Think of a quintessential Australian actor, and Bryan Brown would be on your shortlist. Laconic, with subtle humour and a dash of menace. The voice you’d imagine him having offscreen is identical to what appears on the page. Short, often fragmented sentences, littered with idiomatic language. Add to that an interesting multi-layered plot, and the result is a thriller with cinematic sensibilities.

The title refers to the death of David, a young Indigenous boy, which is the catalyst for uncovering secrets in a small mid-north coast NSW town. There’s an ensemble cast of locals and newcomers, each sharing the narrative. An intensely private mystery man abducts a Danish backpacker, Leila, and imprisons her in an underground bunker. This same man is co-opted into working for a bikie gang intent on using the town as a base for a presumed criminal enterprise.

The locals have secrets of their own. Brian and Noelene are happily married and each happily having affairs. Wanda is a writer, and Brian’s lover. Benny runs the local café, with a side-hustle in weed harvested by the mystery man. Adrian is an unknown entity. He’s the middleman in the weed supply and labours with the mystery man. Sgt Tommy Gallagher has nagging doubts about David’s death … if only the locals would open up to him. People start talking to the sergeant when Wanda writes about David’s death for the newspaper.

The young women in this story show fierce determination. The older residents are slow to unveil their secrets. Once onboard though, they too show their mettle. The Drowning is a fast-paced thriller, accelerating towards the denouement. Come for the name; stay for the writing.

Reviewed by Bob Moore

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bryan Brown is known as an actor, having appeared in over eighty film and television shows. He has worked in some twenty countries including his home country of Australia and the United States. Sweet Jimmy, consisting of seven short stories on crime, was released in 2021. The Drowning is his second book.