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Nick Vada #4
The Kooleybuc Hotel
Why would someone walk into the Kooleybuc Hotel on a quiet Friday afternoon and murder six innocent people?
The peaceful township of Kooleybuc is left reeling when six people are murdered in cold blood on a quiet Friday afternoon at their only pub, and the locals want answers. Detective Patrick Jacobs of the Cobar Police Department is nearing retirement and is reluctantly assigned to the case. He is running out of leads.
Probationary Constable Nick Vada had planned to get as far away from the bush as he could in his new profession, but is sent to the town of Kooleybuc, affectionately known as the ‘Gateway to the outback’ for his first year on the job and must learn with the help of the local team - and the seasoned detective - just how much work goes into finding a killer.
Don't miss the next instalment in the gripping Nick Vada thriller series. Fans of 'Outback' by Patricia Wolf, 'Scrublands' by Chris Hammer and 'The Dry' by Jane Harper, will be hooked from the very first page until the final breathtaking conclusion.
The peaceful township of Kooleybuc is left reeling when six people are murdered in cold blood on a quiet Friday afternoon at their only pub, and the locals want answers. Detective Patrick Jacobs of the Cobar Police Department is nearing retirement and is reluctantly assigned to the case. He is running out of leads.
Probationary Constable Nick Vada had planned to get as far away from the bush as he could in his new profession, but is sent to the town of Kooleybuc, affectionately known as the ‘Gateway to the outback’ for his first year on the job and must learn with the help of the local team - and the seasoned detective - just how much work goes into finding a killer.
Don't miss the next instalment in the gripping Nick Vada thriller series. Fans of 'Outback' by Patricia Wolf, 'Scrublands' by Chris Hammer and 'The Dry' by Jane Harper, will be hooked from the very first page until the final breathtaking conclusion.
- GenresCrime
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2023
338 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 20, 2025
I have now read Jason Sumners first 4 books with Nick Vada. Found this one a bit strange being out of order with Nicks age.
November 5, 2023
series keeps getting better
Started well, and this the 4th book continues the series upward trajectory- with well drawn characters and an excellent plot line
Definitely worth a read
Started well, and this the 4th book continues the series upward trajectory- with well drawn characters and an excellent plot line
Definitely worth a read
March 8, 2026
The Kooleybuc Hotel is book four in the Nick Vada Series by Jason Summers. Nick Vada just finished the police academy when he was stationed at Kooleybuc police station, an hour away from Cobar, New South Wales. After having an accident in the police car, Nick Vada was sent to Cobar Police Station to work with a local detective who is investigating the murder of 6 people in the Kooleybuc pub. Probatory Constable Nick Vada was enjoying time with Detective Patrick Jacobs and learning a lot until one day, Detective Patrick Jacobs died on the job. When a new detective arrived, he was removed. Will Probatory Constable Nick Vada continue to investigate or give up? The readers will continue to follow Probatory Constable Nick Vada to discover what happens.
The Kooleybuc Hotel has been on my TBR for a long time, and I love this series, so I decided to read it. I was angry with myself for waiting so long to read this book. I engaged with this book from the first page and continued to the end. This book also started me thinking about the dangers we do to children who are different, and how the community treats them badly. In addition, I understood the importance of having new police officers with rural experience start their probationary periods in rural areas, after reading this book.
The Kooleybuc Hotel, by Jason Summers, is well-written and well-researched. I love Jason Summers's writing style and the way he portrays his characters and their interactions throughout this book. I feel part of the book's setting through Jason Summers's descriptions.
I recommend this book.
The Kooleybuc Hotel has been on my TBR for a long time, and I love this series, so I decided to read it. I was angry with myself for waiting so long to read this book. I engaged with this book from the first page and continued to the end. This book also started me thinking about the dangers we do to children who are different, and how the community treats them badly. In addition, I understood the importance of having new police officers with rural experience start their probationary periods in rural areas, after reading this book.
The Kooleybuc Hotel, by Jason Summers, is well-written and well-researched. I love Jason Summers's writing style and the way he portrays his characters and their interactions throughout this book. I feel part of the book's setting through Jason Summers's descriptions.
I recommend this book.
March 4, 2025
Bright new Australian detective series
I am really enjoying these books.
Love the small town Australia locations and characters. The integrity of the main character is refreshing. Good plots with interesting twists.
Could fix small minor typos that jar.
Looking forward to number 5.
Please keep writing!
I am really enjoying these books.
Love the small town Australia locations and characters. The integrity of the main character is refreshing. Good plots with interesting twists.
Could fix small minor typos that jar.
Looking forward to number 5.
Please keep writing!
September 3, 2024
Enjoyed this book as I have with all of Jason‘s previous ones.
January 21, 2026
Read out of order so I kept wondering about the three previous Nick Vada books in the series.
Easy to listen to.
Easy to listen to.
January 21, 2026
another page turner in the series
Loved the back story of Nicks early years. Considered and well written. Look forward to starting on book 5.
Throughly enjoyed.
Loved the back story of Nicks early years. Considered and well written. Look forward to starting on book 5.
Throughly enjoyed.
January 12, 2026
well written and intriguing
Caught up in the plot from the first page. Great read. Expertly sets up the series and provides key background.
Caught up in the plot from the first page. Great read. Expertly sets up the series and provides key background.
January 10, 2026
I read this one straight after book 3 and was confused that the timeline for book 4 is earlier. Otherwise a solid but not stellar outback mystery.
February 24, 2024
2.5 stars
Was this written soon after Book 1 but published as Book 4?
The awkward Aussie slang that annoyed me in Book 1 , but thankfully disappears in Books 2&3, has unfortunately returned in Book 4.
While the story was gripping the terrible editing was distracting. In one spot Bones is referred to as Pat (which makes it very confusing). PJ and Vada are directed to the second floor of St Vincents hospital yet a few paragraphs later they are said to be walking down the third floor corridor. There were a few more that caused me to backtrack to make sure I hadn’t misunderstood.
I sound like I didn’t enjoy this book but I did and let’s face it I am now invested in following Detective Vadas story!
Was this written soon after Book 1 but published as Book 4?
The awkward Aussie slang that annoyed me in Book 1 , but thankfully disappears in Books 2&3, has unfortunately returned in Book 4.
While the story was gripping the terrible editing was distracting. In one spot Bones is referred to as Pat (which makes it very confusing). PJ and Vada are directed to the second floor of St Vincents hospital yet a few paragraphs later they are said to be walking down the third floor corridor. There were a few more that caused me to backtrack to make sure I hadn’t misunderstood.
I sound like I didn’t enjoy this book but I did and let’s face it I am now invested in following Detective Vadas story!
November 10, 2024
Whilst I am rather fond of the main character, Nick Vada, I find the proof reading needs to be improved. Sometimes the name of a character is incorrect, and he written for she and vice versa etc . Also, as someone wrote, Book 4 should be book 1 and are there any more of the stories not in the correct order? Slap dash is how I would describe the writing. However I do think the plots are well thought out, particularly relevant to the outback.
October 29, 2025
In the beginning
This was a good read. After reading all the previous Nick Vada stories it was good to find out how he started. I did figure out who the killer was early in the piece but the journey to the finale was worth it. Looking forward to the next in the series.
This was a good read. After reading all the previous Nick Vada stories it was good to find out how he started. I did figure out who the killer was early in the piece but the journey to the finale was worth it. Looking forward to the next in the series.
May 11, 2024
Second book I have read from the Vada series and I loved this one once again. The story was compelling and I really enjoyed the more streamlined character usage in this one.
Does need a proofread, there is a few grammar/double ups in there but that doesn’t bother me as it does others.
