When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole

When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole is a tale of a missing woman and a townful of suspects. This haunting debut crime novel by Geoff Parkes transports readers back to the 1980s and a small rural town in New Zealand.

'She wasn't the first and she wouldn't be the last; swallowed into the deep, dark recesses of the King Country bush, never to be seen again.'

It's January 1983. During his university summer break, Ryan Bradley returns to the remote town of Nashville in New Zealand's rugged King Country. It's a bittersweet trip—he's working long, punishing hours as a woolpresser, needs to sell his late mother's house, and increasingly feels like an outcast in his childhood town.

Mostly, however, Ryan is haunted by memories of Sanna Sovernen, a Finnish backpacker and his secret lover, who worked with him in the shearing shed the summer before—then vanished without trace.

Now, Sanna's sister Emilia has arrived from Finland, determined to get answers. As the workmate who reported Sanna missing, she wants Ryan's help. Emilia knows her sister was not the first female traveller in the area to disappear...

'A deftly wrought novel, compelling and complex. I loved it.' - Margaret Hickey

'A gripping murder mystery set in 1980s small-town New Zealand, capturing the stifling atmosphere of a community steeped in secrets. With relentless suspense and a rich cast of characters, this impressive debut keeps the reader guessing to the very end.' - Rose Carlyle

'The stunning King Country landscape and scenery imbue the story with a real atmospheric sense of place. Fans of Chris Hammer, J P Pomare and Alan Carter will enjoy this gripping debut.' - Books + Publishing