The Silent Country

by Di Morrissey

The Silent Country is a vast and beautiful wilderness, a place which holds secrets and stories that are rarely spoken. TV producer Veronica Anderson travels to the Northern Territory to retrace the journey of an expedition that had set out 50 years earlier to film the outback, but which mysteriously ended in tragedy. Of the group, led by the eccentric Maxim Topov, few are still alive and they are reluctant to talk about the intriguing events. It is through the help of local NT Park Ranger, Jamie McIntosh, that Veronica begins to piece together the puzzle and discover the answers. These answers break the silence and change her life

Genres: Fiction, Australia, Romance, Audiobook

498 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Di Morrissey (born 18 March 1943 in Wingham, New South Wales) is one of Australia's most popular female novelists. She grew up in the remote surrounds of Pittwater, north of Sydney, Australia.

Growing up she counted famous Australian actor Chips Rafferty as a close mentor and friend who helped provide for her and her mother after the death of her father as a child, sending them overseas to California to live with family.

In her later years, Di went on to become a journalist on London's Fleet Street, and worked for CBS in Honolulu, where she lived with her husband who was in the foreign service, and even had a small role in the series Hawaii Five-0, a guest role in season three, episode seven, 1970 starring as 'Alicia Anderson'.

After moving back to Australia, Di published her first book 'Heart of the Dreaming' which instantly became a bestseller. Since then Di has published another 17 bestsellers, her latest being 'The Silent Country'.

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️s

It was so easy to get into this book as there were many Top End locations mentioned that I’ve been to, covering many must-see areas of the Territory. A breathtaking part of Australia. The author does an amazing job of describing it all so beautifully and vividly, made me feel like I was there walking beside the characters.

The past and present dual timelines were both enjoyable and fascinating to read about.

We follow TV producer Veronica Anderson as she makes inquiries into the film crew who were on an expedition in the outback in the 1950s to film the remote locations, she heads to Darwin to follow their trail and with the help of park ranger Jamie McIntosh she discovers startling answers.

A well written story and the end-result is unexpected. Loved all the characters especially, Veronica, Jamie and Colin.


Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Bolinda audio
Read by Kate Hood
Duration: 15 hrs, 36 min. 1.25x Speed

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first third of this was a little on the slow side, but after that, it became more interesting. It started out with the main character being a TV producer, Veronica Anderson, in charge of a program called “Our Country” which sounds a little like the ABC’s “Australian Story”, but then, as she is following up a potential story with a couple of the characters, the story changes so that the other characters become the main characters. At first I was more interested in Veronica’s story and less in the story she was chasing, but the story for the TV program gained momentum and drew me in!

I listened to this as an audiobook, and the narrator, Kate Hood, was easy on the ear. There were some great descriptions of the Australian outback, both in contemporary times and back in the 1950s. The characters were well-drawn and believable. It's hard to describe just what I liked about this book, but it was certainly an enjoyable read.

I look forward to continuing to read more Di Morrissey books in the future.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I’d give Di Morrissey another go after being underwhelmed with the first book of hers I read (The Last Mile). But this one inspired me less. The outback descriptions were repetitive, lacking substance and somewhat glorified. Maybe it was the petulant young voice of the main character, Veronica, voiced by the narrator that made it hard for me to reconcile with the intelligent, city-smart TV executive she was supposed to be. A lot of the dialogue between characters was really just a way of trying to educate the reader on matters scientific or historic and was about as interesting as a thrice told story from grandma. And the characters were either over dramatic, or cardboardly stereotypical and predictable.
I’m sorry, but I can’t see me ever trying another title by this author no matter how pretty the cover and how potentially intriguing the title.

[Karen Donnellan]

I've wanted to read a Di Morrissey book for ages. I really liked it - the connection to the land, contrast between city and outback. She used the characters to voice many aboriginal and environmental issues.

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story about the outback , greed , love , the unknown and everything in between..

[everything golden mims · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 4 of 2020;

The Silent Country
-Di Morrissey

The Silent Country is the first ever book I have read by Di Morrissey and I have to admit that it hasn't made me want to rush out and read more of her work.

I have just one word that pretty much sums up my entire experience with this book and that word is 'slow'. It wasn’t until a third of the way into the book did I feel invested in the story and the going’s on of the characters.

In my opinion there were way too many slow winded explanations of certain events and the quality of writing was very basic, dry and totally unemotional.

As I was reading this book I felt like I was on the long and boring expedition along with them, but not in a good way.

