The Visitor

Crocodile Dreaming Series #1

by Graham Wilson

GRIPPING DARK AUSTRALIAN STORY
In the distance a man watches her
Perfect she stands on the beach
Wavelets lapping at her feet
He desires her, he will charm her
She will come with him like others
Where are those others now?

She goes with him, travelling to distant places
They walk all alone in a land of bright sunlight
She sees not the shadows hiding in the dark

Awful secrets emerge - she knows she must escape.
But she is trapped with him in the middle of nowhere.

Her hands and feet are tied. She is a captive.
He is taking her to a place of huge crocodiles.
She fears she will vanish inside them forever!
How could it have come to this?

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2022

About the author

Graham Wilson lives in Sydney, Australia.
He has completed and published twelve novels and a memoir.

His most recent novel is 'Mysteries', set in early Sydney about an old house and a mother and child missing for 30 years. His other standalone novel is, 'The Glitter''.

Other novels comprise two series,
1. Old Balmain House Series - 3 books of historic fiction set in early Sydney
2. Crocodile Dreaming Series - 7 books. 5 books (The Visitor, The Victim, The Void, The Vanished and The Invisible) are in the main series which follows English backpacker, Susan, as she travels across remote Australia with a charming outback man. It tells how this idyllic trip becomes a nightmare as she discovers terrifying secrets about this man. It also includes a 2-book Prequel, The Vertigo and The Vortex, which give insights into her travelling companion, Mark.

Graham's family memoir, 'Arnhem's Kaleidoscope Children' tells of his family's life in an aboriginal community the Northern Territory's remote Arnhem Land. It chronicles an idyllic childhood, 50 years of change with aboriginal land rights and discovery or uranium. It also tells of his surviving an attack by a large crocodile and of his work over two decades in the outback of the NT.

Graham's career was first as a veterinarian in a mixed practice treating farm animals and people's pets, before following his love for wildlife through working at a range of Australian Zoos. He also spent two decades working on large cattle and buffalo properties in the Northern Territory before moving to Sydney where he now lives in one of Sydney's oldest houses in the Rocks. He has continued to follow his joint passions working with animals, wildlife conservation and writing stories.

Books are published as ebooks by major ebook publishers. Some books are also available in print online and through selected local bookshops.

Reviews

[Deborah D. Boivin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I love this author also. The story was something I never saw coming and then could not put down.

I cannot image anything so real and scary.

Waiting for more.

[Carol Gulick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

One of the best books ever! I'm getting the next one no matter how much it costs. Fascinating and eye opening well told take

[Kathryn Pharis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re interested in Australia, this is the book to read.

I gave it 5 stars even though I thought it dwelled on describing this country than the suspense of the missing girls and Susan’s growing uncertainty. I found myself skimming over sone of the descriptions pertaining to everyday life of tundra. With that being said, it is very well written and will leave you trying to decide whether to read the second book - or not. Since I bought the complete series I know Iwill read the second out of curiosity.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was debating between 4 and 5 stars on this. But the unusual way this was told made me lean to 5 stars. I mean the fact that the book started with the knowledge something pretty bad happened in Australia and then almost all of the book was about this great trip and romantic meeting between the main character and her new love interest and I was still intrigued says a lot about Wilson’s writing. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. I couldn’t stop reading but I was also dreading what was coming. And I was amazed that I was enjoying this book about a trip across Australia that was probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the book when I was expecting something totally different says a lot. I am sure some people don’t agree and just wanted the bad stuff to happen sooner but I enjoyed the trip across Australia.

[Olivia Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We felt both admiration and discomfort reading this one, a rare mix. The story makes you question who the real predator is. Absolutely gripping.It’s been a while since a book kept us up at night. The Visitor did. The isolation, the mystery, and the unpredictability, perfect ingredients for a book club debate.
What stood out most was the realism. Every character felt grounded, and every bad decision made painful sense. Wilson’s writing is quietly devastating.The Visitor reminded us why we love reading as a group, it’s the kind of book that demands discussion. You can’t just read it; you have to talk about it.

[AJAYI Succcess · Rating 5 out of 5]

We didn’t expect to finish this book in one sitting, but nearly everyone did. The Visitor grips you without loud twists, just steady, creeping dread. A great pick for anyone who likes character-driven thrillers.
Big Ideas Book Club voted The Visitor one of our most atmospheric reads this season. The outback setting becomes a character itself, dangerous, beautiful, and full of secrets.
One of our readers said, “It’s not about monsters, it’s about the monster inside people.” That line sums up The Visitor perfectly. Intense, emotional, and unsettling in all the right ways.

[William Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book divided our members, half couldn’t put it down, half had to put it down to breathe. That’s the mark of good writing. The Visitor leaves you thinking long after the last page.
We loved how Wilson keeps readers guessing. Every calm moment feels like it’s hiding something sinister. The suspense isn’t forced; it grows naturally, like the heat before a storm.If you enjoy books that make you uncomfortable in the best possible way, The Visitor delivers. It’s raw, real, and a masterclass in tension.

