Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Denizen cover art

Denizen

By: James McKenzie Watson
Narrated by: Matthew Pearce
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

A gothic thriller exploring rural Australia's simultaneous celebration of harsh country and stoic people—a tension that forces its inhabitants to dangerous breaking points.

On a remote property in western NSW, eight-year-old Parker fears that something is wrong with his brain. His desperate attempts to control this internal chaos spark a series of events that gallop from his control in deadly and devastating ways.

Years later, Parker, now a father himself, returns to the bushland he grew up in for a camping trip with old friends. When this reunion descends into chaos amid revelations of unresolved fear, guilt and violence, Parker must finally address the consequences of his childhood actions.

©2022 James McKenzie Watson (P)2022 Penguin Random House Australia

What listeners say about Denizen

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thought provoking, beautiful and dark

Denizen is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. It had as much impact on me as ‘Once Were Warriors’ once did.

I’m still reeling from the emotional roller coaster that is Denizen, and will be wiping my eyes probably for the rest of the day.

An incredible must read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Struggled to Finish

This is a well written book but the subject matter was challenging and I found it difficult to continue listening at times. The author successfully created an underlying dread throughout the whole story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow

Some of this story was shocking and took me out of my comfort zone, but I couldn't put it down. At the end I was saddened by how confronting it was. Congratulations for winning a literary award for this story, it is truly deserved. You have me hooked on your writing style, I just want more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Don’t know what to feel about this

The authors choice is probably never starker than in this story - would the easier path have been to avoid not the descent into chaos - depicted so thoroughly through relationships and inner head narratives, but the dichotomy of violence for the divergent waves of broken care?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Confronting and thought provoking

A confronting and thought provoking read that is hard to put down. Thanks for covering these challenging topics

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Jane Harper on roids ..

I want to sob now ... very dark .. mental ill
Health examined well . Well done to the first time author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pick up this book!

This story hits you in the guts. I couldn't put this book down. It totally gripped me from the get go. I'm in awe of this incredible and talented young writer shining a light onto a story that affects rural Australia. Brilliant !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not for me

I must have masochistic tendencies as I did manage to finish this book , only because it was a book club choice .
Probably an insightful choice for a mental health professional but as a layman this holds nothing for me , I found absolutely no pleasure in the sadistic relationships and characters in this book .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.