The Victim

Crocodile Dreaming Series #2

by Graham Wilson

Two faces glimpsed on TV – one a Victim one a Killer.

A fisherman finds a head in a crocodile infested waterhole
They call him Crocodile Man – who is he?
And who is she – the woman with him before he died?
She holds her lover’s diary. Its contents terrify her,
What awful tale does it tell? She must read it to discover.
Unable to do so she hides it away. Others think they know.

BRAZEN ENGLISH HUSSY, tabloids scream. ‘
Killed her lover, fed his body to crocodiles.

Brought back to Australia, charged with murder.
But what really happened on that fateful day?

Genres: Mystery, Amazon

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 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

[Jennifer M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had such a hard time with this book. Makes me wonder if I was crazy about the 5 star rating in the first book of the series. First of all the story itself makes me interested and I really wanted to know what happened next. However, I just can’t get past the ridiculous behavior of people in this story. They just know they are in love 2 seconds after they meet but it seems more like hormones and lust to me. And a woman being arrested for murder just keeps all the relevant info to herself even though it might have helped explain so many things. It just doesn’t make sense. I just found that as much as I wanted to know I couldn’t stand the slog of getting there. I believe this will be the last I read in this series. I am sorry to the author. I find the Australian setting fascinating and the idea of the story very interesting but maybe a really good editor would help. And maybe it’s just me😔

[Samuel Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this expecting a straightforward crime continuation from the first book, but what I got was something far more emotionally tangled. This isn’t just about a body found in crocodile waters it’s about what happens after the shock fades. The emotional fallout, especially for Susan, is what really drives this story. I found myself frustrated with her at times, but also strangely sympathetic. The diary sitting there, unread, felt like a ticking bomb throughout the book. You just know the truth is sitting there waiting to explode, and that tension kept me turning pages. This series is less about clean resolutions and more about emotional consequences, and I actually appreciate that risk.

[Lenora Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Australian outback continues to be one of the strongest “characters” in this series. The imagery of crocodile-infested waterholes, the isolation, the sense of heat and danger, it all creates such a heavy atmosphere. The discovery of the head in the water was such a stark opening image that I couldn’t shake it. What I love most is that the environment doesn’t feel decorative; it shapes the story. You can feel how isolation affects decisions, how distance affects truth, and how the land itself feels ancient and watchful. That kind of setting gives this series an identity that stands out from typical crime novels.

[Emilia Monsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really leans into moral gray areas, and that’s what worked for me. You’re constantly questioning: Who is actually the victim here? Is Susan guilty of something more than what the tabloids scream? Is love blinding everyone involved? I liked that I never felt fully comfortable siding with one perspective. Even the “killer vs. victim” framing feels unstable. The diary device adds to that ambiguity, the truth exists, but it’s buried under emotion and fear. It’s a story that challenges your assumptions rather than confirming them.

[Rhoda Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won’t pretend this book didn’t test my patience at times. The characters make choices that had me wanting to shout at them. But strangely, that didn’t make me stop reading. In fact, it did the opposite. I became more invested because I wanted to see how the consequences would unfold. The emotional decisions feel impulsive and messy, but that’s also very human. Not everyone behaves rationally when they’re in love or afraid. While I can see why some readers might struggle with that, I found it added a raw, unpredictable edge to the story.

[Dorcas Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this book felt more like psychological drama than a traditional thriller. Yes, there’s a crime. Yes, there’s an investigation. But the real focus is internal, guilt, denial, obsession, memory. The crocodile spirit element hovering over everything adds this almost supernatural layer that blurs reality and conscience. I found myself more interested in what was happening inside Susan’s mind than in the mechanics of the case itself. It’s a slower burn in parts, but that’s because it’s exploring emotional terrain rather than just plot twists.

[Oscar Turtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel continues the story of Mark and his Killer/lover Susan. As Susan makes plans to marry David, while carrying Mark’s child, the police sliwly began putting a case together after Matks remains are discovered. Susan is eventually identified and arrested and returned to Australia for trial. Mark’ memory and the crocodile spirit continue to haunt Susan, who refuses to explain or defend her actions.

A Giod read.

[Janet Pautz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked most is how this book builds directly from the first. It doesn’t reset the story or introduce something random. It deepens what was already started. We see the consequences of earlier actions unfold in a way that feels natural for a continuing series. I felt like I was watching the ripple effect of decisions made before. That’s something I always appreciate in a multi-book series, the sense that everything matters and nothing just disappears.

[Samuel Talley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tabloid element was particularly strong for me. The way headlines distort and sensationalize the situation felt uncomfortably realistic. “Brazen English Hussy” is the kind of phrasing that immediately paints someone as guilty before facts are even examined. It made me think about how quickly public narratives are shaped and how hard it is to fight against them. That layer gave the story relevance beyond just the crime itself.

[Victor Almeida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m honestly still undecided about how I feel, and I mean that in a good way. This book left me thinking. There were moments I felt frustrated with Susan because I just wanted her to explain herself and clear things up. But at the same time, I understood that fear can make people freeze and avoid the truth. The diary hanging over everything created this constant tension. It’s one of those stories where you don’t get comfortable, and I kind of respect that.

[Ralph McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening with the fisherman finding a head in crocodile waters immediately pulled me in. That image alone is enough to make you keep reading. From there, the story becomes less about shock and more about emotional unraveling. I liked that shift. It didn’t stay sensational, it became more personal. I didn’t always agree with how things unfolded, but I definitely wanted to know where it was going.

[Charles Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t a clean romance and it’s definitely not a fairy tale. The relationship at the center of this book is messy, intense, and at times hard to watch. But I found it compelling because it felt impulsive and human. People don’t always make logical decisions when emotions are involved. That’s kind of the point here. If you’re looking for neat, rational characters, this might frustrate you. If you’re okay with emotional chaos, it works.

[Kathryn Pharis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best series I have read this past year.

Just finished the second in the series and ready to start the third. I have always wondered about Australia and its people, so reading this series allows me to experience this country without being there. I am so fascinated by this unusual story and can’t wait to see where it takes me.

[Larry Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels tragic more than thrilling. It’s about people making emotional choices that spiral into irreversible consequences. I didn’t feel like I was reading a fast-paced detective story, I felt like I was watching a slow emotional unraveling. That tone might not work for everyone, but I found it haunting. It lingers.

[Bobbi Neven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are not polished heroes. They are flawed, impulsive, emotional, sometimes irrational. But that’s what makes them interesting. I don’t read fiction to see perfect people make perfect decisions. I read it to see how flawed humans navigate impossible situations. In that sense, this book delivers. It’s messy. It’s dramatic. It’s human.

[Patsy Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stood out for me was the clash between the English outsider and the Australian setting. There’s an underlying tension there that adds another layer beyond the crime itself. The media portrayal of Susan felt harsh and judgmental, and that dynamic added realism. It made me think about how quickly someone can be labeled without the full story being known.

[Aidan Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like when a sequel doesn’t just repeat the formula of the first book. This one digs deeper into consequences and memory. The “crocodile spirit” element hovering in the background gives it a slightly haunting tone that sets it apart from standard crime novels. It’s subtle but it adds something different.

[Jesse M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure at the beginning where this was heading, but somewhere in the middle it grabbed me. I think it was the tension around what really happened that day and how everyone seems to believe their own version of events. It’s not a simple mystery, it’s layered with emotion and denial. That complexity kept me engaged.

[Ali Gillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once the arrest and trial angle came into play, the story shifted in a way I didn’t expect. It felt heavier and more serious. I found that part especially interesting because it forces the characters to confront things publicly that they’ve been avoiding privately. It adds pressure and stakes beyond just personal guilt.

[Matthew Garlick · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this book isn’t about the crime as much as it’s about the people involved in it. Their emotional states, their secrets, their fears, that’s where the real story is. The plot provides the structure, but the characters carry the weight. I think readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries will get more out of this than those looking purely for action.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great follow up to the first. His writing style really allows you to envision each scene. I love how detailed he writes. Looking forward to continuing the series.

[Richard Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t a fast, twist-every-chapter thriller. It moves at its own pace. Some parts linger longer than expected, but I actually didn’t mind that because it built atmosphere. There’s a heaviness to the story that matches the landscape it’s set in. It’s more about emotional weight than adrenaline.

[Rory C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually liked that not everything was spelled out neatly. It leaves space for interpretation. You’re left questioning motives and wondering who truly holds the full truth. It’s the kind of book that makes you think about it after you’ve finished rather than just closing it and moving on

[Susan Lovett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

The Crocodile Dreaming series continues in book two. You get to know the main characters a little better, even with the major plot twist in book one.

[James Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read

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