The novel “Johnno” by David Malouf explores friendship and identity against the backdrop of Brisbane in the mid-20th century. It follows Dante, a reflective and reserved narrator, as he recounts his complex relationship with Johnno, an adventurous and rebellious figure.
Through their interactions, the story captures the city’s changing atmosphere, with vivid details of its streets and landmarks shaping their experiences and memories.
“Last Drinks” by Andrew McGahan is a darkly atmospheric crime novel set in Brisbane. The story follows former journalist George Verney, who is drawn back to his old haunts when a friend, implicated in a suspicious death, seeks his help.
As George uncovers layers of corruption, he retraces his own troubled past in the city’s gritty pubs and shadowy underworld. The novel captures the tension of Queensland’s political scene in the 1980s, with its mix of power, secrets, and moral decay.
“Fly Away Peter” by David Malouf is set in early 20th-century Brisbane. The story follows Jim Saddler, a birdwatcher living a quiet life, and Ashley Crowther, a landowner who shares Jim’s love for the natural world.
Their lives change when World War I breaks out, taking Jim to the battlefields of Europe. The book explores how innocence is lost and how beauty can exist even in the face of devastation.
It begins in the peaceful wetlands of Queensland and contrasts this with the horrors of war.
The book “Praise” by Andrew McGahan follows the life of Gordon, a directionless young man in Brisbane, as he drifts through a haze of unemployment, sex, and substance use.
Set in the gritty underbelly of suburban life, the story explores his aimless existence and complicated relationship with Cynthia, a woman who is as self-destructive as he is. The raw honesty of Gordon’s struggles paints an unfiltered picture of life on the margins.
“Tirra Lirra by the River” by Jessica Anderson tells the story of Nora Porteous, a woman reflecting on her life as she returns to her childhood home in Brisbane.
After spending years away in London, she looks back at her experiences with marriage, independence, and the choices that shaped her path. The book explores her world through memory, where small details of Brisbane life come alive.
Nora’s journey is both personal and deeply tied to the place she once called home.
Chris Nyst wrote “Cop This!”, a crime novel set in Brisbane that follows the story of lawyer Eddie Moran. Eddie gets caught up in a dangerous situation when he defends a client connected to the criminal underworld.
The book dives into courtroom drama, shady dealings, and the gritty streets of Brisbane, where nothing is as straightforward as it seems.
John Birmingham wrote “He Died with a Felafel in His Hand,” a darkly funny account of sharehouse living in Brisbane and other Australian cities. The book recounts chaotic encounters with eccentric housemates, absurd situations, and plenty of oddball humor.
It’s based on his own experiences, showcasing the trials of finding a home while dealing with personalities that range from wild to downright strange.
The novel “Steam Pigs” by Melissa Lucashenko tells the story of Sue, a young woman from Brisbane, navigating life after leaving an abusive relationship.
It captures her struggles with work, love, and identity as she tries to find her place in a world that often feels stacked against her.
Set against the gritty backdrop of working-class Brisbane, the book paints a vivid picture of the city’s streets and the people who inhabit them, revealing both their harsh realities and moments of humor.
Kate Morton’s “The Forgotten Garden” follows the story of a young girl abandoned on a ship bound for Australia, where she is taken in by a dockmaster and his wife. Years later, on her twenty-first birthday, she learns the truth about her origins.
The story moves between three generations as secrets tied to a mysterious garden, a grand estate, and a woman known as the Authoress come to light. The book weaves past and present together, revealing family mysteries through layers of time.
“The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco” by John Birmingham is a hilarious and chaotic tale about a group of misfit housemates in Brisbane. The story follows their wild antics as they face eviction and try to save their crumbling sharehouse.
It’s filled with eccentric characters, bizarre situations, and a stream of absurd events. If you’re looking for something outrageous set in the heart of Brisbane’s suburban chaos, this book delivers.