adds their own richness to my tale.
Interestingly since first writing this review I have discovered a true aboriginal champion footballer of mixed Afghan and aboriginal ancestry. His name is Ben Barba, he grew up in Darwin before moving to the Queensland coast and now to Sydney where he plays for the Sharks in NRL. He won the best player in competition medal a few years ago and again this year is at his brilliant best.
When I describe Vic in the book, Sunlit Shadow Dance, as seen through the eyes of his uncle, with that amazing turn of elusive speed that great players bring, I am describing one of many part aboriginal kids of outstanding ability that I have seen. If you want see something like the brilliance I try and capture -look up Ben Barba and you will get some sense of what I was trying to write. Of course my character is a work of fiction.
Ben Barba is real and even better. But there is no doubt his mixed aboriginal and Afghan ancestry, along with outstanding natural ability, brings that something special I tried to describe.
Notwithstanding these many things which inspired me this story is fully a work of fiction, something I imagined and created in my mind, not something I ever experienced. Any resemblance to real people or events is accidental. However it is set in a real place that I do know and love and which forms an authentic backdrop.
For those who do not yet know this place I hope my stories bring it alive in your mind. For those who know it and love it like I do, I hope my telling makes you feel at home.
Graham Wilson
February 27, 2019
The author kindly sent me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I read this out of order. I read the second book first. I waited a while so I'd forget what I read.
A young woman travels to Australia, thinking it would be safer than some other countries, and that she is too smart to be a victim of a psycho. She's wrong on both counts, and finds herself in the outback with someone who might very well be a killer.
Gripping, and somewhat hallucinogenic.
Unfortunately, I read this out of order. I read the second book first. I waited a while so I'd forget what I read.
A young woman travels to Australia, thinking it would be safer than some other countries, and that she is too smart to be a victim of a psycho. She's wrong on both counts, and finds herself in the outback with someone who might very well be a killer.
Gripping, and somewhat hallucinogenic.
July 25, 2018
What a beautiful portrayal of the wildy wilds of Australia that I shall never see. Simple descriptions, sure, but I learnt a lot about herding cattle and travelling in the outback.
There were some phrasings and words that could have been improved either by change or omission. It would be best not use the same words, especially in a page or two - "bread, ham, and tomato" and "maleness" come to mind.
These people had more sex in a month than I've had in the past 20 years! Goodness.
What was that thing with the dingo? They knew the story, but I had no idea what they were talking about - oh also, there was a sentence about how the only flying she'd done was in an airliner... i think the addition of the word previously would help there, The only flying she'd done previously was in an airliner as by this time she'd been in the helicopters.
Thanks for the free book, Graham!
September 16, 2018
Gripping backpacker mystery set in Australia. The story reminded me of several actual cases I'd heard about, of travelers who went missing in the Outback under mysterious circumstances. It was fascinating to get into the mind of a woman trapped alone in the middle of the Outback with a potential psycho. The descriptions of the Northern Territory were spot on. It was great to 'travel' back to several favorite places again! Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.
October 4, 2018
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. I took a while to get into this book, but when I persisted I really enjoyed it. Graham gives a really good sense of place for the Northern Territory you can almost feel the dust. Looking forward to the other four installments.
July 10, 2017
Enjoyed the book, bit of a shock ending though!
July 3, 2017
--about the whole series--
moderntimes novels usually don't catch me but this one had me lost from the first pages....I immediately saw the storyline in front of me, as if I was there watching beside them. It gets very dark in sections, like heavy on your mind. Had to stop reading the story for a while to be able to process everything and that almost never happends. As a favour I'm doing some extra reads of a part, so more review will come :) thanks mr Wilson
moderntimes novels usually don't catch me but this one had me lost from the first pages....I immediately saw the storyline in front of me, as if I was there watching beside them. It gets very dark in sections, like heavy on your mind. Had to stop reading the story for a while to be able to process everything and that almost never happends. As a favour I'm doing some extra reads of a part, so more review will come :) thanks mr Wilson
April 25, 2017
4.5 This is the first book in the Crocodile Spirit Dreaming Series. This is the first book I have read that is by Graham Wilson. This was a very interesting story. Susan goes to Australia to travel the area on her own after a bad relationship. She meets a man her shows her around the outback. She enjoys his company until she discovers haunting things about his past. The ending was not what I expected. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
August 15, 2019
I thought this book was awesome! I was kind of afraid because I like the characters so much.
