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Beneath the Eucalypt
Albert never planned to stay long.
A makeshift community of schoolteachers and half-feral kids wasn’t exactly his idea of peace and quiet—even if it came with running water, rationed rice pudding, and the faint smell of chalk dust. But when trouble brews and tensions mount, Albert finds himself doing something sticking around.
And when staying becomes dangerous, he does something even stranger.
He leads them away.
Because he knows a place. Off the map. Out of the way. Where tomato plants grow in neat rows, the old folk still believe in crochet, and nobody makes you join a sing-along.
At least, not twice.
A makeshift community of schoolteachers and half-feral kids wasn’t exactly his idea of peace and quiet—even if it came with running water, rationed rice pudding, and the faint smell of chalk dust. But when trouble brews and tensions mount, Albert finds himself doing something sticking around.
And when staying becomes dangerous, he does something even stranger.
He leads them away.
Because he knows a place. Off the map. Out of the way. Where tomato plants grow in neat rows, the old folk still believe in crochet, and nobody makes you join a sing-along.
At least, not twice.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 2, 2026
This review is for all three in the series.
These were quite well written, grammatically speaking, but they lacked any background for the world! It was aggressively, though vaguely Australian, meaning no detail of how the zompoc came about, past some vague information about the govt herding people into evacuation camps. I didn't know what state it was in. There's a lot of description of 'outback' scenery.
Not much happens for the characters beyond the repeated theme of the old man abandoning his solitude, looking after the little girl and her foster mum. It's very clean, without the usual Australian swearing, I might add, and no one seems to get any throughout the whole story. I don't look for romance in these books, but one would expect some sort of interactions of that kind. It was just rather simplistic. I even wondered whether it was aimed at children rather than adults, though it wasn't tagged as that. The zombies seem too easy to defeat. They never really endanger the characters.
The old folks home that survives the apocalypse was entertaining, however, though I don't know that all adults would have really been that delighted at the arrival of a mob of children to destroy their peace.
These were quite well written, grammatically speaking, but they lacked any background for the world! It was aggressively, though vaguely Australian, meaning no detail of how the zompoc came about, past some vague information about the govt herding people into evacuation camps. I didn't know what state it was in. There's a lot of description of 'outback' scenery.
Not much happens for the characters beyond the repeated theme of the old man abandoning his solitude, looking after the little girl and her foster mum. It's very clean, without the usual Australian swearing, I might add, and no one seems to get any throughout the whole story. I don't look for romance in these books, but one would expect some sort of interactions of that kind. It was just rather simplistic. I even wondered whether it was aimed at children rather than adults, though it wasn't tagged as that. The zombies seem too easy to defeat. They never really endanger the characters.
The old folks home that survives the apocalypse was entertaining, however, though I don't know that all adults would have really been that delighted at the arrival of a mob of children to destroy their peace.
August 15, 2026
A believable well written yarn
I really enjoyed the three books in this series. They were believable, very easy to read ( I’m 88 and that matters)the characterisation was down to Earth Australian (not in the least contrived) and the descriptions of the countryside and the climate made me quite nostalgic for the time I went camping through that area on my motorbike. Good for you Jon.
I really enjoyed the three books in this series. They were believable, very easy to read ( I’m 88 and that matters)the characterisation was down to Earth Australian (not in the least contrived) and the descriptions of the countryside and the climate made me quite nostalgic for the time I went camping through that area on my motorbike. Good for you Jon.
April 12, 2026
Quite nice
Survival of the zombie apocalypse in the Australian outback. Human interaction plays a bigger role than killing zombies, which is refreshing. I've never been to Australia but I've read about it. I recommend this series and hope there will be more in the future. Main character is a cranky old man, as a fellow cranky old man I can relate.
Survival of the zombie apocalypse in the Australian outback. Human interaction plays a bigger role than killing zombies, which is refreshing. I've never been to Australia but I've read about it. I recommend this series and hope there will be more in the future. Main character is a cranky old man, as a fellow cranky old man I can relate.
November 25, 2025
LOVE these stories!
What an absolute joy to read. I started it because I love apocalypse fiction but the apocalypse setting is in background noise, necessary for the story but only as the setting, the *real* story is the relationships of the characters. Read it!
What an absolute joy to read. I started it because I love apocalypse fiction but the apocalypse setting is in background noise, necessary for the story but only as the setting, the *real* story is the relationships of the characters. Read it!
April 4, 2026
enjoyed all three books
For dog lovers, please note the dog does not die. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, these books are outside the genre. But they are very much worth your time!
For dog lovers, please note the dog does not die. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, these books are outside the genre. But they are very much worth your time!
May 11, 2026
great series!
Well written. Heart felt. Found family, community and friends in times of turmoil.
Well written with well developed characters.
Interesting scenes of Australia, life, animals. And culture.
Well written. Heart felt. Found family, community and friends in times of turmoil.
Well written with well developed characters.
Interesting scenes of Australia, life, animals. And culture.
June 18, 2026
Good ending book to the trilogy. The relationships interactions among the characters are well done. There is an appropriate amount of action cropping up at times. This book is a satisfying third book of the trilogy. Recommended.
July 25, 2026
This was an excellent finish to the series. Most importantly the dog survived. There was some action against the infected but the main story is about relationships and found families in the Australian bush.
September 3, 2026
Like no other book
The end of the series was perfect. No matter what how you help people is how people see you. What you do when nobody is looking makes the moral compass chose the right direction.
The end of the series was perfect. No matter what how you help people is how people see you. What you do when nobody is looking makes the moral compass chose the right direction.
December 9, 2025
Wonderful story
I really enjoyed this series! I fell in love with all the characters except the zombies. 😝 Thank you for a great read!
I really enjoyed this series! I fell in love with all the characters except the zombies. 😝 Thank you for a great read!
March 18, 2026
A good book
I enjoyed this book.For the most parts it is easy reading.I will be moving on to a different kind of book.
I enjoyed this book.For the most parts it is easy reading.I will be moving on to a different kind of book.
March 23, 2026
Loved this
I really enjoyed this series. I loved the main characters. The story line was enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading apocalyptic stories.
I really enjoyed this series. I loved the main characters. The story line was enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading apocalyptic stories.
September 27, 2026
5stars
Enjoyed the 3book series. Great imagination, & storyline.
12 more words required, im not going to give away the story.
Enjoyed the 3book series. Great imagination, & storyline.
12 more words required, im not going to give away the story.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews