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The Drowning

Brief Description
A work of rattling and serpentine suspense ... gripping and sinuous and so, so good. Trent Dalton The Drowning has all the hallmarks of great Aussie crime writing ... Brown's punchy prose makes this novel absolutely devourable, and all will be revealed in due time. The... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Bryan Brown's distinctive storytelling voice continues in this unflinching, gripping novel.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A work of rattling and serpentine suspense ... gripping and sinuous and so, so good. Trent Dalton

The Drowning has all the hallmarks of great Aussie crime writing ... Brown's punchy prose makes this novel absolutely devourable, and all will be revealed in due time. The Drowning is highly recommended holiday reading. Better Reading

The body of a local teenage boy is found on the beach of a sleepy northern New South Wales town. David went for an evening swim and got into trouble . . . at least, that's what it looks like.

Three weeks before, Leila, a young backpacker, didn't turn up for her shift at the local café. Benny, the owner, isn't worried. It happens - backpackers are always on the move. There'll be another one.

One of the locals, Adrian, has been a help to Benny. He's found him a nice little sideline. Not exactly legal. Is that all Adrian is arranging on the coast? He once was a cop but has he gone bad?

And in the backblocks outside town, a bikie gang is gearing up for a large consignment from South America.

Murder, drugs, liaisons and lies are stirring up this small coastal town.

With Bryan Brown's characteristic laconic storytelling - humorous, tough and suspenseful - the secrets of this seemingly idyllic town slowly come to the surface.

Praise for The Drowning:

Actor Bryan Brown's impressive debut novel weaves an intriguing tapestry of sub-plots to create a roller-coaster and chilling Aussie thriller. Australian Women's Weekly

Dark and dirty but compulsive all at once. The Daily Telegraph

Unique, disruptive and yet recognisably Australian, The Drowning is a page-turning, multi-layered Australian crime thriller that will intrigue and satisfy fans of Chris Hammer, Dave Warner and Jock Serong. Books + Publishing

A thriller with cinematic sensibilities ... come for the name; stay for the writing. Good Reading

Absolutely mesmerising ... a cracking story. The Weekend Australian

Gripping, realistic, and made for compulsive reading. Theresa Smith Writes

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781761473364

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 September 2025

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 226g

Pages: 304

About the Author

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

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  • The Drowning
    'A work of rattling and serpentine suspense ... gripping and sinuous and so, so good.' Trent Dalton The Drowning has all the hallmarks of great Aussie crime writing ... Brown's punchy prose makes this novel absolutely devourable, and all will be revealed in due time. The Drowning is highly recommended holiday reading.' Better Reading The body of a local teenage...
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  • The Hidden
    Tight, tense, this mystery rockets along. All you can do is hang on and hope your favourites survive. — CANDICE FOX The Heads was once a small village on the NSW north coast. Now it's a large village with a lot of action below the surface. A shipment of coke, a crime squad investigation, and a drug overdose keep the...
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  • Sweet Jimmy
    'Uniquely Australian and uncommonly good, I could hear the author's voice in every spare, haunting line. More please.' - Michael Robotham 'My friend Bryan Brown, quite apart from his other manifold talents, turns out to be an excellent writer. An authentic voice; highly imaginative yet completely believable, with a flair for fully realised characters and a gripping narrative ... a...
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