The Deep Enders: Deadline

From Deep Enders Deadlines

Murph and Banjo crossed the road to a pine-dotted esplanade stretching the length of Hobsons Bay. The sun was sinking low, spray painting the water with oranges and pinks. The boys kicked off their shoes to feel the nip of a billion seashells beneath their feet.

In the shallows, a harmless wobbegong shark cruised only a few yards from the shore. Banjo's eyes twinkled.

"Good eatin' them fellas!" he said, making a mental note to return later with his fishing gear.

A flotilla of yachts drifted past as families played at the water's edge. An American soldier and his local girl strolled hand-in-hand enjoying ice creams.

Banjo pulled a paper bag of lemon fizzers from his pocket.

"Wan' some lollies?"

"Candy," Murph tried correcting him. After almost a year in Australia, he'd adopted many of the local customs and vernacular. But candy was still candy.

"Candy..." Banjo said, unwrapping one of the yellow sweets. "Is me little cousin back in Broome."

They crunched on lollies, enjoying the crack and fizz of sugar and citric acid between their teeth as they watched the peaceful bay.

"Hard to believe there's a war going on," Murph said as he chewed.

Banjo nodded, not taking his eyes off the ocean. He scooped up a handful of sand and sprayed it over the water like a machine-gun. And they both instantly thought of Broome ... and the air raid ... and then, Micki.

Murph shuddered and brushed sand off the face of his divers watch. It was his prized possession-given to him by a mysterious pearl trader, Queenie, on the eve of the Japanese raid. It had saved his life once-and saved him from being late a hundred times since.

"Hey, I'd better get home," Murph said, realizing the time, and turned from the ocean. "I've gotta grab a shower before the party tonight."

"Awright, race ya!" Banjo yelled, tossing something high into the air, as he

Dave Reardon is an award-winning author, speaker and popular YouTuber. He was a journalist for a decade, covering crime, politics and crocodile attacks for major newspapers. As well as traveling the world chasing stories, Dave also spent his younger years swimming with stingrays and sharks along the Australian coast. Later, he shifted into youth work, running a charity and staging huge all-ages events. These days, Dave works with his wife Ann Reardon on How to Cook That (one of the world's top online science and lifestyle shows with over a billion views). He and Ann live in Melbourne with their three energetic boys. Dave has ghostwritten several books but The Deep Enders is his first fictional series.

Praise for the Deep Enders series:

"The Deep Enders is about so much more than history. Every reader will find themselves in these pages. It is a brilliant historical adventure, offering an exciting new twist on a critical time in history."
-Jennifer A. Nielsen, #1 New York Times bestselling author

The Deep Enders is a multi-faceted story with so many different threads of history woven throughout, all brought together in full-bodied characters that you come to care for deeply. Dave Reardon has developed characters that make you think about them and the rest of their story long after you have finished the last chapter. It is a tale full of adventure, excitement, peril, friendship, laughter, and heartache all wrapped up in actual historical events."
-Tome Student Literacy Society

"Reardon humanizes the people of Broome during their worst moments. He focuses on the residents impacted by the brutality of war and the brutality of a town rooted in slavery. I highly recommend this book for ages twelve and up."
-Historical Novel Society

The Deep Enders will leave readers on the edge of their seats. This talented writer has the ability to create characters that one can identify with and situations that produce enough drama and tension to captivate readers and hold their interest to the very end. It's a great read, highly recommend."
-Buzz Words

"A gripping tale about friendship, family, and how the worst of times can still bring out the best in humanity. Reardon has a keen eye for adventure and bringing to life important moments in history."
-H.J. Nelson, author of The Last She series