The Void

Crocodile Dreaming Series #3

by Graham Wilson

She sits alone in an empty cell.
They say she killed her lover, fed his body to the crocodiles.
She will tell no one what happened on that last fateful day.
She knows an awful secret but will hide it forever.
It is this man's diary. She has hidden that too.
There is a buried box which no one must find.
The search gets closer. She must stop them.

One person, a good friend, could help her.
But now he and his helicopter have vanished.
It was in a vast empty wilderness where nobody goes.
Soon after helicopter wreckage is found floating in the sea
There was a huge flood. He is presumed dead.

Genres: Mystery

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2023

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

[Samuel Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really lives up to its title. The Void isn’t just about an empty wilderness, it’s about the emptiness inside a person when they’re cornered by guilt, fear, and silence. What stayed with me most was how trapped the main character felt, not just physically in a cell, but mentally in her own refusal to speak. The diary and the buried box added this constant sense of unease, like the truth is breathing somewhere underground, waiting. It’s not a fast-paced thriller; it’s heavy and psychological. But that heaviness feels intentional. It makes you sit with discomfort. I finished it feeling unsettled in a way that good psychological fiction should leave you.

[Janet Pautz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Northern Territory setting is powerful in this book. The wilderness doesn’t just act as a backdrop, it feels alive and dangerous. The descriptions of crocodile territory, flooding rivers, and vast empty spaces create such a strong atmosphere. I’ve read many crime novels, but very few that use landscape this effectively. The isolation of the environment mirrors the isolation of the characters. The sense that someone could disappear out there and never be found feels completely believable. It added a layer of realism that made the story more chilling.

[Emilia Monsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I admired most about this book is that it doesn’t hand you easy answers. You’re constantly questioning what really happened and why the protagonist refuses to defend herself properly. Is she protecting someone? Is she protecting herself? Or is she punishing herself? That ambiguity made the reading experience more engaging. I found myself going back and forth emotionally. It’s a story that respects the reader enough not to over-explain everything.

[Anna Carvalho · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this wasn’t just a crime story, it was a story about loneliness. The emptiness described throughout the book felt very personal. Being physically isolated in the wilderness is one thing, but being mentally isolated from everyone around you is another. The way the author explores that internal void felt honest and sometimes painfully relatable. I could feel the character’s despair without it feeling exaggerated.

[Billi Trott]

The question of whether the hidden story will ever be uncovered is what stayed with me most. It makes you reflect on how many truths in life remain buried simply because someone chooses silence. This book left me with a heavy feeling after finishing it. Not because it’s depressing for the sake of it, but because it confronts difficult emotions head-on. It doesn’t offer easy comfort, and I respect that.

[Oscar Turtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third volume of the Crocodile Dreaming series finds Susan arrested, jailed and put on trial for the murder of Mark, the father of her unborn children. While Susan sits in jail refusing to help herself by revealing what she knows, seemingly the rest of Australia is trying to clear her name. But will they be in time?

A GOOD read

[Rhoda Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The crocodiles in this book are more than just predators. They represent something deeper, ancient, watchful, almost spiritual. Knowing from the author’s note that crocodiles have cultural and totemic significance adds another layer to the story. It makes certain scenes feel symbolic rather than just dramatic. I liked that blend of realism and something slightly mythic beneath the surface.

[Dorcas Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily one of the darker books I’ve read recently. There’s a sense of hopelessness that hangs over the entire story. Even the idea that the character considers ending everything shows how far into the emotional void she has fallen. It’s not an easy read, but it’s impactful. The darkness feels purposeful, not sensational.

[Mary Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The courtroom aspect adds real tension. It’s fascinating watching how the media narrative shapes public opinion before the full truth is known. The headline-style accusations feel realistic and frustrating. It highlights how quickly someone can be labeled and judged without the complete story being told.

[Victor Almeida · Rating 5 out of 5]

The disappearance of the friend and the helicopter added a whole other layer of mystery for me. It creates this sense that the truth is slipping further away. Every time new information comes up, it feels like the pieces might come together, but they never quite do in a simple way. That sustained uncertainty kept me invested.

[Janice Kinnison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotional emptiness described doesn’t feel melodramatic. It feels believable. That’s what makes it powerful. It’s not shouting; it’s quietly heavy. There’s a strong theme of escape, from the wilderness, from accusation, from one’s own mind. That theme connects all parts of the story in a subtle but effective way.

[Ralph McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very character-driven. The plot is strong, but what really carries the story is the psychological depth of the main character. Her silence is louder than any confession would be. I found that approach bold and refreshing.

[Charles Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll admit there were moments I felt frustrated because I wanted answers faster. But at the same time, that frustration kept me reading. The story doesn’t move at a typical thriller pace, it moves at an emotional pace. Looking back, that slower build actually strengthens the tension.

[Patsy Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a deep exploration of guilt, whether deserved or misplaced. The idea of someone carrying a secret so heavy that they’d rather stay silent than release it is powerful. It makes you think about how people process trauma and responsibility.

[Marcy E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a deep exploration of guilt, whether deserved or misplaced. The idea of someone carrying a secret so heavy that they’d rather stay silent than release it is powerful. It makes you think about how people process trauma and responsibility.

[Bessie Klingler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read earlier books in the series, I can say this one feels darker and more introspective. It shows growth in the emotional depth of the story. It feels like the stakes are higher, not just physically but psychologically.

[Alida L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The flooding rivers, the remote coastline, the emptiness — it all feels almost like another character influencing events. The wilderness shapes decisions. It hides secrets. It swallows evidence. That element made the story unique compared to typical urban crime fiction.

[Grace J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing the author survived a crocodile attack in real life adds authenticity to the descriptions. There’s a sense that the danger isn’t imagined from a distance, it’s understood. That made certain scenes feel grounded rather than exaggerated.

[Roth K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes The Void stand out for me is its willingness to focus on internal conflict rather than just external crime. It blends psychological depth, cultural symbolism, and raw landscape in a way that feels distinct. It’s not a formula thriller, it’s something more layered.

[Kathryn Pharis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding series…

One more book in this series to go, and it has been such an adventure I hate to see it end. Can’t say enough good about Mr. Wilson’s wonderful books.

[John Roach, · Rating 5 out of 5]

another enthralling episode of a great series

[Kerry]

Gripping...

... from start to finish. The author had me inside the psyche of each main character. My first Graham Wilson read; certainly not my last!