Scrublands cover art

Scrublands

The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year, now a major BBC TV series

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Scrublands

By: Chris Hammer
Narrated by: Rupert Degas
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £17.94

Buy Now for £17.94

About this listen

 * * *NOW A MAJOR BBC TV SERIES * * *

THE #1 BESTSELLING AUSTRALIAN CRIME NOVEL
WINNER OF THE CWA JOHN CREASEY DAGGER
SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019

'Shimmers ... a tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid

'Stunning ... Scrublands is that rare combination, a page-turner that stays long in the memory' Sunday Times (Crime Book of the Month)

In an isolated country town ravaged by drought, a charismatic young priest opens fire on his congregation, killing five men before being shot dead himself.

A year later, journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in Riversend to write a feature on the anniversary of the tragedy. But the stories he hears from the locals don't fit with the accepted version of events.

Just as Martin believes he is making headway, a shocking discovery rocks the town. The bodies of two backpackers - missing since the time of the massacre - are found in the scrublands. The media descends on Riversend and Martin is the one in the spotlight.

Wrestling with his own demons, Martin finds himself risking everything to uncover a truth that becomes more complex with every twist. But there are powerful forces determined to stop him, and he has no idea how far they will go to make sure the town's secrets stay buried. Crime Thrillers International Mystery & Crime Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Crime Fiction Exciting Scary
All stars
Most relevant
Started listening to this book on one of my sleepless nights hoping boredom would help me drop off, no such luck, every minute was superbly exciting and the readers voice was perfect

Superb

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A cracking yarn. Excellent performance accentuating the author’s descriptive powers. Kept guessing right to the end.

Riveting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Thoroughly absorbing and credible. The several subplots were drawn together at the end and the characters were interesting and unusual. Will seek out further books by the author and narrator.

Vivid

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
My first Chris Hammer novel, bought based on the good reviews, and I wasn't disappointed. A gripping story, only slightly far fetched in places with a satisfying denouement. Such a shame he decided to name his main female character Madalay Blonde though...

A good read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I rate this thriller very highly chiefly because the sense of place is so well drawn, the main protagonist so human, and the plot extremely, and believably, complex. I enjoyed it more, at almost every level, than I did Jane Harper's much acclaimed "The Dry".

If I have a criticism it would be that the redemptive quality of the ending is a little too facile but then it has to be said that it is a relief to find some ordinary happiness mellowing the drama and tragedy.

Intense, engaging and totally absorbing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews