Actor makes debut as riveting novelist

AFTER successfully launching his career as a crime writer with the entertaining short story collection ’Sweet Jimmy’, Panania born and bred Bryan Brown is back with his first novel ‘The Drowning’ and his writing is grittier, funnier, darker and more compelling than ever.
The body of a teenage boy is found on the beach of a sleepy, northern NSW 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 cafe but 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 sideline. Not exactly legal but is that all Adrian has been arranging on the coast? He was once a cop but has he gone bad?
And outside town, a bikie gang is gearing up for a large consignment from South America – but what it is will shock you.
Murder, drugs, liaisons and lies are stirring up this small coastal town.
Taking inspiration from people he has met during his life and long career as an actor and producer, Bryan said that a character would come to him and he would say to himself, “ok, where are we going”, and their story would emerge.
“Sometime the characters come running out at me in bits and pieces but then fall into place and all have contributed in their own way to the tale,” he said.
Fascinated with the crime genre, he says everyone enjoys a bit of escapism and the feeling of “thank God that’s not me”.
“I think it makes the reader or viewer feel even safer when the baddie gets his comeuppance and we feel that justice has been served,” he said.
“I hope readers enjoy the characters and the story as much as I did creating them.”
His good buddy of 40 years, New Zealand actor Sam Neill, who is battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, praised his friend’s storytelling.
“My friend Bryan Brown, quite apart from his other manifold talents, turns out to be an excellent writer.
“This is utterly baffling. I’m furious,” he joked.
Bryan added: “He’s always been jealous of me.”
‘The Drowning’ is available and published by Allen & Unwin.