DNF

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

Tried this one as it sounded good. Just couldn’t get into it. Not my style. I’m sure others will enjoy, as the synopsis does sound good.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Mike Good-no (how he insists on his name being said) is a wonderful character in a book full to the brim with great characters. I could easily see this book becoming a movie or tv series with intrigue, politics, jealousies, etc all playing a part.
Australia in the 60s, especially regional Australia, had two sides - white Australians enjoyed a bountiful country with stunning scenery and a laid back lifestyle, indigenous Australians, however, were marginalised and treated like second class citizens. It's this context that provides added depth and layers to character motivations and interactions and is handled perfectly by the author.

Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to get stuck into the next one.

Fantastic read.

Very dry writing, I am very picky when it comes to small town thriller. I wanted this to be good but it was repetitive

This book started out so slowly that I was considering DNF all the way until 50%, but I'm glad I stuck with it. In the end, it was a pretty good mystery that had a lot of little clues along the way. I did feel, however, that there were some things about it that felt unresolved and unfinished. I ended up enjoying the story and the tenacity of Hal along with the dedication of Goodenough, but it was hard to offset how much I felt like the beginning half of the book felt useless. Pacing is an important factor in deciding overall enjoyment of a book and I just felt like it was off here. In the end, I decided on 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.

As an Australian, I love books by Australian authors that immediately transport me somewhere else in this beautiful country, and The Night Whistler certainly did that. I enjoyed the weaving of stories of two boys and a policeman; and the eerie atmosphere of the whole setting. Great debut novel.

This was an extremely impressive first crime novel by Greg Woodland and I was thoroughly engrossed from start to finish.

The book opens with Hal and his little brother, who are both out looking for a dog they can hear howling. The Humphries family have recently moved into their new home in Moorabool, New South Wales, rural Australia. Exploring the fields and thrashing their way through decaying thistles, they eventually happen upon a caravan and find the dog, a German shepherd, killed and mutilated. Constable Mick Goodenough recently demoted from his city job as a detective in Sydney is also now in Moorabool as a punishment and is on probation within the police force there. His marriage has ended and he leads his life with his three German Shepherds for company, but one of his dogs has vanished. Other animals have been disappearing including an elderly lady's cat and experienced Goodenough knows that this is the lead up to a serial killer on the attack and tries to alert his superiors.

The story unfolded from Hal and Goodenough's alternating perspectives as, first separately and then as an unusual team, they investigated the series of strange occurrences. Set in the 1960s, there were multiple layers to this mystery - corrupt police and councillors, extra-marital activity, missing and mutilated animals, mystery and murder. Events turn dramatic when Hal stumbles across a local Aboriginal woman in a caravan believed by many to be haunted by the family who died there decades before.

The central and supporting characters are all ably created and convincing, and Greg Woodland's use of a 12-year-old boy's perspective in telling a substantial amount of the narrative is inspired, as it allows for the innocence of perception. The character of Goodenough is complex and intriguing. He's been unfairly scapegoated for the failure of a major investigation in Sydney to identify a perpetrator. He's a conflicted man, and he has insufficient contact with his daughter.

The Night Whistler is an engrossing psychological thriller/ crime novel. The occasionally unhurried pacing was effective for the atmospheric setting and to highlight the creeping sense of malice. The dramatic conclusion was fitting. I'm eagerly anticipating Greg Woodland's sequel, The Carnival is Over.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Text Publishing via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I loved this story! The characters were real, and definitely gave off that sense of being Australian. There were many things going on, as there is in life, but you knew what was what along the way.

Hal and Allie reminded me of being a kid in the 80s and how we would jump on our bikes and go off for a ride or to meet up with friends. As long as we were home before dark our parents didn’t mind. You got the feel of that era coming through in the way this was written.

A probationary officer, sent to Moorabool from another district as a form of punishment, and young Hal team up to investigate some very strange happenings around town. Something sinister is lurking in the shadows and it seems that these two are the only ones taking it seriously. Very seriously.

Other than for the brilliantly told mystery playing out, I would highly recommend this for the blossoming friendship between a young Australian boy and aboriginal girl. Their characters are great and I really enjoyed reading about them and their perfectly imperfect friendship.

Wow. What a great book. I just couldn't put it down. A debut book by a new Australian author is always a good thing and I do hope Greg Woodland has more books up his sleeve.

A rural murder mystery, a small town and all that goes along with it made this a book I just couldn't put down. The images in my head due to the descriptiveness was wonderful, I could see, hear and feel the surroundings. The book built up the story as it went along making me want to keep reading as I just had to know what was going to happen.

The characters were both wonderful and scary, the issues so real and the mystery so mysterious.

Loved it!

Deliciously creepy and well written. Loved the characters, the plot and the feeling of being in a place and time. Greg Woodland hit some good spots for me and I;d certainly read his work again.

This debut novel makes for quite a riveting mystery/thriller! Set in a small, interior town, Moorabool, at the end of 1966 and start of 1967, the story unfolds from both 12-year-old Hal's perspective and Mick Goodenough's - currently a probationary constable, a severe demotion from this detective job in Sydney. While Hal's family struggles with their new location, Mick can't stop applying his skills to even the mundane police work of this small and rural town. But soon the titular Night Whistler begins to menace Hal's family. The rest of the police force don't take these incidents seriously, but in them Mick sees the budding work of a serial killer.

There's a lot of animal violence here (it opens up with a dead and mutilated dog), but the setting and the very Australian feel to this sets it up as a rather unique read. The racial tension is evident here as well, which adds another dimension to what would otherwise be a rather straightforward serial killer thriller. Plus the packing and tension builds in a truly excellent way - I really couldn't put this one down! I am definitely curious to see what Woodland follows this one up with. I think that there's plenty of foundation here for a sequel and can see this as a start to an excellent series!

An absolute ripper of a read, The Night Whistler is a perfectly-paced story, peopled with a diverse cast of unique, imperfect and deeply interesting characters. On the surface it's a straightforward story - disgraced cop investigates suspicious activities in small-town Australia - but there's so much more going on below the surface, with complex relationships and social issues bringing the town of Moorabook to life.
I could not put this book down and look forward to reading more of Greg Woodland's work in future.

It’s 1966. Hal and his little brother, newly arrived in Moorabool with their parents, are exploring the creek near their new home when they find the body of a dog. Not just dead, but recently killed. Not just killed, but mutilated.

The scene for this book is very well set by the author, it has everything you need for a tense, unsettling atmosphere. From the get-go, you already have the feeling that something is not right, and that feeling stays with you until the end as you continue to guess and work your way through all the twists and turns. The story is told from a two-person perspective so you get to see both sides to the story and venture more into character development.

Overall, a very well written thriller/mystery that is full of suspense and fits the genre well, This could easily be part of a series if the author wanted.

The Night Whistler is a mystery story that quickly sucked me in however it did then take some time to get moving along and I wasn't drawn to picking it up. I am glad that I persevered as once I was about 30% in it became much more exciting.

The storyline and plot were interesting but a bit jumpy at times and I felt didn't always flow smoothly. At times it felt like I was reading a screen play as it lacked somewhat in the depth of character and they felt superficial or visual only and I could imagine this better as a movie and so when I read that the author is a screenplay writer this made perfect sense.

Overall, this story sticks with me and as previously mentioned, once past the 30 - 40% point I was hooked.

4 stars

Have not had a chance to read this yet, but will keep it on my list for a rainy day! Appreciate being offered the reading copy!

3.5★
“By the time they’d wheeled the bike two blocks past the pub the sun was low and their shadows were giants. They had hardly noticed it getting darker in the street until, a hundred yards ahead, they heard a man’s boots crunching the gravel. He started whistling. Hal stopped. Stared ahead as the mournful strains of ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ drifted over to them.”

Hal Humphries, 12, and Allie Tenpenny have been down at the waterhole he calls ‘The Crack in the World”, to go crawbobbing and have been talking about a stalker who’s been heard whistling. Hal’s family has just moved to Moorabool, a tiny country town near Armidale, NSW, where his father originally came from. This is 1966, when kids roamed around pretty freely and phones were few and far between outside the town centre.

Allie’s Aboriginal background adds another layer to the story, with her telling Hal about the spirits in the places they should leave alone. It also gives the author room to introduce what the divide between black and white was in 1966 (before the referendum that “gave” Aboriginal people citizenship).

Hal’s father has taken a new position with his company, about which his mother is not happy, but little brother Evan is pretty content to play wherever, whenever. Dad had a troubled childhood and seems a bit controlling, especially about his beloved Studebaker, which stays under a tarp when he’s on the road in the company car. This does not auger well for Mum in a strange town.

The book belongs mostly to Hal, with Allie as a lively off-sider, and Mick Goodenough - “That’s Good-no . . . as in No-Good, backwards”, - as he tells people. More importantly, he has been recently demoted from detective to constable, after continuing to criticise the investigation of a murder case. Sent to Coventry, as the saying goes. Or to the country, in this case.

He’s given up drinking but relies on sleeping pills to hold back the nightmares and let him sleep.

