Scrublands by Chris Hammer

Journalist Martin Scarsden has come to the remote town of Riversend to write a story about how the town is doing a year after the local priest, Byron Swift, killed five people before a morning church service. He finds a town limping along, exacerbated by a drought, and the residents full of secrets. Soon, some start confiding in Martin and he is able publish a story that brings more reporters to town, but which also threatens more violence and the possible end of his career. Give this leisurely-paced first novel to readers who enjoy Jane Harper.