When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole

Geoff Parkes

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Paperback

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English

Penguin
02 December 2025

Fiction & Literature; Crime & Mystery

A missing woman . . . a townful of suspects. The haunting debut crime novel that transports the reader back to the 1980s and a small rural town in New Zealand, for readers of Chris Hammer, J P Pomare and Margaret Hickey.

'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, he needs to sell his late mother's house, and he's increasingly feeling like an outcast in his childhood town.

But mostly he's 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 - and as he's the workmate who reported Sanna missing, she wants Ryan's help. Because 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

By: Geoff Parkes
Imprint: Penguin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 1mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9781761356797
ISBN 10: 1761356798
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 02 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Born and raised in rural New Zealand, Geoff Parkes now lives in Melbourne. For the last twelve years he's written a weekly opinion column for The Roar, Australia's leading on-line sports website. This is his first novel. His latest novel, The First Law of the Bush, also featuring Ryan Bradley, will be released early 2026.