Brothers Geo and Wes are testing their relationship now that their parents have passed away. Geo and Wes rarely agree on anything, especially not the sale of the Hobart family home. Geo needs the money to finance his musical career in Italy. For Wes the house represents the memory of their father, and what it means to live an honest, working life.
But then a ghost train appears in Hobart, often on the tram tracks that once existed, along with the Swedish man who has been pursuing it for 40 years.
Everyone it seems is chasing their dreams. Or are they running from the truth?
The Signal Line is a warm-hearted, unforgettable novel about what we are all searching for, even when our personal dreams and aspirations have collapsed: love and acceptance.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
The Signal Line by Brendan Colley is an outstanding unique story that takes readers on a crazy supernatural ghost-train ride. At the centre of the story are two brothers Wes & Geo who have a complicated angst-ridden relationship. Them as well as the other characters in the book are all chasing something that at times seems unattainable but still worth the chase. Although there is a supernatural element to the story I found the characters to be real and believable and the descriptions of place such as the family house and downtown Hobart were evocative. I enjoyed The Signal Line and look forward to reading more of Brendan’s future works. Janelle, NSW, 5 Stars
I truly loved this book where magic appears in the world we know. Hobart was a great choice to set the scene as of all cities I’ve been to this one has people that are warmest and welcoming with enquiring minds that could embrace strangeness. I found Brendan’s writing style fresh with many fabulous quotes I’m still lingering over. I flew through this book with no idea what could possibly happen next or what would be its conclusion which I loved most. Such enigmatic characters of which Sten and Allessia were my favourites for their deep thinking and very cool attitudes on life in general. My favourite quote is “having everything is the beginning of dying” followed by “chasing the dream is more important than the dream”. All the characters seemed to be quite happy with their lives despite having little material wealth which struck a chord personally and I think an important lesson to learn. Looking forward to more work from this fine author. Faye, QLD, 5 Stars
Intrigued from the first sentence and hooked after the first chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how easy it was to get absorbed into the world of the ghost train. The Signal Line resonated with me in such a way, that I found myself feeling so many emotions, whilst reading it. I loved and grew so fond of the characters, the story and the quirkiness of them and their lives. I highly recommend giving Brendan Colley a chance to take you on an enchanting journey. Jessica, QLD, 5 Stars
A simply brilliantly written debut novel by Brendan Colley, absolutely loved The Signal Line. A fantastic bunch of characters bought together just when they were needed. Deanne, VIC, 5 Stars
I went into this one with no expectations and came away with one of my favourite reads so far this year. A book exploring complex family dynamics intertwined with a ghost story doesn’t sound like it should work but somehow it all came together seamlessly. I enjoyed how it wove in the importance of music to this family and its overall message of how important it is to follow your dreams. What made it for me was the cast of completely eccentric characters. The main characters -determined Geo, troubled Wes and ghost hunter Sten were all so well developed. I loved all the supporting characters Geo picked up along the way and brought home with him. An engaging debut novel and I can’t wait to see what Colley comes up with next. Kirsten, ACT, 5 Stars
I enjoyed this book immensely. A seamless story intertwining the unbelievable with reality into a very natural easy readable format. The Signal Line story is about life however it isn’t necessarily about winning, but life is about our dreams, love and acceptance. Jacqui, QLD, 5 Stars
Firstly I must admit that I was not overly excited at previewing this book. I just didn’t think it would be my cup of tea. However I absolutely loved it! Firstly a hilarious group of extremely quirky characters all of whom would be fun to spend time with! Add in an absolutely implausible train that somehow comes across as believable, the universal theme of chasing your dreams plus a dysfunctional family and the result is a great read by Brendan Colley. Thanks so much for letting me preview this book. Steph, NSW, 5 Stars
“The Signal Line” by Brendan Colley was a fascinating book to read. The more I read it the more intriguing it became and harder to put down. Such a variety of characters, from a pair of brothers who disliked each other to a mysterious Swedish man. A surprising book that I really enjoyed and will read again. Martina, SA, 5 Stars
Fantastic! Really interesting story. Couldn’t put the book down until I finished it. Really good novel. Kathleen, NSW, 5 Stars
The Signal Line by Brendan Colley is a unique and intriguing story set in Tasmania. It contains a host of quirky characters and was a very enjoyable read. Thanks to BR for my preview copy. Sharah, QLD, 4 Stars
Estranged brothers Wes and Geo haven’t seen each other since Geo walked out on their father after an argument. Both parents have passed, and Geo decides it’s time to sell the house. However, his trip home to Tasmania, is anything but what he expects. The arrival of a supernatural train full of Italian passengers, along with a host of unusual characters which integrate themselves into the siblings live, lead them to discover more about themselves and each other than they expect. This is an intriguing novel, which once I started, I found difficult to put down. The backdrop of the Tasmanian countryside felt realistic, and the cast of characters were believable. I sympathized with the tragic family circumstances which led to the falling out, particularly as they were a family of talented musicians, and I could understand the dynamics and pressures involved in following a musical career. All in all, “The Signal Line” is an enjoyable read and a great first novel from author Brendan Colley. Karina, QLD, 4 Stars
