We all recognise Bryan Brown as an icon of the screen. But in 2021 he revealed a new side of himself with the release of Sweet Jimmy, a collection of seven connected stories involving kidnapping, drugs, murder …

Now, with the release of his second book, The Drowning, we see Bryan cemented as one of the most distinct voices in Australian crime. Set in a quiet northern NSW town that may seem quite familiar, it’s a story of what happens when small-town secrets start bubbling to the surface – particularly when the body of a young man washes up on the shore.

A novel laced with his trademark laconic style and eye for everyday life, Bryan is joined by Indira Naidoo to explore the twisting world of his latest release in this festival highlight event.