Greg Woodland - Media and Reviews

IN THE MEDIA

The Night Whistler nominated for a Ned Kelly Award

Greg’s debut novel, The Night Whistler, has been nominated for Best Debut crime novel in the prestigious Ned Kelly Awards. The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious recognition, honouring published crime fiction and true crime writing. Winners will be announced in October.

REVIEWS OF THE NIGHT WHISTLER

Publishers Weekly, US

This enigmatic novel will disturb animal lovers, but its eerie atmospherics will enthrall others. Fans of Outback noir will want to check it out. Read full review

GOOD READING

Lesley West

“The author has an easy-going writing style and… there are many threads in the narrative. It slowly builds tension amongst the characters and leads to an explosive conclusion. This is a fine debut, a mystery wrapped in nostalgia for an Australia now long gone.” ★★★★

BETTER READING

“This story has just the right mix of suspense and mystery, slowly building up to an unsettling and frightening conclusion. “The dual perspectives, with the disgruntled cop, and the young determined boy was an excellent choice and kept me on the edge of my seat to the very last page.” “This is Greg’s debut novel and he has really hit the ground running. With incredible character work and a beautiful backdrop, The Night Whistler is a standout thriller that completely engrossed me in Australian gothic goodness!” Read full review

THE HERALD SUN

Barry Reynolds

“…it is in setting the book in the summer of 1966-67 that really plunges the reader into unknown territory, a time when kids made their own fun … as did the adults. This is an impressive first outing, and one that we hope builds in a series.”

Robert Goodman

Crime buff and former judge for the Ned Kelly awards

“Screenwriter Woodland brings a reality to this small country town – the corrupt developers, the racial tensions, the unspoken class divides. And the mystery is played out well, with Hal standing in for readers keen to point the finger and jump into action on the slightest of clues. This is an assured debut and is part of another strong year for new voices in Australian crime fiction.”
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BOOKLOVER BOOK REVIEWS

Joanne P

BOOK RATING: The Story 5 / 5 ; The Writing 5 / 5
“The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland is an accomplished debut that’s just earned a spot in my Best Books of 2020 list.”
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READINGS

Fiona Hardy

“A tense, evocative trip into the past.”
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INTERVIEW WITH GREG ON THE STORY THAT INSPIRED THE NIGHT WHISTLER

“The Night Whistler was inspired by a true story my mother told me. In the late 1960s my family was living in a typically conservative small town, Tamworth NSW, and my dad was a commercial traveller. He loved being out on the road and he’d go away for weeks on end, leaving Mum to bring up their five little boys on her lonesome. And if that wasn’t enough, for one whole year she had what we now call a stalker.”

Read full interview