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Bad Country
"Remember what I said, Laura. Stay away from that awful place. It's just not safe."
People and place. A deep and timeless connection
Since European settlement, disturbing things have happened in the small town of Wallaby Rock.
When the bodies of teenage football stars Benny and Jordy Thompson are discovered at the bottom of the local gorge, everyone is shocked.
Everyone except 18-year-old Laura Murray. Laura has the gift of second sight. It's a gift she's never wanted and struggles to accept. Laura is drawn to the gorge, ignoring the warnings of her best friend Joanna and her family to stay away.
As Laura's dreams grow darker, more disappearances and deaths occur, and Wallaby Rock is front-page news for all the wrong reasons.
Bad Country explores the concept of psychogeography. There has always been a strong connection between people and place. But how deeply does our geographical environment shape our emotions and behaviours?
Is it possible that evil deeds not only affect victims and their families for generations but can mark the landscape?
- GenresCrime
298 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2024
About the author
Kim Ulrick
2 books5 followersKim Ulrick is an author, writer and storyteller who loves crafting unique, Australian stories. Kim's debut, upper Young Adult novel, Bad Country, explored the concept of psychogeography. Evil deeds affect people, often for many generations, but can they also seep into the soil and soul of where they have occurred and influence future behaviors? Kim's second novel, Bad People, is a classic tale of good versus evil where no one is sure who they can trust. Kim is an award-winning writer, receiving the prestigious Banjo Paterson award in 2024 for her short story, Shame the Stars. When she’s not writing Kim enjoys beach walks with her family and her dog, playing golf, reading and good wine.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 22, 2025
If a place can hold memories, then the community of Wallaby Rock can lay testament to a dark struggle. Because secrets of the past seem to pervade the gorge. Perhaps evil is drawn to its own. Bad things keep happening in Laura’s home town, and she senses there is more to recent disappearances than she is comfortable to share. People might think she is crazy. Yet she might just be the catalyst to solve the curse that appears to hover over the little town, creeping into dreams she can’t shake. If the truth can be found behind her flickering eyelids, sooner or later she will learn it. That’s if malignant forces don’t claim her first.
December 12, 2025
Bad Country is a gripping blend of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. Kim Ulrick delivers a haunting story set in the small town of Wallaby Rock, a place burdened by a long history of dark events. When two local teenagers are found dead, 18-year-old Laura—who has the unsettling gift of second sight—finds herself drawn to the gorge despite every warning to stay away.
The novel stands out for its unique exploration of psychogeography, asking how a landscape can hold memories, emotions, and even the imprint of past evil. Laura’s visions grow more disturbing as the town’s tragedies escalate, and the tension builds beautifully with each chapter.
This is an atmospheric and engaging read with strong themes, a chilling setting, and a thoughtful look at the connection between people and place. Perfect for readers who enjoy mystery with a supernatural edge and stories that linger long after the last page.
The novel stands out for its unique exploration of psychogeography, asking how a landscape can hold memories, emotions, and even the imprint of past evil. Laura’s visions grow more disturbing as the town’s tragedies escalate, and the tension builds beautifully with each chapter.
This is an atmospheric and engaging read with strong themes, a chilling setting, and a thoughtful look at the connection between people and place. Perfect for readers who enjoy mystery with a supernatural edge and stories that linger long after the last page.
February 10, 2026
Bad Country is the kind of book that lingers long after the final page. The atmosphere around Wallaby Rock is heavy, unsettling, and deeply immersive. Laura’s struggle with her second sight feels raw and believable, especially as her connection to the gorge grows darker. I loved how the story explored the idea that places can carry memory, trauma, and influence human behavior. The pacing is steady but gripping, with tension building through dreams, disappearances, and quiet dread rather than shock alone. This is more than a mystery it’s a haunting reflection on people, place, and inherited darkness. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy psychological and atmospheric fiction.
July 29, 2025
More than just a mystery
Yes, it has twists and dark secrets, but Bad Country is really about how our surroundings shape us. The gorge isn’t just scenery, it’s a character, holding centuries of hurt. Laura’s struggle with her visions felt so raw. I loved the tension between her inner world and the town’s denial. A genuinely moving, quietly terrifying read.
Yes, it has twists and dark secrets, but Bad Country is really about how our surroundings shape us. The gorge isn’t just scenery, it’s a character, holding centuries of hurt. Laura’s struggle with her visions felt so raw. I loved the tension between her inner world and the town’s denial. A genuinely moving, quietly terrifying read.
September 7, 2024
This book hooked me from the start - I couldn’t put it down!
September 1, 2024
A great read! Rich characters and the Australian bush come to life in this small town thriller. Where history and the present day connect through a dark lineage.