I couldn't put it down. I have the next in the series ready to read. Parts of this book are so intense I might wait 24 hours :-) Great read looking forward to the rest of the story.
I couldn't put it down. I have the next in the series ready to read. Parts of this book are so intense I might wait 24 hours :-) Great read looking forward to the rest of the story.
Read
August 31, 2018This book did a complete 180 degree turnaround. The first half was completely joyous and exciting, then the nightmare begins.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2018
3,5 stars.
This book is about Susan who goes backpacking in Australia. Most of this book feels like a romance book. The pacing is good and it does feel like you are in Australia along with Susan. The first two chapters give you a little insight of what is going to happen later on, so you know something bad is going to happen. I like the main character Susan. Though I didn't agree with all her choices. What I didn't like was the last moment in the Outback and the ending. Despite that I enjoyed this book and will continue with the rest of the series.
This book is about Susan who goes backpacking in Australia. Most of this book feels like a romance book. The pacing is good and it does feel like you are in Australia along with Susan. The first two chapters give you a little insight of what is going to happen later on, so you know something bad is going to happen. I like the main character Susan. Though I didn't agree with all her choices. What I didn't like was the last moment in the Outback and the ending. Despite that I enjoyed this book and will continue with the rest of the series.
January 30, 2019
Outback as should and shouldn’t be experienced
It’s a conundrum. You feel like you want the female protagonist to stop but you also want her to know more. As for the male character, you feel like you want him to be a good guy and even if he’s bad be redeemed coz you want a happy ending to their story. Extra is how the author describes the scene, it’s like a travelogue to Australia, you can almost imagine yourself experiencing the good, the bad, the exhilarating, the scary and the calming effects of nature.
It’s a conundrum. You feel like you want the female protagonist to stop but you also want her to know more. As for the male character, you feel like you want him to be a good guy and even if he’s bad be redeemed coz you want a happy ending to their story. Extra is how the author describes the scene, it’s like a travelogue to Australia, you can almost imagine yourself experiencing the good, the bad, the exhilarating, the scary and the calming effects of nature.
July 9, 2017
This book was great and I would recommend for others to read this book.
The only thing that I didn't like was chapter 2 because it sort gives away the whole story but other than that I love the book and can't wait to read the others.
The only thing that I didn't like was chapter 2 because it sort gives away the whole story but other than that I love the book and can't wait to read the others.
October 27, 2018
Enjoyed this book but had to skim through the sex scenes and the brutal ending of one of the characters...just because it's not my thing.
Enjoyed learning about Australia. Learned a few things!
Thank you Graham for the book!
Enjoyed learning about Australia. Learned a few things!
Thank you Graham for the book!
January 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the Outback and its people brought it alive. Well written and easy flowing, I highly recommend Just Visiting. This book was given to me by Graham Wilson. Thank you!
October 7, 2015
I was very intrigued by this novel which is the first part of a trilogy. I am anxious to read the rest of the series to know where the author is going with the story. I was hesitant to read it at first as the description said it was dark. There was a darkness to the story but somehow it was not overwhelming.
One of things that surprised me about the novel was that wasy in which Susan who is just out of a bad relationship would ignore all of the small clues and promptings and still wander off into the unknown bush witha man she has just met. The author makes this plausible by indicating that she has had her heart broken and is looking for love and companionship but plain old common sense must come first. One would think that a young woman from a loving family travelling on her own would have some schedule set for checking in with her family and would not be gone for weeks on end without some contact.
