What do you think?
Rate this book
Wimmera
In the long, hot summer of 1989, Ben and Fab are best friends.
Growing up in a small country town, they spend their days playing cricket, yabbying in local dams, wanting a pair of Nike Air Maxes and not talking about how Fab's dad hits him or how the sudden death of Ben's next-door neighbour unsettled him. Almost teenagers, they already know some things are better left unsaid.
Then a newcomer arrived in the Wimmera. Fab reckoned he was a secret agent and he and Ben staked him out. Up close, the man's shoulders were wide and the veins in his arms stuck out, blue and green. His hands were enormous, red and knotty. He looked strong. Maybe even stronger than Fab's dad. Neither realised the shadow this man would cast over both their lives.
Twenty years later, Fab is still stuck in town, going nowhere but hoping for somewhere better. Then a body is found in the river, and Fab can't ignore the past any more.
Growing up in a small country town, they spend their days playing cricket, yabbying in local dams, wanting a pair of Nike Air Maxes and not talking about how Fab's dad hits him or how the sudden death of Ben's next-door neighbour unsettled him. Almost teenagers, they already know some things are better left unsaid.
Then a newcomer arrived in the Wimmera. Fab reckoned he was a secret agent and he and Ben staked him out. Up close, the man's shoulders were wide and the veins in his arms stuck out, blue and green. His hands were enormous, red and knotty. He looked strong. Maybe even stronger than Fab's dad. Neither realised the shadow this man would cast over both their lives.
Twenty years later, Fab is still stuck in town, going nowhere but hoping for somewhere better. Then a body is found in the river, and Fab can't ignore the past any more.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2017
286 people are currently reading
3087 people want to read
About the author
Mark Brandi
5 books304 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 577 reviews
February 8, 2019
There really are some terrific Aussie writers out there, and award winning Mark Brandi is a welcome addition, with this, his debut novel, short in length but big in its impact. Its a book of light and shadows, tuning into the lives of two best friends at specific times in their lives. 11 year olds Ben and Fab, are living in a small town in Victoria in 1989, we then catch up with Fab's life decades later after the momentous events that happened when he was a young, still stuck in the same town whilst Ben left. It begins in the present with the discovery of a well secured green wheelie bin in the river, the contents of which is to unavoidably raise the spectre of the past for Fab and Ben. The narrative is delivered from the perspective of Ben in the early years and then Fab in the later years that culminate in the trial.
Brandi atmospherically evokes the period of the late 1980s beautifully, charting the culture, the TV shows of the time, and the prevalent attitudes of that time, like the perception of women and girls. Ben is disturbed when a 14 year old girl, Daisy Wolfe, a neighbour, hangs herself on the clothes washing line. Daisy had been a good friend to him, although rumours and banter about her abound that make him distinctly uncomfortable. It is a time when parents allowed their children to run free and wild, especially in the summer, and the boys are obsessed by sex and hankering after unobtainable women and girls, excited by girlie mags, whilst camping and yabbying. It is far from a idyllic childhood with its bullying, racism, and brutality in the home. A new neighbour arrives on the scene, taking over and renting the Wolfe's home. The new man, Ronnie, attracts the boys attention, as they weave imagined tales of who he is, a spy perhaps. The tone gets progressively more chilling and menacing as Ben finds himself encouraged by his parents to do paid work in and around Ronnie's home, something he is less than comfortable with. The circumstances around the events that occur are left opaque, but we are left in no doubt about the gravity of the abuse that takes place, and the repercussions on the lives of Ben and Fab.
This is not your ordinary crime novel, Brandi is far more interested in character, capturing a particular historical era, the minutiae of small town life, the gossip, the judgements, what happens behind closed doors, the limited horizons, and the lack of parental awareness about what could be happening to their kids, it just would not cross their minds that they might be endangered in any way. The rampant and blatant sexism is hard to stomach, particularly when it is applied to young girls, as is the everyday normalisation of the racism of the time. The characterisation of the young boys is done with skill in this coming of age story, their friendship is depicted beautifully in the trials and tribulations each of them face, their loyalty to each other is a thing to behold, despite coming from different backgrounds. This would have been a 5 star read for me, but for the dissatisfaction I felt over the trial and how it progresses. This is a bleakly disturbing piece of crime fiction but I found it never less than compelling. Many thanks to Legend Press for an ARC.
Brandi atmospherically evokes the period of the late 1980s beautifully, charting the culture, the TV shows of the time, and the prevalent attitudes of that time, like the perception of women and girls. Ben is disturbed when a 14 year old girl, Daisy Wolfe, a neighbour, hangs herself on the clothes washing line. Daisy had been a good friend to him, although rumours and banter about her abound that make him distinctly uncomfortable. It is a time when parents allowed their children to run free and wild, especially in the summer, and the boys are obsessed by sex and hankering after unobtainable women and girls, excited by girlie mags, whilst camping and yabbying. It is far from a idyllic childhood with its bullying, racism, and brutality in the home. A new neighbour arrives on the scene, taking over and renting the Wolfe's home. The new man, Ronnie, attracts the boys attention, as they weave imagined tales of who he is, a spy perhaps. The tone gets progressively more chilling and menacing as Ben finds himself encouraged by his parents to do paid work in and around Ronnie's home, something he is less than comfortable with. The circumstances around the events that occur are left opaque, but we are left in no doubt about the gravity of the abuse that takes place, and the repercussions on the lives of Ben and Fab.
This is not your ordinary crime novel, Brandi is far more interested in character, capturing a particular historical era, the minutiae of small town life, the gossip, the judgements, what happens behind closed doors, the limited horizons, and the lack of parental awareness about what could be happening to their kids, it just would not cross their minds that they might be endangered in any way. The rampant and blatant sexism is hard to stomach, particularly when it is applied to young girls, as is the everyday normalisation of the racism of the time. The characterisation of the young boys is done with skill in this coming of age story, their friendship is depicted beautifully in the trials and tribulations each of them face, their loyalty to each other is a thing to behold, despite coming from different backgrounds. This would have been a 5 star read for me, but for the dissatisfaction I felt over the trial and how it progresses. This is a bleakly disturbing piece of crime fiction but I found it never less than compelling. Many thanks to Legend Press for an ARC.
April 10, 2019
4.5★
“The car never seemed to go anywhere and the curtains of the house were always shut. Fab reckoned the neighbour was probably doing interrogations inside. He said there was stuff about that in the book, that they’d usually do it in the dark with a bright lamp shining in your eyes.”
Ah, boys and their imaginations, eh? A couple of primary school boys, about 11 years old, are imagining who the new neighbour is and what he might be up to. He’s renting the house next-door to Ben, and they wonder if he knows its dark history, that a 14-year-old girl suicided there recently. Of course, they also wonder about ghosts.
“Ben shielded his eyes from the sun. Ronnie seemed bigger up close, his shoulders wide and the veins in his arms stuck out, blue and green. His hands were enormous, red and knotty. He looked strong. Stronger than his dad. Stronger than Barry Jack, Maybe even stronger than Fab’s dad.”
But before Ben and Fab and Ronnie, the book opens in the present with another pair of boys, tramping through the bush, who discover something that has been thrown “into the river” (as it were) that certainly shouldn’t be there. We know it was probably intended to sink out of sight forever, don’t we? Oops.
Then the story moves to the late 1980s and Ben and Fab’s early friendship in primary school. Brandi sets the time and scene with Ben having dinner with his folks, watching ‘The Wonder Years’ and ‘The A-Team’ on TV. The 1988 World Expo had been on the news, and Ben’s mum is serving up Neapolitan ice cream for dessert, which they never do except on Sundays and special occasions. He wonders what the occasion is as Ben’s mum was eases into the conversation about the girl next-door.
[I remember those days and those favourite TV shows and the Neapolitan ice cream and why the vanilla was always the last one left in the tub. But I digress.]
Fab is the other boy, Italian background, teased mercilessly at school because he’s different and beaten at home because that’s what his dad does (which nobody knows). Ben seems to be his only friend, and they do get up to the usual stuff boys that age do. Yabbying, gossiping.
Ben is a bit more advanced and seems to be fixated on boobs and girls and boobs and bums. There is rather a lot of that, and never having been an 11-year-old boy, I can’t say whether or not it’s realistic that he would be fantasizing quite so much at that age. He is invited for a real Italian spaghetti dinner at Fab’s house and “admires” Mrs. Moressi.
“‘This is really nice, Mrs Morressi.’. . . he snuck a look at her chest as he said it. She had a grey t-shirt on, with a couple of buttons that were open near the collar. Her boobs weren’t huge or anything, but they were a nice round shape.”
Make you uncomfortable? There’s a lot in this story that should make you uncomfortable. Ben sees Fab’s father on the attack once, and avoids going to the house after that. He can’t help noticing bruises, but he’s only a kid. Fab’s dad, as I said, is a scary piece of work. He’s described later as
“. . . a giant, broad and tall for his generation, densely muscular. Big, strong hands and long, sinewy arms – a powerful neck and jutting Roman jaw. He’d exuded a primal strength, as though he’d not sprung from humankind, but something supernatural, almost unholy – something not of this earth. And he’d moved and acted like a man who knew, always, that his prowess exceeded all others.”
As for the new neighbour, Ronnie, he doesn’t seem to be worried about the deadly history of the house he’s renting but he tells Ben he could use a hand with the mowing and cleaning out the shed on the weekend. Ben is understandably nervous about whatever spirit might be lurking. We're a little more worried about the new bloke.
We see Ben and Fab in their childhood and wonder if, and how, they will deal with these men whom we adults can see are a threat to their welfare. Brandi maintains the suspense and reveals just enough to keep us reading and worried for them. It does have graphic sexual references, just so you know.
I enjoyed it a lot and am happy to recommend it. It was released earlier in Australia as Wimmera, which is the name of the region in Victoria in which it takes place. It’s a great name, but it won’t mean anything to those overseas, and Into the River makes perfect sense. I'm looking forward to finding the next one from this talented Aussie author, The Rip.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the preview copy.
#IntoTheRiver #NetGalley
“The car never seemed to go anywhere and the curtains of the house were always shut. Fab reckoned the neighbour was probably doing interrogations inside. He said there was stuff about that in the book, that they’d usually do it in the dark with a bright lamp shining in your eyes.”
Ah, boys and their imaginations, eh? A couple of primary school boys, about 11 years old, are imagining who the new neighbour is and what he might be up to. He’s renting the house next-door to Ben, and they wonder if he knows its dark history, that a 14-year-old girl suicided there recently. Of course, they also wonder about ghosts.
“Ben shielded his eyes from the sun. Ronnie seemed bigger up close, his shoulders wide and the veins in his arms stuck out, blue and green. His hands were enormous, red and knotty. He looked strong. Stronger than his dad. Stronger than Barry Jack, Maybe even stronger than Fab’s dad.”
But before Ben and Fab and Ronnie, the book opens in the present with another pair of boys, tramping through the bush, who discover something that has been thrown “into the river” (as it were) that certainly shouldn’t be there. We know it was probably intended to sink out of sight forever, don’t we? Oops.
Then the story moves to the late 1980s and Ben and Fab’s early friendship in primary school. Brandi sets the time and scene with Ben having dinner with his folks, watching ‘The Wonder Years’ and ‘The A-Team’ on TV. The 1988 World Expo had been on the news, and Ben’s mum is serving up Neapolitan ice cream for dessert, which they never do except on Sundays and special occasions. He wonders what the occasion is as Ben’s mum was eases into the conversation about the girl next-door.
[I remember those days and those favourite TV shows and the Neapolitan ice cream and why the vanilla was always the last one left in the tub. But I digress.]
Fab is the other boy, Italian background, teased mercilessly at school because he’s different and beaten at home because that’s what his dad does (which nobody knows). Ben seems to be his only friend, and they do get up to the usual stuff boys that age do. Yabbying, gossiping.
Ben is a bit more advanced and seems to be fixated on boobs and girls and boobs and bums. There is rather a lot of that, and never having been an 11-year-old boy, I can’t say whether or not it’s realistic that he would be fantasizing quite so much at that age. He is invited for a real Italian spaghetti dinner at Fab’s house and “admires” Mrs. Moressi.
“‘This is really nice, Mrs Morressi.’. . . he snuck a look at her chest as he said it. She had a grey t-shirt on, with a couple of buttons that were open near the collar. Her boobs weren’t huge or anything, but they were a nice round shape.”
Make you uncomfortable? There’s a lot in this story that should make you uncomfortable. Ben sees Fab’s father on the attack once, and avoids going to the house after that. He can’t help noticing bruises, but he’s only a kid. Fab’s dad, as I said, is a scary piece of work. He’s described later as
“. . . a giant, broad and tall for his generation, densely muscular. Big, strong hands and long, sinewy arms – a powerful neck and jutting Roman jaw. He’d exuded a primal strength, as though he’d not sprung from humankind, but something supernatural, almost unholy – something not of this earth. And he’d moved and acted like a man who knew, always, that his prowess exceeded all others.”
As for the new neighbour, Ronnie, he doesn’t seem to be worried about the deadly history of the house he’s renting but he tells Ben he could use a hand with the mowing and cleaning out the shed on the weekend. Ben is understandably nervous about whatever spirit might be lurking. We're a little more worried about the new bloke.
We see Ben and Fab in their childhood and wonder if, and how, they will deal with these men whom we adults can see are a threat to their welfare. Brandi maintains the suspense and reveals just enough to keep us reading and worried for them. It does have graphic sexual references, just so you know.
I enjoyed it a lot and am happy to recommend it. It was released earlier in Australia as Wimmera, which is the name of the region in Victoria in which it takes place. It’s a great name, but it won’t mean anything to those overseas, and Into the River makes perfect sense. I'm looking forward to finding the next one from this talented Aussie author, The Rip.
Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the preview copy.
#IntoTheRiver #NetGalley
June 17, 2017
Olive skinned Fab, tormented and bullied in school had only one friend – Ben stuck up for his best friend and kept the bullies at bay. The two boys played cricket, both backyard and in their school team – they also went yabbying together. A typical childhood in the hot summer of 1989 in the small town of Stawell in the Wimmera region of rural Victoria – Ben was content with his mum and dad while Fab was frightened of his violent father.
But after Ben’s neighbours moved, another man came to live in the house. And slowly, gradually, lives changed.
Years had passed since Fab had seen Ben – they’d drifted apart and Fab was working, still living with his mum at home. He was keen to move from his home town of Stawell, from the dead-end job he was doing, maybe to Melbourne to a better life. But the past had a way of sneaking up on a person…
Wimmera is the debut novel by Aussie author Mark Brandi and it’s nothing like I expected it to be. The content is dark and the language disturbing; it was difficult to read at times and I will admit to skimming in places. The sad knowledge that crimes of this nature did and still do occur makes us wonder why it can’t be stopped. Wimmera is haunting and brutal – and most definitely not for the faint hearted. I know people will be struck by the manner of the story; I’m guessing it will be classified as Literary Fiction in the Crime genre. For me, I didn’t enjoy it – but I will recommend it to others.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read and review.
But after Ben’s neighbours moved, another man came to live in the house. And slowly, gradually, lives changed.
Years had passed since Fab had seen Ben – they’d drifted apart and Fab was working, still living with his mum at home. He was keen to move from his home town of Stawell, from the dead-end job he was doing, maybe to Melbourne to a better life. But the past had a way of sneaking up on a person…
Wimmera is the debut novel by Aussie author Mark Brandi and it’s nothing like I expected it to be. The content is dark and the language disturbing; it was difficult to read at times and I will admit to skimming in places. The sad knowledge that crimes of this nature did and still do occur makes us wonder why it can’t be stopped. Wimmera is haunting and brutal – and most definitely not for the faint hearted. I know people will be struck by the manner of the story; I’m guessing it will be classified as Literary Fiction in the Crime genre. For me, I didn’t enjoy it – but I will recommend it to others.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read and review.
June 27, 2018
The story had potential but the execution didn't deliver.
As I stated in the update, there was way too much female objectification and wanking coming from an 11-year-old, who was otherwise a perfectly normal, nice boy in 1989. I didn't need those images in my head and I thought it was a bit too much - admittedly, I'm not a male, and I don't know how much self-love is too much.
I liked the settings and the descriptions of the rural Victorian town and the references to that era.
So, while this didn't appeal to me overall, I can appreciate Mark Brandi's writing skills and wish him best of luck with his sophomore novel.
As I stated in the update, there was way too much female objectification and wanking coming from an 11-year-old, who was otherwise a perfectly normal, nice boy in 1989. I didn't need those images in my head and I thought it was a bit too much - admittedly, I'm not a male, and I don't know how much self-love is too much.
I liked the settings and the descriptions of the rural Victorian town and the references to that era.
So, while this didn't appeal to me overall, I can appreciate Mark Brandi's writing skills and wish him best of luck with his sophomore novel.
September 3, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
*4.5 stars
Wimmera is a remarkable debut novel that highlights the power of boyhood friendship when a quiet tragedy occurs, the impact reverberating across the years. Mark Brandi, the debut author of Wimmera, applies a steady hand to his first novel. Rightly so, as Wimmera generated plenty of positive attention before it was published, taking out the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award. This soon followed a publishing deal with Hachette Australia.
At the foundation of Wimmera is a coming of age tale that focuses on the strength of a bond forged between two adolescent boys, Ben and Fab. The long hot summer of 1989 changes the lives of best friends, Ben and Fab, forever. While partaking in their favoured activities of yabbying, BMX riding and cricket, a shocking incident occurs that shapes who these boys become. The appearance of a mysterious new neighbour from outside their small rural town of Stawell has the two boys intrigued. When the newcomer asks the boys, to do chores around his property, this follows an outing with the strange man. An incident then occurs that all three cannot take back. Moving forward twenty years later, Fab is going nowhere, stuck in the same place, with no prospects. When a body is recovered from local waters, the awful truth from that summer of 1989 comes bubbling back to the surface. It has repercussions for the two, who were once thick as thieves.