January 27, 2026
Bad Country is an eerie, atmospheric novel that lingers long after the final page. Kim Ulrick masterfully weaves suspense, small-town secrets, and the unsettling bond between people and place into a haunting story. Laura’s unwanted gift of second sight adds emotional depth and tension, while the creeping sense of dread surrounding Wallaby Rock is brilliantly realized. Thought-provoking and chilling, this is a compelling read for anyone who loves psychological mystery with a strong sense of place.
November 21, 2024
If Picnic At Hanging Rock is your vibe, then you need to read Bad Country by Kim Ulrick!
I thoroughly enjoy this atmospheric, complex and terrifying Australian read, a multi-POV thriller that's immersive and consuming.
I also loved the mid-point introduction of the killer’s POV and how the momentum builds. It gets dark, and the past and present intersect in supernatural and logical ways that held me captive till the very end.
I thoroughly enjoy this atmospheric, complex and terrifying Australian read, a multi-POV thriller that's immersive and consuming.
I also loved the mid-point introduction of the killer’s POV and how the momentum builds. It gets dark, and the past and present intersect in supernatural and logical ways that held me captive till the very end.
October 18, 2024
*Bad Country*
by Kim Ulrick
5 outof 5 🌟
Thedelves into the sinister undercurrents of small-town life, blending mystery, supernatural insight, and the eerie imprint of history on the landscape. The story follows Laura Murray, an 18-year-old with an unwanted gift: the ability to glimpse into the future. Her second sight becomes both a curse and a guide when two teenage football players are found dead at Wallaby Rock's gorge—a place whispered about for generations but rarely understood.
Laura’s internal struggle with her abilities adds depth to the novel. Ulrick doesn’t merely present her as a psychic detective; instead, Laura is a young woman caught between a desire for normalcy and an inescapable connection to Wallaby Rock’s haunting past. As her visions intensify, so do the disappearances, painting a portrait of a town not just marked by tragedy but seemingly cursed by it.
Where *Bad Country* stands out is in its exploration of psychogeography—the relationship between people and the places they inhabit. Ulrick masterfully portrays how a landscape, especially one with a history of violence, can shape the emotions and actions of those living there. Is the gorge simply a place of misfortune, or has it absorbed the pain and darkness of past events, becoming a catalyst for further tragedies? The novel asks readers to consider how deeply place and history intertwine, affecting not just the environment but the psyche of its inhabitants.
Ulrick’s prose is atmospheric and immersive, creating a palpable sense of dread that grows as Laura is pulled deeper into the mystery. The gorge, with its unsettling beauty, almost becomes a character in itself, embodying the weight of the town’s secrets.
*Bad Country* is more than a supernatural thriller; it's a study of trauma, place, and the enduring impact of history on community. It’s a thought-provoking read that leaves readers wondering not only about the fate of Wallaby Rock but about the unseen forces shaping the places they call home.
by Kim Ulrick
5 outof 5 🌟
Thedelves into the sinister undercurrents of small-town life, blending mystery, supernatural insight, and the eerie imprint of history on the landscape. The story follows Laura Murray, an 18-year-old with an unwanted gift: the ability to glimpse into the future. Her second sight becomes both a curse and a guide when two teenage football players are found dead at Wallaby Rock's gorge—a place whispered about for generations but rarely understood.
Laura’s internal struggle with her abilities adds depth to the novel. Ulrick doesn’t merely present her as a psychic detective; instead, Laura is a young woman caught between a desire for normalcy and an inescapable connection to Wallaby Rock’s haunting past. As her visions intensify, so do the disappearances, painting a portrait of a town not just marked by tragedy but seemingly cursed by it.
Where *Bad Country* stands out is in its exploration of psychogeography—the relationship between people and the places they inhabit. Ulrick masterfully portrays how a landscape, especially one with a history of violence, can shape the emotions and actions of those living there. Is the gorge simply a place of misfortune, or has it absorbed the pain and darkness of past events, becoming a catalyst for further tragedies? The novel asks readers to consider how deeply place and history intertwine, affecting not just the environment but the psyche of its inhabitants.
Ulrick’s prose is atmospheric and immersive, creating a palpable sense of dread that grows as Laura is pulled deeper into the mystery. The gorge, with its unsettling beauty, almost becomes a character in itself, embodying the weight of the town’s secrets.
*Bad Country* is more than a supernatural thriller; it's a study of trauma, place, and the enduring impact of history on community. It’s a thought-provoking read that leaves readers wondering not only about the fate of Wallaby Rock but about the unseen forces shaping the places they call home.
December 8, 2025
Haunting, atmospheric, and impossible to shake
Bad Country blends mystery, supernatural tension, and a deep sense of place into a story that feels both unsettling and strangely beautiful.