“As limbs turned to jelly and tension melted away, she flickered on in his mind like a favourite TV rerun. The German girl. Her head caved in, her throat . . . Did he dream that bit?…They never go back, do they? Then the fog rolled in and it was all one big. Soft…White…Cotton wool…Cloud…”

Hal and Mick cross paths when Hal discovers a dead, tortured animal. Mick knows this is serious. The forensic expert he used to work with explained.

“‘They never go back, Mick. Not once they’ve killed humans. It’s not the same thrill any more. Slaughtering little things.’

‘Not even for practice, keeping their hand in? Never?’

‘How do you go back to catching the bus,’ Wal smiled, ‘after you’ve flown to the moon?’”

The local cop shop doesn’t seem particularly interested. The sergeant concentrates more on belittling constable Goodenough than on following up various complaints. When Hal’s mother reports a prowler, Sergeant Bradley nods and makes appropriate comments, but that’s about it.

Mick gets it, listens to Hal, encourages him to collect evidence.

“Mick looked at Hal, surprised. The boy understood. More than most of the men he knew.

‘He’s our Whistler, isn’t he? I could help you.’

The kid was eager. In the best sense of the word. Reminded him of someone. From a long time ago.”

There are several threads about suspicion, jealousy (some warranted, some not), and affairs (the warranted suspicions), which keep us questioning our hunches. Plus, there are power plays in local politics, which gives a good sense of how a rural community works.

There’s a lot to like, and I can’t pinpoint what my reservations are, but I think it’s that I wanted more description, to give a sense of place and to show the connection between the characters. The only relationships I felt invested in were those between Hal and Mick and Hal and Allie. Even Hal’s relationship with his family didn’t feel as strong.

Looking at the author’s impressive bio, I realise he’s an experienced writer and editor for film and television, so my guess is that these elements would be shown on the screen rather than in the script. Good actors would bring Hal’s parents more fully to life.

Having said that, I bet this would translate to the screen very well, and there’s enough in the story to carry through to further stories, so I will keep a lookout!

But I’m in the minority and you may love it! See all those super reviews. Thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.

What an incredible story, very visual and so Aussie. Haven't heard some of that slang since the world became pc.
Slow start but it set up the scenery, the towns and the characters well. I could see and smell it all in my mind.
Hal was a curious young boy, determined to grow up fast and solve the mystery. Mick the cop was an out of towner and determined to shake things up. More people will die, will it be those two?
I had no idea who the killer was or why. Money, corruption and small town cops all stood in the way of solving a serious crime.
Great story, especially the last 100 pages that suddenly took off.

What a great crime read this novel was, and surprisingly not set in Tasmania. Instead, this is set in the New England region of NSW in 1966. The cover alone has plenty of sinister feels about it and the author does a great job of depicting the setting.

There was plenty of suspense throughout as demoted former detective Mick Goodenough tries to uncover who might be making threatening phone calls to the Humphries' residence along with trying to figure out who is killing pets and if it's more sinister than just animals.

Mick is thwarted at every turn by corrupt, incompetent, and lazy colleagues and he really struggled to make headway in the cases.

The star of the story though is young Hal Humphries who finds the body of the dog that's been killed and who is determined to play Sherlock and figure out who is calling his house, a person they've named The Whistler.

There's plenty of people doing the wrong things in this small town, where racism is rife. I changed my mind several times about who had done which crimes, and it's near the end where the perpetrator is pushed too far that things become clear.

If this is Greg Woodland's debut novel, I'll definitely be looking out for his next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing Company for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley for an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a genre I have ever really had any interest in at all. I generally stick to Sci-Fi and Horror. This book however has opened my eyes to another world.
I found this absolutely compelling.
I've not come across many books that make me think and care about the characters after I've put it down. And now that it's over I find myself missing them.
The story is deep and perfectly paced, the setting is beautifully realised, and the characters are compelling and realistically fleshed out. All in all creating a world that I found myself sucked into and struggling to leave.

This is a gem of a book and I recommend it to anyone that likes an all round brilliantly crafted story.

If that doesn't convince you, I loved it enough to purchase the final copy. This author deserves to be rewarded for the journey he took me on.

EXCERPT: He was standing atop a small rise staring at something when Evan staggered up beside him and gasped softly. A strange yellowish vehicle-cum-dwelling: they couldn't take their eyes off it.

The depleted shell of a truck cabin at one end merged into a decrepit caravan at the other. It was like some bizarre caterpillar with extremities so different they might have belonged to separate species. The truck's bonnet lay on the ground, engine parts flung around it like a mad mechanic's toys. Where once were wheels, tree stumps now propped the apparition up. Skew-whiff sheds and lean-tos lay scattered around it, rotting in the grass. The caravan was covered in peeling tan and yellow paint and above the door a faded sign declared 'Highway Palace'. It was a ruined palace though, with oval windows cracked or broken, glinting like jagged teeth, shreds of lace curtains behind them. There was nothing palatial or grand about it now, and probably never had been. But behind the curtains, mystery seemed to lurk in every corner.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: It’s 1966. Hal and his little brother, newly arrived in Moorabool with their parents, are exploring the creek near their new home when they find the body of a dog.