Wimmera is a well structured Australian debut crime novel that is divided into three acts. The narrative begins slowly as we are introduced to the two main characters of the novel Ben and Fab. We learn about their favourite pursuits, their differing family backgrounds, their problems at school and most of all we get a sense of their friendship. The pacing is a more of a plod in the early scenes of the novel as Brandi takes his time to set the stage for what is to come. This follows a build up to the tragedy that occurs, which tests each boy’s spirit and their bond as a whole. The book moves to the present day and is narrated by Fab, now an adult. We soon learn Fab is struck in a rut, unable to move forward with his life and he is still living at home, in the same town. The final act of the novel is a powerful examination of the fallout from the incident involving the boys in 1989. A compelling police interview and resulting court case is the culmination of a shocking decision made by the twosome twenty years ago.
Brandi’s characterisation is faultless. He strives hard in the early stages Wimmera to build a complete picture of his two main adolescent protagonists. We get a strong idea of how similar but different these two boys are. Their differences seem to lie in their contrasting family backgrounds. While Ben has a happy, safe and comfortable family life, Fab’s is tumultuous. Fab and his mother, Italian immigrants, live in a constant state of fear from his violent father. Brandi perfectly captures the attitudes, personality, interests and activities of these typical adolescent boys of the era, living in a rural community. Likewise, Brandi’s aptitude for character building extends to his crucial protagonist Ronnie. The stranger who changes Ben and Fab’s life over that summer of 1989, is balanced with enough mystique and mistrust that made me suspicious of this character from the very moment he appeared on the pages of Wimmera.
Thanks to the author of Wimmera, Mark Brandi, I took a trip down memory lane, to the year 1989, when a life changing event occurs in the lives of Ben and Fab. Although I was a few years younger than the main characters Ben and Fab in 1989, I still felt a significant sense of nostalgia while reading the first act of the narrative. Brandi encapsulates the time and place of his novel’s setting with ease. Brandi reminded me of the noteworthy influences of the time from popular television shows, celebrities, fashion and even the food choices of this defining era. It was this attention to detail that saw Brandi’s novel step a notch in my overall impression of the book. Likewise, I relished Brandi’s descriptions of the small country farming community in which the novel is based, Stawell. It was sprinkled with a touch of authenticity, which I believe would only come from having lived in this very same area. This was confirmed when I discovered an interview with Mark Brandi outlining his time in living in Wimmera with his parents, who restored an old pub. It is clear that Brandi has injected this first-hand experience into his first novel and it evidently works.
Very early on in the novel, we are privy to the fact that something profound happens to the two young boys in this novel and it isn’t positive. Brandi is almost a master of disguise, placing a complex shroud over the exact details of this event. He builds up to this event in a way that has the reader utterly drawn in, as he gently unfurls what is to come. When all is revealed it is shocking and I will issue a trigger warning if you are uncomfortable with the difficult but topical issues of child abuse, grooming and paedophile rings. I will commend Brandi on his handling of these onerous aspects of the narrative, he delicately handles these scenes with sensitivity. Brandi chooses to omit specifics to the abuse that occurred. Rather, the reader is left to their own devices to draw their own conclusions as to what occurred. Although this method of obscuring details to the abuse may not work for some readers, for me it was a warranted narrative choice.
The final act of Wimmera, which zones in on the police interview following the discovery of the body and the court case was realistic and compelling. The events come together neatly, in preparation for the conclusion, which struck a deep chord for this reader. I was utterly moved by this crime novel, in particular, the sheer ordinariness of the town and the two boys. It really could happen to anyone. Wimmera is a novel dosed with a strong injection of realism. The conditions that allowed this event to occur were of a time in our not too distant past and I know my own childhood, where we had more freedom than children today, the parenting perhaps more relaxed and abuse was rarely reported.
Mark Brandi has penned an Australian crime fiction novel that cuts right at the heart of Australian small town life. Wimmera examines the weight of an adolescent friendship, marked by an alarming incident that casts a shadow of darkness over the two main protagonists, Ben and Fab, for life. Wimmera reminds us how unexpected tragedies can occur in quite ordinary lives, paving the way for anguish, disturbance and ultimately retribution. A commanding debut novel, from a new voice in Australian fiction, particularly crime fiction that I would like to hear more from.
*4.5 stars
Wimmera is a remarkable debut novel that highlights the power of boyhood friendship when a quiet tragedy occurs, the impact reverberating across the years. Mark Brandi, the debut author of Wimmera, applies a steady hand to his first novel. Rightly so, as Wimmera generated plenty of positive attention before it was published, taking out the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award. This soon followed a publishing deal with Hachette Australia.
At the foundation of Wimmera is a coming of age tale that focuses on the strength of a bond forged between two adolescent boys, Ben and Fab. The long hot summer of 1989 changes the lives of best friends, Ben and Fab, forever. While partaking in their favoured activities of yabbying, BMX riding and cricket, a shocking incident occurs that shapes who these boys become. The appearance of a mysterious new neighbour from outside their small rural town of Stawell has the two boys intrigued. When the newcomer asks the boys, to do chores around his property, this follows an outing with the strange man. An incident then occurs that all three cannot take back. Moving forward twenty years later, Fab is going nowhere, stuck in the same place, with no prospects. When a body is recovered from local waters, the awful truth from that summer of 1989 comes bubbling back to the surface. It has repercussions for the two, who were once thick as thieves.
Wimmera is a well structured Australian debut crime novel that is divided into three acts. The narrative begins slowly as we are introduced to the two main characters of the novel Ben and Fab. We learn about their favourite pursuits, their differing family backgrounds, their problems at school and most of all we get a sense of their friendship. The pacing is a more of a plod in the early scenes of the novel as Brandi takes his time to set the stage for what is to come. This follows a build up to the tragedy that occurs, which tests each boy’s spirit and their bond as a whole. The book moves to the present day and is narrated by Fab, now an adult. We soon learn Fab is struck in a rut, unable to move forward with his life and he is still living at home, in the same town. The final act of the novel is a powerful examination of the fallout from the incident involving the boys in 1989. A compelling police interview and resulting court case is the culmination of a shocking decision made by the twosome twenty years ago.
Brandi’s characterisation is faultless. He strives hard in the early stages Wimmera to build a complete picture of his two main adolescent protagonists. We get a strong idea of how similar but different these two boys are. Their differences seem to lie in their contrasting family backgrounds. While Ben has a happy, safe and comfortable family life, Fab’s is tumultuous. Fab and his mother, Italian immigrants, live in a constant state of fear from his violent father. Brandi perfectly captures the attitudes, personality, interests and activities of these typical adolescent boys of the era, living in a rural community. Likewise, Brandi’s aptitude for character building extends to his crucial protagonist Ronnie. The stranger who changes Ben and Fab’s life over that summer of 1989, is balanced with enough mystique and mistrust that made me suspicious of this character from the very moment he appeared on the pages of Wimmera.
Thanks to the author of Wimmera, Mark Brandi, I took a trip down memory lane, to the year 1989, when a life changing event occurs in the lives of Ben and Fab. Although I was a few years younger than the main characters Ben and Fab in 1989, I still felt a significant sense of nostalgia while reading the first act of the narrative. Brandi encapsulates the time and place of his novel’s setting with ease. Brandi reminded me of the noteworthy influences of the time from popular television shows, celebrities, fashion and even the food choices of this defining era. It was this attention to detail that saw Brandi’s novel step a notch in my overall impression of the book. Likewise, I relished Brandi’s descriptions of the small country farming community in which the novel is based, Stawell. It was sprinkled with a touch of authenticity, which I believe would only come from having lived in this very same area. This was confirmed when I discovered an interview with Mark Brandi outlining his time in living in Wimmera with his parents, who restored an old pub. It is clear that Brandi has injected this first-hand experience into his first novel and it evidently works.
Very early on in the novel, we are privy to the fact that something profound happens to the two young boys in this novel and it isn’t positive. Brandi is almost a master of disguise, placing a complex shroud over the exact details of this event. He builds up to this event in a way that has the reader utterly drawn in, as he gently unfurls what is to come. When all is revealed it is shocking and I will issue a trigger warning if you are uncomfortable with the difficult but topical issues of child abuse, grooming and paedophile rings. I will commend Brandi on his handling of these onerous aspects of the narrative, he delicately handles these scenes with sensitivity. Brandi chooses to omit specifics to the abuse that occurred. Rather, the reader is left to their own devices to draw their own conclusions as to what occurred. Although this method of obscuring details to the abuse may not work for some readers, for me it was a warranted narrative choice.
The final act of Wimmera, which zones in on the police interview following the discovery of the body and the court case was realistic and compelling. The events come together neatly, in preparation for the conclusion, which struck a deep chord for this reader. I was utterly moved by this crime novel, in particular, the sheer ordinariness of the town and the two boys. It really could happen to anyone. Wimmera is a novel dosed with a strong injection of realism. The conditions that allowed this event to occur were of a time in our not too distant past and I know my own childhood, where we had more freedom than children today, the parenting perhaps more relaxed and abuse was rarely reported.
