Under Kakadu Skies

The Wild Australia Stories #11

by Jennifer Scoullar

Compelling new romantic suspense from the rugged heart of Kakadu, by the bestselling author of Currawong Creek.

After a painful betrayal, Sydney wildlife biologist Jo Reid takes a job in Kakadu National Park, hoping to escape from the rawness of her shattered life. Soon Jo is exploring vast floodplains, escarpments and crocodile-haunted waterways — a landscape as beautiful as it is unforgiving.

She finds herself drawn to Kai Walker, a solitary ranger whose quiet strength unsettles her in ways she didn’t expect. But the deeper Jo ventures into Kai’s world, the more she senses that something is terribly wrong in the remote country they patrol.

When events take a dangerous turn, Jo is forced to confront both the shadows closing in and the truths she’s been running from. In the end she must decide how much she’s willing to risk — for the wild country she’s come to love, and the man at the heart of it.

Set beneath the vast skies and ancient escarpments of the Top End, Under Kakadu Skies is a thrilling story about trust, courage and the healing power of wild places.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

About the author

Jennifer Scoullar Bio

Jennifer has always harboured a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world. Her house is on a hill-top, overlooking valleys of messmate and mountain ash. A pair of old eagles live there too. Black-shouldered wallabies graze by the creek. Eastern Spinebills hover among the callistemon. Jennifer lives with her family on a beautiful property in the mountains, that was left to her by her father. Horses have always been her passion. She grew up on the books of Elyne Mitchell, and all her life she’s ridden and bred horses, in particular Australian Stock Horses. She has nine published novels. Brumby’s Run (Penguin 2012), Currawong Creek (Penguin 2013), Billabong Bend (Penguin 2014), Turtle Reef (Penguin 2015), Journey's End (Penguin 2016), Fortune's Son (Penguin 2017), The Lost Valley (Pilyara Press 2018), The Memory Tree (Pilyara Press 2019) and Wasp Season (Pilyara Press 2020)

Reviews

[Craig and Phil]

Big thanks to Jennifer for gifting us a copy to read and review.
The bustle of Sydney where decisions are made and strings pulled to the majestic beauty of Kakadu is captured in a rural fiction where crime is a major thread.
The criminal act of capturing wild animals and smuggling them to high paying overseas markets is cruel and sickening.
Intricate crime rings profit and control this barbaric practice.
Jo decides to leave Sydney and the corporate side of her work to pursue a role on the ground.
Betrayal on the home front and in the office prompts the move.
The heat, beauty, wildlife and rich landscape of Kakadu infectiously finds its way to her heart and soul.
Meeting Kai and seeing the work he does and the experience he has with terrain and its creatures inspires a respect.
Illegal activities, danger and a good dose of tension spiral into an action packed ending.
True feelings are realised and priorities sorted.
I am huge fan of this author and noted a change in direction from previous books.
I really enjoyed the crime and tension thread and learning more about the impact and cruelties that threaten and kill our wildlife.
Some hard hitting anecdotes throughout show how harsh life can be for our animals.
A great setting, storyline and characters.

[Karen]

Thank you to Jennfer Scoullar for my ARC of Under Kakadu Skies.
This is my honest, voluntary review.

Under Kakadu Skies begins in Sydney, where Dr Jo Reid, a CSIRO wildlife biologist is navigating a number of unexpected, unpleasant life upheavals. Jo accepts a position at Kakadu National Park, hoping to leave betrayals and hurt behind.

Jo is thrown together with park ranger Kai Walker and begins to see her research as much more than statistics, GPS coordinates and grant submissions. As a field researcher, Jo finds herself healing, not only by the natural surrounds of Kakadu, but by the human connections she makes.

However, events take a dramatic turn, finding Jo and Kai in danger. Fighting for survival, they must both confront their pasts and learn to trust again.

After having read a number of Jennifer's previous novels, I was looking forward to reading Under Kakadu Skies. While at the beginning I found myself struggling, the character building was crucial to the story. Once the Kakadu adventure began, I found myself completely engrossed in the story. Jennifer has a wonderful way of writing that brings the scenery to life. I could see every colour, hear ever sound and smell every scent.
Under Kakadu Skies is an immersion of the senses in the most wonderful way.

There is something about an Australian outback story that speaks to me. Perhaps because I have been fortunate enough to have lived in and visited a number of North West and small country towns. The beauty of our wonderful country is a part of my soul. Reading about this beauty in such wonderfully crafted stories takes me back.
While I have visited Darwin, I have never been to Kakadu, until now. Thank you for the journey to Kakadu, Jennifer.

[Lesley Hooper]

I loved this book. I particularly loved how Jo's character developed and changed into who she really was.

[Davina]

I was very excited to be an early reader of this book. I looked forward to another read from Jennifer Scoullar. I was not disappointed. I got immersed in the setting, which is one of my favourite things when reading a book. There was plenty of action, and parts when you wonder how they are going to get out of the situation, but in the end, everything works out and love conquers! Well done to Jennifer, and I can't wait to read the next book.

[Anna Maree]

What a brilliant read this is. It would make an awesome movie or mini series. There is so much in this wonderful read from Romance to drama with poachers, shootings and lots of drama.

Dr Jo Reid is caught up in the belief that her life will be perfect if she can just score the job she so badly wants but to do that she feels she needs to put everything else aside and focus on her goal. When she starts to question if her husband is cheating on her and then finds proof that backs her belief she finds that everything in her life starts to fall apart. With her marriage on the rocks and her career not going the way she had hoped she switches track and leaves the city for Kakadu where she meets Kai. She is warned not to take to heart anything the brisk Kai may say. She quickly impresses Kai who was expecting some city upstart and is pleased that Jo is actually someone who has a genuine love and knowledge of the precious creatures that are so close to his heart. When they both wander into dangerous ground they will need to depend on each other to get though and stay safe.

I really enjoyed this read and found that I hated to put my book down as I so badly wanted to know what was to happen next. Its a delightful love story with out the mush.
Well done Jennifer and I cant wait to read more of your books.

[Karan]

This was a fabulous read. So suspenseful and realistic. Once again, Jennifer has obviously completed extensive research on her subject, herpetology. Jo is a research scientist based in Sydney and is on an upward career trajectory when things start going very wrong in her life. Full of doubt and uncertainty she travels to Kakadu for work where she becomes embroiled in a life threatening scenario. Can she survive this and make the correct decisions about where her loyalties lie.
A gripping edge of the seat story with fabulous description of Kakadu and our amazing wildlife. Thanks Jennifer for an ARC.

[Karren Sandercock]

Sydney, Australia. Josephine Reid though she had to it all, a great job with the CSIRO as a herpetologist and her world comes crashing down and she needs a change.

Northern Territory, Australia. Jo applies for a position as a field officer in the Kakadu National Park and it’s as far away from her past as she can get.

Kai Walker is a ranger, he takes one look at the city girl and thinks Jo will run off when she sees her first snake and he really underestimates her.

Jo can’t wait to be exploring the wetlands and crocodile infested rivers, a majestic place and she doesn’t miss the hustle and bustle of Sydney or being stuck in her office one bit. Sure she knows it’s remote and dangerous, but she feels safe with the rugged and highly experienced Kai, and she visits his homestead Brogla’s Run and meets his sister Ally and discovers he has a soft side.

Jo and Kai can't understand why some tagged animals have gone missing, they sense something is wrong, go exploring to find out what happened and uncover a sinister situation that's hard to comprehend.

I received a copy of Under Kakadu Skies (The Wild Australia Stories #11) from Jennifer Scoullar and Pilyara Press in exchange for an honest review. I haven't read the first ten books in the series, I wish I had and this novel is brilliant. You forget reptiles survived when everything else died, and are a direct link to prehistoric and ancient times.

The narrative is set in a stunning and beautiful place, full of rivers, sandstone cliffs, plants, and the odd feral animal and sorry brumbies.

The characters are strong, I admired both Jo and Kai, they were willing to put themselves in harm's way to save Australia’s precious wildlife and it’s a story about uncertainty, grit, determination, acts of bravery and fresh starts.

I’ve added visiting Kakadu National Park to my bucket list and please Ms Scoullar write the next book in the series about Ally finding love and five stars from me. Under Kakadu Skies is due to be released on the 15th of September 2026 and I highly recommend and a must read for those who enjoy fast paced and down to earth Aussie fiction.

[Brenda]

Sydney scientist Dr Jo Reid, applied for, and was accepted, for a job in the Kakadu National Park. The dark turn her life had taken in Sydney was heartbreaking - she needed to be as far away as she could be. She also had no idea how much she would love her job, working with ranger, Kai Walker, watching his caring concern for the animals, crocodiles, lizards, monitors and more. The heat was oppressive, but the satisfaction was amazing. The day Jo & Kai found evidence of poaching, Kai was angry; Jo despaired. And when Darwin wouldn't send people down to investigate, Kai decided to do it himself.

Going with Kai - no way was Jo not participating - they'd prepared for a two day hike. Carrying kit, walking in toward the river after their vehicle could go no further, they struck trouble. Kai knew the outback like the back of his hand; knew the tracks that weren't on maps; knew where his tagged animals were. But so it seemed, did others. The danger was intense, but they were both determined....

Under Kakadu Skies is #11 in the Wild Australia Stories by Aussie author Jennifer Scoullar and it was a cracker! Fast paced, frightening in places; the vast, wild country pulled at me, along with Jo and Kai. Drawing attention to the wildlife, the illegal wildlife trade, and the Territory Brumbies, was heartwarming. I've loved everything by this author, and this one is no different - possibly her best yet IMHO! Each of this series can be read as standalones, and I highly recommend this one, an excellent romantic suspense, heavier on the suspense!

