Whatever Happened to Ned Kelly's Head

by Eamon Evans

Who stole the priceless Picasso from the NGV? Was Errol Flynn a Nazi spy? Did an Australian kill the infamous Red Baron?

If you think Australia’s history is straightforward, you’re dead wrong. This is a land of the strange, the spooky and the unexplained. From the eerie ball of light that stalked a terrified family across the Nullabor, to the whereabouts of Victoria’s parliamentary mace, to the unidentified body found propped up on an Adelaide beach, and, yes, to the whereabouts of Ned Kelly’s skull, you’ll find our history has plenty of mysterious twists and unanswered questions.

With his signature wit, Eamon Evans investigates Australia’s most curious mysteries, digs up the evidence and lays it out for the court of public opinion to decide. Whatever Happened to Ned Kelly’s Head? will have you scratching your head and wondering long after the last page.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2020

About the author

Eamon Evans is a Melbourne-based author who has spent all his working life writing for the online and print media. He has written four books: Small Talk, The Godfather Was A Girl, Lord Sandwich And The Pants Man and Grand Slams Of Tennis.

His work has appeared in the SUNDAY HERALD SUN, the ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, the AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW, the SUNDAY TIMES and the COURIER-MAIL.

Online, he has been an in-house writer for Big Pond Sport, SBS, ArtsHub, the Weekly Book Newsletter and the electronic bulletin of the International Federation of Arts Council and Culture Agencies.

Reviews

[Cher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining very light no in depth analysis really

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title might suggest, this book isn't quite an academic approach to the 50 or so mysteries that have held our intrigue over the past couple of centuries. However, if you're after a fun look at what may or may not have happened to the noggin of our most famous bushranger, the origins of the neenish tart, an interesting aside on the pyjama girl which I'd never heard before, or who really killed the Red Baron, this is the book for you. Slightly disappointed that Harold Holt didn't get a run but how can you be upset with someone who intros various chapters with the following: "Have you ever seen a giant penis? And no, I'm not talking about Barnaby Joyce" or "Much like the former broadcaster Alan Jones, life in the Middle Ages was nasty, brutish and short".

[Steve Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A partial satirical look and at times a very serious look at some incidents around our vast country. Beginning with the still unsolved mystery of Adelaide's missing Beaumont children, through the countless sightings of Yowees, in Queensland and Bunyips in the rest of the country.

Other stories include what happened to Ned Kelly's head and the origin of the Marree Man.

A quirky, enjoyable read!!!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulously funny book about the various unsolved mysteries in Australia. The writer is super sarcastic and a blast to read. My middle son and I really enjoyed this book and are excited that the library has a few other titles of his. WARNING: There is some questionable language that parents may not want younger children exposed to, and some of the mysteries he writes about are of a more mature content as well.

[Briony Hymers · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I was very bored with this. Only enough information for two pages per story. Only brief details were given. I would've preferred something more in depth. The author can write, I think he needs to publish more that just fluff that you can find in a 20 second Google search.

[Lorry Rule · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a querky little book! It's like Horrible Histories for adults. Loved the style of writing and witty humour. This was a great 'in between novel' read. Packed with strange happenings, mysteries and crazy phenomenons, I was engaged from the start. But what did happen to Ned Kelly's head??? Lol

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun and also informative.

[Winston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun.

[Abmay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of interesting stories, told with some humour.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 to 2 stars.I flicked through and read the bits I was interested in.

[Jacinta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each story was very short mostly 3 to 5 pages long.

The author gives each topic/story his own introduction

I didn't mind it. I knew most of the stories and knew more information than what was given.

If you didn't know anything about them then you would probably enjoy this book more

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun as well as informative.

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun and also informative

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A snapshot of unsolved Australian mysteries across various categories, ranging from murders/disappearances to supposed alien sightings.

[Kate thebooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a good read, a lot of the events talked about in this book I remember from either being told about them or from media reports. Eamon Evans writes about them with brilliant wit, there were even some moments when reading this book I though “you cant say that” and then chuckled a bit to myself before continuing to read on.

Each chapter is short and sharp and to the point so it’s a great book to pick up when you’re just after a quick break from what you are doing without getting bogged down... but you will find yourself getting distracted by this book and reading chapter after chapter in a sitting!

[Travis Berketa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whatever Happened to Ned Kelly's Head? is a fantastic book that gives some very interesting stories about Australian history in quite an entertaining way. I think I learnt a lot and I know I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Melissa Stretton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book. Fast pace book. I couldn't put it down.

Second time I read this book and again it was very enjoyable to read it is very interesting fact about Australia.