Recently arrived fiction from Aotearoa New Zealand
Gunn's unsettling and disquieting collection of short stories has been shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for fiction at this year's Ockham book awards. Set across the UK and New Zealand, the stories dip their toes into the horror genre with blood soaked gardens, mutant fish and the very human responses of jealousy, disgust and moral cruelty.
Two cousins Erin and Star, both jaded and overwhelmed by life escape in an unwarranted 1994 Daihatsu Mira for a 'tragicomic' post-colonial road trip, unearths family myths, grief, and divisions, yet hints at a possible return to their ancestral lands. Rahurahu's debut novel was longlist for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for fiction at this year's Ockham book awards.
The Bookshop Detectives Tea and Cake and Death by Gareth & Louise Ward
Gareth and Louise Ward, the real-life owners of Wardini Books in Havelock North, made a successful entrance into adult fiction with their debut novel, Dead Girl Gone. A funny and twist filled read, the authors have cleverly created fictionalised versions of themselves, Garth and Eloise, former UK police officers now running a bookshop who organise poetry and Dungeons & Dragons sessions in-between solving crimes.
A satirical political thriller set within the surprisingly competitive world of Kiwi alpaca breeding. When a dodgy election in the Alpaca Breeders' Organisation coincides with a mysterious illness affecting the prized animals, a determined vet and a pragmatic engineer find themselves uncovering layers of corruption and self-interest. Sarkies blends sharp wit with a keen observation of human (and alpaca) nature, creating a very Kiwi narrative that is both farcical and a pointed commentary on power, greed, and the fragility of democratic processes within even the most unexpected communities.
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H.G Parry
1920s England, commoner Clover Hill gains access to the secret magical academy of Camford, determined to cure her brother cursed in a WWI faerie attack. Befriending privileged magical students, including the charismatic Alden, she delves into forbidden fae magic. A summer of experimentation leads to the opening of a faerie door, unleashing dangerous consequences years later. Fantastic new fantasy from an established New Zealand author.
The Geographer's Map to Romance by India Holton
Estranged geography professors Elodie and Gabriel Tarrant, secretly in love despite their failed marriage of convenience, are unexpectedly reunited. Both experts in magical phenomena, they're assigned to the same emergency mission when magic erupts in a Welsh village, threatening England. Forced to work together under perilous conditions – including the infamous "only one bed" trope – this grumpy/sunshine pair must navigate their unresolved feelings while trying to prevent catastrophe.
Carved in Blood by Michael Bennett
During Auckland's Matariki celebrations, a time meant for peaceful new beginnings, Hana Westerman's world is upended when her ex-husband, DI Jaye, is shot in an apparent hold-up. While her personal life seemed settled with her daughter's engagement and her new home in Tātā Bay, Hana offers her expertise to the investigation and quickly uncovers a potential suspect linked to Chinese organised crime. However, a mysterious phone call to her daughter insists the police are wrong, casting doubt on the randomness of the attack and Hana must now probe deeper, questioning if Jaye's shooting relates to a hidden, dangerous case from his past. Another page turning read from one of our favourite crime novelists.
The Girl from Sarajevo by Stef Harris
Local cop turned author Stef Harris has taken inspiration from his time as a community constable and from his own burning desire to be an author and written two short stories featuring strong, resilient and determined women in two very different situations. Reader who enjoyed his character Frank Winter in 2023's Double Jeopardy will be pleased to hear he may be back in future novels!