I didn't warm to any of the characters and felt like they were all very forced, especially the character Maxim Topov. He just seemed to be too eccentric to the point where he wasn't at all believable and felt extremely fake to me.

The ending also contained a lot of flaws and left me asking many questions once I'd finished. This just led to me feeling completely annoyed after plodding along for what seemed like a lifetime to get this book finished.

The Silent Country does highlight a lot of issues on the treatment and life of Aborigines but the execution was very poor & limited. It almost felt like it was an afterthought to the story.

Judging from the reviews I have read in regards to The Silent Country i am gathering it is not a story many people enjoyed (especially the die hard Di Morrissey fans) and because of this I feel like I question if I have the courage to try another one in the future.

Overall it was an ok beach read but i will not be running out for more.

3/5⭐️

Happy Reading

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Silent Country is the first ever book I have read by Di Morrissey and I have to admit that it hasn't made me want to rush out and read more of her work.

I have just one word that pretty much sums up my entire experience with this book and that word is 'slow'.

In my opinion there were way too many slow winded explanations of certain events and the quality of writing was very basic, dry and totally unemotional.

As I was reading this book I felt like I was on the long and boring expedition along with them, but not in a good way.

I didn't warm to any of the characters and felt like they were all very forced, especially the character Maxim Topov. He just seemed to be too eccentric to the point where he wasn't at all believable and felt extremely fake to me.

The ending also contained a lot of flaws and left me asking many questions once I'd finished. This just led to me feeling completely annoyed after plodding along for what seemed like a lifetime to get this book finished.

The Silent Country does highlight a lot of issues on the treatment and life of Aborigines but the execution was very poor.

I've read that this definitely isn't one of Di Morrissey's best books but am not sure that I have the courage to try another one in the future.

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book because it was the first by Di Morrissey that I read and she's such a popular Aussie storyteller, but it was kind of a struggle to get through. The story was off-and-on interesting to me and it never seemed realistic or believable. It was fun thinking about what the outback might have been like fifty years ago. The ending was a little too perfect and again, not believable. I tried another of her books but couldn't get into it at all so I don't think I'll be reading any more...

[Jo :: The Country Book Nerd · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up. I just couldn’t keep going.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silent Country is about Australia, family stories and love. TV producer Veronica Anderson decided to come to the Northern Territory outback to retrace a fifty-year-old expedition to find answers to what happened. Veronica Anderson asked for help from Jamie McIntosh, the local NT Park Ranger. However, the responses changed Veronica life forever. The readers of The Silent Country will continue to follow Veronica Anderson to find out what happens.

The Silent Country is an enjoyable book to read, and I had no problem engaging with the plot of this book. I love Di Morrissey's portrayal of her characters and how they interact with each other throughout this book. The Silent Country is well written and researched by Di Morrissey. I like Di Morrissey description of the settings of The Silent Country that allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of The Silent Country will learn about the role of TV producers in regards to TV documentaries. Also, the readers of The Silent Country will learn about the South Alligator River in the Northern Territory.

I recommend this book.

[Maria Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I am reviewing the audio version of this book**

I really enjoyed this book.
I wasn't sure I would at first, but quickly got in to the story.
• The first thing that hit me, was the descripttions of the outback. I almost felt I could see what was happening.
• I quickly grew to love Veronica and Jamie, and was invested in what would happen to them.
• Then the Mystery started, about what Happened to Topof. Now there was another reason that I found it hard to put the book down.

• All the other characters like Doris and the whole crew made me want to read more.
• There wasn't one character in the book that was boring or superfluous.
• There was a lot
about culture and indigenous heratage, which is always great to learn about.
• The narration was fantastic. Everyone had their own voice and accent if needed.
• A really enjoyable listen.
• Would highly recommend.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Di Morrissey story set in the Australian outback, not brilliantly well written but enough of a good yarn to draw you in. Somehow she seems better with places than people. She makes you want to go see the places and makes you feel them, but the characters are less engaging. This book is about TV journalist Veronica Anderson who follows the story of a group of adventurers/ film makers 50 years earlier setting out to create a movie about the outback, but the expedition mysteriously ends in tragedy. With the help of handsome parks ranger Jamie McIntosh she explores the country and follows the trail of eccentric flamboyant Maxim Topov and his motley crew. I found Veronica awfully naïve for a journalist and full of daft questions, some of which are designed for the respondent to wax lyrical or get on a soapbox in reply. Although Di knows the country well and paints a clear picture of it, there were a few small irritations for me. In the 21st century we don’t call people “half-Aboriginal” or part Indigenous. If people have Indigenous heritage and identify as Indigenous, they’re Indigenous: simple. Di should know this. Also I must remember never to listen to another audiobook narrated by Kate Hood with her awful, breathy, girlie reading of the female characters, which makes it hard to work out whether they really are brainless, naïve ingénues or her reading just gives that impression.

[Vicki Basham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silent Country is a vast and beautiful wilderness, a place which holds secrets and stories that are rarely spoken. TV producer Veronica Anderson travels to the Northern Territory to retrace the journey of an expedition that had set out 50 years earlier to film the outback, but which mysteriously ended in tragedy. Of the group, led by the eccentric Maxim Topov, few are still alive and they are reluctant to talk about the intriguing events. It is through the help of local NT Park Ranger, Jamie McIntosh, that Veronica begins to piece together the puzzle and discover the answers. These answers break the silence and change her life

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a bit hard to get into for the first third of the book but it got me hooked from then on with wanting to know how the expedition turned out and wanting to know the secret that had been hidden for so long. A little predictable in places with the storyline but I enjoyed the description of the outback and bushland that was visited by the characters.

[Patricia Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My urge for adventure took me to Australia when I was 18. The best experience of my life !! I made many friends and had many wonderful experiences....one of which was my trip in 1966 to the Australian outback. I could relate to Topov's journey and it brought back memories of Coober Pedy, Ayers Rock, Katherine Gorge and Darwin.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this book. Sometimes the language used to describe indigenous people (whilst historically accurate) was jarring to read. The first part of the book was a bit slow until you really get into the story and want to know what happened. Conversely, the ending was a bit rushed and the last chapter tied up more than its fair share of loose ends.

[Naomi Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of a slog to get into this book, but once you do get into the crux of the mystery, you just have to know what happened! I was mostly invested in Doris and I am pleased with how her story ends. I think the information and story aspects revolving around indigenous Australians was very respectfully done. Solid read.

[Danielle Bizjak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second Di Morrissey. The first was the Valley, which both my mum and I DNF early on. So this the first I finished. I didn't find the story of expedition particularly interesting and I thought the story was too long. I did like the ending and I did like Veronica.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ending is a bit of a shocker so he just ... randomly died and no one cared?.

This is my second Di Morrissey novel and I have come to the conclusion that the books are a bit of a good yarn. Plot is implausible, pacing is slow and characters are weak and one dimensional. But, there is something about how Di writes about the landscape and insertion of history / tidbits that I thoroughly enjoy. Similar to The Opal Desert, the female characters all had the same voice, a little Mary Sue.

Book description makes me want to visit the Top End / Arnhem land soon.

[Pat Raab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully descriptive, this story gets to the heart of things. What a fabulous way to get to know the Outback and the Northern Territories for those who cannot visit there. Travelling with Veronica in the footsteps of the film crew from half a century earlier is an awesome experience.

[Felicity Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Tears of the Moon (one of my all time favourites) but still a good read. Once again, we explore the heart of the Australian outback through the eyes of a present day young woman and her cameraman as they try to find out what happened to a 1950s eccentric film crew that preceded them.

[Sheila Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very engaging read with lovely descriptions of out back Australia. I only gave it three stars because the story itself seemed quite unrealistic and some of the characters (Colin and Johnny) seemed left “unfinished” in the ending.

[Pamrla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow at first . Fir someone who has worked in the Centre of Australia . Story painted a picture of that varsity of the land. Great adventure , with a detective theme and a twist unexpected at the final conclusion .

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good Australian story of outback Australia. All city dwellers and overseas travellers wanting to visit outback Australia. Even though the story is centred on many years ago of a Russian Filmmaker it is still very relevant today.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

The descriptions of the Australian countryside and especially the far north were the best parts of the book. The story itself, while reasonably interesting, was rather long-winded. Some interesting and well-developed characters.

[Sarsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unbelievable storyline and simplistic writing. There are many other books about Australia that are much better written. Chewing gum for the brain

[Nikita Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that made me love reading Di's books based in Australia.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh! Holiday read, not really what I called a " page turner" .
Perhaps I wasn't interested!

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book seems to be getting better and better. Loved the story and the characters.

[Melanie Tatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC BOOK!!!! Wow!!! Some great twists and turns in this book that I did not see coming. LOVED it.
Made me feel like I was there in the outback with the characters.