It’s the Gold Coast, 1982, and someone’s building a dream with dirty money...

A family vanishes. A theme park hides darker secrets. Private investigator Amy Owens is about to learn how dangerous it is to work for the wrong side.

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HIGHLY RATED

Over 100 Four and Five star ratings on Goodreads

AWARD NOMINATED

Shortlisted for the 2025 Danger Award for crime writing

A BEAUTIFUL BOOK

Traditionally edited, printed and published by Ultimo Press (Sydney)

18 shield check
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Hooked by Chapter 5 or your money back.

Gold Coast, 1982. A rich family vanishes. A theme park struggles to open. Nobody’s clean, especially the police.

Amy Owens is a private investigator who's gotten closer to the truth than anyone — and now she's paying for it. Pulled into a web of missing persons, police corruption, and a cast of players who all have something to hide, Amy finds herself caught between three dangerous forces. 

The first is Mark Nichols, a political fixer willing to do whatever it takes to get the Fantasyland theme park back on track. 

Then there's Detective Bruno Karras, an honest cop caught between his conscience and a force he can no longer trust. 

Somewhere in the Gold Coast's underbelly, someone is cleaning up loose ends. As Amy digs deeper into the secrets buried beneath the glittering surface, the crimes converge on one thunderous night at Fantasyland. Not everyone will walk out alive.

PRAISE FOR THE DREAM:

‘Refracting the grim spirit of noir through 1980s Queensland is a natural move, and Ryan launches into building a glitzy, violent and meretricious underworld with flair.’ 

– Sydney Morning Herald

'Iain Ryan is one of the most gifted writers in the contemporary Australian crime fiction scene.' 

– Steven Powell, author of Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy

'The best fictional rendering on the page of Queensland's not so distant criminal past that I have read.' 

– Andrew Nette, author of Orphan Road and Gunshine State

READ THE FIRST 10 CHAPTERS HERE

Every signed paperback arrives as a carefully curated package. Your book comes wrapped in premium packaging (a police evidence bag 😉) with a hand-selected die-cut bookmark and an exclusive art print—a small gesture that transforms your order into an experience worth keeping.

Supplies are limited: I only made 500 bookmarks and 500 art prints. Once the first 500 copies sell, later orders get the signed book but will likely get a different print and bookmark.

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AS SEEN IN

REVIEWS

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ON INSTAGRAM...

Verified reader

4.5 stars. The Dream was busy, action packed, fast paced and the very definition of a page turner - finished in less than 24 hours! It didn’t let up for a second and I loved every twist and turn 🎢

Ashs.goodreads

Verified reader

Ryan does this noir so very very well. Cracking pace, revolting humans, systems cracking under their own internal shittiness and somehow never too much for the page. His characters and story are so well crafted we can’t help but be swept up.

Kate Mildenhall

Verified reader

If you’re in the mood for a spicy, suspenseful read to dive into over the break, give this a go.

The Book Ninja

Verified reader

An instant classic. 

James Costello

Verified reader

For all of you Australian crime enthusiasts, l highly recommend.

coffeeandpages2021

Verified reader

This book brought this sin city to life, where criminals, the corrupted, and the wronged are all out for blood.   An exploration into whether morality actually exists. Some are fighting the baddies who are fighting other baddies. Killing one to prevent the murder of another. The Dream will sink its teeth into you, and make you feel like you cannot scrub yourself clean.

Marlene Henry

OVER ONE HUNDRED 4-STAR & 5-STAR RATINGS ON GOODREADS

★★★★★ "Absolutely loved this! It was gripping and fast paced right from the beginning. The story was easy to follow with a good amount of twists and turns and characters. A really great read."

★★★★★ "The best fictional rendering on the page of Queensland's not so distant criminal past that I have read (admittedly, there is not a huge amount of competition, but, still). Very Strong on vibe, perhaps slightly less so on plot, but a great noir read nonetheless. Thoroughly recommended."

★★★★★ "Iain Ryan is carving out his own Ellroyesque quartet , doing for the Gold Coast what Ellroy did for LA. 1980s Queensland is the perfect time and place, so much so I can’t believe it hasn’t been done before."

★★★★ "Loved it! Fast paced, short chapters, wild characters, no idea what all the clues mean until they come together! Fantastic Australian read!"

BONUS OFFER:

Order today and get What Living and Dying Is Like — Iain's acclaimed short story collection (ebook) completely free with your purchase.

Normally $9.99, this 144-page collection has earned a 4.25-star rating on Goodreads.

Instant download at checkout. No waiting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Tight, gripping; left me wanting more.’
– J. Currie

✅ YES I WANT 'THE DREAM' + BONUS

A QUIET WORD FROM IAIN RYAN...

👇👇👇

Taking a chance on a book is not without risk, until now...

🔥 If you're not hooked by the first 5 chapters of The Dream? You get your money back 🔥

No questions. No forms. No hard feelings.

This is NO RISK! 

But—

No buts.

You keep the book. It's a signed edition, and I'll refund the postage as well, so you can leave the thing on a shelf and never think about it again. That's the deal.

So hit the big red button and go spend a few hours on the Gold Coast in 1982 — sunshine, high-rises, a crime spree, and a police force that's part of the problem.

Sorry, what are you telling me?

You read it right.

100% money back if the first 5 chapters haven't hooked you. Shipping included.

🔒 SECURE MY COPY - $34.99

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHO IS IAIN RYAN

I'm a Melbourne-based crime writer and the author of nine novels, including the Gold Coast quartet that features with The Dream — shortlisted for the Danger Award, one of Australia's top crime-writing prizes. 

My work has been compared to James Ellroy, Garry Disher, Peter Temple, Jordan Harper, Megan Abbott and Joseph Wambaugh. It is published by Ultimo Press. 

Every copy sold here is signed by hand. When you buy direct, the book comes straight from my desk to yours.

WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?

Readers keep landing on the same names. More than one review has called this "James Ellroy on the Gold Coast," and another pointed straight at David Peace's Red Riding Quartet for that same slow-drip dread. 

For the local comparison, it's Peter Temple and Garry Disher territory — same ear for Aussie dialogue, same ragged Australian characters. 

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY BOOKS?

I tend to pack and ship orders within 48 hours. From there, Australia Post does the rest. It's fairly common for customers receive their order within a week. 

WHAT IF I READ IT AND HATE IT?

You get your money back. Just email iainkryan@gmail.com and we'll sort out a refund. 

DO I NEED TO READ ANYTHING ELSE FIRST?

Nope. This book is a standalone crime novel set within my Gold Coast Quartet. There is a sequel called The Casino, you might like as well. Oh, and a prequel, called The Strip.

This is the end.

I don't know what else to tell you.