Similar to the last book I read in this series, I feel like the build up to solving the crime is so well written and then the perpetrator just confesses and it’s all over too soon. Gives me the “and then I woke up” story feel which really hurts all the hard work the writer does in setting the scene in the earlier parts on the novel.
Overall, I’m still very much enjoying these reads and I’ll be opening another one from the series tonight.
Does need a proofread, there is a few grammar/double ups in there but that doesn’t bother me as it does others.
Similar to the last book I read in this series, I feel like the build up to solving the crime is so well written and then the perpetrator just confesses and it’s all over too soon. Gives me the “and then I woke up” story feel which really hurts all the hard work the writer does in setting the scene in the earlier parts on the novel.
Overall, I’m still very much enjoying these reads and I’ll be opening another one from the series tonight.
January 17, 2026
Island is a tense, atmospheric crime thriller that makes excellent use of its isolated setting. As the storm closes in, the sense of claustrophobia and danger escalates beautifully, keeping the pressure on both the characters and the reader.
Nick Vada is a compelling protagonist, and the mystery unfolds with smart pacing, well-placed twists, and a constant undercurrent of menace. A sharp, absorbing read that proves isolation can be just as deadly as the crime itself
Nick Vada is a compelling protagonist, and the mystery unfolds with smart pacing, well-placed twists, and a constant undercurrent of menace. A sharp, absorbing read that proves isolation can be just as deadly as the crime itself
February 8, 2024
I’ve been enjoying this series which is why Im so disappointed at the blatant racism and stereotyping of Aboriginal people at the start of the book. I expect authors to know the effects of misrepresenting a marginalised indigenous population and at bare minimum to use the correct letter capitalisation.
March 12, 2025
Excellent, I loved how this book goes back to the beginning of Nick Vadas’ policing career as a probationary constable, giving a greater insight into the character. It goes some way to demystify the behaviour of Nick Vada the detective in books 1-3, who takes a bit of ‘getting to know’. Really looking forward to book 5 in the series.
June 5, 2025
Found this one pretty slow and not too engaging, compared to books #2 & #3. Needed a lot more proof reading. Was disappointed to have tired and stereotypical tropes about multiple marginalised groups, while it does fit into Australia’s rural culture in 2003, the topics felt unnecessary to explore in a negative way.
June 16, 2024
Best yet so far, Nick Vada just out of police academy.
August 6, 2024
Not a bad story but could do with a good edit. Predictable, too.
September 5, 2024
Entertaining read from the other side of the world.
Brings the Outback to life for this Pom. Nick Vada is a great character, damaged but out to do good in the world.
Brings the Outback to life for this Pom. Nick Vada is a great character, damaged but out to do good in the world.
September 22, 2024
Enjoyed this book , I was keen to keep reading throughout to find out how the crime would be resolved, I have downloaded another from this series.
October 8, 2024
good story bad writing
Good characters but the writing and language skills are lacking. Nothing a good editor cant solve. Good depiction of the outback.
Good characters but the writing and language skills are lacking. Nothing a good editor cant solve. Good depiction of the outback.
February 1, 2025
I enjoy Nick Vada’s adventures.
A good believable read. Sometimes I had to reread a passage to get the context, because I think the grammar and word usage could be more fluid.
A good believable read. Sometimes I had to reread a passage to get the context, because I think the grammar and word usage could be more fluid.
April 21, 2025
Kooleybuc Hotel
Great reading, it was good to read about Nick’s start in the police force and get some background to his beginnings as a copper.
Great reading, it was good to read about Nick’s start in the police force and get some background to his beginnings as a copper.
June 13, 2025
a solid read
Solid reading, story line easy to keep to, good characters. A good read while on holidays or a cold winters day
Solid reading, story line easy to keep to, good characters. A good read while on holidays or a cold winters day
January 5, 2025
1st time reading this authors it was ok but I didn’t exactly love it not sure if I will read anymore
August 14, 2024
Why do people die everytime this guy moves to a new town
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews