Brisbane Between the Pages: 10 Books I Love

There’s something special about reading a story set in a place you know, or a place you want to know better. Brisbane, with its unique blend of sunshine, shadows, history, and sprawling suburbs, has inspired some fantastic books.

Here are ten novels where the city itself feels almost like a character. I still remember moments from these stories years after reading them.

  1. 1
    Johnno by David Malouf

    This book captures Brisbane during the 1940s and 50s so well. It follows the narrator, Dante, and his long, complicated friendship with the unforgettable Johnno. Johnno is one of those larger-than-life characters who is always pulling some stunt or escaping conformity.

    Dante is quieter, more observant. Their story unfolds across familiar city spots, from school days to adulthood, and really shows how a place shapes your memories and who you become.

  2. 2
    Last Drinks by Andrew McGahan

    This one takes you into the darker side of Brisbane during a time of political upheaval in the 1980s. George Verney used to be a journalist, but he gets pulled back into that world when an old friend needs help after a suspicious death.

    It’s a story full of smoky pubs, backroom deals, and the heavy atmosphere of corruption that hung over Queensland back then. George has to confront his own past as he searches for the truth.

  3. 3
    Fly Away Peter by David Malouf

    David Malouf transports you first to the peaceful coastal wetlands near Brisbane before World War I. Jim Saddler is passionate about birds; he meticulously catalogues the local species on a sanctuary owned by Ashley Crowther.

    Their quiet world, full of nature and observation, is shattered when Jim enlists and goes to the trenches in France. The contrast between the beauty of the Queensland coast and the horror of the Western Front is incredibly powerful.

  4. 4
    Praise by Andrew McGahan

    This book offers a stark look at life for some young adults in Brisbane. Gordon doesn’t have much direction. He works dead-end jobs, drinks too much, and floats between share houses. His relationship with Cynthia is intense and often destructive.

    It’s a raw story about aimlessness and intimacy, set in the kind of suburban landscape many Brisbanites would recognize, far from the glossy image of the city.

  5. 5
    Tirra Lirra by the River by Jessica Anderson

    Nora Porteous returns to her childhood home in Brisbane as an old woman, after decades away, mostly in London. As she recovers from an illness in the house where she grew up, her life unfolds through memories.

    You see her youth in Brisbane, her difficult marriage, her escape to England, and her search for independence. It’s a thoughtful journey through one woman’s past, and Brisbane emerges vividly through the lens of her recollections.

  6. 6
    Cop This! by Chris Nyst

    If you enjoy legal thrillers, this one set in Brisbane is quite a ride. Eddie Moran is a lawyer who ends up defending a client tangled in the city’s criminal underworld. Things get complicated quickly.

    The story moves between tense courtroom scenes and the seedier side of Brisbane, where alliances shift and danger seems constant.

  7. 7
    He Died with a Felafel in His Hand by John Birmingham

    This book is legendary for its tales of share-house chaos, much of it set in Brisbane. John Birmingham shares stories based on his own experiences that are almost too wild to believe.

    Expect bizarre housemates, unbelievable messes, encounters with the police, and a constant struggle to find somewhere decent to live. It’s funny in a way that recognizes the absurdity of it all.

  8. 8
    Steam Pigs by Melissa Lucashenko

    Melissa Lucashenko writes about Sue, a young Aboriginal woman trying to build a life for herself in Brisbane after leaving a bad relationship. She’s finding her way through work, new connections, and her own identity.

    The book gives a real sense of working-class Brisbane life, its challenges, and the resilience and humor of people on the margins. You get a feel for the streets, the pubs, and the everyday struggles.

  9. 9
    The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

    Kate Morton weaves a mystery across generations, starting when a little girl named Nell arrives alone on a ship in Brisbane in 1913. She’s eventually told the truth about her arrival on her 21st birthday, which sparks a lifelong quest to understand her origins.

    The search leads her granddaughter, Cassandra, decades later to England, a hidden garden, and the secrets of a mysterious Edwardian author. Parts of the story unfold in Brisbane as Nell grows up.

  10. 10
    The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco by John Birmingham

    Another hilarious book from John Birmingham about Brisbane share-house life. This one centers on a group of housemates facing eviction from their dilapidated home.

    Their attempts to save the house involve scams, parties, questionable decisions, and run-ins with memorable characters, including the titular “Tasmanian Babes.” It captures a certain kind of chaotic energy specific to shared living.