The Signal Line is an unforgettable novel. It is intriguing and thoughtful and an overall great read. I loved the way it used the fine line between reality and fantasy and how family came together under weird and crazy circumstances. A great Australian read to keep you guessing. Rachael, NSW, 4 Stars
Great take on magical realism, with a strong theme of following your dream. The unfolding of the mystery of a ghost train that shows up in Tasmania, along with a Ghost train rider called Sten who is both determined and quirky. Both eccentric characters of Sten and Labushagne the psychic bookshop owner provide the reader with the opportunity to be open to the supernatural. Then add the dysfunctional relationship of two brothers, in which this Ghost train seems the only thing they work together towards discovering more about. I got to say I did not like Geo or Wes at all, they were imperfectly annoying and frustrating at times, who seemed to be in constant conflict, and struggle, it was well written. I could really feel the pain and struggle of these two characters. Even the two backpackers and Wes’s ex-wife and son add flavour and character to the story. This was more than just a mystery, it was also a story about honouring our own dreams. It is not the style of book I normally read, however I am so glad I did, I really enjoyed the journey it took me on. Fran, VIC, 4 Stars
Geo a musician is returning to his home state of Tasmania from Italy to convince his brother Wes to sell the family home, a home Geo has had no personal attachment with since his mothers death. Both brothers are dealing with their own demons and live totally different and seperate lives. Upon arriving back in Tasmania Geo rides along with Wes on a detective job as an interpreter. The case is a mystery train that arrives in Hobart from Italy labelled the ghost train, Wes and Geo start meeting ghost train hunters. I myself live in Tasmania and loved Brendan’s description of Hobart and the surrounding areas the perfect setting for a magical mystery of a ghost train. I would be interested to read other reviews of readers who don’t live in or have a connect to this state to see if they liked the uniqueness of the setting and storyline. Thank you Better Reading for this preview read. Crystal, TAS, 4 Stars
The Signal Line was an interesting story that gripped me from the beginning. I enjoyed the Hobart setting, the relationship between the brothers Wes and Geo and the mystery surrounding the ghost train. It’s a very clever original story that makes you think about what you want out of life. Julie, NSW, 4 Stars
This was a deceptively ‘normal’ book until about page 5, where we learn about a group of Italian people disembarking from a ghost train in Hobart, direct from Italy. Yes, not really possible. I was instantly hooked! It’s also the story of two brothers, Wes and Geo, with a dysfunctional relationship augmented by grief. Geo wants to sell the old family home to finance his musical career, Wes simply wants to hang onto it and not do anything other than wallow and pretend nothing’s wrong. He’s in a bad place. Geo brings an odd medley of characters to stay in the house and so dispels the tense atmosphere between the brothers. The whole thing spirals into a mix of supernatural drama, belief, disbelief, ghost train hunting, and a wonderful ration of high drama, genuine pathos, and comedy (often through the dialogue with those exceptionally unique characters – I’m looking at you, Paco). At times I laughed out loud, other times I felt an arrow to the heart. All about personal dreams, this is an extraordinary debut. Thanks to Better Reading Preview and Transit Lounge Publishing for the preview copy. I may not have chosen this for myself, but having read it, wow, what a ride. Absolutely loved it, so pleased I was picked to read it. Malvina, NSW, 4 Stars
My favourite books are by Australian authors and I love Tasmania as the setting. Such a rich environmental, historic and cultural setting. The Signal Line had all of this and more. The main theme of family relationships was very real and heart wrenching at times. I loved all the quirky characters, each with plenty to offer the story. I am not usually drawn to fantasy or ghost stories but its use in this novel was very clever and blurred the lines just enough to let the strangeness have its part in the story. I look forward to more from this author! Caroline, NSW, 4 Stars
I was intrigued when I read that this novel was about a ghost train and about the ghost train hunter chasing it for 40 years. This was much more than a story about a ghost train, it was about the relationship between brothers Wes and Geo and their different relationship to their parents, especially their father. Geo leaves Tasmania on bad terms with his Dad not long after his mother’s death. He only returns after his Dad has passed away to sell the house and get his share to pursue his music dream. This is also a story of other relationships with strangers that they have just met and ones from their past. Overall it’s about chasing one’s dreams and confronting their fears and truth. I did enjoy the novel but at times felt frustrated with the characters. Thank you to Better Reading for the copy to Preview. Renae, QLD, 3 Stars
The Signal Line was a nice book about the power of dreams. Not my usual genre to read, but it was light-hearted with a well-considered plot. Sibling relationships was at its core, as well as the idea of being kind and generous to strangers. Lauren, QLD, 3 Stars
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