Mark Brandi has penned an Australian crime fiction novel that cuts right at the heart of Australian small town life. Wimmera examines the weight of an adolescent friendship, marked by an alarming incident that casts a shadow of darkness over the two main protagonists, Ben and Fab, for life. Wimmera reminds us how unexpected tragedies can occur in quite ordinary lives, paving the way for anguish, disturbance and ultimately retribution. A commanding debut novel, from a new voice in Australian fiction, particularly crime fiction that I would like to hear more from.
December 31, 2020
Wimmera is a region in Victoria, Australia. It is in central Victoria, north of Melbourne but not as far up as the Murray River which splits Victoria from New South Wales. It contains a handful of small country towns including Stawell, at the base of the Grampian mountains, where this book is set.
This is the debut crime novel by Mark Brandi and is unapologetically Australian. Although you can read the book and understand the story, there are many Australian references to people and places that non-Australians will probably not have heard of.
Unfortunately for me, this book was a definite miss. The storyline has so much potential although I must warn that the content material is of a very disturbing nature. The book is divided into two sections, following two BFFs, Ben and Fab who live in Stawell. They grow up in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and spend as much time as they can together, predominantly yabbying or playing cricket. The first part is all about their childhood together and one tragic event which happens early on.
The second part of the book takes place some years later, the boys are now in their early twenties and their paths have taken very different turns. No longer can they consider themselves best of friends due to naturally drifting apart, it is a chance meeting back in town that wraps the story up. Things from the past are dug up, things that cannot be ignored, and the two young men are thrust back together, more in partnership than friendship.
Like I said previously, there is so much potential with this story but it just gets dragged down with constant references to spanking the monkey - yes, masturbation. If you feel you need an insight into what young men do when they see their first pornographic magazine, realize the girls in the class are filling out their sweaters, or are attracted to the Mother of their friend then Mr. Brandi has you covered. The structure of the story and the criminal element is quite good but aside from the two boys, I didn't feel any other character played an important role, although some should have.
A disappointing end to my 2020 reads, I had much higher expectations for this one.
This is the debut crime novel by Mark Brandi and is unapologetically Australian. Although you can read the book and understand the story, there are many Australian references to people and places that non-Australians will probably not have heard of.
Unfortunately for me, this book was a definite miss. The storyline has so much potential although I must warn that the content material is of a very disturbing nature. The book is divided into two sections, following two BFFs, Ben and Fab who live in Stawell. They grow up in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and spend as much time as they can together, predominantly yabbying or playing cricket. The first part is all about their childhood together and one tragic event which happens early on.
The second part of the book takes place some years later, the boys are now in their early twenties and their paths have taken very different turns. No longer can they consider themselves best of friends due to naturally drifting apart, it is a chance meeting back in town that wraps the story up. Things from the past are dug up, things that cannot be ignored, and the two young men are thrust back together, more in partnership than friendship.
Like I said previously, there is so much potential with this story but it just gets dragged down with constant references to spanking the monkey - yes, masturbation. If you feel you need an insight into what young men do when they see their first pornographic magazine, realize the girls in the class are filling out their sweaters, or are attracted to the Mother of their friend then Mr. Brandi has you covered. The structure of the story and the criminal element is quite good but aside from the two boys, I didn't feel any other character played an important role, although some should have.
A disappointing end to my 2020 reads, I had much higher expectations for this one.
February 13, 2019
This coming-of-age crime drama will stay with me for a long time.
1989 – Stawell: a small mining town in Victoria, Australia. 11 year old, Ben Carver is spending a carefree summer holiday, fishing for yabbies (crayfish), camping, playing cricket, and most exciting of all, experiencing it all with his best friend Fab. Their enjoyment is somewhat marred by the suicide of a girl their age, and Fab’s abusive father, but they try not to let these things get them down.
Then, Ronnie Bellamy moves into the neighbourhood, and both boys lives are irrevocably altered forever.
2006 – Two different boys head to the river to fish for yabbies. They discover a wheelie bin, bolted shut. What’s inside, will lead to the horrific truth of what began all those years ago, that fateful summer of ’89.
I had never heard of this book until a few weeks ago, but the synopsis immediately brought to mind an Australian C.J. Tudor, and having now finished, it definitely reminds me of her work. So if you love Tudor’s dark style of writing, and 80’s nostalgia, then I highly recommend Into the River. Powerful, emotional, and upsetting, this was a pretty heavy read. I felt the author did an excellent job of contrasting the best and worst of human nature. Showed the ugly, deplorable side of human nature, as well as the caring, enduring bond of friendship that existed between two innocence schoolboys. I think, like me, most of you will guess where the plot is heading, but the author still managed to surprise me, and some of the things I predicted turned out to be completely wrong.
Given the subject matter this read won’t be for everyone, but the content is handled sensitively and non-graphically. If you want to be pre-warned, I’ve included the trigger warnings in a spoiler tag below. I should also mention that there are quite a few sex references – dirty magazines, masturbation, as well as objectifying women as sexual objects, and I admit, given these were 11 year-old boys, it did make me uncomfortable. I had to keep reminding myself that it’s perfectly normal for boys these age to think about such things, and talk about them among themselves, and not only that, it was relevant to the plot.
Divided into three parts, events occur mainly in 1989, largely from Ben’s POV, but also Fab in 2006, flashing back to his childhood. The 1980’s pop culture references, both Australian and American, brought back a lot of memories, and I thoroughly relished the trip down memory lane. At first I couldn’t work out when this was set, and it bothered me, as I like to know when my books take place. I had it narrowed down to the late 80’s, but when the 1988 Queensland World Expo was mentioned I pinpointed the date to January 1989, which was eventually confirmed in Part 3.
This was Mark Brandi’s debut novel, and have to say I was blown away by the high quality of writing. I hope he intends to write more in this vein as he did a masterful job.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Legend Press, and Mark Brandi for the e-ARC.
Release Date: 1st March, 2019.
Previously published in Australia in 2017 under the title: Wimmera.
1989 – Stawell: a small mining town in Victoria, Australia. 11 year old, Ben Carver is spending a carefree summer holiday, fishing for yabbies (crayfish), camping, playing cricket, and most exciting of all, experiencing it all with his best friend Fab. Their enjoyment is somewhat marred by the suicide of a girl their age, and Fab’s abusive father, but they try not to let these things get them down.
Then, Ronnie Bellamy moves into the neighbourhood, and both boys lives are irrevocably altered forever.
2006 – Two different boys head to the river to fish for yabbies. They discover a wheelie bin, bolted shut. What’s inside, will lead to the horrific truth of what began all those years ago, that fateful summer of ’89.
I had never heard of this book until a few weeks ago, but the synopsis immediately brought to mind an Australian C.J. Tudor, and having now finished, it definitely reminds me of her work. So if you love Tudor’s dark style of writing, and 80’s nostalgia, then I highly recommend Into the River. Powerful, emotional, and upsetting, this was a pretty heavy read. I felt the author did an excellent job of contrasting the best and worst of human nature. Showed the ugly, deplorable side of human nature, as well as the caring, enduring bond of friendship that existed between two innocence schoolboys. I think, like me, most of you will guess where the plot is heading, but the author still managed to surprise me, and some of the things I predicted turned out to be completely wrong.
Given the subject matter this read won’t be for everyone, but the content is handled sensitively and non-graphically. If you want to be pre-warned, I’ve included the trigger warnings in a spoiler tag below. I should also mention that there are quite a few sex references – dirty magazines, masturbation, as well as objectifying women as sexual objects, and I admit, given these were 11 year-old boys, it did make me uncomfortable. I had to keep reminding myself that it’s perfectly normal for boys these age to think about such things, and talk about them among themselves, and not only that, it was relevant to the plot.
Divided into three parts, events occur mainly in 1989, largely from Ben’s POV, but also Fab in 2006, flashing back to his childhood. The 1980’s pop culture references, both Australian and American, brought back a lot of memories, and I thoroughly relished the trip down memory lane. At first I couldn’t work out when this was set, and it bothered me, as I like to know when my books take place. I had it narrowed down to the late 80’s, but when the 1988 Queensland World Expo was mentioned I pinpointed the date to January 1989, which was eventually confirmed in Part 3.
This was Mark Brandi’s debut novel, and have to say I was blown away by the high quality of writing. I hope he intends to write more in this vein as he did a masterful job.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Legend Press, and Mark Brandi for the e-ARC.
Release Date: 1st March, 2019.
Previously published in Australia in 2017 under the title: Wimmera.
February 28, 2019
What is it with Aussie crime writers' ability to articulate and create suspense so well; they always seem to get the balance between plot and characters correct too, and this stunning debut is no exception. Multiple award-winning author Mark Brandi joins favourites such as Jane Harper and Chris Hammer, to name a few. First published under the name Wimmera in Australia in Summer 2017, now we UK readers are given the opportunity to read this unforgettable novel. It's actually relatively short in length, but what it packs into those 272 pages is nothing short of mesmerising. It explores some very dark and disturbing issues, and I found myself getting quite emotional in parts. This is a hybrid of coming-of-age and thriller genres and held my attention from start to finish.