Laura Murray’s second sight is the center of the book, but the real power comes from how the town of Wallaby Rock becomes a character in its own right. The deaths of Benny and Jordy set everything in motion, but it’s the gorge the history, the energy, the unspoken darkness that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
The author does a brilliant job exploring the idea that land holds memory. The question isn’t just who did what, but whether a place can absorb evil over generations and reflect it back onto the people who live there. It’s eerie, thoughtful, and quietly philosophical.
Laura’s struggle with her gift feels real and grounded. Her dreams get darker, the danger closes in, and the tension builds without ever slipping into cliché. Wallaby Rock might be fictional, but the way it’s written makes it feel disturbingly plausible.
If you like mysteries with a supernatural edge, rich atmosphere, and a slow burn that rewards your patience, Bad Country is absolutely worth reading.
Bad Country blends mystery, supernatural tension, and a deep sense of place into a story that feels both unsettling and strangely beautiful.
Laura Murray’s second sight is the center of the book, but the real power comes from how the town of Wallaby Rock becomes a character in its own right. The deaths of Benny and Jordy set everything in motion, but it’s the gorge the history, the energy, the unspoken darkness that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
The author does a brilliant job exploring the idea that land holds memory. The question isn’t just who did what, but whether a place can absorb evil over generations and reflect it back onto the people who live there. It’s eerie, thoughtful, and quietly philosophical.
Laura’s struggle with her gift feels real and grounded. Her dreams get darker, the danger closes in, and the tension builds without ever slipping into cliché. Wallaby Rock might be fictional, but the way it’s written makes it feel disturbingly plausible.
If you like mysteries with a supernatural edge, rich atmosphere, and a slow burn that rewards your patience, Bad Country is absolutely worth reading.
September 9, 2024
"Bad Country" is a page-turner, alright! It is gripping, powerful, at times confrontational–it’s so bad, it’s good.
There were many things I loved about this book. The pace at which Kim tells the story, revealing important clues and hints throughout, really builds the tension and interest in all the right places. And that’s what makes a book entertaining, and in this case intriguing.
Kim treads carefully between giving just enough details to guide the reader through the story but also allowing them to draw their own conclusions. The structure, particularly having chapters from different characters’ perspectives, was a clever way to evolve the story and captivate the audience.
I enjoy a book where there are twists, turns, and unexpected moments, where the details intertwine and intersect to form a bigger picture. That’s what makes "Bad Country" a truly compelling read.
If you want a story that gets you in its clutches and won’t let go till you’ve turned the last page, then get your hands on a copy of Kim Ulrick’s "Bad Country."
There were many things I loved about this book. The pace at which Kim tells the story, revealing important clues and hints throughout, really builds the tension and interest in all the right places. And that’s what makes a book entertaining, and in this case intriguing.
Kim treads carefully between giving just enough details to guide the reader through the story but also allowing them to draw their own conclusions. The structure, particularly having chapters from different characters’ perspectives, was a clever way to evolve the story and captivate the audience.
I enjoy a book where there are twists, turns, and unexpected moments, where the details intertwine and intersect to form a bigger picture. That’s what makes "Bad Country" a truly compelling read.
If you want a story that gets you in its clutches and won’t let go till you’ve turned the last page, then get your hands on a copy of Kim Ulrick’s "Bad Country."
September 16, 2024
I loved how the light balanced the dark in this story. Laura was a very relatable character, someone I felt for.
The multiple points of view added depth to the story, allowing us to see all angles of the events as they unfolded.
By the end, I was flipping pages to discover the ending.
I loved the Australian setting, the history weaved through the story, and seeing where the characters ended up. It was a great ending for a great book!
The multiple points of view added depth to the story, allowing us to see all angles of the events as they unfolded.
By the end, I was flipping pages to discover the ending.
I loved the Australian setting, the history weaved through the story, and seeing where the characters ended up. It was a great ending for a great book!
December 19, 2025
Atmospheric, Unsettling, and Thought-Provoking
Bad Country is a haunting blend of mystery and psychological horror that lingers long after the final page. The sense of place is powerful and unsettling, with Wallaby Rock feeling like a character in its own right. Laura’s unwanted gift of second sight adds emotional depth as the story explores how trauma, history, and landscape intertwine. Dark, compelling, and beautifully eerie, this is a gripping read that quietly gets under your skin.
Bad Country is a haunting blend of mystery and psychological horror that lingers long after the final page. The sense of place is powerful and unsettling, with Wallaby Rock feeling like a character in its own right. Laura’s unwanted gift of second sight adds emotional depth as the story explores how trauma, history, and landscape intertwine. Dark, compelling, and beautifully eerie, this is a gripping read that quietly gets under your skin.
September 1, 2024
Really enjoyed reading this book whilst I was on leave. The mix of Aussie country life, a reflection on some of our past as a country and the intertwining and legacy of community was engaging and provoking.
September 9, 2024
Was such a great read have read it twice in a week been awhile since i had a book i couldn't put down.
Loved it
Loved it
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews