Together they will discuss how they came up with the idea for their mystery novel and their experience of writing it together.
The thriller centres on the Goulburn River, beginning with a wave of unexplained illness in Shepparton and leading to an investigation that stretches from the mountains to the Murray River.
The story involves obstructive government officials, frightened soldiers and dangerous tensions, with a secret that changes everything.
Mr Thompson said the book grew from the authors' deep personal connections to the river.
“Peter Whitelaw is very experienced, and he knows the river backwards because he is a long-term fly fisherman,” he said.
“And until very recently, I lived on the river, just out of Seymour.
“I was also very heavily involved in the catchment management authority, so I knew quite a bit about the river as well.”
The authors traced the Goulburn from its source to its mouth.
“We started at the top, right up in the Great Dividing Range, where the river begins near Woods Point, and we actually found the place where the river starts,” Mr Thompson said.
“We followed it all the way down to where it joined the Murray River, near Echuca.”
What began as a travel book changed direction at Eildon.
“We decided we'd change it from a sort of a travel book to a thriller at Eildon because we came across something that I'm not able to divulge,” Mr Thompson said.
The story follows two older men, a doctor from Echuca and a retired policeman from Melbourne, as they investigate mysteries on the Great Dividing Range, only to find themselves being followed and targeted.
“It's a mysterious being following them, as they go down this river, and then things happen to them,” Mr Thompson said.
“When they get to Eildon, they are almost killed at that location by a tricky business there.”
The story then continues from Puckapunyal, up to Shepparton and on to Echuca.
The Echuca author event with River of Secrets co-authors John Thompson and Peter Whitelaw is a free event, with bookings required by contacting 03 5481 2400 or libraries@campaspe.vic.gov.au
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