July FOWL Author Talk with Greg Haddrick

Friends of Wingecarribee Public Library present June 2025 Author Talk with Michael Thompson.

About the Book:

In March 2020, a couple disappeared from the remote Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria, leaving a burnt-out campsite. Russell Hill and Carol Clay were secret lovers, and at first it seemed they might have simply started a new life elsewhere. But the police become increasing convinced that they had been the victims of foul play, even though their bodies had not yet been found.

The painstaking police investigation traced the driver of every car who was in the area, checking their stories and alibis. Ultimately, after more than a year's work, there was only one driver who could not be eliminated: Jetstar captain and pilot, Greg Lynn.

Could it have been possible that this highly successful professional pilot was a killer? Could he have also been responsible for a number of other mysterious disappearances in the Wonnangatta Valley? How were the police able to charge him, given that initially there were no bodies, no witnesses and no clues as to how Russell and Carol were murdered?

Greg Haddrick’s true crime book, In the Dead of Night, tells the gripping inside story of the twists and turns of the police investigation and the trial of pilot Greg Lynn, with many details that hadn't previously been made public. FOWL members will be among the first to hear details about Greg Lynn’s recent legal challenge in the Court of Appeal against his conviction and sentence for the murder of Carol Clay

About the Author Greg Haddrick:

Greg Haddrick’s first big job after graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) was with the Grundy organisation where he cut his teeth on a show called Sons and Daughters and wrote early episodes of Home and Away at only 26 years of age.

After 40 years with Grundy, Greg moved to the independent production company, Screentime where he combined screenwriting with the role of executive producer for TV shows including: MDA; Jessica; The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant; The Informant; Crownies; Janet King; Anzac Girls and Pine Gap. A career highlight was working with Tim Winton on his adaption of his novel, Cloudstreet for the movie network on Foxtel.

Along the way, Greg collected seven Australian Writers Guild Awards for screenwriting, and three AFI Awards (now AACTA Awards) for producing.

At the same time as his move to Screentime, Greg and his family traded a crowded Paddington terrace house for homes in Berrima and then Mittagong.

Since leaving Screentime, Greg has continued screenwriting and producing including the fictional crime series Human Error for the Nine Network. He also wrote and produced an audio series for BBC Radio 4, called Central Intelligence starring Kim Cattrall and Ed Harris, which recently won a special award from the BBC for “Outstanding contribution to a radio drama”.

Greg wrote Central Intelligence in Mittagong. This is also where he wrote his first true crime book, In the Dead of Night, which was published in late 2024. Greg’s book has been optioned by Apple TV in Los Angeles and is being developed as a premium 6 x one-hour TV series through Tony Ayres Productions and Matchbox in Melbourne.

We are delighted to have Greg come to speak to members of FOWL about his book, In the Dead of Night and its associated police investigation and court cases.

Greg lives in Mittagong with his wife, Margaret, a former heptathlon champion who has been involved in sports education and management at the school, state and national levels. This includes stints of two-to-three months each year developing sports coaching systems in East Arnhem Land. Greg and Margaret’s three children have all left home and are pursuing careers of their own.

Copies of Michael’s book will be available for sale and signing at the event.

Date: Tuesday 17 June 2025
Time: 10am. Morning tea will follow the talk. Doors open at 9.40am.
Place: Henrietta Rose Room, next to the Bowral Library
Cost: $15 + booking fee for members with discount code, and $20 for non-members + booking fee
Bookings: are essential and can be made HERE
Please note: When purchasing multiple tickets, member and non-member tickets need to be ordered separately