100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Thanks for supporting our 100% NZ-owned independent bookstore โค๏ธ Overnight NZ-wide Delivery ๐Ÿš€

Scrublands

Series: Martin Scarsden
3.97 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 29,363 ratings, 2,722 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Scrublands by Chris Hammer is a gripping crime thriller set in a small, drought-stricken Australian town. The narrative follows a troubled journalist investigating the aftermath of a shocking church shooting. As he delves deeper, he uncovers tangled secrets and hidden truths that challenge the town's facade and his own understanding of morality.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2300
Elsewhere:
$2499
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy atmospheric crime thrillers set in stark, small-town Australia, intertwined with gripping mysteries and complex characters. With its richly described landscape and a compelling narrative, this story provides a captivating exploration of secrets and the past's inescapable influence.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Set in a fictional Riverina town at the height of a devastating drought, Scrublands is one of the most powerful, compelling and original crime novels to be written in Australia.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

WINNER, CWA Dagger New Blood Award for Best First Crime Novel

SHORTLISTED, Best Debut Fiction, Indie Book Awards

SHORTLISTED, Best First Mystery or Crime Novel - Barry Awards

FOUR PART TV SERIES

In an isolated country town brought to its knees by endless drought, a charismatic and dedicated young priest calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners before being shot dead himself.

A year later, troubled journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in Riversend to write a feature on the anniversary of the tragedy. But the stories he hears from the locals about the priest and incidents leading up to the shooting don't fit with the accepted version of events his own newspaper reported in an award-winning investigation. Martin can't ignore his doubts, nor the urgings of some locals to unearth the real reason behind the priest's deadly rampage.

Just as Martin believes he is making headway, a shocking new development rocks the town, which becomes the biggest story in Australia. The media descends on Riversend and Martin is now the one in the spotlight. His reasons for investigating the shooting have suddenly become very personal.

Wrestling with his own demons, Martin finds himself risking everything to discover a truth that becomes darker and 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.

A compulsive thriller that will haunt you long after you have turned the final page.

Scrublands is a captivating tale of suspense and revelation, diving deep into the human psyche and the shadowy depths of a small town's dark history.

Series: Martin Scarsden

View all
  • Scrublands
    NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES Winner of the 2019 CWA Dagger New Blood Award for Best First Crime Novel In an isolated country town brought to its knees by endless drought, a charismatic and dedicated young priest calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners before being shot dead himself. A year later, troubled journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Silver
    "Chris Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir." - Michael Connelly "I think this is even better than the first." - Ann Cleeves "The best Australian crime novel since Peter Temple's The Broken Shore." - The Times For half a lifetime, journalist Martin Scarsden has run from his past. But now there is no escaping. He'd...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Trust
    "This thrill ride of a story is everything we have come to expect and more." Better Reading Martin Scarsden's new life seems perfect, right up until the moment it's shattered by a voicemail: a single scream, abruptly cut off, from his partner Mandalay Blonde. Racing home, he finds an unconscious man sprawled on the floor and Mandy gone. Someone has...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • Scrublands
    WINNER, CWA Dagger New Blood Award for Best First Crime Novel SHORTLISTED, Best Debut Fiction, Indie Book Awards SHORTLISTED, Best First Mystery or Crime Novel - Barry Awards FOUR PART TV SERIES In an isolated country town brought to its knees by endless drought, a charismatic and dedicated young priest calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners before...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Silver
    NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES 'Chris Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir.' - Michael Connelly 'I think this is even better than the first.' - Ann Cleeves 'The best Australian crime novel since Peter Temple's The Broken Shore.' - The Times For half a lifetime, journalist Martin Scarsden has run from his past. But now...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Scrublands by Chris Hammer has garnered attention for its evocative portrayal of a small Australian town and its complex characters. Reviewers praise Hammer's vivid landscape descriptions and the atmospheric tension that pervades the narrative. The book's mix of mystery and psychological depth has been noted for keeping readers engaged, while some critiques highlight the occasionally intricate plot twists. Overall, it has been well-received for its gripping storytelling and strong sense of place.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760875527

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 2019

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 366g

Pages: 496

About the Author

Chris Hammer was a journalist for more than thirty years, dividing his career between covering Australian federal politics and international affairs. For many years he was a roving foreign correspondent for SBS TV's flagship current affairs program Dateline. He has reported from more than thirty countries on six continents. In Canberra, roles included chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, current affairs correspondent for SBS TV and a senior political journalist for The Age.

His first book, The River, published in 2010 to critical acclaim, was the recipient of the ACT Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award and the Manning Clark House National Cultural Award.

Chris has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University. He lives in Canberra with his wife, Dr Tomoko Akami. The couple have two children.

Also by Chris Hammer

View all
  • The Tilt
    A man runs for his life in a forest. A woman plans sabotage. A body is unearthed. Newly-minted homicide detective Nell Buchanan returns to her hometown, annoyed at being assigned a decades-old murderโ€”a 'file and forget'. But this is no ordinary cold case, as the discovery of more bodies triggers a chain of escalating events in the present day. As...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Legacy
    MARTIN SCARSDEN IS ON THE RUN. WILL THE DESERT SAVE HIM - OR BURY HIM? The sound hits them, a shock wave ... glass smashing ... Somewhere a woman screams. A second explosion, and Martin looks towards the hall, what's left of it, flames roaring and smoke pouring skywards. Someone is targeting Martin Scarsden. They bomb his book launch and...
    Paperback
    $3300
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Scrublands
    NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES Winner of the 2019 CWA Dagger New Blood Award for Best First Crime Novel In an isolated country town brought to its knees by endless drought, a charismatic and dedicated young priest calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners before being shot dead himself. A year later, troubled journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Silver
    "Chris Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir." - Michael Connelly "I think this is even better than the first." - Ann Cleeves "The best Australian crime novel since Peter Temple's The Broken Shore." - The Times For half a lifetime, journalist Martin Scarsden has run from his past. But now there is no escaping. He'd...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Seven
    The Seven by Chris Hammer is a gripping thriller that plunges you into the dark and secretive world of Yuwonderie, a district dominated by seven founding families. For a century, these families have ruled with an iron fist, amassing wealth and power while keeping their secrets deeply buried. But the unbridled control of The Seven faces a shocking upheaval when...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Trust
    "This thrill ride of a story is everything we have come to expect and more." Better Reading Martin Scarsden's new life seems perfect, right up until the moment it's shattered by a voicemail: a single scream, abruptly cut off, from his partner Mandalay Blonde. Racing home, he finds an unconscious man sprawled on the floor and Mandy gone. Someone has...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • Treasure and Dirt
    In the desolate outback town of Finnigans Gap, police struggle to maintain law and order. Thieves pillage opal mines, religious fanatics recruit vulnerable young people, and billionaires do as they please. Then an opal miner is found crucified and left to rot down his mine. Nothing about the miner's death is straightforward, not even who found the body. Sydney homicide...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Backorder
    Ships late August
  • The Valley
    Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are back, and Nell is thrown into her most emotionally fraught investigation yet. A controversial entrepreneur is murdered in a remote mountain valley, but this is no ordinary case. Ivan and Nell are soon contending with cowboy lawyers, conmen, bullion thieves, and grave robbers. But it's when Nell discovers the victim is a close blood...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Seven
    Yuwonderie's seven founding families have lorded it over their district for a century, growing ever more rich and powerful. But nowโ€”in startling circumstancesโ€”one of their own is found dead in a ditch, and homicide detectives Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan are sent to investigate. Could the murder be connected to the execution of the victim's friend thirty years agoโ€”another member...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The River
    Australia's major river system is collapsing. Parts of it are dying; parts of it are already dead. Australia's most significant river no longer reaches the sea. I look out into the dim autumn light and wonder once again how it has come to this... Join award-winning author Chris Hammer on a journey through Australia's largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin....
    Paperback
    $4199
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Valley
    Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are backโ€”and Nell is thrown into her most emotionally fraught homicide yet. A controversial entrepreneur is murdered in a remote mountain valley, but this is no ordinary case when Nell discovers that the victim is a close blood relative. The investigation delves into Nell's own family to uncover a mystery years in the making. What...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Backorder
    Ships mid September
  • Silver
    NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES 'Chris Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir.' - Michael Connelly 'I think this is even better than the first.' - Ann Cleeves 'The best Australian crime novel since Peter Temple's The Broken Shore.' - The Times For half a lifetime, journalist Martin Scarsden has run from his past. But now...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Crime & Thriller