I really dont want to spoil the story for anyone so I will just put in one other point. Why would she ignore her personal safety by forgetting about birth control - why? it is not as if she never thought of it? she just seemed to ignore it. This is a prt of the story that I would rework. i dont think that many women in that situation would find themselves in an active sexual relationship and forget their birth control for so long. She is an adult, not a teenager. As an editor I might have asked the author to deal with this detail in the story in a more realistic way. It has to come accross as more of a mistake and less of a deliberate gamble. It also sort of gives away the story once we start to talk birth control in the beginning and then you realise that it is not happening we at once know where the story is going.
I am still trying to wrap my mind around the last scenes in the bush between Susan and Mark but I would spoil that for you.
Cant wait to start part two in a few days.
One of things that surprised me about the novel was that wasy in which Susan who is just out of a bad relationship would ignore all of the small clues and promptings and still wander off into the unknown bush witha man she has just met. The author makes this plausible by indicating that she has had her heart broken and is looking for love and companionship but plain old common sense must come first. One would think that a young woman from a loving family travelling on her own would have some schedule set for checking in with her family and would not be gone for weeks on end without some contact.
I really dont want to spoil the story for anyone so I will just put in one other point. Why would she ignore her personal safety by forgetting about birth control - why? it is not as if she never thought of it? she just seemed to ignore it. This is a prt of the story that I would rework. i dont think that many women in that situation would find themselves in an active sexual relationship and forget their birth control for so long. She is an adult, not a teenager. As an editor I might have asked the author to deal with this detail in the story in a more realistic way. It has to come accross as more of a mistake and less of a deliberate gamble. It also sort of gives away the story once we start to talk birth control in the beginning and then you realise that it is not happening we at once know where the story is going.
I am still trying to wrap my mind around the last scenes in the bush between Susan and Mark but I would spoil that for you.
Cant wait to start part two in a few days.
November 7, 2023
This book was steamy. It was not romantic.
A woman plans a once in a lifetime vacation to get revenge sex on an ex she no longer has any contact, with a man totally different from her ex and (yes, and) a man her family pimps her out to (lovely family) and she forgets her birth control (the horror).
Seriously, that's the story.
The rest is pretty much a travel log but it's like someone is scrolling through the pictures on the phone and only slowing down for places where sex took place or a fact can be mentioned to make the person feel smart.
I got bored quickly.
I think the biggest problem was pacing. It starts with an apology to Australia for making it look bad though the book is based on actual events. Then it gives you a creepy stalker segment that make the reader think something it going to happen--literally not until halfway through the book. Then there is a section on Susan hating her vacation. There is no suspense because the reader can tell what's going to happen. The rest seems to go back and forth between too much information and not enough.
I kept reading just to see if there was something that would surprise me. There was actually a line "good girls don't" which made me think, 'that ship has sailed a long time ago.' I was laughing by the end. It was too predictable. I am such a horrible person for not siding with the victim but Susan was such a stupid bimbo. I'll stop it there so there aren't any spoilers.
The sad part is there are four more books which make me wonder about the Australian judicial system.
This was just a big no for me.
A woman plans a once in a lifetime vacation to get revenge sex on an ex she no longer has any contact, with a man totally different from her ex and (yes, and) a man her family pimps her out to (lovely family) and she forgets her birth control (the horror).
Seriously, that's the story.
The rest is pretty much a travel log but it's like someone is scrolling through the pictures on the phone and only slowing down for places where sex took place or a fact can be mentioned to make the person feel smart.
I got bored quickly.
I think the biggest problem was pacing. It starts with an apology to Australia for making it look bad though the book is based on actual events. Then it gives you a creepy stalker segment that make the reader think something it going to happen--literally not until halfway through the book. Then there is a section on Susan hating her vacation. There is no suspense because the reader can tell what's going to happen. The rest seems to go back and forth between too much information and not enough.
I kept reading just to see if there was something that would surprise me. There was actually a line "good girls don't" which made me think, 'that ship has sailed a long time ago.' I was laughing by the end. It was too predictable. I am such a horrible person for not siding with the victim but Susan was such a stupid bimbo. I'll stop it there so there aren't any spoilers.