[Imelda Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across The Visitor through my book club, and I’m so glad I did. Graham Wilson has crafted an incredibly tense and atmospheric story that pulls you right into the wild, unsettling beauty of the Australian outback. What begins as a simple encounter slowly turns into a gripping psychological thriller that’s impossible to forget. Wilson’s writing is vivid, his pacing relentless, and the sense of dread builds with every chapter. This one truly kept me thinking long after I finished it, a brilliant, haunting read that sparked a great discussion in our club!

[Beryl A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Visitor

This book is so awesome, I was pleasantly surprised! One expects they can guess the plot but lookout for the twists and turns. Hard to say what made this book sooo interesting without giving away a little of the plot, therefore, let me just say, get a copy and read it and when you find out you just have to keep reading it, taking only very few ‘breaks’ you will definitely want to read it to the very last page!! Happy reading this book!

[Henry Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Visitor took us by surprise. What began as a calm outback story turned into a chilling psychological thriller. Wilson captures the Australian wilderness so vividly that you can almost feel the heat and tension building around you. A haunting read that sparked deep conversations in our club.Our members described The Visitor as “quietly terrifying.” It’s not just suspense, it’s human psychology laid bare. We loved how Wilson uses isolation to explore control, fear, and instinct.

[Aderlia Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our club rarely agrees so strongly: The Visitor is a must-read for psychological thriller fans. Wilson doesn’t rely on clichés, he lets the setting do the talking.The discussions after reading this were as intense as the book itself. We debated trust, human instinct, and moral choices, proof of a story that does more than entertain.A few of us compared The Visitor to Gone Girl and The Dry, the same eerie quietness before everything unravels. A brilliant slow burn.

[J Barkess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unusual (not in a good way) writing

At first I was interested in reading this, I enjoyed the descriptions of the parts of Australia I have visited and there were a few exotic parts (mummy porn) but it rapidly got more boring and repetitive (even the sex)
Half way through I started skiming and a few chapters from the end I gave up. Not recommended

[Oscar Turtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written tour of Australia, told through the tale of a visitors eyes. Essentially a. Love story though you get no happily ever after.. Susan falls in love with Australia and Mark, though she suspects things are not as they seem. It becomes a fight for survival after awhirlwind romance.

A Very Good read

[Daine Sundstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read The Visitor by Graham Wilson at Book Club Idea, and it sparked such a fascinating discussion. The story is haunting and beautifully written, full of mystery, emotion, and quiet tension that keeps you hooked to the end. It’s the kind of book that leaves you thinking long after we closed the final page.

[Stewart Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our book club just finished The Visitor by Graham Wilson, and we were all drawn in from the first chapter. The mix of mystery, emotion, and the vivid Australian setting made it an unforgettable read. We loved how the story slowly revealed its secrets while exploring guilt, identity, and belonging. A powerful start to the Crocodile Dreaming Series, we can’t wait to read the next one.

[Susan Lovett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

This is an amazing story. Graham Wilson writes characters that make you feel like you have met them. His descriptions of the Australian landscape are masterpiece paintings using words. I rarely give five star reviews, but this series deserves ten stars!

[Martha Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The makings of a killer

Well written, good flow, keeps your attention, and conveys the humanity and inhumanity of the human condition well.

You can’t help but have a curiosity about the rest of the series.

[Suzie Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Visitor pulled me in from the first page. The writing is vivid, the tension constant, and the Australian setting adds a haunting atmosphere. Graham Wilson masterfully blends beauty with danger, making you feel every ounce of fear and suspense. A chilling, unforgettable read.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, The Visitor was such a tense and haunting read! Graham Wilson really captured that eerie Australian outback atmosphere. I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread the whole time, it kept me turning the pages. Dark, unsettling, but definitely gripping!

[Maree Croxon Mapperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

it draws you in

I had a feeling what the story may have been about. However I kept reading probably the beginning where you knows what happened to her kept me reading

[Barb Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visitor

A young woman goes on an Australian vacation. I could not put it down...so much tension and suspense. Don't start this book if you have things you must do!

[Kelsie Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, it just seemed to take forever for anything to happen. Going to continue reading the series and see if it picks up a little more.

[Tamra LeValley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is so slow but I am thinking that it is the story setter book. I will continue to read just to see if I am correct.

[James Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing tale

The author has created an unusual and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered *The Visitor* through a Book Club Idea event🥰 what a brilliant find! Dark, gripping, and full of suspense, it was one of those unexpected reads that completely pulled me in.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Descriptively Micheneresque, but not quite as tedious. Promoting frequent reviews of maps of Australia. Compelling at times, but with a predictive conclusion. 3+

[Samarium Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The highlight of the entire story is Mark’s fatal demise towards the end. Everything else was ok. I must say I do like the chapter dedicated to Mark’s back story. It helps understand why Mark became the man he was however typical the backstory might be.

[Sam Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It didn't seem on reading the synopsis that it was altogether my cup of tea, but I thought I'd give it a try. I was so glad I did. It gave you a great insight to Australia's hidden gems, a building romance that wasn't at all slushy( which I hate.) It wasn't male dominated as both of the main characters were feisty & caring, gentle & needy. The trip through the eyes of the lonely traveller set every scene in great detail but not boring. I didn't see what was going to happen, the storyline gives you snippets & I thought I knew what the ending would be, but boy! was I wrong. You need to read this book if you like thrillers that don't give the game away. This is an excellent book with an excellent ending.