The Distinctly Competent District Councillor cover art

The Distinctly Competent District Councillor

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

About this listen

The charming and original story of a small, declining community’s struggle to survive in the shadow of an all-consuming metropolis, from from the multi-million copy bestselling author of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.

'A shot of serotonin in book form' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Totally joyful' THE TIMES

All over the world, people sleep blissfully in Traumbett beds. These marvellous feats of German engineering have successfully cornered the mattress market everywhere. Everywhere, except Sweden and owner Konrad Kaltenbacher Jr is desperate to expand there.

With Konrad Jr’s sights set firmly on stylish Stockholm, Julia Bäck, district councillor of the small, decaying town of Halstaholm, has plans of her own. Seeing an opportunity to attract 800 new jobs, Julia jumps into spearheading a persuasive campaign to win the contract. A roundabout is hastily renamed in honour of Angela Merkel; a German school is quickly established under the leadership of a ten-year-old boy and three elderly pensioners; and the town swimming pool is rapidly transformed into a beerhouse – it had been empty for years anyway!

Julia’s get-up-and-go impresses the German boss … but has she made herself a tricky bed to lie in?

©2026 Jonas Jonasson (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers Friendship Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Political Satire Small Town & Rural

Critic reviews

'A shot of serotonin in book form' Mail on Sunday

'Totally joyful' The Times

'A feel-good read' iPaper

Praise for The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared:

'A mordantly funny and loopily freewheeling debut novel about ageing disgracefully' Sunday Times

'Imaginative, laugh-out-loud … a brilliant satire on the foibles of mankind' Telegraph

'Scandi-crime's signature darkness is here dispelled by Allan Karlsson, the eponymous centenarian, who with unlikely sprightliness hops out of the window of his old people's home one afternoon … Fast-moving and relentlessly sunny' Guardian

All stars
Most relevant
Another ridiculously brilliant rip-roaring laugh out loud tale from the wonderful Jonas Jonnasson. Superbly performed by Peter Kenny. Ludicrously delicious- always lifts the spirits.

Brilliant as ever

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoy the way Jonas Jonasson tells his stories. His characters are always so well described that you can clearly visualise them, and they feel real, no-nonsense, silly and quietly quirky.

This one was much shorter than some of his other books, but it was still a sweet, cute story and an easy, enjoyable listen. The ending made sense, though I did find myself wanting more. That seems to be a theme with his books for me, I always want a little extra time with the characters.

Overall, a simple, clever and enjoyable audiobook that I’m glad I listened to.

Quirky, clever and quietly charming

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.