The Distinctly Competent District Councillor

By: Jonas Jonasson

Narrated by: Peter Kenny

The charming and original story of a small, declining community’s struggle to survive in the shadow of an all-consuming metropolis, from from the multi-million copy bestselling author of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.

'A shot of serotonin in book form' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Totally joyful' THE TIMES

All over the world, people sleep blissfully in Traumbett beds. These marvellous feats of German engineering have successfully cornered the mattress market everywhere. Everywhere, except Sweden and owner Konrad Kaltenbacher Jr is desperate to expand there.

With Konrad Jr’s sights set firmly on stylish Stockholm, Julia Bäck, district councillor of the small, decaying town of Halstaholm, has plans of her own. Seeing an opportunity to attract 800 new jobs, Julia jumps into spearheading a persuasive campaign to win the contract. A roundabout is hastily renamed in honour of Angela Merkel; a German school is quickly established under the leadership of a ten-year-old boy and three elderly pensioners; and the town swimming pool is rapidly transformed into a beerhouse – it had been empty for years anyway!

Julia’s get-up-and-go impresses the German boss … but has she made herself a tricky bed to lie in?

©2026 Jonas Jonasson (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

'A shot of serotonin in book form' Mail on Sunday

'Totally joyful' The Times

'A feel-good read' iPaper

Praise for The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared:

'A mordantly funny and loopily freewheeling debut novel about ageing disgracefully' Sunday Times

'Imaginative, laugh-out-loud … a brilliant satire on the foibles of mankind' Telegraph

'Scandi-crime's signature darkness is here dispelled by Allan Karlsson, the eponymous centenarian, who with unlikely sprightliness hops out of the window of his old people's home one afternoon … Fast-moving and relentlessly sunny' Guardian

Disappointingly short

The shortest Jonasson book I came across. Somewhat funny and absolutely cute, but nothing like the others. Feels like he wrote it in an afternoon and decided to send it to the printers. Kind of a cinderella story in a world where nothing feels real. The only thing that hasnt changed is the narrator. Great work, as always.

Absolutely fun read

Just a delight. Enjoy a couple of hours of pleasure with this humorous little tale.