The Killers of Eden: The Killer Whales of Twofold Bay

by Tom F. Mead

First Edition Hardcover. Sydney, Angus and Robertson, 1961. x, 222 pp. Clean, unmarked, square and solid. Dust jacket is rubbed along edges, 1" closed tear bottom spine/front panel corner, two 1/2" closed tear bottom front panel, minor chips. DJ is in protective Brodart cover.

Genres: Nonfiction

247 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1986

Reviews

[Holl · Rating 5 out of 5]

More people need to know about this amazing story that has only ever occurred in one period of time in one small part of the world.
I have visited Eden and the Killer Whale museum a few times (and I am going again for the whale season this October) and it is a beautiful place full of down to earth people, amazing views and of course this special history of man and orca working together.

[Savannah · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Having spent vast amounts of my childhood in Eden and the surrounding areas, I know this true story intimately. It tells the story, (most of it true, with parts fictionalised and imagined, re conversations etc) of Old Tom the Kiler Whale and his pod of Orcas as they assisted the Davidson whaling family throughout the late 1800s through to the early 1900s. Tom Mead conducted meticulous research to get a factual story of events that did actually happen. And he composed it in a compelling way that had me turning pages even when my eyes became droopy and not wanting to put the book down. To think, you can still go and visit the places where these events happened, and there are still descendents living in the beautiful town of Eden. Why this book has never been made into a movie is beyond me. As far as wonderful Australian adventures, this book is right up there. And it should be better known than what it is. Tom tells the story in a very effortless way which makes for easy reading. I read much of it while sitting on beaches which simply added to the escapism. And being able to visualise the locations made it so much better. This book is very close to my heart and I must have read it a dozen times over the years. Sure whaling is outlawed now, but this was a different time. With brave men going out in the freezing cold in whaleboats, and sometimes not making it home. I highy recommend this book.

[Angus Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had low expectations especially as it’s about whaling but it had me mostly gripped.