My review
It's difficult to decide exactly what Broome Enigma is. There are romance elements here, but also a thriller. Joe is a handyman at a camp site in Broome. He seems standoffish with the two sisters who come to stay, but both find themselves immediately attracted to him. Older sister, Jodie, finds herself falling for this mystery man and while he at first seems to want to keep his distance from her, they soon become close. But, as they become close, she finds herself thrown in to the danger that is stalking him.
There were so many twists and turns in this book. we follow Joe and Jodie as they try to find out who is after Joe and how he lost his memory. As I mentioned there are romantic elements here, but I really don't think that romance is the main part of this story. It's more to do with the couple finding out what's going on and who is behind it all.
Jodie is a little wet at times, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. Perhaps a little less of the internal dialogue might have helped and sped things up a bit. This is a fascinating read as you try and find out where it's going, but it's not a fast-paced, edge of your seat one.
Overall, a good story with plenty to keep you guessing.
Extract
A big gust of wind rocked the van and flung Jodie
hard against Joe. He pushed her off.
“Joe, it’s me, Jodie! Wake up, wake up!”
“Jodie, is that you?” He threw his arms around her
and buried his head in her chest.
She brushed his hair back from his sweating face.
“Take it easy, Joe. Take deep breaths. It’s okay.
It’s
going to be okay.”
He stopped shaking and pulled back from her.
“What’s happening?”
“It’s the cyclone. Don’t you remember?”
Another huge gust shook the van and sent Jodie
sprawling on Joe’s bunk and into the wall. “Ow, that
hurt!” She picked herself up and rubbed her head.
The van rocked violently again. Joe and Jodie
grabbed for handholds.
“Quick, come into my bed with me, Joe. It will be
safer there.” Tripping and feeling their way along
the
wall, the two made their way to the double bed and
clambered in.
Her breathing coming in short spasms, she lay on
her back and took deep breaths. The storm whined and
screeched about her, and the roof creaked and
scraped.
“Oh, my god, the roof’s going to take off any
minute!”
Joe’s arms enveloped her. “Hush, everything will
be all right. But will you be okay if we have to make
a
run for it?”
“Yes.” She let out a sob. “But I like our chances
better in here than out there.”
Joe kissed her forehead. He pulled her closer and
they lay locked against each other while the storm
raged around them.
Bio
Hundreds of her
poems, puzzles, short stories and travel and other articles, and some cartoons
and comic strips have appeared in more than 150 magazines, newspapers and
anthologies in Australia and overseas, including India, Japan, Singapore and
Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the
USA. Some of her stories and poems have been broadcast by the Australian
Broadcasting Commission and other radio stations while others have been
published on the Internet. As a guest on the set of Ch7’s children’s program The Book Place, she read her story LEFTY with regular presenter, Lynn
Weston.
2.
Places selling ‘Broome Enigma’
‘Broome Enigma’ is on
sale on about 40 websites in at least 16 countries including Australia,
Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New
Zealand, Spain, The Netherlands, Switzerland, UK and USA, including Amazon.com :
broome enigma and
Broome Enigma
eBook : Tobin, Meryl Brown : Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store (Australia).
Social media links
https://sites.google.com/view/merylbrowntobin-author
https://www.amazon.com.au/Broome-Enigma-Meryl-Brown-Tobin-ebook/dp/B0CHWLFTSZ/#customerReviews
https://www.facebook.com/meryl.tobin.18
Selection of readers' comments from https://sites.google.com/site/merylbrowntobin
- NOVELS
1. Readers’ comments about ‘Broome
Enigma’
A.
Felicia Di Stefano
Finished your book. Very much a page turner kept me up till
1.30 am one morning.
Wow what a thriller. Would never have worked out the end!
B.
Chrissie Michaels, Australian
author
Congratulations on such a well crafted story, full
of page turning suspense, fast pace and strong dialogue! I enjoyed the read
immensely.
C.
Michele Tobin
'Broome
Enigma' takes the reader on a scenic, cultural and historic visit to one of
Australia's fabulous, renowned destinations. As a backdrop to the novel, it is
a perfect setting for an enigmatic storyline with its melting pot of characters
to take form....
D.
Roberta Ashby
An easy read and the characters were great to
follow. Just when I thought I’d sussed out a bad guy or two, I hadn’t so it
certainly is not predictable! Your research was extensive.
E. Anna Sput
Stern,
author and poet
Congratulations!!! Considering that the
novel is written for young people, I admire the style fitting so
well their personality. Many thanks for sending it to me; I’m going
to treasure it.
E.
Jill Sutton
Congratulations! I’ve just finished ‘Broome
Enigma’. You are an amazing writer. I very much enjoyed joining all the
characters in their exciting adventures.
F.
Hartley Tobin
Because I’m familiar with Broome at the time of the
setting of this story, I readily imagined the people in the various settings. When
I got to the last four chapters I could not put the book down until I had
finished.
G.
Lynette Burton:
I loved it; I was really sucked into the read. I
read the first two chapters on Sunday but yesterday [Monday] I had to force
myself to put it down to get my housework done. I finished the last two
chapters in bed with a coffee this morning, I have not done that for years and
it felt like a little luxury. I am yet to visit Broome but it’s on my
list and now when I do I will be able to reference all the true to life
landmarks and history in your book all over again.
Can’t wait for
the next one.
H.
Kathy McKean
I really enjoyed it. I found it easy to read; I am
not fond of novels you need to over think to understand them. I was time poor
when I got ‘Broome Enigma’ and felt frustrated every time I would see it on my
bedside table. I managed to get one chapter read and couldn't wait for the next
opportunity so I could continue. I had one morning that I had put aside to do
housework but picked up ‘Broome Enigma’ whilst having my early morning cuppa;
needless to say not much housework got done.
I liked
the innocence of the main characters, the setting and the suspense and I always
love a happy ending. I felt sad to finish the novel. I felt like I had lost
some new friends that I had made and whose company I enjoyed.
I.
Anonymous
Just as well...[for the ending] as the sexual
tension had built up unbearably!!
J.
Janice Williams, author and poet
Congratulations to Meryl for her page turner,
‘Broome Enigma’. Having recently stayed in Broome, I found it was interesting
to pick out the various features.
K.
Rose Chapple, author
Congratulations!
I can imagine it as a movie or series, but I guess
that's another thing altogether. I hope it's doing well, and that the American
market is taking off. You might be personally responsible for an increase in
tourism!
Well done again!!!
L.
Mervi Cahill
I really enjoyed reading 'Broome Enigma'. It was an
easy read and you made the characters come to life. I enjoyed the inclusion of
history and tourist spots as I haven't travelled there but could picture myself
visiting the sights as I'm reading. Congratulations on your first novel
and hopefully not your last.
M.
Eunice Frazer
Enjoyed your novel––well written, entertaining,
interesting characters and plenty of action set against a beautiful West
Australian landscape.
N.
Gwenda Mathieson
I enjoyed your book so much so that I read it in
two sittings, initially dipping in to it then sitting until I finished it.
I was happy
that Jodie and Tiffany showed maturity as the story developed and particularly
as Jodie felt that she knew Joe but needed to get to know....
Now I
look forward to the next book. Is it already under way?
O.
Valwyn Beggs
I was transported into another world, the Broome
Underworld, in your novel. What a thriller! So many twists and turns!
P.
Moira Wood
I love the cover of ‘Broome Enigma’ which is
attractive to potential readers.
As a once
single and vulnerable person meeting a young man and having an instant
attraction, but an unresolved feeling about his previous life, I could
immediately relate to the main character Jodie. As events unfolded, the story
became even more intriguing with ongoing sagas.
A great
read with lots of suspense and a beautiful ending.
Q.
Janne Morrison
I have just finished reading 'Broome Enigma' and
absolutely loved it!!! I could not stop reading it and was disappointed
when it finished––I hope there is a sequel in the pipeline!! Such a great
assortment of very relatable characters and plausible and fascinating
storyline. Totally unpredictable and so many twists and turns made it
such very enjoyable reading - thank you!!!!
R.
Eric Hornsby
It gets into the story quickly and I love the way
you get into the love story. It starts with a suggestion of a love story then
the difficulty of mixed tensions, a man who is living like a tramp with no
direction and then you have involved a doubtful group
of characters of all types, suspect and otherwise....It has humour, fear
and characters interacting. I thought it a very good story that was engrossing.
It doesn’t waffle....It is a good read––about real life and real people––and
one that will suit most readers. It really is a thrilling read. Not to
forget the humour you placed along the way. There is no doubt 'Broome Enigma'
will appeal to most age groups.
S.
Annie
Chisholm
This is a great
read! I felt like I was actually there, in beautiful Broome.
The writer builds
up the suspense as she develops the characters. The aftermath of the cyclone
and the Festival of the Pearl and they are painted cleverly. I read the book to
my husband and both of us enjoyed it thoroughly.
