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The Community
Paradise has a price. A murder. A disappearance. A sinister network. Steels Creek is an idyllic retreat in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. It's a place where everyone knows their neighbours and no one locks their doors. Investigative journalist Lars Nilsson who has moved to the settlement following a public fall from grace is trying to live a quiet life far from the crime reporting he was once feted for. But when a backpacker's body is found floating in a nearby waterhole and hours later his best friend's daughter is reported missing, Lars is compelled to investigate, putting him back in the cross-hairs of police. What he finds may not only destroy his tightknit community but also the life he has worked so hard to rebuild. Fast-paced and thrilling, The Community is also about fatherhood, family ties and redemption, told through the eyes of a man struggling to make peace with his past.
304 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2024
19 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Christine Gregory
20 books12 followersChristine Gregory is an Australian writer of crime and general fiction. An earlier version of The Community, was runner up for the 2022 Banjo Prize. Christine has previously been shortlisted in the Sisters in Crime, Scarlett Stiletto Awards.
Christine is a former international aid worker and now works as a Director in a national-not for-profit, working on the prevention of violence against women and children. She lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne) with her husband and two children.
Christine is a former international aid worker and now works as a Director in a national-not for-profit, working on the prevention of violence against women and children. She lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne) with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 27, 2024
This was a definite slow burn mystery, which I felt to be less thriller, more mystery. The Sunshine Coast of Australia is beautiful, the story is all the more interesting due to this location. There's a crime, some shady entitled locals, some druggies and a girl who ends up dead.
I felt not overly invested into this one, nothing much new was invested and I was just left feeling it was an ok read.
I enjoyed one of the two narrators most of all, a character names Lars who needed to prove himself after a fall from grace his old journalistic days. Apart from this man with integrity, failed to establish any connection or joy with the other cast of characters.
2.5-3 stars.
Thanks to @betterreadingau and Ultimo Publishing for my copy to #brpreview.
I felt not overly invested into this one, nothing much new was invested and I was just left feeling it was an ok read.
I enjoyed one of the two narrators most of all, a character names Lars who needed to prove himself after a fall from grace his old journalistic days. Apart from this man with integrity, failed to establish any connection or joy with the other cast of characters.
2.5-3 stars.
Thanks to @betterreadingau and Ultimo Publishing for my copy to #brpreview.
July 13, 2024
I do love a good Australian crime thriller and The Community had all the ingredients.. a missing local girl, a dead body, a drug epidemic in the small, sleepy town of Steels Creek. This is a safe place to live, but the discovery of the body brings all the locals deep dark secrets to the surface.
Set in the hinterland of Queenslands Sunshine Coast, this a character driven story, with lots of characters. We hear the story in multiple timelines and from multiple points of view. Disgraced journalist, Lars Nilsson feels that urge to get the story and the truth, putting his life in danger. There are some seriously shady characters here.
It is a slow burn, but worth staying with. There were so many possible culprits for the murder, and I was surprised by the ending.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Set in the hinterland of Queenslands Sunshine Coast, this a character driven story, with lots of characters. We hear the story in multiple timelines and from multiple points of view. Disgraced journalist, Lars Nilsson feels that urge to get the story and the truth, putting his life in danger. There are some seriously shady characters here.
It is a slow burn, but worth staying with. There were so many possible culprits for the murder, and I was surprised by the ending.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for my advanced copy of this book to read.
November 8, 2025
This novel is of the Australian mystery crime genre. It was fairly enjoyable and at just over 300 pages it doesn't take long to get through. Set in an isolated small community in a beautiful setting, the peace is shattered when a body is found. Investigative journalist Lars who also lives in the town feels compelled to investigate even though he has trauma from the last time he wrote a big crime story which ended up derailing his life. It is quite a slow-burner and I felt like some of the concepts and characters were a bit cliché and stereotypical; this is hard to explain without going into spoiler territory so I'll have to keep my justification for that opinion to myself.
Overall: not one I'd go out of my way to recommend but it was likeable enough and I think if you could read it over one or two sessions that would be better than stretching it over days.
Overall: not one I'd go out of my way to recommend but it was likeable enough and I think if you could read it over one or two sessions that would be better than stretching it over days.