Not just dead, but recently killed.

Not just killed, but mutilated.

Constable Mick Goodenough, recently demoted from his city job as a detective, is also new in town—and one of his dogs has gone missing. He’s experienced enough to know what it means when someone tortures an animal to death: it means they’re practising. So when Hal’s mother starts getting anonymous calls—a man whistling, then hanging up—Goodenough, alone among the Moorabool cops, takes her seriously.

The question is: will that be enough to keep her safe?

MY THOUGHTS: Atmospheric. Very atmospheric. There is a palpable air of menace in this small rural town where most people are either hiding something, or watching ... and waiting.

Set in the 1960's, there is blatant racism in this book that may upset some people. But that is just the way things were then. While we can't change the past, we can learn from it.

There are multiple layers to this mystery - corrupt police, corrupt town councillors, extra-marital activity, missing and mutilated animals, mystery and murder. But Woodland has also captured the essence of the time, particularly the way kids were allowed to roam about unfettered, the only restriction that they 'be home in time for tea.' Parents weren't at all concerned about where the kids were, who they were playing with or what they were doing, as long as they stayed out of trouble and came home on time. Step out of line, and you'd get a whack around the ear or a slap around the legs for your trouble. People drank and drove. And smoked - everywhere.

Woodland's writing is vivid, both his descriptions and his characters come alive. I could smell the heat, taste the dust, hear the voices. I knew, well before I reached the end of the first chapter, that I was onto a winner.

The plot is enthralling, and takes place in Aussie time. 'Don't worry mate, it'll get done, some time. Crack a stubby while you wait.'

Mick Goodenough (pronounced Good-no, or as his boss likes to quip, no-good) has two strikes against him before he starts. 1. He's an indigenous Australian. 2. He's been demoted from the rank of Detective in Sydney and exiled to Moorabool as a probationary constable. The problem is that Mick still thinks like a detective. And his boss takes great delight in rubbing his nose in the fact that he isn't.

Hal, twelve, has also only recently moved to Moorabool for his father's work. Summer holidays, so he hasn't really had a chance to meet anyone else his own age. Until Allie, an indigenous girl who takes him crawbobbing, and talks to him about the spirits trapped in the Highway Palace, the scene of a murder-suicide years earlier. Hal is more concerned about what happened to the one surviving child. Where did he go, and where is he now? And could it be him that is making the strange and threatening calls his mother is receiving? If not, then who? And why?

I was riveted by this story. Gritty and honest. And I want more.

I have lived in a small town in Australia, a little like this. Some of my happiest years were spent there. Woodland made me homesick. Dust, flies, spiders, snakes and all...

❤❤❤❤.8

#TheNightWhistler #NetGalley

FOR THE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER: I think that Moorabool is a fictional town in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia.

New England or New England North West is the name given to a generally undefined region in the north of the state of New South Wales, Australia, about 60 kilometres inland, that includes the Northern Tablelands and the North West Slopes regions.

Dubbed the Cathedral City, Armidale in the New England High Country is one of Australia’s most elegant regional cities. With an altitude of a kilometre above sea level, it’s known for vibrant autumn foliage and cool breezes in summer. Wander its streets and find 19th century churches mixed with modern cafes and restaurants.

THE AUTHOR: Greg has been a script developer and consultant for Australian film funding bodies and the Australian Writers Guild for 25 years. He is the founder-director of a leading Australian script service. As writer/director Greg’s award-winning short films and documentaries screened nationally and internationally at over 60 film festivals and many TV channels. His screenplays The Whistler and Pangs won several script competitions including the Fellowship of Australian Writers Best Drama Manuscript, the Inscription Open Script award, and three Varuna Fellowships between them. Greg has lectured in Scriptwriting at Macquarie University, UTS, NIDA, and AFTRS. His script editing credits include feature films ‘Moon Rock for Monday’, ‘Don’t Tell’, ‘Needle’, ‘Cold Turkey’, ‘The Bet’, ‘Broken’, several Project Greenlight and Monte Miller Award finalists, the 2013 Tropfest Best Film Winner, the 2016 AWG John Hinde Science Fiction script award winner and many others. His first crime novel ‘The Night Whistler’ was published by Text Publishing in August 2020, and he’s now writing the sequel, The Carnival is Over.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Text Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

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