View all
  • New Release
    Dying Days
    Award-winning writer delivers a pulse-pounding espionage thriller. Missing soldiers, MI6 secrets and European partisans collide in a deadly game where the lines between lies and reality are fast disintegrating. In the dying days of the Second World War, a new conflict is about to ignite. May, 1945: After fighting to liberate Europe from the Nazis, Tito's Yugoslav Army and Allied...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Country Road Murders
    New Release
    The Country Road Murders
    From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a pulse-pounding thriller about justice, vengeance and the roads that lead us home. No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades โ€” LEE CHILD Cross Rivers is the kind of small town where everyone knows your name โ€“ and your secrets. Silas Tucker...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Every Lake
    Scary stories are fun... until your life becomes one. When Alice was fifteen, her father killed Mia Heywood in their lakefront cottage before vanishing into the trees. At least that's what the locals think happened. Over a decade later, Alice has lost her job as a journalist, she's going through an expensive divorce and she desperately needs to sell the...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Nautilus
    New Release
    Nautilus
    The follow-up to the bestselling novel The Turing Protocol. Nautilus is a machine with the astonishing power to send messages eight weeks back in time. Its users must follow a set of protocols established by its inventor, Alan Turing, including that it can only be used by a descendant of his family, and only to avert global disasters. But what...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Cold River
    New Release
    Cold River
    The sensational new novel from the author of the bestselling thriller, The Creeper, winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction 2025. Deep in the mountains, secrets grow deadly... Detective Constable Sally White knows how easily hikers can go missing in Victoria's high country. But there's something about the disappearance of Louis Taylor, a young man lost up...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    It Could Have Been Her
    PREPARE TO BE HOOKED: The no. 1ย Sunday Timesย and MULTI-million-copy bestselling author is back with a brand-new spine tingling thriller. It was the night she almost died. Jane Trevally, newly divorced and feeling a little lost, agrees to accompany a man she doesn't know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath. She's offered a drink, goes in, and...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    26 Beauties
    The twenty-sixth thrilling novel in the globally bestselling Women's Murder Club series. Beautiful young women are disappearing by the dozen. A celebration is cut short when a concerned father crashes Detective Inspector Lindsay Boxer's party. His daughter is missing - and she's not the only one. DI Lindsay Boxer has been tracking a chilling pattern: a Jane Doe washed ashore,...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Secrets We Hide
    The stunning new North Falls thriller by the bestselling author ofย We Are All Guilty Here 'Quite simply, Karin Slaughter is the best of us' Dervla McTiernan Welcome back to North Falls -- a small town with big secrets. The house at 1601 Iris Drive looks like any other in the quiet, residential street. But rumours are rife about the Vickery...
    Paperback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Parkwood Murders
    They came for an escape, but can they escape a killer? Detective Nicola Bridge returns in another gripping and immersive mystery For its loyal guests, Parkwood Holiday Village in west Dorset is a haven- woodland walks, a tranquil lake, service around the clock. Until, just after midsummer, a body is found floating in the swimming pool. Detective Nicola Bridge, exhausted...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Hope Rises
    'BALDACCI IS STILL PEERLESS' - THE SUNDAY TIMES REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD . . . Walter Nash, working under the alias of Dillon Hope, is on the road to revenge after becoming an informant for the FBI against a global criminal operation headed up by Victoria Steers. Steers has ripped everything Nash held dear away from him....
    Paperback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Slash
    A year after a brutal shootout left her lover dead, ex-police sergeant Honey Chalmers is a hot mess, drinking too much and eating too little, working casual gigs for a shady firm of private investigators โ€” while holding conversations with a ghost. A desperate father asks her to investigate his missing son โ€” a double-murder suspect last seen during the...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A River Red With Blood
    The players call it the Game, and its aim is simple: to abduct and kill a stranger without getting caught. They're very good at it. They've been playing it for a long time. And they can keep playing as long as everyone sticks to the rules: No Killing Close to Home and No Killing Outside the Game. But those rules...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.