January 14, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🌳The Community is a 2024 publication from Ultimo Press. Written by the runner up of the 2022 Banjo Prize, this is a fantastic classic Aussie crime fiction novel. A story of fragile family relationships, small town secrets, off grid lifestyles, trust, violence, loss, identity, the underworld and trauma from the past, it is a thrilling entry into one of my favourite brands of fiction.
🌳The Community is set in the surrounds of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Hinterland, taking the reader directly into a hidden paradise called Steels Creek. This location first appears as incredibly secluded and tranquil, with its serene waters and lush forest areas, but it quickly becomes the backdrop to a sinister discovery.
🌳The strength of The Community lies in Gregory’s depiction of the community of Steels Creek, which often feels as though it is a character in itself and a bold one at that. Steels Creek first appears as a peaceful retreat, but beneath this initial idyllic image, there is a sense of darkness that runs deep. The townsfolk that inhabit this locale all appear to have something to hide. As the narrative progresses, their secrets slowly unravel as the investigation on the body and the missing youth ramp up. There is a definite sense of real unease in this tale and every glance and conversation that occurs seems to be steeped in suspicion. Gregory works hard in her intimate community base to build an environment that is filled with conflict and intrigue. As issues of drug use, trafficking, family loyalties, politics, community dynamics, fatherhood, parenting, divorce, violence and the entry of newcomers to the area all come into play, it amplifies the possibilities and the complexity of the story at hand. What I appreciated most about this novel was the character of investigative journalist Lars, who allows us to see the difficulties faced with trying to make peace with your past, while at the same time preserving your future and ensuring that uncomfortable truths are exposed.
With its well-paced mystery, compelling protagonist, and a vivid sense of place, Christine Gregory has crafted a slow burn Aussie Crime novel that combines complexity of human relationships and the hidden undercurrents of small-town life. I have my eye on book two by Christine Gregory already.
Thank you to Ultimo Press and Christine Gregory for the opportunity to review.
🌳The Community is a 2024 publication from Ultimo Press. Written by the runner up of the 2022 Banjo Prize, this is a fantastic classic Aussie crime fiction novel. A story of fragile family relationships, small town secrets, off grid lifestyles, trust, violence, loss, identity, the underworld and trauma from the past, it is a thrilling entry into one of my favourite brands of fiction.
🌳The Community is set in the surrounds of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Hinterland, taking the reader directly into a hidden paradise called Steels Creek. This location first appears as incredibly secluded and tranquil, with its serene waters and lush forest areas, but it quickly becomes the backdrop to a sinister discovery.
🌳The strength of The Community lies in Gregory’s depiction of the community of Steels Creek, which often feels as though it is a character in itself and a bold one at that. Steels Creek first appears as a peaceful retreat, but beneath this initial idyllic image, there is a sense of darkness that runs deep. The townsfolk that inhabit this locale all appear to have something to hide. As the narrative progresses, their secrets slowly unravel as the investigation on the body and the missing youth ramp up. There is a definite sense of real unease in this tale and every glance and conversation that occurs seems to be steeped in suspicion. Gregory works hard in her intimate community base to build an environment that is filled with conflict and intrigue. As issues of drug use, trafficking, family loyalties, politics, community dynamics, fatherhood, parenting, divorce, violence and the entry of newcomers to the area all come into play, it amplifies the possibilities and the complexity of the story at hand. What I appreciated most about this novel was the character of investigative journalist Lars, who allows us to see the difficulties faced with trying to make peace with your past, while at the same time preserving your future and ensuring that uncomfortable truths are exposed.
With its well-paced mystery, compelling protagonist, and a vivid sense of place, Christine Gregory has crafted a slow burn Aussie Crime novel that combines complexity of human relationships and the hidden undercurrents of small-town life. I have my eye on book two by Christine Gregory already.
Thank you to Ultimo Press and Christine Gregory for the opportunity to review.
August 24, 2024
I went into The Community thinking it might be about a cult, so not wanting to burst anyone’s bubble but it’s not about a cult at all. However it’s important to add that that fact didn’t take away from my reading experience at all.
Setting is quite the winner in this book with descriptions of the fictitious community in Queensland. Seemed idyllic, but there was that something percolating just below the surface.
Character wise there were some good ones, from Lars the tortured, angst ridden journo to the well to do Tam and John, and their privileged daughter. There were lies, secrets, and betrayals aplenty.
Plot-wise I love a murder where there’s diversion - where you think it’s about one thing and it’s absolutely about something else.
The only thing for me was it became a tad confusing sometimes with the points of view only differentiated by date as we heard a few different narrators and it was an adjustment shifting to whose voice it was.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for the early copy to read.
Setting is quite the winner in this book with descriptions of the fictitious community in Queensland. Seemed idyllic, but there was that something percolating just below the surface.
Character wise there were some good ones, from Lars the tortured, angst ridden journo to the well to do Tam and John, and their privileged daughter. There were lies, secrets, and betrayals aplenty.
Plot-wise I love a murder where there’s diversion - where you think it’s about one thing and it’s absolutely about something else.
The only thing for me was it became a tad confusing sometimes with the points of view only differentiated by date as we heard a few different narrators and it was an adjustment shifting to whose voice it was.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for the early copy to read.
December 17, 2024
The Community is a tautly written 'journo noir' set in an idyllic community in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Lars Nilsson is a slightly tainted journo after refusing to disclose his source in court and compromising a police investigation. Living in the community of Steels Creek he survives by doing freelance articles for the local paper.
When his best mate's daughter goes missing the day after a body is found at the local waterfall he is lured back into the world of sourcing information that may get him into more trouble than it's worth.
What he discovers is a far reaching criminal enterprise centred around drugs and bikies. He just needs to decide how deep he wants to wade into this.
Well paced and with a great range of characters this book kept my interest all the way through.
Lars Nilsson is a slightly tainted journo after refusing to disclose his source in court and compromising a police investigation. Living in the community of Steels Creek he survives by doing freelance articles for the local paper.
When his best mate's daughter goes missing the day after a body is found at the local waterfall he is lured back into the world of sourcing information that may get him into more trouble than it's worth.
What he discovers is a far reaching criminal enterprise centred around drugs and bikies. He just needs to decide how deep he wants to wade into this.
Well paced and with a great range of characters this book kept my interest all the way through.
June 26, 2024
This book is everything you want in a crime novel, loads of drama, small town setting, addictive and heart racing throughout the pages! It certainly packs a punch!
I really enjoyed the authors writing style and the ability to engage me straight away. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. I wasn’t expecting where this was heading so was totally absorbed! A missing teenager had me completely invested in this story.
I love a good investigative journalist in a story, and Lars was a favourite character of mine. I had a soft spot for him.
Highly recommend for any crime lovers! It’s fast paced and captivating.
Thank you so much to the lovely team @ultimopress for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the authors writing style and the ability to engage me straight away. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. I wasn’t expecting where this was heading so was totally absorbed! A missing teenager had me completely invested in this story.
I love a good investigative journalist in a story, and Lars was a favourite character of mine. I had a soft spot for him.
Highly recommend for any crime lovers! It’s fast paced and captivating.
Thank you so much to the lovely team @ultimopress for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
July 25, 2025DNF
As a pro Palestine girl, reading the following statement made from an Israeli citizen me feel sick to my stomach;
"But we also have our own fireworks display on the West Bank," Ezra said, splashing water at her."
Making light of the absolute devastation the IDF has inflicted on the West Bank and comparing it to how beautiful an Australian lightning storm looked was so tone deaf and so gross.
This is the first book that I have decided not to finish in years. It made me feel so uncomfortable I decided I was better off putting this one down for good.
As a pro Palestine girl, reading the following statement made from an Israeli citizen me feel sick to my stomach;
"But we also have our own fireworks display on the West Bank," Ezra said, splashing water at her."
Making light of the absolute devastation the IDF has inflicted on the West Bank and comparing it to how beautiful an Australian lightning storm looked was so tone deaf and so gross.
This is the first book that I have decided not to finish in years. It made me feel so uncomfortable I decided I was better off putting this one down for good.
April 22, 2025
Slow-burn crime fiction, told from multiple perspectives
May 15, 2025
I do love a good Australian crime thriller, and Community had all the ingredients: a missing local girl, a body in a waterhole, and a drug epidemic simmering beneath the surface of the seemingly idyllic town of Steels Creek.
Set in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland (just a few hours from where I live), this is a character-driven story with a strong sense of place. We follow disgraced journalist Lars Nilsson, who’s trying to rebuild his life in this quiet community — until tragedy strikes, secrets unravel, and he’s pulled back into the kind of investigation he thought he’d left behind.
Told through multiple points of view and across dual timelines, the story reveals a web of secrets and shady dealings in a town where no one is quite who they seem. It’s a slow burn, but worth sticking with. There were so many potential suspects that I genuinely didn’t see the ending coming.
A solid read — not quite a standout for me, but an atmospheric and suspenseful journey through a small-town mystery with a dark heart.
Set in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland (just a few hours from where I live), this is a character-driven story with a strong sense of place. We follow disgraced journalist Lars Nilsson, who’s trying to rebuild his life in this quiet community — until tragedy strikes, secrets unravel, and he’s pulled back into the kind of investigation he thought he’d left behind.
Told through multiple points of view and across dual timelines, the story reveals a web of secrets and shady dealings in a town where no one is quite who they seem. It’s a slow burn, but worth sticking with. There were so many potential suspects that I genuinely didn’t see the ending coming.
A solid read — not quite a standout for me, but an atmospheric and suspenseful journey through a small-town mystery with a dark heart.
June 15, 2024
I was very excited to receive a copy of ‘The Community’ by Christine Gregory from Better Reading Preview and it did not disappoint! This thrilling read starts with two dramatic scenes bookmarked by a raging Australian summer storm and the beautiful depiction of the Sunshine Coast hinterland landscape the morning after the skies have cleared.
‘The Community’ reflects wonderfully the experience of being an outsider in a community, lacking trust from others and with insight into the reality of situations but without the context of inter-relationships over time. The depiction of the power and influence that can be exerted within an insulated community was also well portrayed.
Christine Gregory has written in ‘The Community’ characters I cared for, relationships I wanted to know more about, storylines that kept me guessing and fantastic twists without the obvious ‘insert plot twist here’ feel that some books of this genre contain. It was a fast-paced read that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. Definitely a good read!
‘The Community’ reflects wonderfully the experience of being an outsider in a community, lacking trust from others and with insight into the reality of situations but without the context of inter-relationships over time. The depiction of the power and influence that can be exerted within an insulated community was also well portrayed.
Christine Gregory has written in ‘The Community’ characters I cared for, relationships I wanted to know more about, storylines that kept me guessing and fantastic twists without the obvious ‘insert plot twist here’ feel that some books of this genre contain. It was a fast-paced read that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. Definitely a good read!
September 28, 2024
Thank you Ultimo Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
Australia has it all when it comes to eerie, isolated and varied type landscapes where murders can take place and it has the highly skilled local authors to pull it off.
The Community is set in Sunshine Coast hinterland and is centred around a community that escaped mainstream.
Lars has moved to Steels Creek to live a quieter life after a tumultuous career in investigative journalism and a divorce that has isolated his ability to father his daughter.
A body in the water sparks his curiosity and his professional skill.
Reconnecting with his adult daughter is a battle that he is determined to win.
She is not making it easy but can she see the goodness in her dad.
The disappearance of his best mates daughter is the last straw as he flirts with a career that ended badly but needs to unravel the mysteries of the town.
Another great Aussie crime thriller that will have you guessing and will leave you satisfied.
Plot and narrative were strong and the cast complimented this nicely.
The plight of fatherhood in a divorce situation was captured powerfully and the sultry selfish attitude of a typical youngster blended the contrast well.
Take a journey in this community to see first hand.
Australia has it all when it comes to eerie, isolated and varied type landscapes where murders can take place and it has the highly skilled local authors to pull it off.
The Community is set in Sunshine Coast hinterland and is centred around a community that escaped mainstream.
Lars has moved to Steels Creek to live a quieter life after a tumultuous career in investigative journalism and a divorce that has isolated his ability to father his daughter.
A body in the water sparks his curiosity and his professional skill.
Reconnecting with his adult daughter is a battle that he is determined to win.
She is not making it easy but can she see the goodness in her dad.
The disappearance of his best mates daughter is the last straw as he flirts with a career that ended badly but needs to unravel the mysteries of the town.
