Bigger Things (Big Things Book 2)

Bigger Things: A Cruise, A Mystery, A Second Chance

A year after their unforgettable road trip across Australia, the newly blended Sullivan-Bishop family and their close-knit circle of friends receive mysterious red parcels inviting them on a luxury cruise. What begins as a long-awaited holiday soon turns into something far more thrilling.

On board, a high-profile stage show is set to premiere — but when the star performer is injured and the production sabotaged, suspicions mount. With tensions running high and loyalties tested, Grover's sharp-witted mother, Millicent, steps up as an unlikely detective. Paired with Big Kev, a carefree larrikin who couldn't be more different from her, Millicent follows a trail of clues that lead her deeper into both the mystery and her own journey of self-discovery.

From missing luggage with surprising contents to a dramatic fancy-dress ball gone wrong, the stakes rise when the threat hits dangerously close to home. Can Millicent unmask the saboteur before it's too late?

BIGGER THINGS is a heartfelt mystery about family, second chances, and the courage it takes to rewrite your story — no matter your age.

Grab your copy of Bigger Things and set sail on a feel-good mystery with heart, humour, and a twist of adventure.

Excerpt from the book

Welcome back, Dear Readers. How have you been?

That question was – of course – rhetorical, and the question mark mere decoration.

Now, back to me.

I am reminded of a beautiful quote from a poet laureate: Here we go again. No way, John Wayne!

Wow, powerful stuff. Doesn’t good poetry simply give you chills?

I mean… the prose… the… um… the word choice… and…

Okay, you got me, Dear Readers, that’s not a fancy famous quote at all.

Full disclosure: my deadline for writing this story was fast approaching, and I found myself quite sidetracked researching the seventies television show The Love Boat because Bianca, one of the characters in the story, sings the theme song at one point.

I have said it before – but it bears repeating – a good narrator always does their research.

You’re welcome.

I can only assume, Dear Readers, you pronounced Bianca’s name in your head as bea-yan-kah. Well, it may surprise you to learn that this particular Bianca insists it’s pronounced bea-yon-kah.

But that’s not really important right now, and as usual, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Where was I?

Oh yes, apologising for trying to pass a TV show lyric off as a fancy quote. Sorry.

Long story short, I got caught up watching back-to-back episodes and quite forgot about my deadline, which absolutely goes against the first rule in the Narrator’s Handbook.

Always be prepared

While I’m certain the authors of the Handbook borrowed heavily from the Cub Scouts’ motto, I can’t deny they make a good point.

Start a sequel with a recap

Oh, that sounds like a marvellous idea.

Avoid spoilers

Oh no… Well, I’m just going to assume you have all already devoured the first book and recommended it to all your friends at dinner parties with quotes such as:

• ‘Big Things was less a novel and more a life-changing experience’

• ‘I’ll never look at a Big Bogan the same way again,’ and

• ‘If there were an award for narrators… well, that prize would definitely go to the narrator of Big Things.’

I’m touched, Dear Readers. I hope you managed to find all the hidden pop culture references (and the one or two purposeful typos – a first-time narrator can’t appear too polished, you know. There’s a specific rule about it in the Narrator’s Handbook.)

Okay, for that one reader (there’s always one, isn’t there?) who has not read the first instalment, the rest of us will wait while you pop out to buy it.

And… go.

Are they gone?

Yes?

Okay, let’s just continue without them and jump straight into that recap.

Grover Sullivan had adjusted to his new life fairly well. It had been just over a year since his sister Katherine had taken her own life, and his niece Jennifer and nephew Alex were left in his care. In that short period, he’d grown from ‘man-child who was afraid of change’ to ‘man-child who was slightly better at dealing with change’ in the blink of a very slow eye.