It's a masterclass in how to ensure your audience is held captive by your every word; that's how I felt anyway. This is much more profound than your usual run-of-the-mill crime fiction, but it won't be for everyone. As with other Aussie writers, the setting is almost a character in itself. and you really get a sense of just how beloved the country is to Brandi. If you enjoy the nostalgia associated with CJ Tudor's writing then there's a good chance you'll enjoy this too. A compassionate tale that highlights both the best and worst humanity has to offer, and the menacing undertone that runs for the duration creates quite an oppressive atmosphere. This is literary crime at its most accomplished.
Many thanks to Legend Press for an ARC.
It's a masterclass in how to ensure your audience is held captive by your every word; that's how I felt anyway. This is much more profound than your usual run-of-the-mill crime fiction, but it won't be for everyone. As with other Aussie writers, the setting is almost a character in itself. and you really get a sense of just how beloved the country is to Brandi. If you enjoy the nostalgia associated with CJ Tudor's writing then there's a good chance you'll enjoy this too. A compassionate tale that highlights both the best and worst humanity has to offer, and the menacing undertone that runs for the duration creates quite an oppressive atmosphere. This is literary crime at its most accomplished.
Many thanks to Legend Press for an ARC.
September 16, 2017
This is a dark tale about two boyhood friends growing up in a small Victorian town in the summer of 1989 and the shadow the events of that summer cast on their lives. Fab (short for Fabrizio) and Ben are both 11 and in the last year at primary school. Their summer days are filled with yabbying, backyard cricket and camping out. Everything changes when a new neighbour, Ronnie moves in and starts asking Ben to do odd jobs for him. Twenty years later Fab is still in the same town working a dead end job and wondering what to do with his life. He lost touch with Ben when he moved and went to a different high school and only saw him again after they both finished school. When the local police find a body in the river, the events of that summer resurface and must be faced.
In this debut novel Mark Brandi has really caught the essence of what it was like to grow up in a small Australian town where children were allowed to roam the countryside as long as they were home before dark. He has set it firmly in the eighties with references to sporting stars and pop culture. But beneath this idyllic childhood lurked many dangers. Fab and his family are Italian immigrants and Fab is a target for the school bullies and at home he and his mother must cower from a violent father. A teenage girl hangs herself in a neighbouring backyard leading to gossip about why she killed herself. Ben is wary of his new neighbour Ronnie, but is encouraged by his too trusting mother to earn some pocket money helping out around the house and yard. One day Ronnie takes Ben for a drive that ends up deep in the Grampians at an old shack and Ben's life changes forever.
While I enjoyed reading the first section of the novel, describing the boys and then setting the scene for the darkness to come, I found the next section dealing with Fab's life 20y later quite vague about what actually happened. While we can very well guess what happened in 1989 without being given the explicit details, there don't seem to be enough details to fill in the gaps between 1989 and 20y later. Ben's life after the events of 1989 is largely missing, we don't know whether he moved away as a result or why he has come back at the end of high school when he re-connects with Fab at a party. While the events that followed that night are clear the rationale and timing are not and I found this somewhat confusing to have so little information. . The final section outlining the police interviews and court case doesn't entirely answer these questions. Apart from that, I thought this was an important Australian novel dealing with dark but real issues that still occur today despite our heightened awareness. 3.5★
In this debut novel Mark Brandi has really caught the essence of what it was like to grow up in a small Australian town where children were allowed to roam the countryside as long as they were home before dark. He has set it firmly in the eighties with references to sporting stars and pop culture. But beneath this idyllic childhood lurked many dangers. Fab and his family are Italian immigrants and Fab is a target for the school bullies and at home he and his mother must cower from a violent father. A teenage girl hangs herself in a neighbouring backyard leading to gossip about why she killed herself. Ben is wary of his new neighbour Ronnie, but is encouraged by his too trusting mother to earn some pocket money helping out around the house and yard. One day Ronnie takes Ben for a drive that ends up deep in the Grampians at an old shack and Ben's life changes forever.
While I enjoyed reading the first section of the novel, describing the boys and then setting the scene for the darkness to come, I found the next section dealing with Fab's life 20y later quite vague about what actually happened. While we can very well guess what happened in 1989 without being given the explicit details, there don't seem to be enough details to fill in the gaps between 1989 and 20y later. Ben's life after the events of 1989 is largely missing, we don't know whether he moved away as a result or why he has come back at the end of high school when he re-connects with Fab at a party. While the events that followed that night are clear the rationale and timing are not and I found this somewhat confusing to have so little information. . The final section outlining the police interviews and court case doesn't entirely answer these questions. Apart from that, I thought this was an important Australian novel dealing with dark but real issues that still occur today despite our heightened awareness. 3.5★
April 9, 2019
I was anxious to read this Australian novel after seeing favourable reviews and learning that it had won the CWA Debut Dagger Award. I can only describe my reaction to the book. Its nonlinear structure with its gaps and unanswered questions just wasn't working for me. There was a pervasive sense of hopelessness, melancholy and despair, but it's lethargic pace kept me from any feeling of suspense. I sympathized with the two boys in the story but wasn't feeling a connection. Set in a small country town in Victoria, Australia, I got the nostalgia but was not drawn into the atmosphere, sensing the plot and characters could exist in many small towns elsewhere. There was small-town gossip, heavy drinking by some adults, and physical violence against a wife and child, and painful secrets unrevealed.
The strongest part of the book for me was the childhood friendship and loyalty of two eleven-year-old boys in 1989. It describes the boyhood pastimes of Ben and Fab, such as going yabbying, camping, playing cricket and contending with school bullies. The two boys had very different home lives and upbringing. It was a time when children were giving more outdoors freedom, with parents oblivious to some impending dangers
I admired the way the author handled the crime of grooming and pedophilia in a sensitive manner, by suggestion and implication without graphic details. On the other hand, I felt there were too many references to masturbation and hardcore porn associated with an eleven-year-old boy, which seemed gratuitous. Girls and women only existed and viewed as objects of sexual fantasies in young boys’ imaginations, mainly described by the size of their breasts. There seemed to be no true schoolyard friendships between boys and girls.
Twenty years later we meet Fab, still living in his parents’ home, with a dead-end job, and faint hope for a better life. We learn very little about Ben’s life in the meantime, except the two childhood friends have had no connection in years. Then a dreadful hidden secret and crime from the past comes back to haunt them and entangle them in a police investigation and trial. I felt the rush to judgment which occurred in the trial, and the conclusion was rushed and bleak. My impressions of the story ranged from disturbing to boredom. I am still interested in reading the author’s next book. I hope my misgivings don't deter potential readers, as many others connected with the story and enjoyed and admired the plot structure much more than I did.
The strongest part of the book for me was the childhood friendship and loyalty of two eleven-year-old boys in 1989. It describes the boyhood pastimes of Ben and Fab, such as going yabbying, camping, playing cricket and contending with school bullies. The two boys had very different home lives and upbringing. It was a time when children were giving more outdoors freedom, with parents oblivious to some impending dangers
I admired the way the author handled the crime of grooming and pedophilia in a sensitive manner, by suggestion and implication without graphic details. On the other hand, I felt there were too many references to masturbation and hardcore porn associated with an eleven-year-old boy, which seemed gratuitous. Girls and women only existed and viewed as objects of sexual fantasies in young boys’ imaginations, mainly described by the size of their breasts. There seemed to be no true schoolyard friendships between boys and girls.
Twenty years later we meet Fab, still living in his parents’ home, with a dead-end job, and faint hope for a better life. We learn very little about Ben’s life in the meantime, except the two childhood friends have had no connection in years. Then a dreadful hidden secret and crime from the past comes back to haunt them and entangle them in a police investigation and trial. I felt the rush to judgment which occurred in the trial, and the conclusion was rushed and bleak. My impressions of the story ranged from disturbing to boredom. I am still interested in reading the author’s next book. I hope my misgivings don't deter potential readers, as many others connected with the story and enjoyed and admired the plot structure much more than I did.
December 9, 2021
A stunning debut novel.
Australia has been producing some real top quality fiction lately. After becoming a Jane Harper's fan, I've discovered Mark Brandi, a new talented Australian writer.
Into the River came as a literary thriller and yes, there is no doubts about it. With his emotional and compelling debut novel set Mark Brandi the bar very high. I can't wait for his next book!
Into the River tells the story of two boy friends, Ben and Fab, who grew in a small Australian town. The first part of the book set at the end of the 1980s, the second part in nowadays. What strikes me in the most YA novels that are told from the perspective of a teenager - they are not always feel like it is a voice of a teen boy/girl, but a voice of a middle-age author who desperately tries to be his/her younger protagonist. It is not the case here. I didn't have a single moment of doubt, reading the first part of the book, that the protagonists were 11-year-old boys.
Mark Brandi created very real characters whose fates got right under my skin. There is also a very strong sense of place, an atmosphere and a dark feeling of inevitability. Very lyrical and beautifully written piece of prose about friendship, growing up and how fragile our life can be. An extremely intense reading experience.
Highly recommended.
ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of a honest review.
July 20, 2017
TEN STARS!!!!!
OMG!!!!!
By page 70 I was really really worried.... it seems i was right to be. What a read!!
My View:
Powerful, evocative, once you read you cannot unread.
I guess you can say I am intuitive, I can read people (mostly) or maybe read moods is a better explanation – a survivor’s skill, an empathetic skill. I notice things, things that can make me feel uncomfortable, little things, an attitude, a facial expression, often something intangible, a prickling of the skin… a niggling feeling that something isn’t right, a warning, a take care or get out of here kind of thing. Reading this book I was on high alert, all my intuitive cells were screaming – NO!!! Get out.
My intuition was not wrong.
The prologue sets the scene for a very intense read. A discarded wheelie bin, lid screwed down tight. The imagination starts to process many scenarios…none of them good.
The tension continues to build, by page seventy I was pretty sure what was going on or about to. I put the book down and had a little break. A few days later I picked up the book and continued. With subtle hints, oh so subtle, this authors says so much – this is such powerful writing!
Powerful, dark, intense, painfully exquisite writing. Less is more. Once you read you cannot unread. Brilliant!
OMG!!!!!
By page 70 I was really really worried.... it seems i was right to be. What a read!!
My View:
Powerful, evocative, once you read you cannot unread.
I guess you can say I am intuitive, I can read people (mostly) or maybe read moods is a better explanation – a survivor’s skill, an empathetic skill. I notice things, things that can make me feel uncomfortable, little things, an attitude, a facial expression, often something intangible, a prickling of the skin… a niggling feeling that something isn’t right, a warning, a take care or get out of here kind of thing. Reading this book I was on high alert, all my intuitive cells were screaming – NO!!! Get out.
My intuition was not wrong.
The prologue sets the scene for a very intense read. A discarded wheelie bin, lid screwed down tight. The imagination starts to process many scenarios…none of them good.
The tension continues to build, by page seventy I was pretty sure what was going on or about to. I put the book down and had a little break. A few days later I picked up the book and continued. With subtle hints, oh so subtle, this authors says so much – this is such powerful writing!
Powerful, dark, intense, painfully exquisite writing. Less is more. Once you read you cannot unread. Brilliant!
November 30, 2017
Finished reading ... Wimmera / Mark Brandi ... 29 November 2017
ISBN: 9780733638459 … pp.262
Most of what happens in Wimmera is very skillfully written between the lines. But oh, the lines :-(
The story – largely predictable, very slowly drawn out because it is so much between the lines.
The characters – totally under-developed.
The females – weak and downtrodden, occasionally punching bags.
The males, from age 10 upwards – penis focussed, either, in the words of the book, pissing or wanking, and thinking of or treating women as sex objects, with a bit of violence for good measure.
How this book has won so many awards and received such high praise is beyond me. Good writing doesn't make up for poor content. I kept reading, hoping for the promise of better to come but it didn't. Thank goodness it was a quick read.
Not recommended at all.
Borrowed from my local library.
August 16, 2017
Oh Lord.....the unnecessary detail in this book just ruined it for me. Some of the writing was just beautiful and Brandi captured small town Aussie life really well but c'mon mate enough with the trifling details. GET ON with the story. I think there could have been so much more to this book had the author focused more on the characters and less on the excessive details of the mundane existence of Fab in particular. Very little was revealed about Ben and how he his life evolved. Such a shame because there is certainly potential there for great story writing.
June 18, 2025
A powerful, heartbreaking and beautifully crafted coming-of-age story.
This is an incredible debut novel!
This is an incredible debut novel!
April 13, 2017
I LOVED this book. The writing was tight and lyrical and every sentence felt perfectly composed. It was accessible and pacy and utterly captivating. The court scene at the end felt well researched. I was frustrated by the slightly ambiguous ending, but that's just a personal preference thing :) this should definitely be an aussie classic
August 13, 2017
3.5*. Well written literary thriller set in a small Australian town. The themes covered are quite dark and disturbing. Follows 2 time periods within the same town. Has won a few crime awards but I'd say its more thriller/drama than crime.
January 29, 2020
Once again, the marketing of this novel feels wholly inconsistent with the essence of what 'Wimmera' is about.
Sold to readers as another Australian 'bush noir' crime thriller, 'Wimmera' is actually a pretty shallow exploration of child sexual abuse and its effects over time.
I say this because the whole body-in-the-water plot point only happens at the very end of the novel. Only about one eighth of the novel deals with this particular crime.
Everything leading up to that moment deals with peadophilia and the lasting effects of child abuse.
When Ben is 11, he is groomed by a neighbour from out of town. It is obvious what is happening from the moment the man offers Ben a too-generous amount of money to mow his lawns, and even more obvious when he gives Ben an explicit, pornographic magazine.
Prior to the assault, Ben is a happy, curious, honourable and loyal boy, and a selfless friend to Fab. His sudden transformation, becoming withdrawn, temperamental and aloof doesn't seem to raise any concerns from those closest to Ben. In fact, there is a moment just before the first assault, when the perpetrator, Ronnie, is trying to get Ben on his own and Fab - seemingly sensing that something is amiss - argues that Ben should stay at his, Fab's, house. It is a moment of seeming intuition, but Fab never seems to reflect on this feeling, even in light of Ben's altered behaviour on the following days.
Given that so much of the novel does focus on the grooming of Ben, and the boys' developing sexuality prior to the assault, it doesn't actually explore the effects it has on Ben aside from the murder of Ronnie. Ben and Fab seem to spend all of their time thinking about girls and wanking and penises prior to the abuse, and yet Brandi never illustrates how that changes for Ben once he has been abused. How does Ben's understanding of his own sexuality change after he is assaulted? How do Ben's mother and father interpret Ben's changed behaviour? How does Ronnie manipulate Ben such that he continues to have access to Ben over the following weeks, maybe even months, after the first assault? None of these questions are answered in any satisfying way. Instead - without giving the effects of sexual assault any real exploration - the whole plot begins to just feel a bit gratuitous and voyeuristic.
And speaking of gratuitous, don't even get me started on the characterisation of women in this novel. Women are spoken of as sex objects with little exception. I've never been an 11-year-old boy, but I am skeptical of the illustration of 11-year-old Ben and Fab, who seem to be extremely over-sexed for two boys who haven't even reached puberty yet. I certainly didn't enjoy being inside the minds of two young boys who evaluated women and girls by the size of their boobs. I would like to believe that even boys going through puberty don't undermine and devalue the women closest to them - their mothers, friend's mothers, teachers, and school friends - in the way that Ben and Fab seemed to.
All in all, a pretty disturbing read in a number of ways, and no where near intelligent or nuanced enough to be the perceptive, sensitive and powerful novel about child sexual abuse that it should have been.
If you're looking for an 'Aussie noir' crime thriller, stick with Jane Harper or Christian White!!!
Sold to readers as another Australian 'bush noir' crime thriller, 'Wimmera' is actually a pretty shallow exploration of child sexual abuse and its effects over time.
I say this because the whole body-in-the-water plot point only happens at the very end of the novel. Only about one eighth of the novel deals with this particular crime.
Everything leading up to that moment deals with peadophilia and the lasting effects of child abuse.
When Ben is 11, he is groomed by a neighbour from out of town. It is obvious what is happening from the moment the man offers Ben a too-generous amount of money to mow his lawns, and even more obvious when he gives Ben an explicit, pornographic magazine.
Prior to the assault, Ben is a happy, curious, honourable and loyal boy, and a selfless friend to Fab. His sudden transformation, becoming withdrawn, temperamental and aloof doesn't seem to raise any concerns from those closest to Ben. In fact, there is a moment just before the first assault, when the perpetrator, Ronnie, is trying to get Ben on his own and Fab - seemingly sensing that something is amiss - argues that Ben should stay at his, Fab's, house. It is a moment of seeming intuition, but Fab never seems to reflect on this feeling, even in light of Ben's altered behaviour on the following days.
Given that so much of the novel does focus on the grooming of Ben, and the boys' developing sexuality prior to the assault, it doesn't actually explore the effects it has on Ben aside from the murder of Ronnie. Ben and Fab seem to spend all of their time thinking about girls and wanking and penises prior to the abuse, and yet Brandi never illustrates how that changes for Ben once he has been abused. How does Ben's understanding of his own sexuality change after he is assaulted? How do Ben's mother and father interpret Ben's changed behaviour? How does Ronnie manipulate Ben such that he continues to have access to Ben over the following weeks, maybe even months, after the first assault? None of these questions are answered in any satisfying way. Instead - without giving the effects of sexual assault any real exploration - the whole plot begins to just feel a bit gratuitous and voyeuristic.
And speaking of gratuitous, don't even get me started on the characterisation of women in this novel. Women are spoken of as sex objects with little exception. I've never been an 11-year-old boy, but I am skeptical of the illustration of 11-year-old Ben and Fab, who seem to be extremely over-sexed for two boys who haven't even reached puberty yet. I certainly didn't enjoy being inside the minds of two young boys who evaluated women and girls by the size of their boobs. I would like to believe that even boys going through puberty don't undermine and devalue the women closest to them - their mothers, friend's mothers, teachers, and school friends - in the way that Ben and Fab seemed to.
All in all, a pretty disturbing read in a number of ways, and no where near intelligent or nuanced enough to be the perceptive, sensitive and powerful novel about child sexual abuse that it should have been.
If you're looking for an 'Aussie noir' crime thriller, stick with Jane Harper or Christian White!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
Ben had never seen Fred, but he had a moustache that Ben’s mum said was ‘disgusting’.
Australian smalltown big secret coming of age mystery. 2 young teenage boys doing teenage things; catching crabs (the ones with claws), playing cricket, watching the A-Team thinking about girls etc etc. When a neighbour of one of the boys commits suicide and the grieving family move away, a new neighbour appears and things are about to about to get very dark indeed and nothing will ever be the same.
The theme of this book is grim but it's told in a really subtle way, you know something sinister is happening but the story keeps nudging you in a different direction. Wasn't totally bonkers about the ending but overall, really good.
Australian smalltown big secret coming of age mystery. 2 young teenage boys doing teenage things; catching crabs (the ones with claws), playing cricket, watching the A-Team thinking about girls etc etc. When a neighbour of one of the boys commits suicide and the grieving family move away, a new neighbour appears and things are about to about to get very dark indeed and nothing will ever be the same.
The theme of this book is grim but it's told in a really subtle way, you know something sinister is happening but the story keeps nudging you in a different direction. Wasn't totally bonkers about the ending but overall, really good.
October 20, 2020
Trigger warnings:
I was in the mood for an exciting thriller and I decided to pick this Aussie fiction up. Instead of something fast paced and perhaps a little silly, I was met with something dark and bleak.
This isn't the standard thriller crime novel that piece by piece uncovers and tries to solve a mystery. At it's heart, this is a coming-of-age about the strength of boyhood friendship and the impacts of hidden traumas.
Brandi does a brilliant job at creating realistic characters. Especially our two main characters, adolescent best friends Ben and Fab, whose stories beautifully intertwine between each of their lives.
The story in this is relatively straightforward, there aren't really any parts that you don't see coming, so if you're more of a plot driven person, this book might not be for you.
This one was a slow build through the actions of the characters, and ultimately, I think it ended too quickly. It's told in 3 parts, the last of which could have been better fleshed out as it's finally where we hear the full story of what happened in Ben and Fab's childhood.
I feel like I haven't said too much in this review, but I honestly think this is the kind of book that's better read without knowing much of the story. This one is published as Into the River outside of Australia.
I was in the mood for an exciting thriller and I decided to pick this Aussie fiction up. Instead of something fast paced and perhaps a little silly, I was met with something dark and bleak.
This isn't the standard thriller crime novel that piece by piece uncovers and tries to solve a mystery. At it's heart, this is a coming-of-age about the strength of boyhood friendship and the impacts of hidden traumas.
Brandi does a brilliant job at creating realistic characters. Especially our two main characters, adolescent best friends Ben and Fab, whose stories beautifully intertwine between each of their lives.
The story in this is relatively straightforward, there aren't really any parts that you don't see coming, so if you're more of a plot driven person, this book might not be for you.
This one was a slow build through the actions of the characters, and ultimately, I think it ended too quickly. It's told in 3 parts, the last of which could have been better fleshed out as it's finally where we hear the full story of what happened in Ben and Fab's childhood.
I feel like I haven't said too much in this review, but I honestly think this is the kind of book that's better read without knowing much of the story. This one is published as Into the River outside of Australia.
June 28, 2017
I enjoyed this book but wanted to like it more than I did. It is quintessentially Australian and brought back A LOT of memories though I'm older (and was at Uni in 1989) than both Ben and Fab. References to TV shows like The Wonder Years and The A Team (the original obvs), cricketer Dean Jones, The Aussie Post (and its Ettamogah Pub cartoon) along Monkey (Magic) and Pigsy made me smile.
Brandi deals with a difficult topic in this book but does so with a very light touch. In fact, it may be a little too subtle. I know it's not a palatable subject but the inability of readers to really understand the extent of Ben's experiences may mean we're not as sympathetic as we could / should be. Of course I'm not meaning to diminish or downplay what happened to him - or what we believe happened to him, but it felt so vague it didn't seem particularly real. In fact the first part of the book ended on such a menacing / shocking note I expected it continue in a more confronting manner.
Brandi leaps about in time a little and it's an oft-used technique to keep readers guessing (or fill us in on what we need to know at the right time) but for me there were too many leaps. The book felt a little disjointed and didn't flow in a way which offered up answers. I was left confused rather than frustrated, intrigued or satisfied.
Having said all of that, I think Brandi has real talent and I enjoyed the storytelling elements of this book. Although I was waiting to get to the action / point, I think he did a great job with the two young boys and giving us a sense of their families and their lives. The actual plot was interesting and story arc had a lot of potential... but I'm just not quite sure the delivery really did it justice. (But I'd suggest you check it out and see for yourself!)
SPOILERS - questions:
Did I miss exactly what was under the mattress when Fab lifted it up (when he and Ben went to Ronnie's cabin)?
What exactly was it that Fab told the police officer (that he was following up) at the end?
Read the full review on my site: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
Brandi deals with a difficult topic in this book but does so with a very light touch. In fact, it may be a little too subtle. I know it's not a palatable subject but the inability of readers to really understand the extent of Ben's experiences may mean we're not as sympathetic as we could / should be. Of course I'm not meaning to diminish or downplay what happened to him - or what we believe happened to him, but it felt so vague it didn't seem particularly real. In fact the first part of the book ended on such a menacing / shocking note I expected it continue in a more confronting manner.
Brandi leaps about in time a little and it's an oft-used technique to keep readers guessing (or fill us in on what we need to know at the right time) but for me there were too many leaps. The book felt a little disjointed and didn't flow in a way which offered up answers. I was left confused rather than frustrated, intrigued or satisfied.
Having said all of that, I think Brandi has real talent and I enjoyed the storytelling elements of this book. Although I was waiting to get to the action / point, I think he did a great job with the two young boys and giving us a sense of their families and their lives. The actual plot was interesting and story arc had a lot of potential... but I'm just not quite sure the delivery really did it justice. (But I'd suggest you check it out and see for yourself!)
SPOILERS - questions:
Did I miss exactly what was under the mattress when Fab lifted it up (when he and Ben went to Ronnie's cabin)?
What exactly was it that Fab told the police officer (that he was following up) at the end?
Read the full review on my site: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
July 12, 2017
Set in a small town in rural Victoria near the Grampian mountains, Wimmera tells the coming-of-age story of two boys, Fab and Ben, whose friendship bonds them like brothers. Playing cricket in the backyard and going yabbying down the local creek, they support each other when either of them needs it: standing united against bullies, providing a safe shelter when Fab’s father has been drinking too much, discussing their changing bodies and having childhood crushes on girls or Fab’s mother. Until the day a newcomer arrives in town and their innocence is shattered forever.
With his debut novel, Brandi combines two genres I love: a good coming-of-age story and a murder mystery. The two boys are likeable larrikins, facing the age-old and timeless problems of kids growing up in a remote Australia country town. As a mother of a boy, it was impossible not to feel maternal towards them! A large part of the book is set in the eighties, and there are some classic Australian elements in the story that will bring back many a reader’s childhood memories: the ageless game of backyard cricket, for example, each boy striving to emulate their sporting heroes, which are all well-known names in Australian sporting history. Brandi sets a vivid, atmospheric scene, and I could picture it all very well: the dust, the heat, the flies and two boys drudging down the hill with their fishing nets and bait to catch some yabbies. And whilst both boys’ childhood is far from idyllic – Fab has a violent alcoholic father whilst Ben’s is somewhat remote and disinterested – their friendship usually sees them through.
There is a melancholic and bleak thread running through the story that has become a characteristic of some Australian crime novels and perhaps emulates the hardship faced by people living in remote locations with extreme climates and difficult economic situations. But Brandi takes it one step further, introducing a dark and sinister element which will set the story on its inevitable path of self-destruction. Be warned: there are some dark themes here. Domestic violence, racism, bullying, sexual abuse, suicide and murder, and a predator so depraved that he will change the boys’ lives forever. Whist Brandi is not shy at exploring some issues, he merely hints at others, which worked really well for me, as sometimes the things left to one’s imagination are more chilling than those spoken out loud. What starts as a happy-go-lucky tale of two boys growing up, soon takes on a worrying note, and I was terrified of what would happen to Ben. What didn’t work so well for me was the dual timeline, which abruptly changes mid-book and takes the story in a different direction. I was so invested in the first part, that I found it very difficult to change perspective. And the end – well, no spoilers, but it simply broke my heart! There were perhaps a few things that could have been explained a bit more to bring all the threads together, but generally I thought it was a gripping albeit very dark read.