With thanks to the author and Pilyara Press for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Michelle]

Well it has been a long, long time between reviews and that makes me a little nervous. I haven't stopped reading, but time to review just never seems to eventuate.

I still read pretty voraciously when I can carve out some time and I jumped at the chance when I received an inbox message from the author offering an early copy of the book in return for an honest review. At the time I didn't think about the fact that it meant I actually had to sit and write the review, it was all about the opportunity to read Under Kakadu Skies early. I did read it early, but I did not write a review. Now that we are fast approaching release date I am re-reading the story so that I can make good on my side of the deal. This title is published by Pilyara Press, a smaller publishing house that has published some fabulous stories.

Under Kakadu Skies (The Wild Australia Stories – Book 11) is a tale that illustrates Scoullar's love of the natural word in a way that brings it to life in full colour, her love of the land and all things living shines through in a way that can not be denied. As always in her work there are animal characters with huge personalities that you will grow to love as much, sometimes more than, the human ones.

Scoullar has a way with words that brings everything sharply into focus; the landscape, the characters and the animals. I haven't travelled a lot, and especially not into places like Kakadu, but Scoullar's descriptive writing makes me want to see new places, and feel like I am there with her characters.

I love a good story, one I can sink my teeth into, and Scoullar never disappoints. Under Kakadu Skies brings together elements of romance, that is very much of the sweet rather than steamy variety, with suspense and a spotlight on animal conservation.

Professor Jo Reid is a dedicated scientist hyper-focused on her career, which revolves around animal conservation; tracking rare and endangered species, but usually from a distance. She's done the field work, in well controlled conditions and her eyes have always been firmly trained on the Deputy Director job. Life has a way of throwing obstacles that take you far from what you have worked tirelessly toward, and landing you right where you were always meant to be - even if it takes a while to recognise that. Jo loses everything when she returns from a conference early to discover her assistant in her house with her husband, throwing everything into question and leading her to make mistakes at work and be passed over for the promotion she was so determined to land. A fieldwork position in Kakadu is about as far from her sterile Sydney office as she can get and it offers time to reflect and re-evaluate her life going forward, about a million miles from her comfort zone and something she is way overqualified for but maybe it's just what she needs to gain a new perspective.

Ranger Kai Walker is deeply in tune with Kakadu and has turned a troubled past into a deep need to make amends, and has him connected to the country. He also has a passion for conservation and the welfare of all the living creatures that call Kakadu home. It seems from the outset that he feels a deeper connection with the wildlife than he does with most people, and his dreams revolve around building a brumby sanctuary on his family property to avoid the need to cull them.

Jo and Kai comes across poachers while they are in the park and here Scoullar shines in the way she focuses on poaching and the damage it does to ecosystems and the abject cruelty in which the animals are treated. This is where my heart physically hurt, because even though this is fiction I know that it happens; there is big money in the illegal animal trade and smugglers have to be inventive to move the animals. Unfortunately that doesn't bode well for the animals and I hate to think how many of them don't make it, which makes for a completely senseless loss of life; I can't imagine buyers paying for the animals that don't make it.

Under Kakadu Skies is a captivating, and heartbreaking, tale that illustrates the love that Scoullar has for Kakadu and for reptiles as well as her passion for conservation. She writes in a manner that draws you all the way in until you can't help but share her love.

Jo is a character that I can't help but admire. She had all the knowledge and the passion for conservation, from a research and tracking perspective. Until the day she put herself out there, and she grew into a fearless advocate for the animals she had researched so long. She forged a new path forward, found a courage she never thought she would to move forward in a direction she would never have dreamed and quite happily turned her back on the position that she worked so tirelessly toward.

Twice I have read this book, and I think I could happily read it again. There is a brumby colt that even now I can see prancing behind my eyelids, and would love to meet.

If you haven't read any of Jennifer Scoullar's books and you love animals, and find yourself becoming attached to their cheeky characters, then I would absolutely recommend you pick one up - you won't regret it.

[Susan K]

PUBLIC

I thoroughly enjoyed Under Kakadu Skies which is a mix of romance, suspense and adventure set against the backdrop of Kakadu National Park. The author’s descriptions bring the rugged beauty of the Top End to life and I found myself learning things about the Top End I didn’t know about.

Jo Reid is a relatable and resilient woman whose journey of healing after betrayal is engaging and heartfelt. Her growing relationship with ranger Kai Walker develops naturally. Kai is a compelling character whose quiet strength and mystery keeps you invested in uncovering the truths hidden beneath the surface.

The book strikes a good balance between romance and suspense and the remote wilderness setting adds an extra layer of intrigue and danger.

At its heart, Under Kakadu Skies is a story about trust, courage and second chances and was an easy read.