The sad part is there are four more books which make me wonder about the Australian judicial system.
This was just a big no for me.
August 12, 2019
If you were confronted with evidence that a friend was involved in missing women, what would you do??? Wait!! to compound the problem, your in the middle of nowhere, reliant on the person for transport and are not sure what is going on. Interesting conundrum! Especially, when you are a British visitor, and traveling with the person concerned through the Aussie outback, where you can travel for hours without seeing another soul.
I loved the outback experience this book gives, although it becomes a little morbid in the final chapters, but I have read another book (East of Eden, if my memory serves me right ), which used the same method to dispose of the evidence.
I loved the outback experience this book gives, although it becomes a little morbid in the final chapters, but I have read another book (East of Eden, if my memory serves me right ), which used the same method to dispose of the evidence.
September 26, 2017
4.5 stars. Eerie story of a young english girl who decides to take a holiday in Australia, meets an australian guy and takes off with him on an adventure. Things are ok at first but she starts noticing things that are a little off about him. I really like this book, even though it is doubtful in today's world that a young girl would take off on an adventure like this without letting someone know where she will be etc. One thing's for sure, if you are that type of adventuresome girl, you will think twice after reading this book. Now I have to read the next book in this series!
May 21, 2017
Susan, a girl from England has broken up with her long time boyfriend and goes on a 30 day trip to Australia. She meets a guy named Mark while skin diving and eventually arranges to meet him later in the trip to explore the outback. There are clues that maybe he is hiding who he really is that she continues to ignore.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 19, 2018
This was a Goodreads win. Thank you, Goodreads. This was a good story, it moved along at a good pace and I felt like I was right there in the Australian Outback. Well developed characters. There is a lot of sexual situations, if you are sensitive to that, you might not like this book at all. Otherwise, a great story.
May 31, 2018
This was a goodreads giveaway. The best character is the book was the scenery. Didn't care too much for the characters. The book felt like it was just a set up for the following books. Undecided whether to continue reading this series.
August 26, 2018
The descriptions of rarely seen parts of Australia to me was the star of the book. I think the author did a great job of setting up for the series to come. There definitely was a thrilling element towards the end. I had a hard time with Susan the main female character and her choices.
December 20, 2017
Really enjoyable book, great story line. Would defiantly recommend this to all .Look forward to reading more in this series
January 29, 2022
I wasn't sure about this book when I started it but I ended up staying up late because I couldn't go to bed until I knew what happened. It was difficult for me to believe...in current times...that a young woman traveling alone in another country could be so casual with a new relationship, especially knowing so little about the guy but people make poor judgments every day and hey...the story wouldn't have been as compelling without the blind trust in the beginning. I only have 2 "little" things that really bothered me and neither one is enough to keep me from moving on to the next book in the series...which I already have. First, the sex scenes are thankfully brief but even the little bit he included seemed unneeded. It was obvious that there was a strong attraction and the descriptions just really don't add anything to the sexual tension...which is fine with me, I'm just saying. Secondly, there many places where editing would have been nice. It's just disrupting to be reading along and having to go....wait, what???....oh there's no space there, or a words left out or misspelled. I hope I can get to the next one relatively soon!
June 19, 2023
Susan was oh-so ready for this holiday, especially after what Edward, her ex-boyfriend, did. He had cheated on her and lied about it. Then she caught him in the act, which was the last time she would see him. The next day while he was at work, she removed all of her stuff from their dwelling and removed her name and his access to everything. She was going to Australia for four weeks of fun in the sun. She was going to split her time between the city and the outback and hopefully break her dry spell along the way. Maybe, hopefully, more than once. Then she met this guy, this man, and she fell for him and wanted to know more about him. That was not her first mistake.
The physical world-building put visions of grand vistas in my mind. The ethereal world-building was on time, but maybe it could have been darker, but then, there was the last chapter, and I’m not sure Mr. Wilson could have gotten much darker than that. Initially, this book felt a little slow, but it found its pace.
WARNING: ADULT MATERIAL: If you like fictional crime thrillers with a psychological twist, you should get this book and start reading it today. I give this read four stars out of five stars.
The physical world-building put visions of grand vistas in my mind. The ethereal world-building was on time, but maybe it could have been darker, but then, there was the last chapter, and I’m not sure Mr. Wilson could have gotten much darker than that. Initially, this book felt a little slow, but it found its pace.
WARNING: ADULT MATERIAL: If you like fictional crime thrillers with a psychological twist, you should get this book and start reading it today. I give this read four stars out of five stars.
March 22, 2019
I just LOVED this engrossing mystery from the get-go! I was drawn right in and couldn’t put it down—identifying immediately with the heroine as a smart, strong young woman 👩🏻 who can take care of herself and make good decisions. So, why not go alone on vacation to Australia—the other side of the globe—to prove to herself and everyone else—that she’s a survivor of bad relationships and has good judgment? And what girl, even smart beautiful, well-educated ones from good families, aren’t attracted to Bad Boys—especially those strong, quiet, sexy, mysterious James Bond types? Find out how things evolve for Susan and Mark as his “crocodile spirit” emerges and transforms him during their Outback adventures. You’re also going to be totally immersed in glorious Australian nature and culture as you read because Author, Graham Wilson, effortless weaves these threads gloriously throughout the story. Traveling to Australia has always been on my Bucket List. It’s now moved way up to the top. I’m anxious to begin “Dreaming” book 2 in the Series. Yea!
December 12, 2019
This was different from Graham's "The Old Balmain House Series". It's the first in a series, with a bit of a different style. While the "Balmain" series felt like listening to a story told around the kitchen table, "Just Visiting" has a bit of a faster rhythm. Susan is a tourist from England visiting Australia after a break-up. She meets a man full of Aussie charm, who offers to show her around the Northern Territories. The most remote parts. Where hardly anyone lives. Or visits. And Susan has told no one of her itinerary, or of her passionate fling with Mark, the Aussie charmer. Slowly, she begins to believe that this man isn't who he seems to be. One part travelogue, one part thriller, the story is rich in descriptions of the Northern Territory. Make sure you have access to Google while you're reading, so you can look up all the places Mark and Susan visit. Towards the end, it really revs up into thriller mode, as Susan discovers what Mark really is, and has to figure out how to escape.
February 15, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It actually grabbed my interest right from the start and kept me reading. I prefer less sexual content in my books than was present in this, but the story line and my wanting to know how it ended definitely kept me reading. Although the beginning chapters hint at the most likely ending, I still wasn't sure how he would approach the ending and I found it interesting how he developed the story and his characters. This was a nice change from many of of the mystery/suspense novels I've been reading - probably because of the setting he used and relied upon to build his story around. I liked his style of writing, although at times I wasn't sure if the omission of a word was a typo or if it was meant to be written that way.
April 12, 2021
I was approached by the author to read his book.
That being said: I am sorry but I just couldn't read it. The first chapter was good, but for me it went down hill. Now, mind you, my opinion is totally different from others. Instead of a mystery this seemed like a romance novel to me, which I am not much a fan of that genre.
In the first few chapters, Susan had two different sex partners. Mark and David. Mark and her had sex everywhere or so it seemed to me.
I did like the fact that he really described Australia. I got a feel for it. I did find some grammatical errors. Unfortunately, the vivid description was not enough to keep me interested.
This is just my opinion. Others have loved the book. Always remember two people may read the same book but different books at the same time.
That being said: I am sorry but I just couldn't read it. The first chapter was good, but for me it went down hill. Now, mind you, my opinion is totally different from others. Instead of a mystery this seemed like a romance novel to me, which I am not much a fan of that genre.
In the first few chapters, Susan had two different sex partners. Mark and David. Mark and her had sex everywhere or so it seemed to me.
I did like the fact that he really described Australia. I got a feel for it. I did find some grammatical errors. Unfortunately, the vivid description was not enough to keep me interested.
This is just my opinion. Others have loved the book. Always remember two people may read the same book but different books at the same time.
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