Wimmera is a dark and melancholy coming-of-age story / murder mystery from a talented new voice in Australian crime fiction. Incorporating some iconic Australian elements, the story is like time-travel back to the eighties, capturing the quintessential rural Australian spirit of the time. With some very dark elements running through the story, it may not appeal to all readers, but I found it a gripping and haunting read and am looking forward to reading more from this author in future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
With his debut novel, Brandi combines two genres I love: a good coming-of-age story and a murder mystery. The two boys are likeable larrikins, facing the age-old and timeless problems of kids growing up in a remote Australia country town. As a mother of a boy, it was impossible not to feel maternal towards them! A large part of the book is set in the eighties, and there are some classic Australian elements in the story that will bring back many a reader’s childhood memories: the ageless game of backyard cricket, for example, each boy striving to emulate their sporting heroes, which are all well-known names in Australian sporting history. Brandi sets a vivid, atmospheric scene, and I could picture it all very well: the dust, the heat, the flies and two boys drudging down the hill with their fishing nets and bait to catch some yabbies. And whilst both boys’ childhood is far from idyllic – Fab has a violent alcoholic father whilst Ben’s is somewhat remote and disinterested – their friendship usually sees them through.
There is a melancholic and bleak thread running through the story that has become a characteristic of some Australian crime novels and perhaps emulates the hardship faced by people living in remote locations with extreme climates and difficult economic situations. But Brandi takes it one step further, introducing a dark and sinister element which will set the story on its inevitable path of self-destruction. Be warned: there are some dark themes here. Domestic violence, racism, bullying, sexual abuse, suicide and murder, and a predator so depraved that he will change the boys’ lives forever. Whist Brandi is not shy at exploring some issues, he merely hints at others, which worked really well for me, as sometimes the things left to one’s imagination are more chilling than those spoken out loud. What starts as a happy-go-lucky tale of two boys growing up, soon takes on a worrying note, and I was terrified of what would happen to Ben. What didn’t work so well for me was the dual timeline, which abruptly changes mid-book and takes the story in a different direction. I was so invested in the first part, that I found it very difficult to change perspective. And the end – well, no spoilers, but it simply broke my heart! There were perhaps a few things that could have been explained a bit more to bring all the threads together, but generally I thought it was a gripping albeit very dark read.
Wimmera is a dark and melancholy coming-of-age story / murder mystery from a talented new voice in Australian crime fiction. Incorporating some iconic Australian elements, the story is like time-travel back to the eighties, capturing the quintessential rural Australian spirit of the time. With some very dark elements running through the story, it may not appeal to all readers, but I found it a gripping and haunting read and am looking forward to reading more from this author in future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
July 25, 2017
In 2016 the unpublished manuscript of Wimmera won the UK Crime Writers’ Association debut dagger – now it’s published and we can see why. Reviewed at Newtown Review of Books
September 12, 2025
2.5 / Surely there was a late 80s cultural reference the author missed… ah nope, pretty much mentioned them all. Overdone nostalgia, annoying as it was, at least helped to distract from the often crude, repetitive writing of the young boys’ obsession with the opposite sex.
Maybe this book was meant to feel stunted and naive in its language as a reflection of the characters' age and issues. I feel it could have been a much better book if it developed the characters more; Ben was very undeveloped, for example. For me, it felt vague, alluding to something coming, that never really had an impact. I think it overpromised, but it underdelivered.
Below are a few of my favourites
“There were some things, without doubt, better left unsaid.”
“Some things they would figure, were best forgotten.”
2.5 ⭐️ Audiobook read by Fabio Motta
Maybe this book was meant to feel stunted and naive in its language as a reflection of the characters' age and issues. I feel it could have been a much better book if it developed the characters more; Ben was very undeveloped, for example. For me, it felt vague, alluding to something coming, that never really had an impact. I think it overpromised, but it underdelivered.
Below are a few of my favourites
“There were some things, without doubt, better left unsaid.”
“Some things they would figure, were best forgotten.”
2.5 ⭐️ Audiobook read by Fabio Motta
March 2, 2019
Mark Brandi is an excellent author who has got into the minds of two young boys, Ben and Fab. Boys will be boys who talk about girls and specially one girl who has died. They are young boys that play near a river when they not supposed to be any where near there, but once again boys will be boys who enjoy a bit of mischief. Then when a new neighbour moves in within the area their imagination seems to runaway with them thinking that the new man in their neighbourhood is a secret agent and begin to watch him closely. Highly entertaining a strong recommendation from me. I have enjoyed this book so much I will be definitely looking out for more books by Mark Brandi.
November 2, 2017
I’m out of step with reviewers and awards here but this was not to my taste. The first part of the novel focuses on the characters of Ben and his friend Fab, who comes from an Italian family as the author did. Growing up in a small Wimmera town is well described but what put me off was the preoccupation of the boys with sex, girlie mags et al. As they were only in Year 6 this did not ring true to me as the mother of boys in that era and a teacher of high school students. (Yet I suppose Brandi is drawing on his own experience.) I became quite tired of it all (must be showing my age!)
Eventually there is a sense of sexual menace and the hint of the dreadful crime that plays out very slowly to its conclusion. Too slowly for me; I skimmed through the second half and didn’t find anything to draw me back into the story.
Eventually there is a sense of sexual menace and the hint of the dreadful crime that plays out very slowly to its conclusion. Too slowly for me; I skimmed through the second half and didn’t find anything to draw me back into the story.
July 18, 2017
Set around the Grampians, this debut novel follows two young boys as they grapple with their changing bodies in a small town full of people with small minds.
When a strange man moves in next door, Ben and Fabs life of endless summers, backyard cricket, yabbying in dams and lusting over girls they'll never get, comes to an abrupt end. The events of that summer will cast a shadow over the rest of their lives. This coming of age novel is a dark tale that packs a punch.
Highly recommend.
When a strange man moves in next door, Ben and Fabs life of endless summers, backyard cricket, yabbying in dams and lusting over girls they'll never get, comes to an abrupt end. The events of that summer will cast a shadow over the rest of their lives. This coming of age novel is a dark tale that packs a punch.
Highly recommend.
June 2, 2019
I absolutely loved this book which was set in Australia in the 1980s - a time that I remember with great fondness. This extremely enjoyable read concerned two boys who were growing up together, their childhood friendship, their loyalty to each other and the effect this had on their later lives.
The story unfolded rather randomly and I remain unsure whether or not I found this appealing.
There were a fair amount of uncomfortable themes throughout INTO THE RIVER though these were never considered in too much detail. The novel explored themes around love, loyalty, friendship, family, race, adolescence and lack of ambition.
Sad, yet powerful, this was a highly accomplished work of literary crime by a début author, Mark Brandi, who is someone to watch out for.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Legend Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The story unfolded rather randomly and I remain unsure whether or not I found this appealing.
There were a fair amount of uncomfortable themes throughout INTO THE RIVER though these were never considered in too much detail. The novel explored themes around love, loyalty, friendship, family, race, adolescence and lack of ambition.
Sad, yet powerful, this was a highly accomplished work of literary crime by a début author, Mark Brandi, who is someone to watch out for.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Legend Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 13, 2019
I'm finding lately that synopsis on many books are vague and not wholly useful. Of course, you don't want them to give any plot spoilers away, but I thought I'd be reading a straightforward crime novel here, and not one that dealt with a harrowing subject matter I'd rather not have read about. There were also a lot of porn and sex references in relation to teenage boys...again, not something I wanted my head filled with and I did feel were gratuitous. I'm sure the authors point could have been well made with less of these observations and I would have enjoyed the book more.
Putting all that aside, I did like the writing and characters enough to continue past these sections, and I felt the overall story was well plotted. You couldn't help but feel sad for the two young boys involved. Quite a few questions bought up in the story went unanswered though, so I reduced my rating based on this and the amount of sexual references it contained.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Putting all that aside, I did like the writing and characters enough to continue past these sections, and I felt the overall story was well plotted. You couldn't help but feel sad for the two young boys involved. Quite a few questions bought up in the story went unanswered though, so I reduced my rating based on this and the amount of sexual references it contained.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2018
Fab and Ben are best friends, living in a small rural town, Wimmera, Australia. This tightly written story pulsates with tension from start to finish. It's written in two parts - the boys' childhood and when they are adults. Brandi brilliantly captures the awkwardness, naivety, aspirations and loyalties of the two young boys - the threat of violence or mishap always seems just around the corner, and never mores than when a newcomer arrives on the scene. No spoilers here, but in the second part of the story, the reader gradually comes to understand the 'big secret', what has happened to the boys and just how they dealt with it.
I really enjoyed this novel - I enjoyed the fact that at times Brandi's writing made me squirm! The writing is confronting, but compelling. Very deservedly, Brandi won the Crime Writers' Association and Debut Dagger Award and was also Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier's Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. I recommend and cannot wait to read The Rip!
I really enjoyed this novel - I enjoyed the fact that at times Brandi's writing made me squirm! The writing is confronting, but compelling. Very deservedly, Brandi won the Crime Writers' Association and Debut Dagger Award and was also Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier's Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. I recommend and cannot wait to read The Rip!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 577 reviews