Another great Aussie crime thriller that will have you guessing and will leave you satisfied.
Plot and narrative were strong and the cast complimented this nicely.
The plight of fatherhood in a divorce situation was captured powerfully and the sultry selfish attitude of a typical youngster blended the contrast well.
Take a journey in this community to see first hand.
April 10, 2025
Atmospheric thriller set on the Sunny Coast in the hinterlands.
June 26, 2024
I was excited to receive a copy of The Community by Christine Gregory from Better Reading Review.
I was completely hooked from the beginning and read it in 2 days!
The prologue set the scene well, and left me wondering about the characters, keeping me guessing from the beginning.
I have enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend this book to my fellow book club members!
I was completely hooked from the beginning and read it in 2 days!
The prologue set the scene well, and left me wondering about the characters, keeping me guessing from the beginning.
I have enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend this book to my fellow book club members!
July 24, 2024
Sadly, I found this book to be flat, dull, and unexciting.
The character development was poor. The adults were shallow constructs, with little to define them. The three daughters of the families were carbon copies of each other. I kept losing track of which of the girls was the focus of the chapter because there really was nothing to distinguish them.
The pace was slow and drawn out. I have read flat pack furniture instructions that had more drama and sense of anticipation.
The writing was mostly flat. There were some very good descriptions of the countryside, but this didn't carry over to the rest of the book.
The plot was .... beige. That's the most positive way to describe it. Uninteresting and dull.
For me, this was a miss.
The character development was poor. The adults were shallow constructs, with little to define them. The three daughters of the families were carbon copies of each other. I kept losing track of which of the girls was the focus of the chapter because there really was nothing to distinguish them.
The pace was slow and drawn out. I have read flat pack furniture instructions that had more drama and sense of anticipation.
The writing was mostly flat. There were some very good descriptions of the countryside, but this didn't carry over to the rest of the book.
The plot was .... beige. That's the most positive way to describe it. Uninteresting and dull.
For me, this was a miss.
June 16, 2024
I received an advance copy thanks to Better Reading and Ultimo Press. Set in regional Australia, the book does a great job of painting a picture of the rugged landscape, the impacts of extreme weather patterns (drought and summer storm) and the nature of small town innuendo and gossip. The character development was engaging and realistic, with some expected small town personalities and some new comers that automatically get cast with suspicion. Enjoyable read, with some opportunities to keep you guessing. My only criticism is that I would have liked to have known more about what happened next for some of the characters.
November 2, 2024
3 ⭐️ I had high expectations for this book but honestly there were too many characters to keep straight, too many plot holes and unfinished storyline’s and a very slow storyline. I would have DNF but I had bought the audiobook as well.
June 30, 2024
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Mystery On Mystery!
- - -
@ultimopress you had me at ‘paradise’ and ‘secret hiding’ and wow, you delivered! 🏝️🤫
The Community was a classic whodunnit murder mystery but with an extra layer of mystery.
At first, the influx of characters was like trying to remember everyone at a family reunion 👩🏼👨🏼 but once I got my bearings and grew to love the main investigator Lars, I was hooked.
Fast paced and utterly unputdownable, I was flipping pages like my life depended on it, eager to find out how everything ended.
Fans of Jane Harper, Lucy Campbell, or Dervla McTiernan - this one’s for you! 🕵️♂️
Grab this thrilling read when it is released on July 2nd and dive into the mystery!
Summed Up: Mystery On Mystery!
- - -
@ultimopress you had me at ‘paradise’ and ‘secret hiding’ and wow, you delivered! 🏝️🤫
The Community was a classic whodunnit murder mystery but with an extra layer of mystery.
At first, the influx of characters was like trying to remember everyone at a family reunion 👩🏼👨🏼 but once I got my bearings and grew to love the main investigator Lars, I was hooked.
Fast paced and utterly unputdownable, I was flipping pages like my life depended on it, eager to find out how everything ended.
Fans of Jane Harper, Lucy Campbell, or Dervla McTiernan - this one’s for you! 🕵️♂️
Grab this thrilling read when it is released on July 2nd and dive into the mystery!
June 17, 2024
If you are thinking cult then you are so very wrong……
Thanks to Better Reading and Ultimo Press, I received an ARC for an honest review and I was thrilled when it arrived.
This story has a little bit of everything. A crime, mystery, family drama, traumatised background and of course, a little bit of romance, all set in the picturesque location of Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book, the characters, the location and the little twists and turns that keep you guessing along the way. Christine has created a well-rounded tale that keeps you entertained and captivated.
Told from the point of view of Lars Nilsson, a troubled journalist, who is far from perfect. He is struggling with his career, personal life and relationship with his daughter. Lars ends up investigating the murder and his best friend’s daughter’s disappearance, but there is a little bit of a hiccup, not only does Lars have demons, but the police are not very big fans of his.
This is a slow burn crime/mystery that will keep you entertained and turning the pages keen to see what happens and where it will end up.
Publication date July 2024
#BRPreview
#thecommunity
#christinegregory
#familyfriction
#ultimopress
Thanks to Better Reading and Ultimo Press, I received an ARC for an honest review and I was thrilled when it arrived.
This story has a little bit of everything. A crime, mystery, family drama, traumatised background and of course, a little bit of romance, all set in the picturesque location of Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book, the characters, the location and the little twists and turns that keep you guessing along the way. Christine has created a well-rounded tale that keeps you entertained and captivated.
Told from the point of view of Lars Nilsson, a troubled journalist, who is far from perfect. He is struggling with his career, personal life and relationship with his daughter. Lars ends up investigating the murder and his best friend’s daughter’s disappearance, but there is a little bit of a hiccup, not only does Lars have demons, but the police are not very big fans of his.
This is a slow burn crime/mystery that will keep you entertained and turning the pages keen to see what happens and where it will end up.
Publication date July 2024
#BRPreview
#thecommunity
#christinegregory
#familyfriction
#ultimopress
May 30, 2025
A well formed crime mystery. I enjoyed reading about the ‘community’ based in hinterland Sunshine Coast- such a gorgeous setting. This book had a good mix of characters and explored the complex nature of family relationships well. The main character Lars was very likeable - unassuming, honest and flawed. Not my usual genre but I liked it.
July 14, 2024
The Community by Christine Gregory was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure what to expect but found I appreciated that it was set just a couple of hours from where I live, so I knew of places Gregory mentions, including a trip into the inner eastern suburbs of Brisbane where I used to live. I also liked journalist Lars Nilsson who prefers to keep to himself but is forced to be more involved with the local community when a dead body is found.
I didn't really guess where this was going as - in some ways - it's a little left field given the information we have - but I enjoyed where Gregory takes it. Nilsson reminded me of Chris Hammer's popular investigative journalist Martin Scarsden and I'd certainly be keen to meet him (and some of our other players) again.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
I didn't really guess where this was going as - in some ways - it's a little left field given the information we have - but I enjoyed where Gregory takes it. Nilsson reminded me of Chris Hammer's popular investigative journalist Martin Scarsden and I'd certainly be keen to meet him (and some of our other players) again.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
October 6, 2024
I like Australian mystery/crime novels.
June 25, 2024
The Community by Christine Gregory is an Australian thriller that kept me enthralled right from the very beginning.
Based in Steels Creek, a small co-operative community in the Sunshine Coast hinterlands, The Community takes us inside the life of journalist Lars Nilsson, who has moved from the city for a quieter life.
With the arrival of two foreign visitors to Steels Creek, life takes an unexpected turn, not only for Lars, but for the community in general. Once a quiet, unassuming town, Steels Creek becomes the focus for a mysterious murder. Friends and families become estranged, with their trust in each other being tested to the limits.
The Community is an extremely well-written novel, with Gregory keeping the reader’s attention from page to page. So much so, that I read The Community within 4 days.
Lars is a likeable figure, who is struggling with many personal issues. This makes him a relatable character, especially, I believe for anyone who is a parent. The family connection is very real, and often complicated, which many of us navigate daily, to the best of our ability.
Thank you to Better Reading and Ultimo Press for my ARC of The Community. Christine Gregory is now an author on my radar.
#brpreview
@betterreadingau
Based in Steels Creek, a small co-operative community in the Sunshine Coast hinterlands, The Community takes us inside the life of journalist Lars Nilsson, who has moved from the city for a quieter life.
With the arrival of two foreign visitors to Steels Creek, life takes an unexpected turn, not only for Lars, but for the community in general. Once a quiet, unassuming town, Steels Creek becomes the focus for a mysterious murder. Friends and families become estranged, with their trust in each other being tested to the limits.
The Community is an extremely well-written novel, with Gregory keeping the reader’s attention from page to page. So much so, that I read The Community within 4 days.
Lars is a likeable figure, who is struggling with many personal issues. This makes him a relatable character, especially, I believe for anyone who is a parent. The family connection is very real, and often complicated, which many of us navigate daily, to the best of our ability.
Thank you to Better Reading and Ultimo Press for my ARC of The Community. Christine Gregory is now an author on my radar.
#brpreview
@betterreadingau
October 16, 2024
Steels Creek is an idyllic retreat in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. It's also a place where everyone knows each other and its a friendly place until there's a body found near a waterhole close by.
Lars Nilsson has moved there and hopes for a quiet life until his mate's daughter goes missing.
Lars Nilsson has moved there and hopes for a quiet life until his mate's daughter goes missing.
March 9, 2025
I love a good australian thriller!! this one I could picture the beautiful hinterland of QLD. Kept me on my toes I hope more novels come soon from this author
May 28, 2025
Started off a bit slow but once I got into it I really enjoyed it.
I love a book that I am always thinking about when I’m not reading it.
It’s a typical crime novel but it’s set in my home state, places I’ve grown up around. That’s always a buzz for me.
A nice little twist at the end.
I love a book that I am always thinking about when I’m not reading it.
It’s a typical crime novel but it’s set in my home state, places I’ve grown up around. That’s always a buzz for me.
A nice little twist at the end.
August 25, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable Brisbane based crime novel. Lots of secrets and fear in a small town.
A young woman is found murdered after a rain storm and the hunt is on for her missing fellow traveler
Also a daughter from the town is missing.
A great murder mystery
A young woman is found murdered after a rain storm and the hunt is on for her missing fellow traveler
Also a daughter from the town is missing.
A great murder mystery
May 22, 2025
A really well put together book and based around the Sunshine Coast which made it more interesting and personal.
I did not read the dust cover so had no idea what the book was about when I started. I admit to being a little underwhelmed at first when there were characters coming at me from all directions but then the real story started to materialize, and it all fit together.
It continued to build to a quite dramatic conclusion and left the way open for a sequel.
I did not read the dust cover so had no idea what the book was about when I started. I admit to being a little underwhelmed at first when there were characters coming at me from all directions but then the real story started to materialize, and it all fit together.
It continued to build to a quite dramatic conclusion and left the way open for a sequel.
May 21, 2025
Not a bad mystery. It's a bit of a slow start. Entertaining and some interesting twists and turns that kept me engaged. I enjoy settings that I can relate to. Only gave it 3 stars because I did guess the culprit.
May 7, 2025
An interesting story about a disgraced journalist, Lars, and how a story evolved around him and the people he has grown close to.
He lives in a closed community where everyone has to buy shares to get land, then plans for any dwelling has to be approved by a committee.
A murdered Israeli woman (known to police) is discovered in a local waterhole and the disappearance of her travelling companion along with the disappearance of a young woman who was attending a party at the house, brings police to their community.
Lots of people have things to hide..
Lars is distracted by his daughter who is caught up in the initial investigation and he is hoping for something more from a local widow..
It was an interesting meshing of different parts of the same story, and captivating from the first page.
The conclusion hints to an ongoing storyline involving bikie gangs and drug trafficking, that got swept under the carpet, with the murder being solved and the missing girl found.
I will be looking for more by this author.
He lives in a closed community where everyone has to buy shares to get land, then plans for any dwelling has to be approved by a committee.
A murdered Israeli woman (known to police) is discovered in a local waterhole and the disappearance of her travelling companion along with the disappearance of a young woman who was attending a party at the house, brings police to their community.
Lots of people have things to hide..
Lars is distracted by his daughter who is caught up in the initial investigation and he is hoping for something more from a local widow..
It was an interesting meshing of different parts of the same story, and captivating from the first page.
The conclusion hints to an ongoing storyline involving bikie gangs and drug trafficking, that got swept under the carpet, with the murder being solved and the missing girl found.
I will be looking for more by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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